THE KINKS - 1964 - 1967 (2 ALBUMS)

"KINKS"

1964

BEAUTIFUL DELILAH - The Kinks' debut album opens with this Rock 'N Roll styled uptempo with a hint of funkiness and Country twang.  A great cover of a Chuck Berry track.

SO MYSTIFYING - A catchy Country Blues track with a memorable sing along chorus.  

JUST CAN'T GO TO SLEEP - Sounds a little bit like The Beatles, a simple but steady Pop song.  Not a big fan of The Beatles so not that much of a fan of this, average track at best.

LONG TALL SHORTY - A rough, dark Blues track which hits the mark and has a great foot tapping style and is catchy enough to be cool.

 

 

I TOOK MY BABY HOME - This Pop Blues track is reminiscent of Manfred Mann, really catchy and an uptempo driving musical backing. 

I'M A LOVER NOT A FIGHTER - A brilliant foot tapping Rock 'N Roll/Blues track, reminds me of some of Elvis Presley's early songs.  

YOU REALLY GOT ME - The Kinks' back catalogue contains some classics and this is one of the most famous.  Awesome Rock track and one of my favourite tracks of the '60s and all time.  The only single released from this album and it reached the top spot in the UK chart.

 

CADILLAC - Cover of a Bo Diddley track, a straight up Blues/Rock 'N Roll gem.

BALD HEADED WOMAN - A minimal Traditional Blues track which has also been covered by The Who and Harry Belafonte among others.  No frills just great Blues.

REVENGE - A short Blues instrumental driven by scorching harmonica, nice but short.

TOO MUCH MONKEY BUSINESS - Another old style Rock 'N Roll cover of a Chuck Berry song, as you would expect, a bluesy feel and catchy chorus.

 

I'VE BEEN DRIVING ON BALD MOUNTAIN - A pretty basic Blues track which finally picks up pace around the two minute mark but its not a favourite of mine.

 

STOP YOUR SOBBING - I recognised this track from The Preteners' cover version in 1979.  This is a more stripped back version but its still a great Pop song.

 

GOT LOVE IF YOU WANT IT - The album finishes with a somewhat experimental bluesy styled track with various lyrics way back in the mix but its dominated by the great harmonica again.

"SOMETHING ELSE BY THE KINKS"

 

1967

 

 

DAVID WATTS - The opening track on this fifth album by the band is a mix of 60s Pop with what sounds like early Glam Rock snippets.  The lyrics sung by Ray Davies seem to lean towards admiration for a fellow popular schoolboy.  Upbeat and cool intro to this album. 

 

 

DEATH OF A CLOWN - Named as "chamber Pop" this track is a kind of Folk Pop track with  haunting "la la" chanted segments.  Originally co-written by Ray Davies and his brother Dave (who released it as his first solo single).  

TWO SISTERS - Harpsichord led laid back 60s Pop track, singing about two sisters Sybilla and Priscilla, both with contrasting personalities, similar to Kinks' brothers Ray and Dave!  Nice song.

NO RETURN - An unusual minimal Acoustic style track with a kind of Bossa beat lightly drifting the song along.  A little eerie and not one of my favourites but very experimental.

HARRY RAG - Classic Kinks, a bouncing marching drumbeat drives this quirky, humorous song with a catchy chorus.

TIN SOLDIER MAN - Another quirky classic Kinks track, this time orchestrated for extra oomph.  A simple but catchy chorus yet again, this is what we expect from the band.  Great song.

SITUATION VACANT - A "bar room" jazzy Rock Pop with a hint of Country Blues guitar.  Class.

LOVE ME 'TIL THE SUN SHINES - Almost Progressive Rock and a little Psychedelia in this pure Rock track of the 60s.  Dave takes lead vocals again on this song.

LAZY OLD SUN - Very weird, very experimental track with an assortment of sounds and minimal lazy vocals.  Definitely a filler to this album.

AFTERNOON TEA - This is a bright and breezy laid back guitar based track with a simple chorus.  Its a nice song but doesn't grab you until a few listens later.

FUNNY FACE - The last of Dave's vocal vehicles on this album is a Psychedelic, hippie style Pop Rock track with a hint of Classic Rock leanings.

END OF THE SEASON - An unusual switch in genres as this is in "crooner" territory, laid back musical based track.

WATERLOO SUNSET - One of the very best from The Kinks and one of my favourites.  Acoustic and Electric guitars at the fore, some gorgeous melodies and harmonies in this nostalgia driven track.  Sheer class 60s Rock.