The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society Appreciation Station

When you say various parts of Europe you mean other than England? I thought Ray reworked the album before release

 

Right, it wasn't available in England at that point. After being put out in other places in Europe, Ray changed the album a bit, and then it was released in the UK.

 

I completely agree. That's always how I imagined it before I saw the sleeve - like a more verdant Sgt Peppers. The back cover and European editions make sense, but what was the thinking behind the concentric circles superimposed on the band on the UK sleeve???

 

Wow, this is a fantastic find! Good eye. They should have used this for the back cover of the Drivin' single!

 

Outstanding in their field.

 

Listened to the title track for the first time - with the exception of "Waterloo Sunset" it is thus far the best Kinks song that I've heard. It's so 'English' it was like I was there at the village green eating scones and jam! Great song.

What is the consensus on the mono v stereo?

 

One of my favorite albums ever! I have both the Deluxe and the "exclusive" remaster from the Mono box. This album takes knowing all the Kinks' albums prior to this one (Kontroversy, Face to Face and Something Else) before you dive into it, but when you do, it's a journey that takes you to a really good place.

As far as mix preferences: I love the mono a lot. That feels like a rock album and sounds a little more focused, to me. The stereo is okay, but I always reach for the mono first.

I hope Sandoval cuts an all analog mono version soon.

 

If you want 'all' the tracks recorded on vinyl there was a triple mono reissue by Earmark. Not the greatest (digital) mastering and some of the live bonus material is suspiciously 'banded' as if lifted from the CD master.

 

Love this album! What a gem. Just recently heard it for the first time. Having a hard time getting it on vinyl though, seems it`s sold out (got the 50th Face to Face, Something Else and Arthur though)

Edit: I wish Days was on it, because it`s my favorite Kinks song and would have made a great conclusion to the album (much like Sunny Afternoon and Waterloo Sunset on F&F and SE)

 

Amazon has it: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...r?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=1454776944&sr=1-1

 

This great album was the victim of careless marketing. It was eclipsed by The White Album, Beggar's Banquet, and Electric Ladyland--Christmas 1968. It's in the same league as any of those three. Should have held off until early 1969.

 

Already ordered it from two different online stores in Norway, where both can`t deliver for the moment. Maybe amazon is the way too go. Thanks

 

Not sure if you're in the USA, as your stats only say North, but if you are, Amazon should do the trick. Good luck!!

 

VGPS was my first exposure into the Kinks. It is epic, and I listen to it often. God Bless the Kinks.

 

I've just ordered the 3-CD deluxe edition. Should be here within two weeks. Can't wait!

 

Mono is the way to go for all 60s Kinks, and mono from needledrops if you can find them. I've said before on this forum that the stereo mixes on CD sound like they were done with two tin cans and some string. The original mono vinyl sounds great to me.

I was introduced to all things Kinks about 20 years ago by a music writer friend who sat me down with his massive record collection one evening and determined to make me more than the casual Kinks fan I was at the time. While Face to Face remains my favorite, I like quite a bit of Village Green. That title song is a masterpiece.

 

And the ones that didn't make the album are just as good or better: i.e. Lavender Hill and Pictures in the Sand

 

Honestly, this is one of my favorite albums of all time. What a great set of songs.

 

I much prefer the stereo mix of Village Green.

 

"Big Sky", man. No one really needed to write a song about God or a higher power after that one.

 

Does anyone know how many copies of the album sold in the US originally ?

I bought it on release day, but I don't think it sold many copies here, so for years it was sort of my hidden treasure.

Ditto Something Else. I used to wonder if I was crazy to love these two albums , because nobody else I knew had them.

My bit of trivia is..Village was released on the same day as The White Album, which probably made a poor selling album have even less of a chance, given the competition.

 

Does anyone know how BB did chart wise? I don't think it went to #1.

 

VGPS is one of my favourite albums from the British Invasion. It is criminal that The Kinks haven't received as much credit as they should have deserved. It is amazing so much great music was written by one man.

 

#3 in the UK, #5 in the US.

Many younger people are unaware that the Stones were not automatic #1 album sellers until Sticky Fingers. They did better with 45's before that. In the US they had a couple of number one albums and were usually in the top 5, but weren't automatic number one album sellers like the Beatles albums were.

It seems crazy now that Beggars Banquet only made number 5 in the US.

Of course, compared to Village Green, Beggars did Thriller- like numbers.

 

Great! Enjoy it.

Inspired by this thread I just pulled out my 3 CD set and am playing it right now.
It's generally such a gentle,wistful, dare I say...adult album, that I guess I can understand why it was overlooked in an era when heavy Blues- Rock was becoming the big thing, but those qualities that made it seem not of it's time in it's original era are what make it timeless today.