The Kinks - Album by Album (song by song)

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by mark winstanley, Apr 4, 2021.

  1. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

    I think I know of at least a dozen ... I guess women don't geek out on music as much as men? I don't know
    We appreciate your presence though
     
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  2. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

    I look forward to your thoughts... The thread guide will be up for you in a while.
    Don't forget tomorrow is a day off, so perhaps do a side a day?
     
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  3. Fortuleo

    Fortuleo Used to be a Forum Resident

    Oh but you’re not alone on this thread ! We have many Wondergirls here: @Rosie, @Sybilla, @Priscilla, @Susannah, @Polly, @Donna, @Daisy, not forgetting our current stars @Annabella and today's @Monica! :love:
     
    Last edited: Jul 24, 2021
  4. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

    Monica.

    Ray Davies told Q magazine that many people hadn't noticed that Village Green is a very sexy album. "It's about a lot of sex. Monica, Annabella... All these women that will bring you down, disgrace you," he said. "Make you leave your wife and family for a little leg over in the woods. It's about repressed sex."
    Ray also said "I like the way I did 'Monica.' I didn't actually say she was a prostitute .... if you say somebody is a prostitute or a hooker you're restricted."

    stereo mix (2:13), recorded probably May 1968 at Pye Studios (No. 2), London

    Under a lamp light
    Monica stands at midnight,
    And every guy think he can buy her love,
    But money can't buy sweet lovin' from Monica.

    Morning to moonshine,
    Monica knows every line.
    Don't ever propose 'cause Monica knows, you know.
    She'll turn up her nose and say what a fool you are.

    I, I shall die,
    I, I shall die if I should lose Monica.
    (Oh Monica my love.)
    People can try,
    People can try, but they can't buy Monica, my love.

    You take the sunshine,
    I'll take the nightly shadows.
    'Cause everyone knows that Monica glows at night.
    She'll do something wrong and prove to you she is right.

    I, I shall die,
    I, I shall die if I should lose Monica.
    (Oh Monica my love.)
    People may try,
    People may try, but they can't buy Monica, my love.

    Morning to moonshine,
    Monica knows every line.
    Don't ever propose 'cause Monica knows, you know.
    She'll turn up her nose and say what a fool you are.
    Monica.

    Written by: Ray Davies
    Published by: Noma Music, Inc./Hi-Count Music, Inc. BMI

    Monica has a sort of calypso kind of feel, and I guess a hint of Latin rhythm in there also, which gives the song and Monica herself a sort of exotic feel.

    One of the things that stands out to me lyrically in this song, and it is pointedly stated in the first verse, is that a lot of people, but men particularly, struggle with the difference between love and lust. "And every guy think he can buy her love,
    But money can't buy sweet lovin' from Monica."

    We open with the only line that really suggests this song is about a lady of the night, or prostitute. I guess we assume this from the fact that Monica is under a lamp light at midnight.

    For the most part this song almost feels like Ray is singing as the boyfriend or love interest, as he states confidently that no one can win her love, but implies that he has it.... but I guess this could be a rationalisation to make him feel more secure as a customer.... It is a strange dynamic.... I have never been with a prostitute, so it is hard to get inside that feeling.... not a judgement call on my part, on the lady or the customer, just a simple failure to be able to connect thematically on the line of thinking here and what it represents.
    In the second verse we hear that Monica has heard it all... don't propose to her, because you already know she will turn you down, and she knows you know this, so don't waste your and her time.
    I have always loved the line "She'll do something wrong and prove to you she is right." .... I'm not exactly sure I understand the line, but it sounds so good, and it kind of feels like a husband and wife interaction lol. In fact prior to knowing the whole lyric and the theme involved I had assumed this was a sort of romantic song about a girlfriend or wife.

    They say that prostitution is the oldest occupation, I have no idea if this is true or not, I would logically have assumed the farmer was, but either way, if we are exploring all the characters of the Green, it seems like Monica is a necessity.

    Musically, and including the vocals, this song is really very sultry, and it has a writhing feel that speaks well to its subject.
    Here we get the bass playing the opening melody. The drums and percussion work together nicely to lay the foundation for this track. The guitar gives us a virtually reggae feel, and we also have an organ in there that adds to that feel, almost replicating a steel drum kind of feel.
    The song bounces and pulses along and it is warm and inviting.

    The way the vocals are done here is wonderful. Ray delivers the vocal with tenderness, and a melodic involvement that really gives this song a great personality.
    I assume the I, I shall die section is the chorus, and the layering of the vocals here is just perfect and creates another dimension to the song that just makes it irresistible.

    This is just another piece of magic that is part of the reason this album is so good.

     
    Last edited: Jul 24, 2021
  5. Scottsol

    Scottsol Forum Resident

    Location:
    Evanston, IL
    That’s very narrow minded of you. After all, to quote one of the great group minds of the 20th century (not the Bourbaki), a murderer is nothing more than an extroverted suicide.
     
  6. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

    The stereo mix

     
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  7. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

    There is an alternate mix on the big box, but it isn't on youtube
     
  8. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

    How about we leave this as a talk about the Kinks music, and not people's like or dislike of humour, or whether its good or bad. I certainly don't think that references to, or insinuations about murder are appropriate for the thread....

    Like the Village Green itself there are a lot of characters, and personality types on the thread, and surely we can discuss the albums and songs without the niggling machismo

    Cheers
    Mark
     
  9. Vagabone

    Vagabone Forum Resident

    Location:
    UK
    Monica
    The return of West Indian-voiced Ray. Along with "Starstruck", one of the more poppier-sounding tracks on the album. I like it well enough as one of the record's second-tier songs. A J Smith's thematic reasoning for why it and "Annabella" are near the end of the record makes sense (time of day), but as I struggle to see the album as a coherent lyrical statement I'm still thinking of my ideal sequencing in purely musical terms... and I would have put in on side one, as per the 12-track version.
     
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  10. Scottsol

    Scottsol Forum Resident

    Location:
    Evanston, IL
    A lawyer, a surgeon and an architect in a pub nursing their last drinks of the night.
    S You know we surgeons are the oldest profession.
    A What are you talking about?
    S On the sixth day, did not God remove a rib from Adam?
    A Oh yeah? What about bringing order out of chaos. You think that didn’t require a detailed set of plans?
    L You poor simpletons.Where do you think the chaos came from?
     
  11. rockerreds

    rockerreds Senior Member

    I'm here!
     
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  12. All Down The Line

    All Down The Line The Under Asst East Coast White Label Promo Man

    Location:
    Australia
    Hint: Please quit it
     
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  13. All Down The Line

    All Down The Line The Under Asst East Coast White Label Promo Man

    Location:
    Australia
    Absolutely I just had posted the same as it is not the first time this poster has gone the death angle with me with a passive intellectual front!
     
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  14. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

    Yea, I know, just focus on the songs mate.... it won't continue
     
  15. Fortuleo

    Fortuleo Used to be a Forum Resident

    Calypso! This delightful tune was voted the "weakest link" of the album on this very forum, not that long ago. Ha, I’d like to know what’s supposedly weak about it! The melody? Excellent. Ray’s high harmony on the second verse? Astounding. The mellotron led groove? Infectious. The lyrics? Remarkable! I love how the words are articulated and phrased to sound everything but english. Monica may be a hooker but Ray’s infatuation is not the lesser for it. My guess is she’s another of his movie fantasies, probably named after Italian actress/sex symbol Monica Vitti who definitely “glowed at night” (in the movie la Notte / the Night, in 1961) and had recently starred in female James Bond sexy spoof Modesty Blaise. Interestingly, the two female themed tunes are sequenced back to back, like two sides of the same medal, the witch and the enchantress. Musically, it's got to be one of the bigger song to song contrasts of that incredible November the 22th 1968 day, up there with Why Don’t We Do It in the Road/I Will… After the heavy psych rock of Annabella, Monica is another of Ray's Caribbean influenced tune (Tell Me Now So I'll Know, I’m on an Island, No Return) and you’ve got to admire how he succeeds in painting both the song's lyrics and the situation where you’d enjoyed listening to it, an exotic cabaret somewhere, surrounded by flower necklaces and fruity alcoholic cocktails.
     
  16. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

    I meant to post this, but forgot

    In another interview Davies said the original intent was to call the song "Irma La Douce," after the prostitute character from the film of the same name, but it rolled off the tongue awkwardly, so he changed the name to "Monica."

    Sometimes the Weakest Link threads are impossible. Many I can't do, because Weak doesn't enter the equation
     
  17. ajsmith

    ajsmith Senior Member

    Location:
    Glasgow
    In his brilliant 33 and a 3rd book on VGPS (which seriously everyone interested should read if they haven’t already), Andy Miller calls ‘Monica’ ‘The flimsiest thing on the album’ and I’m afraid to say I agree. I think it’s the fact that (to my ears anyway) there’s no extra musical or lyrical twist that elevates it above some kinda MOR ish Harry Belafonte pop tune of a decade previous. Yes it’s about a prostitute but I don’t think that was quite the knockout exceptional element that Ray seemed to think it was: It’s not quite ‘Lola’ in terms of breaking boundaries in what a pop song can discuss pertaining to sexual relations. My loss though!
     
  18. croquetlawns

    croquetlawns Forum Resident

    Location:
    Scotland
    Exactly - does VGPS actually have a weak link?
     
  19. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

    Not really for me .
    One thing that stands out personally for me looking at these songs one by one, is I have to try and stop myself from trying to state a favourite..... otherwise it would likely be 15 favourites....

    I noticed early on that we may all (or mostly) have 15-20 songs in each of our top ten lists :)
     
  20. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

    Reference guide

    Oct 1963 - Nov 1966

    1967

    Apr 1967 Mr Pleasant - Alt version - Beat Club - live - beat club - instr (whistling)
    This Is Where I Belong - Ray live - Ray with Francis Black

    May 1967 Mr Pleasant EP
    Mr Pleasant
    This Is Where I Belong
    Two Sisters - Ray live (with chat)
    Village Green - Instrumental - Ray

    My 1967 Waterloo Sunset - instr. - live 73 - Ray live 78 - live 94 - Ray and Damon Albarn - doco excerpt - Ray and Bowie - Ray live (Peter dedication)
    Art Nice and Gentle

    May 1967 Waterloo Sunset EP

    Documentary

    Jul 1967 Death Of A Clown - Dave Live - Dave live 2002

    Sept 1967 Something Else By
    David Watts - Live 84 - Dave live 97 - Ray live 2010 - Alt mono - alt version
    Death Of A Clown
    Two Sisters
    No Return
    Harry Rag - BBC - Ray 2010 - alt version
    Tin Soldier Man - Sand On My Shoes (original) - Alt backing track
    Situation Vacant - mono
    Love Me Till The Sun Shines - BBC - live 69 - Dave 97 - stereo
    Lazy Old Sun - alt version
    Afternoon Tea - German Stereo - Alt stereo - Canadian Mono
    Funny Face
    End Of The Season
    Waterloo Sunset

    Little Women backing track

    Dave And Ray interview sixties

    Echoes Of The World - The Making Of Village Green Preservation Society

    Oct 1967 Autumn Almanac - stereo - Top Of The Pops - live fan jam - Ray - breakdown

    Nov 1967 Sunny Afternoon LP

    Nov 1967 Susannah's Still Alive - stereo - video

    1967 BBC sessions - Sunny Afternoon
    Autumn Almanac
    Mr Pleasant
    Susannah's Still Alive
    David Watts
    Death Of A Clown
    Good Luck Charm

    Jan 1968 Live at Kelvin Hall
    Part 1

    Part 2

    Jan 1968 Wonderboy - video - Top Of The Pops - stereo mix
    Polly - stereo mix

    April 1968 The Kinks EP

    June 1968 Days - stereo mix - Glastonbury 2010 - live 1969 - video edit - Basil Brush - Alt stereo - Acoustic - 1991 EP version

    Aug 1968 Lincoln County - stereo mix - Dave live
    There Is No Life Without Love

    Colour Me Pop Medley

    She's Got Everything Promo film

    July 1968 Colour Me Pop - Dedicated Follower Of Fashion A Well Respected Man Death Of A Clown Sunny Afternoon Two Sisters Sitting By The Riverside Lincoln County Picture Book Days

    Nov 1968 The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society - the gold disc award
    The Village Green Preservation Society - Alt mix with studio banter - Live 73
    Do You Remember Walter - Euro Stereo - Backing Track - live 94
    Picture Book - real stereo - live 69 - live 73 - Ray 2011
    Johnny Thunder - alt mix - stereo - original stereo - Ray (+VGPS) 2008 - Ray 2010 - Crouch End Chorus
    Last Of The Steam Powered Trains - alt ending - live 69 - live 70 - Dave live
    Big Sky - alt stereo - live 69 - Crouch End Chorus
    Sitting By The Riverside - Stereo
    Animal Farm - alt stereo - Ray 2004 - stereo
    Village Green - alt vocal - backing vocal
    Starstruck - alt vocal - video - stereo - Ray 2008
    Phenomenal Cat - alt mix - stereo - stereo US link
    All Of My Friends Were There - stereo
    Wicked Annabella - stereo - Dave 97
    Monica - stereo

    Preservation Live

    Starmaker Tv Play
     
  21. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

    The Kinks 1968 (to the best of my knowledge)

    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  22. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

  23. ajsmith

    ajsmith Senior Member

    Location:
    Glasgow
    All ‘68 except the top photo, which is probably ‘64 (you can tell by Pete’s hair: from ‘65 onwards he straightened it. I am not proud that I know this, but there you have it!).
     
  24. Wondergirl

    Wondergirl Forum Resident

    Location:
    Massachusetts, USA
    :laugh:
    this seems to be my lot in life. I run a very small forum and there is now only one other regular female on it. we talk a lot of music, but it's not expressly for that.
     
  25. Wondergirl

    Wondergirl Forum Resident

    Location:
    Massachusetts, USA
    I'll keep the falcons in mind when I need some female company. LOL
    I know of other female Kink fans, but there's a lot of gushing of how cute Ray and Dave are...and I join in willingly. :D But I know that this thread isn't for that purpose, so I try to keep my fangirling to a minimum (it's so damned hard tho).
     

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