A double live album of this material really would have been killer. Even the throwaway novelty numbers would have worked in that context. Talk about a missed opportunity! The only thing is I'm not exactly sure where it would have fitted in their release schedule.
It is really great to hear all of the bonus material that came out with the Legacy edition (which I don't own though this thread may make me want to change that). It definitely ends up being a better live document than what was originally released on the original album. It is great to hear my favourite song from Muswell Hillbillies, "Have A Cuppa Tea", in a live version. I think it is a case of expansion of the live material really making a big difference and Showbiz becomes a live record of the Kinks from this era which is much more substantial.
In my opinion, and this thread suggests I'm not alone, the live portion adds nothing to the original double album and is almost a distraction. It would have been better to release the studio album on its own, even though I'm not a big fan of it, and the expanded double live album at some later date - but I assume RCA would have put the kibosh on that idea.
"Complicated Life" I might prefer this rendition to the studio version - feels a bit more accessible to me. "Marina" Surprisingly good live version, although I'm wondering whether Ray singing the third verse ending in the second verse was an intentional decision or a mistake! "LTS" This would have been a toilet break opportunity for me - there is surely better material to rock out on from their own early songs? Not s great vocal from Dave either. However, a double live album with all these tracks on would have been a treat. I still probably wouldn't have listened to it much as I'm not big on live albums, but it would have been better than the live disc we got.
While I think that the bonus live material is better than the original live portion, it still kind of ends somewhat disappointedly w/"Long Tall Shorty, in the sense that of all the great songs that Dave wrote up to that time, he sings a leftover blues cover from 1965. It's like eating a fantastic French meal prepared by Avids Fortuleo & Last man on earth (if they were cooks) & getting a Popsicle for dessert. I get the same feeling when I watch the 1973 In Concert & Dave is singing "Good Golly Miss Molly". Do you think he had a case of lack of self confidence at that time?I think that the "Dave "Death of a Clown" Davies" joke by Ray must have worn pretty thin. Anyway, I think that a better ending would have been the YRGM/ADATN hybrid they played back then.
Hear, hear. And I don’t even think it would have been odd to have a double live album come out between 8-12 months after a studio-only Everybody’s In Showbiz. That way they’d have tracks from two RCA albums to include along with Pye stuff. Naturally, I’m speaking from a fan’s point of view. I highly doubt the original studio/live package was RCA’s idea. I just don’t believe it. To try and market Muswell Hillbillies and then think fans would want to buy (mostly) the same tracks, back-to-back, again?
It is weird to me. Dave had a lot of great material by this stage and it should have been used. Even if they didn't want to do Death of a Clown Love me til the sun shines Funny Face Susannah's still Alive Wicked Annabella (for the vocal) Mindless child of motherhood Creeping Jean This man he weaps tonight Strangers Rats I can only assume Dave was still hurt? by the solo album fiasco. If they wanted a rocker, it's there, if they wanted close with a Ray track, slip a Dave ballad in earlier on, it's so odd. but I am learning that these guys were a little odd in the way they did things.
"Complicated Life"- "Come and confess your sins to Uncle Ray". I like the slowed down version here, but Ray sounds like he has a cold, a bit nasally on the verses. I don't see this song improving the live album, but it's nice as a bonus track. "She's Bought A Hat Like Princess Maria"- I love this live version. It fits in nicely with the horns and the Muswell and Showbiz songs. I can tell that Mick must have loved playing this song. This would have been a concert highlight for me. "Long Tall Shorty"- While it may not be a song I would have chosen, it's not a bad idea to pull out some old rock n roll with Dave on vocal. They pull it off well. Grab a partner and let's bop to the Lindy Hop. I would prefer every song that @mark winstanley posted above, but this is better than I would have thought.
I don't think they were ever averse to ending the show with a cover tune. In 1993 at Manchester Apollo, they ended with 'Twist And Shout'.
This just arrived in my inbox from the Kinks Preservation Society and I thought people on this thread would be interested while we are between albums. It reinforces the views of Mark and others that Lola vs Powerman etc is more of a concept-theme album than I’d previously believed. Edit - I see Tim McInnerny is playing Manmon!! I note that Lola is being played by a woman. here is the message: The radio drama version of the Lola vs Powerman play premiers in one week on BBC Radio 4. BBC Radio 4 - Drama, Lola vs Powerman It is 1 hour, 27 minutes in length. People may remember the 45-minute play that aired on January 29th. So, this expands on that with a full cast. I am presuming that it will be available to "listen again" for a few weeks. From the BBC4 site: RAY DAVIES and PAUL SIRETT have adapted the album into a brand new drama for BBC Radio 4. Cast SONGWRITER ..... Lee Ross LOLA ..... Emma Frankland EVERYMAN ..... Ben Norris MAMMON ..... Tim McInnerny SATAN ..... Kyle Soller LUST ..... Sharon D Clarke DAD ..... Harry Myers BROTHER/SOUND ENGINEER ..... Carl Prekopp MUM/ WIFE ..... Becky Wright Songs by RAY DAVIES. New versions produced by RAY DAVIES at KONK Piano & Organ, Harvey Brough Guitar, Bill Shanley Sound engineer music, Matt Jaggar Medley LEE ROSS You Still Want Me BEN NORRIS/ CARL PREKOPP Get Back In Line HARRY MYERS Art School Babe LEE ROSS Denmark Street BEN NORRIS/ CARL PREKOPP Got To Be Free THE CAST Top Of The Pops BEN NORRIS / THE KINKS Strangers by DAVE DAVIES_ BEN NORRIS/ CARL PREKOPP This Time Tomorrow BEN NORRIS / EMMA FRANKLAND The Good Life TIM McINNERNY and The Kinks Powerman TIM McINNERY / BEN NORRIS Rats by DAVE DAVIES_ SHARON D CLARKE This Time Tomorrow BEN NORRIS Look A Little On The Sunny Side EMMA FRANKLAND A Long Way From Home HARRY MYERS Starstruck EMMA FRANKLAND The Moneygoround BEN NORRIS Look a LIttle on the Sunny Side EMMA FRANKLAND Lola EMMA FRANKLAND and The Kinks Producer/director drama Karen Rose Sound engineer and designer David Thomas Production coordinator Sarah Tombling
I don't mind the idea of ending with a cover, hundreds of big bands have done that..... It's just Long Tall Shorty is awful....It may be fun.... maybe, but it is just a lousy song
Does he actually admit to wearing a wig though? I was around at the time and never realised it was a wig until years later!
Oct 1963 - Nov 1966 Apr 1967 - Feb 1970 1965 Never Say Yes 1966 Trouble In Madrid Nov 1970 Lola Vs Powerman And The Moneygoround The Contenders Strangers - live 1970 - Dave live Denmark Street Get Back In Line Lola - TOTP - video - alt version Top Of The Pops - video Moneygoround - mono This Time Tomorrow - 2020 mix A Long Way From Home - live 70's - Ray live Rats Apeman - video - alt stereo - alt mono - ToTP - Calypso - live 94 Powerman - mono - 2020 mix - live 70's Got To Be Free Anytime The Good Life 1971 Golden Hour Of The Kinks Feb 1971 Percy (movie) - trailer Mar 1971 Percy (soundtrack) God's Children Lola The Way Love Used To Be - Ray live Completely Running Round Town Moments - Ray live Animals In The Zoo Just Friends Whip Lady Dreams Helga Willesden Green God's Children Outro The Follower Ray On Wonderworld 1971 You Really Got Me - Mini Monster EP Nov 1971 Muswell Hillbillies 20th Century Man - single - Alt Instr - Ray live Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues - live 73 - John Peel Holiday - live 73 Skin And Bone - live 70's - Ray live Alcohol - live 75 - cartoon Complicated Life Here Come The People In Grey - live 72 Have A Cuppa Tea - alt version - live 72 Holloway Jail Oklahoma USA - Ray Live Uncle Son - Alternate Muswell Hillbilly Lavender Lane Mountain Woman Kentucky Moon Nobody's Fool - Cold Turkey(Kinks?) Queenie Dec 1971 Muswell Hillbilly EP 1972 Muswell Hillbilly single (Jap) Mar 1972 Kink Kronikles Aug 1972 Everybody's In Showbiz Here Comes Yet Another Day - live 74 - live 75 Maximum Consumption Unreal Reality Hot Potatoes Sitting In My Hotel - 76 remix Motorway You Don't Know My Name Supersonic Rocket Ship - fan vid - BBC live - band video - live Look A Little On The Sunny Side Celluloid Heroes - live 82 Top Of The Pops Brainwashed - Alt Mr Wonderful Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues - Alt Holiday Muswell Hillbilly - Alt Alcohol - Alt Banana Boat Song Skin And Bone Baby Face Lola Til The End Of The Day You're Lookin' Fine Get Back In Line Have A Cuppa Tea Sunny Afternoon Complicated Life She's Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina Long Tall Shorty Ray's near death experience/suicide? The Kinks Live AT The BBC 1973 Preservation Live World Radio History Starmaker Tv Play Ray On Wonderworld 2005 Thanksgiving Day Ray live on Conan Obrien Oct 2018 Dave Davies - Decade If You Are Leaving (71)
That looks interesting, with some non Lola songs worked into the story - I wonder if it will be available outside the UK, and perhaps get a physical release. If not, I guess it will be the new content in the 60th anniversary Lola SDE!
If I was putting together the original live album, for a single album (and I will assume that all the extra tracks not released have some kind of problem with them) side 1 Till The End Of The Day 2:16 You're Looking Fine 4:38 Mr Wonderful 0:42 Get Back In Line 3:13 Have A Cuppa Tea 2:58 Sunny Afternoon 2:38 Banana Boat Song 1:42 Brainwashed 2:59 21.06 side two Muswell Hillbilly 3:10 Holiday 3:26 Complicated Life 3:22 She's Bought A Hat Like Princes Marina 3:17 Baby Face 1:54 Alcohol 6:39 Lola edit 1:00 22.48 Yea, it's awkward trying to get it somewhat where I would want it, but that's pretty close. Mainly in setlist order, but for organisational purposes, Muswell Hillbilly is after Brainwashed rather than before, because I prefer that side start and finish scenario. That kind of captures the songs and the frivolity
Some minor modifications to the look ahead at where we'll be going. Monday History (studio outtake) Tuesday Sophisticated Lady (early version of Money Talks) - as it is a long time until Money Talks comes out, I reckon we should do this song here. Wednesday The Great Lost Kinks Album Thursday Dave Davies - Cradle To The Grave (Decade) Friday Dave Davies - Midnight Sun (Decade) Saturday Dave Davies - Mystic Woman (Decade) Monday Dave Davies - The Journey (Decade) Tuesday Dave Davies - Shadows (Decade) Wednesday Golden Hour Of The Kinks Vol 2 (for reference) Time Song Thursday One Of The Survivors/Scrapheap City single - I'll take a fleeting look at One Of The Survivors, but the interesting thing here is the Scrapheap City b-side, and it will be the song of the day to some degree. Scrapheap City has Ray on vocals and is a very different version. Thanks to @Michael Streett for the heads up Friday Preservation Act 1 Hope that sits well with everyone Cheers Mark
I might just give that a go. Might scrap of the 'Lola' audience edit though and end the night with alcohol - which is often/always a good idea!
Interesting. I would have to add “Top of the Pops” and “Skin and Bone” and drop “Complicated Life” and “Have a Cuppa Tea.” I’d probably also ditch the banana.
Me neither. No, he doesn't mention wearing a rug, which is probably why he doesn't mention the fight - it all fits now!
