In the Redbeard interview I posted Ray talks a fair bit about this song. The opening line was about a guy who frequented the pub Ray hung out at (along with a Monty Python member he was friends with) and the guy would actually sleep in a field and show up the Pub looking well refreshed and great the next day. Ray indicated the Pub and the people who went there were his inspiration for the song. He also (going back to Sleepwalker) confirmed that album started as a concept record. One thing, and we can all agree or disagree with Ray here, he said was that he really didn't write about himself that he would inhabit a character in a song like an actor: "finding my way inside the person or role like an actor would". I found that interesting. He mentions how Rock N Roll Fantasy was inspired by Elvis' death which hit him pretty hard (he was surprised that it did). Of course Ray has said many different and conflicting things over the yrs too...
Not really twisted about it, it works, I just think it could have been better sequenced... I haven't programmed a cd since about 1986 lol
I'm four songs into the album, and I'm liking it more on a closer listen. Hay Fever is lightweight but fun, and Black Messiah has some careless phrasing, but isn't really that bad, even if it is still an odd choice of song for a band trying to get into the US market..... So although I'll stick with believing it could have been sequenced better, perhaps it will get closer to Sleepwalker than my initial feelings felt it could....
Misfits A nice Spanish guitar intro to a terrific and understated performance by the band to start the album. To me this is clearly Ray sending a message to himself while recognizing he’s not alone, there’s plenty more misfits out there (and I should know). Unfortunately he closes the album with another call to arms, this one to the ‘little men’ of whom Ray, in some lines, considers himself a part of. That Ray. This song, though, has always spoken to me and while I’d refrain from calling it great, I do appreciate it being in my life.
A note on Clive Davis With all the Clive talkin’ on the thread recently this morsel surfaced up from my brainpan. His amusing and often revealing autobiography ‘The Soundtrack of my Life’, which I read and enjoyed years ago, tells us a tale about Janis Joplin. Joplin’s manager, Albert Grossman, informed Mr. Davis that ‘she thinks it would be only fitting and proper that she ball you to cement the (record) deal.’ This offer Mr. Davis respectfully declines. The only concession by Ray at that rooftop Arista signing party was that he keep his concept albums to himself.
Misfits A song I can relate to very much. I don't think Ray wrote another song like this after Misfits. I would've started the album with Live Life but Misfits works fine opening up the album. The bridge is definitely a thing of beauty. The album is off to a nice start and the title track kicks off an album that for the most part contains songs about Misfit people or circumstances. Beautiful melody and guitar work in this one. A simple, but effective arrangement. A highlight of the Arista years. Never tire of listening to it.
Our little group here has really done a nice job on “Misfits”. It’s a fantastic song that really connects. All I might add is that right from the beginning of the song, and I don’t believe I’ve heard it before, I could imagine Alejandro Escovedo covering it. It reminds me of Mott’s “ I Wish I Was Your Mother”. The only song I imagine I have heard on this album is “Rock N’ Roll Fantasy”, so we are off to a great start on the Misfits album for me.
Yukon Cornelius: “How do you like that? Even among misfits you’re a misfit”. (Sorry. This may be a US only pop culture reference. I’ve been waiting to use this all day.)
Me too. I love the show and to know there’s another misfit who likes both The Kinks and The Rockford Files is comforting in a weird misfitting way.
I ignored the last song for many years, but I will have lots of positive things to say about it. The underdog of the album. It will most likely make my top five from the album. It's hard to say since I like almost every song on here.
OT: Just back from a record fair this hour and loads of Kinks vinyl albums on offer, wanted to buy a Preservation Act 1 but it was on Pickwick not RCA, a UK Lola LP but it was a whopping $220, a US You Really Got Me which was Stereo not Mono & less so a Low Budget (amongst others) that i just eyed with suspicion!
Mark I am glad you qualified what AFL stood for as I was almost going to mention Buddy Franklin's impending 1000th career goal! Edit: (And it's glamour!)
Your last sentence is as valuable as any others ever written on this thread! I am with you 100% as this is something modern society desperately needs to help the individual and ultimately itself!