The Kinks - Album by Album (song by song)

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

  1. Zeki

    Zeki Forum Resident

    I’m with you on this album but am keeping abreast for the thread camaraderie. (Your music taste often mirrors my own so I’d probably allow you access to the player controls if you came over to the house. Possibly! :D ).
     
  2. pyrrhicvictory

    pyrrhicvictory Forum Resident

    Location:
    Manhattan
    referring to this @mark winstanley
     
  3. DISKOJOE

    DISKOJOE Boredom That You Can Afford!

    Location:
    Salem, MA
    I just want to wish a Happy Easter or a very beautiful Sunday to all the Avids out there and their families. I especially hope that Avid Ajsmith gets a bit better. I wish you all the best no matter what. Also, us MA Avids will have an extra day off for Patriots Day on Monday. I'll actually comment on songs again in a bit (spent the past couple of days cleaning up the homestead & am now working at my library job)
     
  4. Zeki

    Zeki Forum Resident

    I’m still flabbergasted by the (to me) startling fact that Dave’s bar-code album reached #42 on the US album charts.

    I checked my top 100 albums list for 1980 and I have nothing; zero. Not a single album made the grade. I’m working my brain and recall that I bought the Pat Travers Band ‘Crash and Burn’ that year. Haven’t played it since (!) so that one didn’t hold up.

    I found this list of the top 30 best-selling albums (U.S.) for 1980. Note that a few were released in 1979 but still sold like hot cakes in 1980 (The Wall, for instance):
    30. Just One Night – Eric Clapton (RSO)
    29. Go All the Way – Isley Brothers (T-Neck)
    28. The Empire Strikes Back (Orig. Soundtrack) (RSO)
    27. Hotter Than July – Stevie Wonder (Tamla)
    26. One Step Closer – Doobie Brothers (Warner Bros.)
    25. Cornerstone – Styx (A&M)
    24. The River – Bruce Springsteen (Columbia)
    23. The Whispers – The Whispers (Solar)
    22. Kenny – Kenny Rogers (United Artists)
    21. Phoenix – Dan Fogelberg (Full Moon/Epic)
    20. Women and Children First – Van Halen (Warner Bros.)
    19. Back in Black – AC/DC (Atlantic)
    18. On the Radio – Greatest Hits, Volumes I & II – Donna Summer (Casablanca)
    17. Give Me the Night – George Benson (Quest/Warner Bros.)
    16. Christopher Cross – Christopher Cross (Warner Bros.)
    15. Crimes of Passion – Pat Benatar (Chrysalis)
    14. Kenny Rogers’ Greatest Hits (Liberty)
    13. Emotional Rescue – The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones)
    12. Mad Love – Linda Ronstadt (Asylum)
    11. Damn the Torpedoes – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Backstreet/MCA)
    10. Hold Out – Jackson Browne (Asylum)
    9. Xanadu (Orig. Soundtrack) – ELO, Olivia Newton-John (MCA)
    8. Guilty – Barbra Streisand (Columbia)
    7. Diana – Diana Ross (Motown
    6. The Long Run – Eagles (Asylum)
    5. Urban Cowboy (Orig. Soundtrack) – Various Artists (Full Moon/Asylum)
    4. The Game – Queen (Elektra)
    3. Against the Wind – Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band (Capitol)
    2. The Wall – Pink Floyd (Columbia)
    1. Glass Houses – Billy Joel (Columbia)

    ‘Glass Houses’ was the biggest selling album of that year (during that year). Point is that this is a snapshot into the environment in which Dave’s album was released. Naturally, there’s a whole lot more, but these were the big, monster sellers.
     
  5. ARL

    ARL Forum Resident

    Location:
    England
    "Visionary Dreamer"

    I've never knowingly listened to Journey (no, not even that song), so I wouldn't know about any similarity to that. This is quite a nice song with a good melodic flow in the verse, although the chorus seems a little out of Dave's comfortable range (and he will be going higher still in later tracks) consequently the screaming is a little off-putting. The arrangement of the third verse is the highlight for me. Possibly the best ballad on the album.

    "Nothing More To Lose"

    Never been a big fan of this one, as it seems more of a straight rock track than the others, but I think the bridge section saves it and gives it something a bit extra. I don't think I have ever heard the word "separative" in any context before, let alone in a rock song lyric.
     
  6. ThereOnceWasANote

    ThereOnceWasANote Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cape May, NJ
    So essentially a Dave Davies solo album fared better than every one of Ray's rock theatre albums. And on RCA no less. Wow.

    Well now, knowing this the next album Kinks makes perfect sense. Ray's ambitious rock operas being one upped on the charts by his baby brother's bar code titled solo debut. It brings another meaning to the Give The People What They Want album title.

    I had of those 100: 1-4, 11, 13, 19-20.
     
  7. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

    Ahhhh, cheers, I missed that
     
  8. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

    I have and enjoy 17 of those :)
     
  9. Wondergirl

    Wondergirl Forum Resident

    Location:
    Massachusetts, USA
    Where Do You Come From
    I don't hate it, but I don't love it. I find the initial 30 seconds or so engaging. And then it goes into that guitar hero stuff that is a bit over the top, then it settles in and sounds pretty ok until the vocals come in.

    I don't like the echo of the vocals at all. very distracting.
    I'm no expert on drums, but I do like some of the big drum sound. Doesn't seem complicated, but somehow works.

    Doing the Best for You
    Hmmm...not doing much for me. And I'm not sure I have the patience nor the time to listen to it several more times. It's not really a sound I enjoy overall.
     
  10. ThereOnceWasANote

    ThereOnceWasANote Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cape May, NJ
    Maybe I Love You

    Stripped of the vocals it sounds like a Stones outtake (the guitar tone and groove). I like the drum breaks on this one as well.

    I think Ray has a point about the lack of lyrics and it being a single. It's a rare Kinks groove track but it works well.

    Ray might have gotten sued because it is obvious the song bears a strong resemblance to Baby I Love You. Regardless, I like this one as well.

    Stolen Away Your Heart

    Spot on with the Nick Lowe and Better Things references. When he sings Sweetheart I think of that Frankie and the Knockouts single with that title.

    It's ok but a slight track and the weakest of these outtakes. The bones of this one will be used in a much Better song.
     
  11. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

    Yea, I think sound is a huge factor in whether someone is able to give this album a good chance.
    Even for a 1980 album it has big splashy production.

    I wonder if all the extra reverbs added were due to confidence?
    Reverb softens vocals to the ears somewhat.... that's why people say they sing better in the bathroom, because the tiled walls give good sound reflection, and so your voice kind of layers over itself and thickens up a little.
    I think he may have just dialled in a bit too much.
     
  12. ajsmith

    ajsmith Senior Member

    Location:
    Glasgow
  13. Zeki

    Zeki Forum Resident

    Am listening now. Studs Terkel interview; excellent.

    “‘Some Mother’s Son’ was played during the moratorium, I was told.” Anyone know what this is reference to? (Ray responds that he’d heard that.) 1969.
    Edit: I’m wondering if Terkel realizes the band name is The Kinks. It sounds to me like he might think it’s ‘Reprise’!
     
  14. DISKOJOE

    DISKOJOE Boredom That You Can Afford!

    Location:
    Salem, MA
    The only album on that list that I own is Emotional Rescue and I only got it a couple of years ago.
     
  15. DISKOJOE

    DISKOJOE Boredom That You Can Afford!

    Location:
    Salem, MA
    The Moratorium was a nation wide protest against the Vietnam War that happened in the fall of 1969.
     
  16. Zeki

    Zeki Forum Resident

    Thanks. In the U.S., I see. I’m scribbling thoughts as I’m listening.
     
  17. Zeki

    Zeki Forum Resident

    Ray is not exactly an enthusiastic salesman in this interview. He’s about as laid back as they come. Almost Jay Farrar-like. :D
     
  18. palisantrancho

    palisantrancho Forum Resident

    I have five of these albums. Stevie Wonder, Pink Floyd, and The Stones are the three favorites from the list.
     
  19. Zeki

    Zeki Forum Resident

    Thanks so much for posting this.

    . @mark winstanley , would you be willing to link this on the index? Studs Terkel is very well prepared as he comes into this interview and, by the end, he gets even Ray to sound engaged.

    Note: it’s clear that tidbits of the various tracks were played during the original interview. On this recording, the music has been cut.
     
  20. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

    Definitely mate... I'm trying to link all the Kinks audio and visual stuff, and any relevant other into :)
     
  21. mark winstanley

    mark winstanley Certified dinosaur, who likes physical product Thread Starter

    but like the stereotyped Irishman wearing two condoms "to be sure, to be sure", I'll do it now :)

    Oct 1963 - Nov 1966 - Kinks get a haircut
    Apr 1967 - Feb 1970
    1965 Never Say Yes
    1966 Trouble In Madrid
    Nov 1970 - Jun 1976

    Ray interview

    Ray Interview with Studs Terkel 1969

    The Kinks Move To Arista Records

    Feb 1977 Sleepwalker
    Life On The Road - OGWT 77 - ITV 78
    Mr Big Man
    Sleepwalker - Mike Douglas - OGWT - Supersonic - SNL - Outtake
    Brother
    Juke Box Music - single - OGWT
    Sleepless Night
    Stormy Sky - OGWT 77
    Full Moon - live 77 - Ray live
    Life Goes On - OGWT 77
    Artificial Light
    Prince Of The Punks
    The Poseur
    On The Outside - remix
    Elevator Man

    Kinks Live Feb 1977
    Ray acoustic Apr 77
    Kinks Old Grey Whistle Test show 77
    Kinks Live Dec 1977
    Christmas Concert 1977
    The Pressures Of The Road

    Nov 1977 Father Christmas - video - live 1977 - tv promo - Dave live

    May 1978 Misfits
    Misfits - tv 1978
    Hay Fever - live?
    Black Messiah
    Rock And Roll Fantasy- the hotel room - live Paris 1978
    In A Foreign Land
    Permanent Waves
    Live Life - US version - UK tv
    Out Of The Wardrobe
    Trust Your Heart - live 1979
    Get Up

    1978 The Misfit Record EP

    Lola live in the hotel room

    UK tv 1978

    The Misfits Tour
    Live in Paris 1978

    Sept. 1978 20 Golden Greats

    Jul 1979 Low Budget
    Attitude
    Catch Me Now I'm Falling - remix - alt mix - The Late Man, Sea Cows In Love Mix
    Pressure - live 1983
    National Health
    Superman (ext. mix) - single/album mix - ext fan mix - video - straight mix 12"
    Low Budget - Extended mix - Live 89 - Ray Live
    In A Space
    A Little Bit Of Emotion
    A Gallon Of Gas - Live in 1982 - Full US single version - Alt mix
    Misery
    Moving Pictures
    studio outtakes
    Hidden Quality
    Duke
    Nuclear Love
    Maybe I Love You
    Stolen Away Your Heart

    Mike Konopka Restores the Kinks for the Velvel Reissues

    The Low Budget interview
    Part 1
    Part 2
    Part 3
    Part 4

    Ray On Wonderworld

    The Kunks

    Ray on the Stones

    Compilations part 1

    Dave Davies - AFL1-3603
    Where Do You Come From
    Doing The Best For You
    Visionary Dreamer
    Nothing More To Lose

    Live In Frankfurt in 1984

    Kinks live TOTP 1994

    2005 Thanksgiving Day Ray live on Conan Obrien

    Oct 2018 Dave Davies - Decade - interview
    If You Are Leaving (71)
    Cradle To The Grace (73)
    Midnight Sun (73)
    Mystic Woman (73)
    The Journey (73)
    Shadows (73)
    Web Of Time (75)
    Mr Moon (75) - Why
    Islands (78)
    Give You All My Love (78)
    Within Each Day (78)
    Same Old Blues (78)
    This Precious Time (78)

    Mick Avory
    Pete Quaife - interview - Kast Off Kinks - I Could See It In Your Eyes - Dead End Street
    Rasa Didzpetris Davies
    John Dalton
    John Gosling
    Jim Rodford
    Andy Pyle
    Gordon Edwards
    Clive Davis
     
  22. Vangro

    Vangro Forum Resident

    Location:
    London
    I notice Studs Terkel can pronounce Davies correctly - unlike Ray!
     
  23. Brian x

    Brian x the beautiful ones are not yet born

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    thank you. he burned bright.
     
  24. Zeki

    Zeki Forum Resident

    But, then again, maybe he’s pronouncing it incorrectly. (After all, I just learned to pronounce it Ray’s way after a lot of practice.)
     
  25. fspringer

    fspringer Forum Resident

    Location:
    New York City
    I think I have or had 15 of those albums. And I would later double back on stuff like Donna Summer and Barry Gibbs' work with Streisand. That whole early 80s R&B/Top 40 thing, I would also revisit - Pointer Sisters, Diana Ross, etc. In my mind, just good pop music, well constructed, usually by top-notch songwriting teams, studio pros and producers who knew what they were doing. Of course, at the time, I would have choked on those words, and done so for about the next 15 years thereafter!

    Of course, this list also feels like 1980 to me, too. I have roughly the same number of albums, but tracks from nearly all of these albums in my collection. That 1978-80 period was such an interesting time in terms of pop music, so much going on, all these genres that would later go on to have their own charts, just starting to form.
     

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