| The Essential Kinks | ||||
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| Released | October 14, 2014 | |||
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| Length | 2:38:54 | |||
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| The Kinks compilation albums chronology | ||||
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The Essential Kinks is a two disc compilation album by English rock band the Kinks, released on October 14, 2014, on Legacy Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. [1]
The album celebrates the Kinks' 50th anniversary [2] [3] of their first release with RCA Records. The album includes all the Kinks' biggest hits from 1964 to 1993. It was released as part of Sony's The Essential series and contains 48 tracks. [2] The liner notes were written by David Bowie. [2] [1] [4]
The Davies brothers, who had not played together since 1996, revealed in early 2014 that they had met in person and put their animosity behind them. They were writing new compositions and discussing the possibility of playing together again. [4]
Sony has acquired exclusive licensing to the North American rights to albums made by the Kinks for both RCA Records and Arista between 1971 and 1985. Hi-resolution digital downloads, including Muswell Hillbillies from 1971, Preservation Act 1 from 1973, Preservation Act 2 from 1974, and State of Confusion were released on 9 September 2014. [1]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Classic Rock Revisited | B+ [5] |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Album | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "You Really Got Me" | Ray Davies | Kinks (1964) | 2:13 |
| 2. | "Stop Your Sobbing" | Ray Davies | Kinks (1964) | 2:05 |
| 3. | "All Day and All of the Night" | Ray Davies | Kinks-Size (1965) | 2:21 |
| 4. | "Tired of Waiting for You" | Ray Davies | Kinda Kinks (1965) | 2:30 |
| 5. | "Nothin' in the World Can Stop Me Worryin' 'Bout That Girl" | Ray Davies | Kinda Kinks (1965) | 2:43 |
| 6. | "Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy" | Ray Davies | Kinda Kinks (1965) | 2:15 |
| 7. | "A Well Respected Man" | Ray Davies | Kinkdom (1965) | 2:41 |
| 8. | "Dedicated Follower of Fashion" | Ray Davies | Kinkdom (1965) | 3:00 |
| 9. | "Who'll Be the Next in Line" | Ray Davies | Non-Album Single (1965) later appeared on Kinda Kinks as a bonus track. | 2:01 |
| 10. | "Set Me Free" | Ray Davies | Non-Album Single (1965) later appeared on Kinda Kinks as a bonus track. | 2:11 |
| 11. | "See My Friends" | Ray Davies | Non-Album Single (1965) later appeared on Kinda Kinks as a bonus track. | 2:44 |
| 12. | "Sunny Afternoon" | Ray Davies | Face to Face (1966) | 3:35 |
| 13. | "Dead End Street" | Ray Davies | Non-Album Single (1966) later appeared on Face to Face as a bonus track. | 3:21 |
| 14. | "Death of a Clown" | Ray Davies, Dave Davies | Something Else by The Kinks (1967) | 3:12 |
| 15. | "Autumn Almanac" | Ray Davies | Non-Album Single (1967) | 3:12 |
| 16. | "David Watts" | Ray Davies | Something Else by The Kinks (1967) | 2:37 |
| 17. | "Waterloo Sunset" | Ray Davies | Something Else by The Kinks (1967) | 3:17 |
| 18. | "Days" | Ray Davies | Non-Album Single (1968) | 2:52 |
| 19. | "The Village Green Preservation Society" | Ray Davies | The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (1968) | 2:47 |
| 20. | "Do You Remember Walter?" | Ray Davies | The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (1968) | 2:24 |
| 21. | "Picture Book" | Ray Davies | The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (1968) | 2:35 |
| 22. | "Victoria" | Ray Davies | Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) (1969) | 3:38 |
| 23. | "Apeman" | Ray Davies | Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One (1970) | 3:51 |
| 24. | "Strangers" | Dave Davies | Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One (1970) | 3:18 |
| 25. | "20th Century Man" (US Single Version) | Ray Davies | Muswell Hillbillies (1971) | 4:01 |
| 26. | "Supersonic Rocket Ship" | Ray Davies | Everybody's in Show-Biz (1972) | 3:30 |
| 27. | "Celluloid Heroes" (US Single Version) | Ray Davies | Everybody's in Show-Biz (1972) | 4:45 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Album | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Here Comes Yet Another Day" | Ray Davies | Everybody's in Show-Biz (1972) | 3:54 |
| 2. | "You Don’t Know My Name" | Dave Davies | Everybody's in Show-Biz (1972) | 2:34 |
| 3. | "Till the End of the Day" (Live 1972) | Ray Davies | Everybody's in Show-Biz (1972) | 2:00 |
| 4. | "One of the Survivors" | Ray Davies | Preservation Act 1 (1973) | 4:03 |
| 5. | "Sweet Lady Genevieve" | Ray Davies | Preservation Act 1 (1973) | 3:27 |
| 6. | "Everybody's a Star (Starmaker)" | Ray Davies | Soap Opera (1975) | 2:59 |
| 7. | "Life On the Road" | Ray Davies | Sleepwalker (1977) | 5:01 |
| 8. | "Sleepwalker" | Ray Davies | Sleepwalker (1977) | 4:04 |
| 9. | "Life Goes On" | Ray Davies | Sleepwalker (1977) | 5:01 |
| 10. | "A Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" (Single Version) | Ray Davies | Misfits (1978) | 4:00 |
| 11. | "Father Christmas" | Ray Davies | Non-Album Single (1977) | 3:41 |
| 12. | "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman" | Ray Davies | Low Budget (1979) | 3:36 |
| 13. | "Lola" (Live 1979) | Ray Davies | One for the Road (1980) | 4:45 |
| 14. | "Where Have All the Good Times Gone" (Live 1979) | Ray Davies | One for the Road (1980) | 2:17 |
| 15. | "Better Things" (Single Version) | Ray Davies | Give the People What They Want (1981) | 2:59 |
| 16. | "Destroyer" | Ray Davies | Give the People What They Want (1981) | 3:47 |
| 17. | "Come Dancing" | Ray Davies | State of Confusion (1983) | 3:55 |
| 18. | "Don't Forget to Dance" | Ray Davies | State of Confusion (1983) | 4:39 |
| 19. | "Do It Again" | Ray Davies | Word of Mouth (1984) | 4:09 |
| 20. | "Living on a Thin Line" | Dave Davies | Word of Mouth (1984) | 4:14 |
| 21. | "Scattered" | Ray Davies | Phobia (1993) | 4:10 |
| Country | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2014 | RCA Records, Legacy Records | CD, digital download | 88843066622 / 88843066622 |
"Suffragette City" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. It was originally released in April 1972 as the B-side of the single "Starman" and subsequently appeared on his fifth studio album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972). The song was later reissued as a single in 1976, with the US single edit of "Stay" as the B-side, to promote the compilation album Changesonebowie in the UK. Co-produced by Bowie and Ken Scott, it was recorded by Bowie at Trident Studios in London with his backing band the Spiders from Mars, consisting of Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey, at a late stage of the album's sessions. The song was originally offered to English band Mott the Hoople, who declined it and recorded Bowie's "All the Young Dudes" instead. It is a glam rock song that is influenced by the music of Little Richard and the Velvet Underground. The lyrics include a reference to Anthony Burgess' novel A Clockwork Orange and the lyric "Oooohh wham bam, thank you, ma'am".
Something Else by the Kinks, often referred to simply as Something Else, is the fifth UK studio album by the Kinks, released in September 1967. The album continued the Kinks' trend toward an eccentric baroque pop and music hall-influenced style defined by Ray Davies' observational and introspective lyrics. It also marks the final involvement of American producer Shel Talmy in the Kinks' 1960s studio recordings; henceforth Ray Davies would produce the group's recordings. Many of the songs feature the keyboard work of Nicky Hopkins and the backing vocals of Davies's wife, Rasa. The album was preceded by the singles "Waterloo Sunset", one of the group's most acclaimed songs, and the Dave Davies solo record "Death of a Clown", both of which charted in the UK top 3.
Muswell Hillbillies is the tenth studio album by the English rock group the Kinks. Released in November 1971, it was the band's first album for RCA Records. The album is named after the Muswell Hill area of North London, where band leader Ray Davies and guitarist Dave Davies grew up and the band formed in the early 1960s.
Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One, commonly abbreviated to Lola Versus Powerman, or simply Lola, is the eighth studio album by the English rock band the Kinks, recorded and released in 1970. A concept album, it is a satirical appraisal of the music industry, including song publishers, unions, the press, accountants, business managers, and life on the road. Musically Lola Versus Powerman is varied, described by Stephen Thomas Erlewine as "a wildly unfocused but nonetheless dazzling tour de force", containing some of Ray Davies's strongest songs.
"The Village Green Preservation Society" is a song by the English rock band the Kinks from their 1968 album The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society. Written and sung by the band's principal songwriter Ray Davies, the song is a nostalgic reflection where the band state their intention to "preserve" British things for posterity. As the opening track, the song introduces many of the LP's themes, and Ray subsequently described it as the album's "national anthem".
"The Man Who Sold the World" is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. The title track of Bowie's third studio album, it was released in November 1970 in the US and in April 1971 in the UK by Mercury Records. Produced by Tony Visconti, it was recorded at Trident and Advision Studios in London in May 1970, towards the end of the album's sessions; Bowie recorded his vocal on the final day of mixing for the album, reflecting his generally dismissive attitude during the sessions. Musically, it is based around a "circular" guitar riff from Mick Ronson. Its lyrics are cryptic and evocative, being inspired by numerous poems including the 1899 "Antigonish" by William Hughes Mearns. Bowie's vocals are heavily "phased" throughout and have been described as "haunting".
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, in 1963 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies. They are regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s. The band emerged during the height of British rhythm and blues and Merseybeat, and were briefly part of the British Invasion of the United States until their touring ban in 1965. Their third single, the Ray Davies-penned "You Really Got Me", became an international hit, topping the charts in the United Kingdom and reaching the Top 10 in the United States.
"The Buddha of Suburbia" is the theme song to the BBC TV series of the same name, released by British musician David Bowie in November 1993. It was re-recorded with American musician Lenny Kravitz for Bowie's 19th studio album, also titled The Buddha of Suburbia (1993), and inspired by his musical score for the series. The single reached No. 35 on the UK Singles Chart.
Everybody's in Show-Biz is the eleventh studio album released by the English rock group the Kinks, released in 1972. A double album, the first disc features studio recordings, while the second disc documents a two-night Carnegie Hall stand.
Preservation Act 1 is a concept album and the 12th studio album by the English rock group the Kinks, released 16 November 1973 by RCA Records.
Low Budget is the eighteenth studio album by English rock group the Kinks, released in 1979. Following the minor success of their 1978 album Misfits, the band recorded the majority of the album in New York rather than London. Unlike the more nostalgic themes of many Kinks albums prior to Low Budget, many of the album's songs allude to contemporaneous events. Musically, the album is a continuation of the band's "arena rock" phase, resulting in a more rock-based sound and more modern production techniques.
Misfits is the seventeenth studio album by the English rock band the Kinks, released in 1978. Following the minor success of Sleepwalker in the United States, Misfits featured a more rock-oriented style than many other Kinks records of the 1970s. Despite internal conflicts within the band, leading to both bassist Andy Pyle and pianist John Gosling quitting the band, the album made the Top 40 in America. The album also contained the minor hit single "A Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy", as well as less successful releases "Live Life" and "Black Messiah".
Give the People What They Want is the nineteenth studio album by the English rock group the Kinks. It was released in August 1981 in the US but not until January 1982 in Europe. It was delayed because lead singer Ray Davies wanted to produce a full-length video for the album but financing fell through. Also scrapped were plans to remix the album for the European market. It was initially aimed to be a statement on the media.
State of Confusion is the twentieth studio album by the English rock group, the Kinks, released in 1983. The record features the single "Come Dancing", which hit #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was one of the band's biggest hit singles in the United States, equaling the 1965 peak of "Tired of Waiting for You". The album itself was a major success, peaking at #12 on the Billboard album charts.
Sleepwalker is the sixteenth studio album by the English rock group, the Kinks, released in 1977. It marked a return to straight-ahead, self-contained rock songs after several years of concept albums. It is the first album in what critics usually call the "arena rock" phase of the group, in which more commercial and mainstream production techniques would be employed. The album also marks the last appearance of bassist John Dalton, who left the band during the recording sessions. Dalton plays bass on all songs on the album save for "Mr. Big Man". The lineup of the Kinks would be trimmed down significantly in 1977 following the album's release, as the brass section and backup singers were removed and the band returned to a standard rock band outfit.
Schoolboys in Disgrace, or The Kinks Present Schoolboys in Disgrace, is a 1975 concept album by the Kinks. Their 15th studio album, it was considered by critics to be the last album in what they dubbed the group's "theatrical" period, and their final release for RCA Records. The album is rooted in 1950s rock and roll, and also includes elements of hard rock, ‘50s pop and doo-wop, and arena rock.
"Animal Farm" is a song by the English rock band the Kinks from their sixth studio album, The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (1968). Written and sung by Ray Davies, the song was recorded in March 1968. Musically an example of pop, the song features a noticeably larger sound than the others on Village Green, accomplished through it being recorded in a larger studio space as well as heavy reverb added to its drums, percussion and tack piano. The song is one of the few Kinks recordings from the late 1960s to possibly feature real strings, as arranged by David Whitaker.
"She's Got Everything" is a song written by Ray Davies and released by English rock band the Kinks. It first appeared as the B-side of the Kinks' 1968 single, "Days".
The Essential Eric Carmen is a two-disc compilation album that contain 15 tracks each by American soft rock singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist Eric Carmen, released on March 25, 2014. It is part of Sony BMG's Essential series of compilation albums and includes tracks from Carmen's solo output, as well as tracks from his Raspberries days and Cyrus Erie. The tracks consist of some of Carmen's biggest hits and popular album 1968 as leader of American band Cyrus Erie through his 1984 release Eric Carmen.
