The Jukebox Rebel

“Kinks” is the sound of young London getting in on the R n B beat action. At the time of its release they were: Ray Davies (20, lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, harmonica); Dave Davies (17, lead guitar, backing and lead vocals); Pete Quaife (20, bass guitar, backing vocals) and Mick Avory (20, drums, tambourine). At this early stage, there’s very little to distinguish them from contemporaries such as the Yardbirds; almost all the way it’s a taker, not a giver but what it gives, boy oh boy, it gives. They’re on the take with Chuck Berry, Tommy Tucker, Lazy Lester, Bo Diddley and Slim Harpo – what great taste. Re the giving, under the stated influence of The Kingsmen's “Louie Louie”, the group hit gold when Dave Davies decided to razor slit the speaker cone of his guitar amp: “it was all shredded but still on there, still intact. I played and I thought it was amazing.” The UK agreed with Dave – the third Kinks single of ’64 gave them their first hit – and they only went and had a bleedin’ number one on their hands! “You Really Got Me” fuelled the appetite of all concerned for a full-length and “Kinks”, released in October, was the result. Unlike a lot of critics, I really rate The Kinks debut – it’s got a simple honest energy about it, and I’d have right into it had I been around as a lad back then. I can just imagine the mosh pit – loads of sweat, air guitar and teenagers belting out “So Mystifying” and “Stop Your Sobbing” at the top of their lungs. These are the teenage kicks – 1964 style.

The Jukebox Rebel
29–Jul–2007

A1	[02:07] The Kinks - Beautiful Delilah (Charles Berry) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly
A2	[02:53] The Kinks - So Mystifying (Ray Davies) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly
A3	[01:58] The Kinks - Just Can’t Go To Sleep (Ray Davies) Pop
A4	[02:50] The Kinks - Long Tall Shorty (Herb Abramson, Don Covay) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
A5	[01:48] The Kinks - I Took My Baby Home (Ray Davies) Pop
A6	[02:03] The Kinks - I’m A Lover Not A Fighter (Joseph D. Miller) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly
A7	[02:13] The Kinks - You Really Got Me (Ray Davies) Proto-Punk
B1	[02:44] The Kinks - Cadillac (Ellas Otha Bates) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly
B2	[02:41] The Kinks - Bald Headed Woman (Traditional) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B3	[01:29] The Kinks - Revenge (Ray Davies, Larry Page) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B4	[02:16] The Kinks - Too Much Monkey Business (Charles Berry) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly
B5	[02:01] The Kinks - I’ve Been Driving On Bald Mountain (Traditional) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B6	[02:06] The Kinks - Stop Your Sobbin’ (Ray Davies) Pop
B7	[03:46] The Kinks - Got Love If You Want It (James Moore) Blues / Rhythm n Blues

ratings by TJR