features in: Album Chart of 1968 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1960s ● 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die  |
This famously English affair, all written by Ray Davies, had more in common with the worlds of folk and music hall than it did with the blues-rock crunch of the mid-60s. They lined up: Ray Davies (vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica, mellotron), Dave Davies (lead guitar, backing vocals), Pete Quaife (bass, backing vocals) and Mick Avory (drums, percussion). It'd be the last time the original quartet would make an album together, much to Ray's dismay. Pete Quaife had ambitions to lead his own country rock band, and departed The Kinks in April, 1969. Session man Nicky Hopkins (keyboards, mellotron) was as good as a fifth member on the set. Folk rocker “The Village Green Preservation Society” starts things off splendidly with a catchy tune and a whole-host of feel-good phrases which connected with folks up and down the country. On one hand, it was a celebration: “We are the Desperate Dan Appreciation Society… God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties… We are the Draught Beer Preservation Society” and on another a criticism: “We are the Skyscraper condemnation Affiliate, God save tudor houses, antique tables and billiards” The tone was set. Another highlight on side one is the psuedo-psychedelic “Big Sky” which is almost seen to have a godly presence over the little people below. That's a far-out cosmic jive man. Party girls and boys are under the cosh in the pop-ish “Starstruck”; don't forget that good old family values are the ones which will serve you best, an idealism which is in the DNA of this LP.
The Jukebox Rebel
03–Aug–2008
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [02:45]  The Kinks - The Village Green Preservation Society [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Folk Rock / Americana |
| A2 | [02:23]  The Kinks - Do You Remember, Walter? [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Cerebral Pop |
| A3 | [02:34]  The Kinks - Picture Book [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Cerebral Pop |
| A4 | [02:28]  The Kinks - Johnny Thunder [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Folk Rock / Americana |
| A5 | [04:03] The Kinks - Last Of The Steampowered Trains [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
| A6 | [02:49]  The Kinks - Big Sky [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Psychedelia |
| A7 | [02:21]  The Kinks - Sitting By The Riverside [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Pop |
| B1 | [02:57]  The Kinks - Animal Farm [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Cerebral Pop |
| B2 | [02:08]  The Kinks - Village Green [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Folk Rock / Americana |
| B3 | [02:18]  The Kinks - Starstruck [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Pop |
| B4 | [02:34]  The Kinks - Phenomenal Cat [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Folk |
| B5 | [02:23]  The Kinks - All Of My Friends Were There [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Pop |
| B6 | [02:40]  The Kinks - Wicked Annabella [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Psychedelia |
| B7 | [02:13] The Kinks - Monica [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Cerebral Pop |
| B8 | [02:10]  The Kinks - People Take Pictures Of Each Other [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Pop |
