[2016-03-25] VA "Kinked! Kinks Songs And Sessions 1964-1971" (Ace UK)

Linda · **Posted:** Sat Feb 13, 2016 5:26 pm

Description
One of the greatest songwriting talents the UK has ever produced, Ray Davies was tremendously prolific right from his earliest days with the Kinks. His wry take on the British way of life was matched by uncanny melodic and commercial sensibilities, resulting in a body of work that remains unsurpassed. From ‘You Really Got Me’ on, the Kinks’ popularity and influence around the globe has been immeasurable, as ably demonstrated by the many covers of Davies’ songs.

“Kinked!” is an alternative celebration of the Kinks’ first decade, via the songs that “got away” when a surfeit of material was shopped by Davies’ publisher and management, both in the UK and overseas. These tunes include several signature items never officially recorded by the Kinks – ‘I Go To Sleep’, ‘This Strange Effect’, ‘All Night Stand’ – or often released well in advance of the Kinks’ own versions. The range of interpreters is wide, from pop-jazz chanteuse Peggy Lee and teen idol Bobby Rydell to Brit-girls the Orchids, UK mainstays the Pretty Things, sessioneer Nicky Hopkins, satirist Barry Fantoni, US garage punk avatars the Chocolate Watchband and R&B veterans the Olympics. Several cuts are previously unissued alternate versions / mixes or recent vault discoveries. “Kinked!” also gathers the known outside tracks to feature some or all of the Kinks as accompaniment, like the obscure ‘King Of The Whole Wide World’. And as writer, Kinks guitar slinger extraordinaire Dave Davies contributes one track, the rare beat pounder ‘One Fine Day.’

Growing up in Crouch End, at the foot of Muswell Hill, you might say an affinity with the Kinks was in the tapwater. Indeed, ‘You Really Got Me’, ‘Lola’ and others resonated in my sub-teenaged brain long before I learned who the actual artist was. Subsequent exploration of the Kinks’ vintage catalogue proved to be a constant joy, and I managed to see them live on at least one occasion in London in the mid-80s. I noted at the time that the audience was almost wholly comprised of Americans, and after to moving to California I discovered just how deep an impression my hometown heroes had made on this side of the Atlantic.

The contents of “Kinked!” almost compiled themselves but as a long-time fan I was happy to oblige and shepherd this package to fruition. It’s an eminently listenable programme that firmly makes the case that Ray Davies and the Kinks had talent in spades from the very start.

Tracklist
1. This Strange Effect - Dave Berry
2. Look For Me Baby - Goldie & The Gingerbreads
3. I Bet You Won't Stay - The Cascades
4. King Of The Whole Wide World - Leapy Lee
5. I Go To Sleep - Peggy Lee
6. All Night Stand - The Thoughts
7. So Mystifying - The Olympics
8. Un Jeune Homme Bien - Petula Clark
9. One Fine Day - Shel Naylor
10. Oh What A Day It's Going To Be - Mo & Steve
11. Little Man In A Little Box - Barry Fantoni
12. A House In The Country - The Pretty Things
13. When I See That Girl Of Mine - Bobby Rydell
14. Nobody's Fool - Cold Turkey
15. Act Nice And Gentle - Duster Bennett
16. I've Got That Feeling - The Orchids
17. Emptiness - The Honeycombs
18. Rosy, Won't You Please Come Home aka Rosie, Rosie - Marianne Faithfull
19. I'm Not Like Everybody Else - The Chocolate Watchband
20. Who'll Be The Next In Line - The Knack
21. Dandy - Herman's Hermits
22. The Virgin Soldiers March - The John Schroeder Orchestra
23. A Little Bit Of Sunlight - The Majority
24. Big Black Smoke - Mick & Malcolm
25. Mister Pleasant - Nicky Hopkins & The Whistling Piano
26. End Of the Season - The Ugly's

Amazon USA
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BLSLWEC/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01BLSLWEC/?tag=imwan-21

Ocean Doot · 25 Oct 2007

Neat.

pobbard · 18 Jun 2007

Great idea! I'm in.

Linda · **Posted:** Mon May 09, 2016 6:19 pm

pobbard · 18 Jun 2007

Got this a few weeks ago - full of great material, like "King of the Whole Wide World". I'm hooked.

tideshea · **Joined:** 27 Mar 2014 **Posts:** 225

I really enjoyed this. Full of great nuggets. King Of The Whole Wide World by Leapy Lee, Little Man In A Little Box by Barry Fantoni (very Kinks-ish) and I'm Not Like Everybody Else by the Chocolate Watchband are pleasant surprises!

Willy Wilson · **Joined:** 22 Jan 2007 **Posts:** 939

Was surprised that the collection didn't include The Rationals version of I Need You, especially since Ace/Big Beat released the two disc anthology from The Rationals.

[2016-03-25] VA "Kinked! Kinks Songs And Sessions 1964-1971" (Ace UK)

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