THE KINKS Part 2 – Sunny Afternoons And Waterloo Sunsets

By the time The Kinks released their third album, The Kink Kontroversy (1965), all was not well in Kinks-land. Tensions between drummer Mick Avory & guitarist Dave Davies led to Avory only appearing on 3 of the album’s 12 songs (noted session drummer Clem Cattini filled in admirably). Non-stop touring commitments pushed singer/guitarist/main songwriter Ray Davies to the brink of a nervous breakdown, and a particularly tumultuous tour of the U.S. in the summer of ’65 got them banned from performing in the States until 1969. Considering all of this, along with the fact that the oldest member of the band (bassist Pete Quaife) was still only 21 when the album…which was recorded in just over a week…was released, it would be understandable if The Kink Kontroversy was a complete mess. But it’s not, although it’s also not quite a classic, acting as more of a transitional record between their earlier blues-influenced British Invasion sound and the more sophisticated & distinctly British songwriting that was just around the corner. Other than album opener “Milk Cow Blues,” a cover of an old Sleepy John Estes blues tune, the record consists of originals (mostly by Ray) that crossed the line between the old & the new. I only consider a couple of these songs as being among their best work, but with a half dozen other worthwhile tracks it’s an album that shouldn’t be overlooked.

The Essentials:

♪     “Till The End Of The Day” – A riff-based tune like their earlier hits, but not simply a copy of those. It’s an exuberant love song with great soaring harmonies and an awesome guitar solo. This must have sounded amazing blasting from a radio back then (since it still gets me going whenever I hear it).  

♪     “Where Have All The Good Times Gone” – Ray combines his penchant for nostalgia with a cynical tone on this instant classic (especially that amazing chorus featuring high harmonies at “Won’t you tell me…”). Van Halen may have popularized this song again in 1982, but the original is still a blast of loose, ragged perfection.

[The Kinks – “Till The End Of The Day”]

Other Notable Tracks:

• “Ring The Bells” – An ecstatic love song in a subdued musical setting (“Let the bells ring loud & clear, let the whole world know I’m in love”). Slow & dreamy with fingerpicked guitar.
• “When I See That Girl Of Mine” – One of a handful of songs that carries on the “beat group” vibe of their earlier recordings. The lyrics might be a little simplistic, but it has a great melody and there’s a hint of sophistication in the arrangement that points the way forward.
• “The World Keeps Going Round” – A languid-paced rocker with Ray trying to remain optimistic, as though he’s giving a pep talk (possibly to himself): “You worry ‘bout the sun…the rain…You worry when the one you need has found somebody else, but the world keeps going round.”
• “I’m On An Island” – An early example of Ray the loner, trying to hide from society & all the pressures of success. Singing in a mock Caribbean accent, he may feel alone “but there is nowhere else on Earth I’d rather be, than if my long lost little girl was here with me.” I really like the drum track, with those open hi-hat accents.
• “It’s Too Late” – A midtempo chugging tune with insistent guitar work. There’s not much to the verses but that harmony-laden chorus (“It’s too late, much too late”) is excellent. I also love the boogie-woogie piano from the great Nicky Hopkins.
• “You Can’t Win” – This one is carried along by the cool stomping beat & Dave’s impressive stinging guitar sound. I love those harmonized “You can’t win” vocals. It’s upbeat in spite of the pessimism in the lyrics (“Times are pretty thin & you can’t win”).

The reissued CD version of The Kink Kontroversy doesn’t have as many bonus tracks as most of the other reissues, but two of them are up there with the best work they’ve ever done. It’s hard to imagine a time when such great singles weren’t even included on the subsequent album.

The Essential Bonus Tracks:

♪     “Dedicated Follower Of Fashion” – Ray’s wry, sarcastic, funny and super-catchy “attack” on those who followed fashion trends in Swingin’ London. It’s equal parts English Music Hall and folk-rock, and I especially love the bouncy rhythm guitar and the call-and-response vocals at “Oh yes he is.”

♪     “Sittin’ On My Sofa” – It may have been relegated to the b-side of the “Dedicated Follower…” single, but this fun little song has a slightly funky groove and I love the low-end guitar pattern. It has a great vibe and a perfectly loose rhythm track.

The band, and Ray in particular, took a huge leap forward with Face To Face (1966). The psychedelic cover art is a bit misleading (apparently Ray was not pleased with it), as the songs are mostly grounded in Ray’s unique brand of storytelling (he wrote all 14 tracks). Although I don’t consider this a flat-out classic, the fact that nearly every song is worth noting proves that this is probably the first Kinks album that rewards listeners all the way through (with only a couple of lesser tracks). Pete Quaife briefly left the group around the time of recording, with future Kinks bassist John Dalton filling in. For some reason Dalton only appears on one song, but I thought it was worth noting since he’ll be discussed in future posts after Quaife’s permanent exit from the group.

The Essentials:

♪     “Too Much On My Mind” – A hidden gem in their catalog. I love the interplay between the plucked guitar & bass, and the addition of harpsichord adds an ethereal quality. Lyrically, it’s hard to escape Ray’s despair (“My thoughts just weigh me down & drag me to the ground”)

♪     “Fancy” – A sparse & swirling psychedelic tune with droning bass and Middle Eastern-influenced guitar. This was a new sound for them, and opened up all kinds of possibilities for their music going forward.

♪     “Little Miss Queen Of Darkness” – A playful little folk-tinged pop song with subtle brush work from Avory & strong fingerpicked guitar (from Dave, I assume). I love the “Dancing, dancing on” vocal at the end of the chorus, and the dramatic instrumental break after the second chorus.

♪     “Sunny Afternoon” – The most well-known song from this album, and one of their best-loved hits. There’s that great descending pattern, lovely “ooh” backing vocals, and a perfect musical arrangement. Like The Beatles’ “Taxman,” they’re bemoaning the high taxes imposed by the British government, all set to beautiful melodies, most notably at “And I love to live so pleasantly, live this life of luxury.”

♪     “I’ll Remember” – Initially this sounded like album filler to me, but I liked it more each time I played the album. It sounds like their take on a lost Buddy Holly song, via The Beatles. The guitar melody is a killer and Ray’s vocal performance is particularly strong (“I’ll remember everything you said to me”).

Other Notable Tracks:

• “Party Line” – A bouncy rocker with Dave on vocals that wouldn’t be out of place on The Rolling Stones’ Between The Buttons LP. Or it could possibly be a song for Ringo to sing with The Beatles. Features memorable chiming guitar.
• “Rosie Won’t You Please Come Home” – A very interesting arrangement, moving from muted bass-heavy verses to a harpsichord-infused chorus. Not a classic but very catchy.
• “Dandy” – A slightly silly but thoroughly enjoyable pop gem with hints of Bob Dylan and strong acoustic guitar work. It was later a hit for Herman’s Hermits, and although it’s better suited for that group, I found myself enjoying The Kinks’ original.
• “Rainy Day In June” – The realistic storm sound effects in the intro are a harbinger of the darkness that follows, both musically & lyrically. “The cherished things are perishing and buried in their tomb; There is no hope, no reasoning, this rainy day in June.” I would not have wanted to encounter Ray on the day he wrote this song.
• “A House In The Country” – A fun driving rocker. I like those double hits between “He’s got a” and “house in the country.” It’s another character study, like “Dandy” or “Dedicated Follower…” but this one rocks harder and includes a nice biting guitar solo.
• “Most Exclusive Residence For Sale” – Ray’s vocals are inviting on this light & splashy tale of a pretentious rich man who wastes his money on frivolous things & eventually ends up with nothing. I love the climbing 4-note guitar pattern at the end of each chorus.
• “You’re Looking Fine” – Dave delivers a strong lead vocal on top of a slinky funk/blues groove, highlighted by a repeated guitar riff with lead guitar stabs. Lyrically it’s not much but it has a great feel.

The CD reissue of Face To Face includes seven bonus tracks, three of which are either good or great, while the others are nice to check out but don’t warrant multiple listens.

The Essential Bonus Tracks:

♪     “I’m Not Like Everybody Else” – The b-side of “Sunny Afternoon.” Features a subtle yet memorable riff in the verses and a simple chorus (the title repeated numerous times). Dave’s raw vocals give it a bluesy quality.

♪     “Dead End Street” – Another in a long line of Kinks songs influenced by English Music Hall, but this one has other charms up its sleeve. I love those trombone highlights, and they even point years ahead to glam rock & punk with those yelled “dead end” backing vocals. Only The Kinks could pull off these kinds of songs and make each one unique.

Other Notable Bonus Track:

• “Mr. Reporter” – A folk-influenced Dave Davies song that remained unreleased for years, with a steady beat & seriously biting lyrics that wouldn’t have pleased anyone interviewing the band: “Don’t you twist my words around, I’ll kill you, I won’t let you distort my simple sound.” In spite of the lyrical content, it’s instantly catchy & the horn section is a nice touch.

Their first four albums are all excellent, and each features a number of songs that would have to be included on a career-spanning anthology, but to me they didn’t release a top-to-bottom classic until album #5, Something Else By The Kinks (1967). The monochromatic retro cover design is a perfect match for these 13 original songs (10 by Ray & 3 by Dave), which cover a wide variety of styles (as always) but still form a cohesive whole unlike anything they had previously released. Perhaps it had something to do with Ray co-producing the album with their longtime producer Shel Talmy. There’s certainly a focus to the lyrics & music, and the band is firing on all cylinders. You know an album is special when only one song fails to make it onto my lists of key tracks.

The Essentials:

♪     “David Watts” – Ray’s wry observation of a classmate who may or may not be as perfect as he appears, all set to a steady beat, rollicking piano, an insanely catchy melody & a killer chorus with those excellent “Wish I could be-e-e-e” backing vocals. It was later faithfully covered by The Jam.

♪     “Death Of A Clown” – Mostly written by Dave, with assistance from Ray, and initially released as a Dave Davies solo single. It was a big hit which pointed to a possible solo career that wouldn’t materialize until many years later. It’s by far the best song to feature Dave’s vocals up to that point. I like the folk/country vibe and those haunting “la-la-la” female backing vocals.

♪     “Harry Rag” – Some fans might find the oom-pah military rhythm to be too quirky, but I’ve always enjoyed this homage to cigarettes (even though I’ve never been a smoker). It could be an update of an old British folk song, but only Ray Davies could write about poor folks who are “so content because they got a harry rag.”

♪     “Lazy Old Sun” – Definitely the strangest song here, but it’s also one of my favorites. I love the weary, slightly dissonant music and the unexpected vocal shift from “Sunny ray, shine my way” to “Kiss me with one ray of light from your lazy old sun.” I imagine this is the most divisive track on the album amongst fans.

♪     “Afternoon Tea” – Another one of Ray’s character study vignettes. I really like the 3-note bass riff in the verses, and the call-and-response at “I’ll take afternoon tea (afternoon tea).” Dave delivers some tasty blues licks.

♪     “Waterloo Sunset” – Do pop songs get any better than this? It certainly has to be in the discussion of best songs of the last 50 years, and certainly of its era. The lilting melody is a perfect match for Ray’s nostalgic yet upbeat homage to his hometown (“As long as I gaze on Waterloo sunset, I am in paradise”). It’s hard to put into words how perfectly they capture the mood of Ray’s lyrics, and I can’t imagine anyone not being drawn in by that descending guitar motif and the all-around gorgeous backing vocals. I think the word “perfection” sums this one up.

Other Notable Tracks:

• “Two Sisters” – An interesting character study of, obviously, two sisters; one married with children & the other leading a seemingly happy single life. The married sister overcomes her jealousy when she decides “she was better off than the wayward lass that her sister had been.” Could this actually be about Ray & Dave? Nice harpsichord.
• “No Return” – A subtle yet striking tune with a unique mood. It has hints of Paul McCartney’s early solo work, and instrumentally the band members really shine. It’s a musical showcase for their diversity.
• “Tin Soldier Man” – A sing-song-y melody with a horn mirroring the lead vocals in the chorus. Not sure who Ray was writing about here, but it’s an excellent tune with a nice arrangement.
• “Situation Vacant” – Shows a clear “electric” Bob Dylan influence, especially the organ swirl at “Just to keep his mama satisfied…” It’s more of a swinging rocker than the rest of the songs here, but it’s not out of place. Love those tasty blues licks from Dave.
• “Love Me Till The Sun Shines” – Another song written & sung by Dave, and originally the b-side of “Death Of A Clown.” It’s a midtempo, slightly groovy rocker with a killer fuzzy guitar tone, excellent organ swirls & hand claps and a great lead vocal performance (“You just have to love me till the suuuuun shines”).
• “End Of The Season” – Sounds of nature lead into a piano-based slow shuffle that could almost be a Frank Sinatra torch song. I love the light jazzy feel at “Since you’ve been gone, end of the season.” A hidden gem.

The CD reissue of Something Else includes seven bonus tracks. They’re all very good, but only a few of them are true stand-outs.

The Essential Bonus Track:

♪     “Autumn Almanac” – Another in a long line of Ray’s uniquely British slice-of-life observations. Love those high harmonies, and the chorus is among the best they’ve ever recorded (“Yes, yes, yes, it’s my autumn almanac”). This single-only release would have been a perfect addition to the album.

Other Notable Bonus Tracks:

• “Susannah’s Still Alive” – Written & sung by Dave, and released as a solo single. For some reason its b-side, “Funny Face,” was included on the album instead of this one, which I think is the stronger of the two. I like the circular 8-note piano melody and the harmonica accompanying the vocals in the chorus (“Oh, Susannah’s gonna cry. Oh, Susannah’s still alive”).
• “Wonderboy” – How this single wasn’t a bigger hit I’ll never understand. It may not be in the upper echelons of their greatest recordings, but the catchy, lilting melody and Ray’s inviting vocals should have been enough to make this at least a second-tier hit. I especially like the harpsichord and the childlike “la-la-la” refrain.

This was an incredibly fun batch of albums to spend time with. I enjoyed following their development during such a short period of time, progressing from good to great to classic. Next time I’ll be talking about a handful of albums that are almost unanimously described as the pinnacle of their career. I know those records relatively well so I already agree with the critical consensus, but there are still a number of songs I don’t recall, and now it’s time to get to know them once & for all. Until then, please let me know if you agree with my assessments of The Kink Kontroversy, Face To Face and Something Else By The Kinks. I look forward to discussing them with you.

[One additional note: I usually highlight songs that aren’t quite as well known as each artist’s biggest hits, since most people reading these posts are likely already aware of those, but occasionally it’s worth including one just as a reminder of how great it is…and that certainly applies to “Waterloo Sunset.” Enjoy it.]