The Kinks should need no introduction, yet the Kinks I first knew in high school during the ‘80s were quite different from what you’ll find here. The bombast of their terrific hit single “Destroyer” feels like the work of an entirely different band compared to the spritely character studies to be found in “Dedicated Follower of Fashion” and “A Well-Respected Man,” and many of their other great ‘60s songs.
It seems that Ray Davies descended into bitterness as his career progressed, but the band’s ‘60s work is clever, witty, and perceptive without being outright cynical. The quality of their work in the ‘60s is so impressive, I had a hard time editing it down to the two CD-length playlists you have here.
Enjoy!
Playlists 1 & 2
These playlists cover the Kinks’ 1960s peak.
[UPDATE!—2022/11/08] Playlist 3
I seem to like the Lola versus Powerman and The Moneygoround album more than most critics do, but I don’t love many of the songs they pick out as the best: “Strangers,” “Get Back in Line,” “This Time Tomorrow,” etc. The lyrics are good, but I don’t get into the music so much—the tunes are kind of sleepy, in comparison with the best Kinks songs. Muswell Hillbillies I seem to like less than some critics do, but there are still a few songs I really dig.
Playlist 4 [possible future update]
At some point, I will probably add another update here, chronicling the Kinks’ arena-rock years and beyond. Right now, my feeling is that the only truly essential tracks of this period are “Destroyer” and “Come Dancing.” But there are plenty of other good songs from that time, and I feel I need to give some of their albums a more thorough listen.
Cover Art:
- The Singles Collection: Source, Discogs.com
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