Reissues Of Three Kinks Albums

[martin53]

Monday, March 28th 2011, was the release day in the UK for the first three 2-CD "deluxe" reissues "Kinks", "Kinda Kinks" and "Kink Kontroversy".

[g12]

Hi red boarders, thought I'd drop by and give some first impressions on these reissues. On first look, I'm a wee bit disapointed that the Deluxe Packaging isn't a slipsleeve like other Universal Deluxe albums - it's a sticker that wraps round and in years to come will no doubt detiriorate and discolour in time. The spines are also dull - black copy on a white background. They do look quite nifty stacked together though, I hope for the uniformity of it all that further reissues keep the same spines.

The booklets, however, are world class - FULL of great photos and all sorts of memorabilia. I like seeing the different gig posters where we see The Kinks headlining above acts like The Animals and Sonny & Cher. Kinda Kinks cover also has a cool scan of a short newspaper article on the inside that complains people can't understand what Ray is singing and a brief apology from Ray saying he'll try to enunciate better in future!

I'd like to hear the Shel Telmy produced faux Spector take on You Really Got Me that the liners talk of, but it's not to be found on the reissues....surely we should get things like that. Mentioning them and not including them is a real tease.

The liners did point me to this cover of I Go To Sleep which is really quite good



I've not listened to the music of all three sets yet, but have listened to some of them. The alternate I'm Not Like Everybody Else which is previously unreleased is worth a listen for sure.

[martin53]

Thanks for your posting, g12!

Looking forward to your further feedback on the three 2-CD "deluxe" reissues!

[sleepwalker24]

Thanks for the info G12!
Its good to see you checking in too!
Personally I haven't bought the reissues ...hopefully I'll get round to it eventually!

[g12]

Thanks Martin and Sleepwalker

Here's my thoughts on the unreleased tracks if aanyone's interested.

Kinks

Everybody’s Gonna Be Happy – Disc 1 Track 18
A bit slower than the released version and not as good to be honest. It’s got a more prominent drum beat throughout turning the song into a bit of a shuffle. It’s still a great song but this doesn’t add much to it.

Got Love If You Want It - Disc 2 Track 19
Instead of starting with the harmonica like the normal version this starts with the bass and drums. Almost sounds like a Dr Feelgood take on the song! The bass is more prominent throughout the song but again I have a bit of a problem with Ray’s vocal on the r’n’b numbers…he just doesn’t suit it. Dave plays some filthy guitar parts here about halfway through. I like this take a lot more than the album cut.

Little Queenie - Disc 2 Track 24
For some reason Brian Matthews introduces this as Go Queenie Go but it is the Chuck Berry song also covered by The Stones. It’s as you’d expect but Ray’s vocal here is much straighter than on a lot of his work on the cover material. I like this cut a lot.

Disc 2 Track 25 – I’m A Lover Not A Fighter
Introduced as “one of the newer but very popular earthy rhythm and blues groups.” This is great if like me you like your fast paced Dave-ups! I love the snotty voice Dave sung these rock and roll style songs in – real attitude.

Disc 2 Track 28 – I’ve Got That Feeling
This is quite different if only for the fact that there’s no piano here at all unlike the studio version where it’s lead instrument. As such it’s a guitar led song and a bit higher tempo than the one we’ve already got.


Kinda

Tell Me Now So I’ll Know – Disc 3 Track 13
It’s a piano demo with some drums in the background. Sounds very Merseybeat to me. There’s a wee bit of Sealed With A Kiss in the melody in this take as well. Very good quality though audiowise. Nice track but you can see why he didn’t take it much further – it’s generic. I’ve got it on the Great Lost …bootleg, butnot quite this good quality wise and good to see it get an official release. Holly Golightly covered it for the Mojo CD a few years ago.

See My Friends – Disc 2 Track 17
It’s exactly the same song arrangement wise but there’s some much, much heavier guitar playing on it. It’s much more akin to the earlier singles by the band. If you liked the version with Spoon on Ray’s duet album I bet you’ll like this one too. It’s cool. Not quite perfect quality audio wise but it’s good.

Come On Now – Disc 2 Track 18
Some messing about from Dave at the start and end of this but it’s a rollicking take on the song anyway. Not radically different but great to hear an unreleased version of an early Dave sung rocker.

You Shouldn’t Be Sad – Disc 2 Track 19
Brian Matthews “You shouldn’t be sad now…you should be delighted – it’s our long haired top of the bill…” You don’t get intros like that anymore on radio! I don’t think is live….it sounds at least pre-recorded if not just using a studio take. The vocal is too identical to the original to be a live BBC cut.

Hide And Seek – Disc 2 Track 23
Chuc Berry territory here, this is chock a block full of r’n’b riffing from Dave with a typical Ray vocal when singing rocking blues at this time. I always think Dave sung these tracks better. Nice solo from Dave.


Kontroversy

I’m Not Like Everybody Else - Disc 2 Track 8
It’s certainly an alternate vocal, but it sounds more like a demo or at least very early take demo. It’s nowhere near release quality, the sound dips in it. It sounds a bit looser though, perhaps Dave was a bit more lubricated for this take. Sure sounds it.

I Never Met A Girl Like You Before – Disc 2 Track 12
Not one of the mre interesting BBC live cuts, this is pretty similar to the released version and quite unusually for a Kink live cut isn’t as loose as the studio version. Nice guitar work from Dave though. As usual.

A Well Respected Man – Disc 2 Track 16
Brian Matthews introduces this. It’s got a very echoy vocal from Ray but it sounds quite good like that. The vocal being so low in the mix lets you hear Mick’s shuffling beat and some nice rhythm picking from Dave on the choruses.

[HollyH]

Brilliant reviewing, g12 -- thanks a lot! I was on the fence about buying these, but you've whetted my appetite just enough to push me over the cliff. It does sound as if Dave's contributions make these unreleased cuts worth it!

[sleepwalker24]

Nice review G12!

[martin53]

Excellent review, g12!

[gary]

Thank you, G12. This is the kind of rundown I've been waiting for. I have all the previous CD reissues of individual LPs and was wondering what to acquire next. If this is all that's new on these three releases, it might be more logical for me to get the "Picture Book" box next instead. Any advice?

[micheal]

Hello new to the forum been checking regularly for news updates thought i may aswell join.

I have two questions to ask about the new remasters, which i am hopeful of some help.

I have searched the internet about the new remasters for any information on a remaster of Lola VersusPowerman and the Money goround does anyone know if this will be remastered? sorry if this has been asked dont wanna be a pain in the ass.

and are these remasters the same as the deluxe edition of Village Green Preservation Society?

thanks

[HollyH]

I believe these 3 are less extensive than the VGPS remaster, which did go to 3 discs. (A well-deserved repackaging of a neglected classic, however, IMO!)

I don't believe that other reissues have been announced, but I assume that others will follow if these are successful. (Another good reason to buy these. )

[micheal]

Thanks for that are these new ones in the same type of packaging as the VGPS remaster?

[martin53]

A new article about the deluxe reissues on the Time web site.

newsfeed.time.com/2011/04/11/music-monday-the-kinks-reissued/

Enjoy!

[gary]

Thanks for the link, Martin. Good article. Except for this: "Like most bands toward the end of the 1960s, the Kinks went all weird and hippie-like. ('Waterloo Sunset' practically demands that you put on a crown of flowers and dance around barefoot.)" Wow, I don't see it that way at all. Maybe true for a few songs like "Lavender Hill" or "Misty Water," but "Waterloo Sunset" always sounded to me like a slice of real life -- as seen through the eyes of a dreamer, maybe, but real life nonetheless. In fact, I think one thing that sets the Kinks apart is that they never did go "all weird and hippie-like." In their clothing, maybe, but not in their music.

[bamajohn1]

Apr 12, 2011 15:37:46 GMT -5 gary said:

Thanks for the link, Martin. Good article. Except for this: "Like most bands toward the end of the 1960s, the Kinks went all weird and hippie-like. ('Waterloo Sunset' practically demands that you put on a crown of flowers and dance around barefoot.)" Wow, I don't see it that way at all. Maybe true for a few songs like "Lavender Hill" or "Misty Water," but "Waterloo Sunset" always sounded to me like a slice of real life -- as seen through the eyes of a dreamer, maybe, but real life nonetheless. In fact, I think one thing that sets the Kinks apart is that they never did go "all weird and hippie-like." In their clothing, maybe, but not in their music.

I absolutely concur Gary! The Kinks did not go all hippie and weird and that is why they are my favorite band from that period (or period!); they stand out because they were grounded in real life (as you highlighted Gary )! I saw Mike Mills of REM talk about how the Kinks didn't do all the hippy dippy sheet ; that it was a breath of fresh air for him to listen to their late 60s stuff such as Village Green Preservation Society in comparison to other stuff from the era! The Kinks were so out of step that they were behind and ahead of the times!

Now let me say that there is nothing wrong with the trippy stuff and I like a lot of it, but I think the Kink's music is more timeless because it was rooted in everyday life and problems!

Remember, one of their biggest influences was Hank Williams Sr. and Big Bill Broonzy so the Kinks had their feet planted firmly in 'roots music' even though they invented hard rock and heavy metal !