The Kinks Albums Ranked From Worst to Best
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- It's finally time to rank the studio albums of The Kinks! Hard to believe that we haven't covered such a well-respected band yet.
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The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, north London, in 1963 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies. They are regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s. The band emerged during the height of British rhythm and blues and Merseybeat, and were briefly part of the British Invasion of the United States until their touring ban in 1965. Their third single, the Ray Davies-penned "You Really Got Me", became an international hit, topping the charts in the United Kingdom and reaching the Top 10 in the United States.
The Kinks' music drew from a wide range of influences, including American R&B and rock and roll initially, and later adopting British music hall, folk, and country. The band gained a reputation for reflecting English culture and lifestyle, fuelled by Ray Davies' wittily observational writing style, and made apparent in albums such as Face to Face (1966), Something Else (1967), The Village Green Preservation Society (1968), Arthur (1969), Lola Versus Powerman (1970), and Muswell Hillbillies (1971), along with their accompanying singles including the transatlantic hit "Lola" (1970). After a fallow period in the mid-1970s, the band experienced a revival during the late 1970s and early 1980s with their albums Sleepwalker (1977), Misfits (1978), Low Budget (1979), Give the People What They Want (1981) and State of Confusion (1983), the last of which produced one of the band's most successful US hits, "Come Dancing". In addition, groups such as Van Halen, the Jam, the Knack, the Pretenders and the Romantics covered their songs, helping to boost the Kinks' record sales. In the 1990s, Britpop acts such as Blur and Oasis cited the band as a major influence.
The original line-up comprised Ray Davies (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Dave Davies (lead guitar, vocals), Mick Avory (drums, percussion) and Pete Quaife (bass). The Davies brothers remained with the band throughout its history. Quaife was replaced by John Dalton in 1969, with keyboardist John Gosling being added in 1970 (prior to this, session keyboardist Nicky Hopkins played on many of their recordings). After Dalton's 1976 departure, Andy Pyle briefly served as the band's bassist before being replaced by Argent bassist Jim Rodford in 1978. Gosling quit in 1978 and was first replaced by ex-Pretty Things member Gordon Edwards, then more permanently by Ian Gibbons in 1979. Avory left the group in 1984 and was replaced by another Argent member Bob Henrit. The band gave its last public performance in 1996 and broke up in 1997 as a result of creative tension between the Davies brothers.
The Kinks have had five Top 10 singles on the US Billboard chart. Nine of their albums charted in the Top 40. In the UK, they have had seventeen Top 20 singles and five Top 10 albums. Four Kinks albums have been certified gold by the RIAA and the band have sold 50 million records worldwide. Among numerous honours, they received the Ivor Novello Award for "Outstanding Service to British Music". In 1990, the original four members of the Kinks were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well as the UK Music Hall of Fame in November 2005. In 2018, after years of ruling out a reunion due to the brothers' animosity and the difficult relationship between longtime drummer Mick Avory and Dave, Ray and Dave Davies finally announced they were working to reform the Kinks, with Avory also on board. However, comments made by each of the Davies brothers in 2020 and 2021 would indicate that in the years since the initial announcement, little (if any) progress has been made towards an actual Kinks reunion for a new studio band album.
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Thanks for watching! Let us know your thoughts on our lists and on The Kinks by leaving us a comment below.
Next up: The Grateful Dead
#kinks #thekinks #albumranking #worsttobest
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My all time fav British band. Sir Ray deserves every accolade - a songwriter's songwriter. Love Dave's falsetto.
The triad of Something Else, VGPS and Arthur is the peak. Imo underrated gems are Schoolboy's in Disgrace, Misfits, and Preservation 1.
Thanks for covering .
It's been a while since I went through their albums, but I think it's one of the strongest catalogs of any band ever. Even at their worst, they're never terrible IMO. Village Green #1 definitely, probably in my top 10 albums ever
YES!
One of my favourite bands of all time. Ray Davies is one of the most underrated songwriters in rock 'n' roll history (Dave wasn't too bad either), and their albums/singles output from 1965-72 alone would be enough to classify them as one of the greatest bands ever.
Hey Pete! Love to see it
@@claytonkelley4921 Hi! I loved it their discography. Whole you liked it as well!
@@pete3105 definitely my favorite week since Echo or U2
@@claytonkelley4921 this was probably my favourite since Bowie!
Dave is a terrific and underrated guitar player. He's style is groovy, melodic and kinda jammy!
I'm shocked that Jason has Village Green Preservation Society so low, but I will admit to agreeing with him about Soap Opera...
And VGPS certainly has variety. Animal Farm is great too.
I haven't listened to some of these in a while so I won't give a full ranking. Some interesting thoughts from all 3 guys. The less said for Jason's Soap Opera fetish the better. The Kinks are probably my second favorite band after The Beatles. I agree that the production in the 60s or more specifically the engineering was the biggest weakness of those records. Imagine those 60s albums recorded with 8 track machine with someone like Glyn Johns, Geoff Emerick, or Eddie Kramer behind the board. Ray Davies might have benefitted from having a George Martin figure to tighten things up. I would love to hear the 60s catalog totally remixed with no regard for being true to the original mixes.
Here is the top part of my ranking
1. Arthur
2. Village Green
3. Lola
4. Something Else
5. Muswell
6. Face to Face
7. Showbiz
8. State of Confusion
9. Schoolboys in disgrace
10. Sleepwalkers
Good list. Schoolboys very high!
Wow, dudes. I’m impressed that you guys invested all the time into this one, cuz IT’S A BEAST!! Side note: Sleepwalker is criminally under-appreciated.
The Kinks are my all-time favourite band, and Lola is my all-time favourite album, but I'm glad there wasn't total agreement on #1 since this is a discography that begs for hot-takes, and chaos.
Jason's ranking of Soap Opera is much higher than I'd put it, but he's right that they didn't put out a better album since. The production, and instrumentation just kick butt. Its general low regard is even sillier than the album itself.
The band's absence on this channel made me assume there'd be a lot of hate here, so it was a lot of fun seeing you all enjoy this adventure. Thanks for finally tackling The Kinks!
One For The Road is an absolutely essential live album .. From The Low Budget tour & capturing The Kinks embracing the new sounds of the day. Opens with The Hardway which The Clash " borrowed " A perfect set list.
It's really good!
One for the Road is excellent but it's a little heavy on Low Budget, which is not one of my favorite albums of theirs. I think I slightly prefer their very first live album- the one from 1967, Live at Kelvin Hall.
i have it on vinyl !!! Its awesome!!!! speaking of awesome ...................................................................🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯
@@AbbeyRoadkill1 Haven't heard that one. Have you heard To the Bone?
@@bengalgangster That was an impressive W !
I've only just discovered Village Green Preservation Society *very* recently. It's something in a similar conversation as Odessey and Oracle or Forever Changes where they only just came to my consciousness and I found really pleasant. And this is from someone who's been on a steady diet of classic rock all his life.
. . the Kinks should really be up there w the other great UK bands - Beatles, Who, Stones . . the Mount Rushmore of great bands. .
Odessey and Oracle has 3 standouts to me but lacks variety.
I think Arthur is the Kinks best underrated album!
If I may suggest another criminally underrated psych-pop gem look into the Turtles - Turtle Soup. The album was produced by Ray Davies.
@@davidkornblatt851 Agree with you! It is a great album and rocks ferociously at times!
FYI, regarding who did the eastern thing first it was actually The Kinks tune See My Friends. A single released in the UK in 1965 months before The Beatles Norwegian Wood.
I saw the Kinks several times in the early 70’s and Preservation Act 1 was my first concert I went without a lift from my mom in the 8th grade. They were fantastic Ray would balance a beer glass on his head take out a mirror and flash the audience during “Mirror of Love” tell jokes dance around. Very theatrical and vaudevillian. That’s the point, a British point, which can go over the heads of people. They were always something of a cult band anyway. God save the Kinks!!!
I saw them at the NY Felt Forum where they did a regular set and also performed the Preservation albums as a stage show. My dad drove us in, from Long island, and dropped us off. Sadly it was the only time I saw them.
@@johnlefsky8731 yup we were at the same show
Great in-depth reviews. As as 70+ yr old Brit, you boys showed great appreciation of classic 60s Uk music. Well done.
so glad you got to one of my favorite bands of all time - Top Ten band for me. The range of styles and the lyricism of Ray's writing is paramount for me.
I tried pretty hard to listen to all of their post-Lola albums, but they're all a mix of a few good songs here and there, plus a lot of forgettable stuff. I have never understood the exaltation of "Muswell Hillbillies."
That said, "The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society" is in my top 15 albums of all time. Of what I do enjoy:
08) The Kinks Kontroversy - 3 1/2 stars - a bit of a letdown, given that Sleater-Kinney took the album cover as a template for their own masterpiece, "Dig Me Out" - but when it was released with extra tracks in the 2000's sometime, they raised my worth of the era around the album's release to be better than 3 1/2 stars
07) Kinks - 3 1/2 stars - a great debut
06) Face To Face - 4 stars
05) Somethin' Else - 4 stars
04) Kinda Kinks - 4 stars - their version of "Dancin' In The Street" is pretty terrible, but I really like the rest of this record
03) Arthur - 4 stars
02) Lola - 5 stars
01) The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society - 5 stars - a perfect album. The album is definitely greater than the sum of its parts, and the parts are already massive. You throw in some of the bonus tracks like "Days" and "Mr. Songbird," and it's even better.
I agree that adding a couple-three of the bonus tracks to Village Green makes it even better. And I would say the same thing about Face to Face. Imagine if "Dead End Street," "Big Black Smoke," and "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" were on the album proper. If they had been included, Face to Face might be my favorite Kinks album, period.
Hands down the most underrated band of all time
XTC and The Church are also very underrated. Massive discography
Imo the next artist in the cue, The Grateful Dead, also belongs in the "most underrated" conversation.
status quo for me. The kinks are always acclaimed. status quo have been going as long as the stones and get no credit
Hands down? Not even close!
@@danieldaniel2 Can't pass up an opportunity to back up another XTC/Church fan, and I would put Robyn Hitchcock right along side them...
Ray Davies is one of those rare singers who could nest his vocals/lyrics in self-effacement and vulnerability comfortably.
I'm just waiting The Moody Blues ranking! Love them to death! The first progressive rock band. Awesome band
And I would also like to see the Rolling Stones albums ranked. We had that with Jason, but not with the trio at all. I know that the video will be way longer because they have a big discography, but it will be worth watching since a lot of people, including myself are fans of The Rolling Stones.
Slightly disagree with Jason re Soap Opera ...To me the best Kinks album, which I listen to the most as well as Everybody's in the Show Business (my 3rd best) ...God save the Kinks...
1. The Village Green Preservation Society (1968) 5/5
2. Something Else (1967) 5/5
3. Face to Face (1966) 5/5
4. Arthur (1969) 4.5/5
5. Lola vs. Powerman & the Moneygoround, Part I (1970) 4.5/5
6. Muswell Hillbillies (1971) 4.5/5
7. The Kink Kontroversy (1965) 4/5
8. Misfits (1978) 4/5
9. State of Confusion (1983) 4/5
10. Give the People What They Want (1981) 3.5/5
11. Kinda Kinks (1965) 3.5/5
12. Sleepwalker (1977) 3.5/5
13. Preservation, Act I (1973) 3.5/5
14. Everybody's in Show-Biz (1972) 3/5
15. Low Budget (1979) 3/5
16. Schoolboys in Disgrace (1975) 3/5
17. Kinks (1964) 3/5
18. Percy (1971) 3/5
19. Word of Mouth (1984) 3/5
20. Soap Opera (1975) 2.5/5
21. Phobia (1993) 2.5/5
22. UK Jive (1989) 2/5
23. Think Visual (1986) 2/5
24. Preservation, Act II (1974) 1.5/5
CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER:
3.0 Kinks (1964)
3.5 Kinda Kinks (1965)
4.0 The Kink Kontroversy (1965)
5.0 Face to Face (1966)
5.0 Something Else (1967)
5.0 The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society (1968)
4.5 Arthur (1969)
4.5 Lola vs. Powerman & the Moneygoround, Part I (1970)
3.0 Percy (1971)
4.5 Muswell Hillbillies (1971)
3.0 Everybody's in Show-Biz (1972)
3.5 Preservation, Act I (1973)
1.5 Preservation, Act II (1974)
2.5 Soap Opera (1975)
3.0 Schoolboys in Disgrace (1975)
3.5 Sleepwalker (1977)
4.0 Misfits (1978)
3.0 Low Budget (1979)
3.5 Give the People What They Want (1981)
4.0 State of Confusion (1983)
3.0 Word of Mouth (1984)
2.0 Think Visual (1986)
2.0 UK Jive (1989)
2.5 Phobia (1993)
Growing up in America, where The Kinks don't get played a ton, it took me years to fully appreciate the Davies brothers and their anglophile introspection. But once I fell down their rabbit hole I couldn't find a way out, to my eternal benefit. The Kinks' debut LP feels like a typical early-'60s album comprised of a hit single surrounded mostly by filler. But the hit single in question here ("You Really Got Me") is one of the most important songs, well, ever. It arguably invented hard rock *and* punk in one fell swoop. Their sophomore effort, 1965's Kinda Kinks, is kinda uneven but also kinda underrated. The Kink Kontroversy continues their upward trajectory- "Till the End of the Day" spits fire. "Well Respected Man" (from the Kwyet Kinks EP) shows how wry and sophisticated Ray Davies' compositions had already become. 1966's Face to Face and its attendant single, "Sunny Afternoon," kicked off a remarkable run of consistency. Not many bands have released 5 consecutive albums as good as the ones the Kinks released from 1966 to 1970. Something Else (1967) delivered the high-water marks "Waterloo Sunset" and "Death of a Clown." 1968's Village Green Preservation Society is rock 'n roll's foremost tribute to English pastoralism. (I love every track, even the ones that some people say are throwaway, like "Phenomenal Cat.") Arthur (1969) is Village Green's spiritual successor- "Victoria" and "Shangri-La" lead a wistful and frank dissection of the crumbling British Empire. Their 1970 takedown of the music business, Lola vs. Powerman..., is chronically undervalued ("Strangers" and "Rats" are top shelf Kinks, in addition to the famous singles from that album.) Percy, a soundtrack album from 1971, mixes good tunes ("God's Children," "Willesden Green") with forgettable instrumentals (the muzak version of "Lola" almost kills the album.) Muswell Hillbillies (also 1971) feels like Ray Davies' love letter to American roots music. 1972's Everybody's in Show-Biz incorporates elements of vaudeville and is best known for "Celluloid Heroes," a paean to the golden age of Hollywood. For my money, Preservation Act I is the best LP of The Kinks' so-called theatrical period (1972-1975) due to gems like "Sitting in the Midday Sun" and "Sweet Lady Genevieve." (Schoolboys in Disgrace is worth a listen, too.) "Juke Box Music" and the rest of 1977's Sleepwalker marked a return to hooky, radio-friendly songwriting. Misfits (1978) comes even closer to recapturing the old Kinks magic- "Black Messiah," "A Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy," and "In a Foreign Land" are the best 3 consecutive tracks since their classic period. I'm not as fond of their next installment, Low Budget, although the title track and "A Gallon of Gas" certainly hit home. 1981's Give the People What They Want is the hardest rockin' LP of their career. Its follow-up, State of Confusion, launched one of their biggest hits in America, "Come Dancing." Word of Mouth (1984) offers a couple memorable Dave Davies songs (most notably "Living on a Thin Line") but not much else. Their final 3 albums (Think Visual, UK Jive, Phobia) are not embarrassing, but are not anything to write home about, either. Worshipped in the UK, The Kinks were never as big in America, partly due to a dispute with a musicians union that prevented them from touring the USA between 1966 & 1969. Even so, The Kinks persevered, releasing music and staying relevant into the early 1980s (longer than any British Invasion band except The Rolling Stones.) Something that elevates The Kinks above most other groups, in my mind, is their endless parade of great non-album singles, b-sides, and outtakes. (By themselves, they constitute a blockbuster career for any band.) It never ceases to amaze me how many great songs these guys churned out (see tomorrow.) Easily an all-time top 25 artist in my book.
MY RATING SYSTEM:
5.0 = major classic (consistently great *and* stratospheric highs)
4.5 = minor classic (consistently great *or* stratospheric highs, but not both)
4.0 = great (a clear majority is worth revisiting and it's an essential record for this artist/style)
3.5 = seriously good (at least half is worth revisiting)
3.0 = nominally good (less than half is worth revisiting)
2.5 = decent (competent but uninspired - not worth revisiting)
2.0 = poor (difficult listen)
1.5 = awful (can't finish it)
1.0 = historically awful (musical apocalypse)
▪︎"Consistently" does not mean "flawlessly." I allow for a few duds if the rest of the songs are good enough. "Stratospheric highs" refer to albums that feature iconic songs or have an iconic sound. (Albums I consider to be "perfect" can also reach 5 stars, even without containing legendary songs or being highly influential.)
▪︎I don't go below 1 star because once I'm in the realm of the truly terrible I don't care to differentiate anymore.
▪︎Anything I rate 3.5 stars or higher is an album I'm enthusiastic about and would likely revisit at some point.
Excellent summation WB!
Same top three in same order as me - big thumbs-up.
Well you obviously had some time to kill today 😅
Yep, and I've been listening to The Kinks seriously - collecting their lps - for 45 years, since I was nine. And I recorded in Konk, twice, in the 90s. VGPS isn't just the #1 Kinks lp, it's possibly the best of the 60s.
@@telsutton I have encountered quite a few of you TKATVGPS champions. And it is great. I just happen to think Arthur is a little bit better. Surely you understand?
In his “McCarney 321” conversations w/ Rick Rubin, Paul talks about being floored by “You Really Got Me” & the Beatles watching the Kinks from the wings when they toured together to see what it was all about. And Ray Davies is right in the middle of any “top 5 songwriters of all time” conversation.
No, they talked about Smash Mouth
Always liked the Kinks a lot, for me they are easily one of my top twenty bands of all time but they stand at number two behind the Beatles as far as sixties Brit bands go, I prefer the early period of the Stones to that of the Kinks though...
01… The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society … 1968... 5/5
02… Muswell Hillbillies … 1971... 4.75/5
03… Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire … 1969 ... 4.75/5
04… Face To Face … 1966... 4.5/5
05… Something Else … 1967... 4.5/5
06… Everybody's In Show-Biz - Everybody's A Star … 1972... 4.25/5
07… Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround … 1970... 4.25/5
08… Kinda Kinks … 1965. 4/5
09… Kinks … 1964. 4/5
10… Sleepwalker … 1977... 4.5
11… The Kink Kontroversy … 1965... 3.5/5
12… Preservation Act 1 … 1973... 3.5/5
13… Schoolboys In Disgrace … 1975... 3.25/5
14… Misfits … 1978... 3.25/5
15… Preservation Act 2 …1974... 3.25/5
16… Soap Opera … 1975... 3/5
17… Percy … 1971... 3/5
18… Word Of Mouth … 1984... 3/5
19… State Of Confusion … 1983... 2.75/5
20… Low Budget … 1979. 2.75/5
21… Give The People What They Want … 1981... 2.5/5
22… Think Visual … 1986. 2/5
23… UK Jive … 1989... 2/5
24… Phobia … 1993... 1.5/5
Well guys, you tanked my day yesterday. I had a scheduled day off, a list of stuff to accomplish for both fun and profit, and reasonably nice weather. Then I saw that this video dropped and I spent two prime afternoon hours parked in my favorite reclining chair instead. A big catalog, a fun catalog, certainly an underappreciated catalog, all laid before us with your usual mix of insight and idiosyncrasy. Personally, I heard them all growing up, but play the arena rock trilogy (Sleepwalker/Misfits/Low Budget) more than the rest these days. Are they my favorites? Who knows, maybe I just like my Kinks easy these days. Anyway, my favorite discography since the legendary Mott the Hoople show. You guys are welcome to keep those two hours, I don’t need ‘em back. Thanks for the fun!
Everybody's a star!
I'm so hyped!
If I had to pick up my favorites, I would go with the Village Green Preservation Society, Everybody's in Showbiz and Face to Face.
All great picks! 😎
Stoked to see love for Sope Opera from Jason. It’s a very underrated album. There is a pretty cool TV special on Grenada TV of the album with Ray Davies singing the songs and acting the story. It’s a great watch. Glad to see all your takes on the Kinks discography. It’s interesting how many great songs were left off Village Green Preservation Society. Mr Songbird was on some early European pressings along with Days as a 12 track album which makes it sound a bit more focused.
There are so many great Kinks songs in the 60s that didn't show up on UK albums.
It's not unusual for me to just randomly start singing to myself "She's got ducks, ducks on the wall, Ducks, ducks, hanging on the wall"...
@@HawkKing2000 I do it all the time
@@TimeToGetAlone Yeah, there is a great album released in the US callled «The Great Lost Kinks Album» from 1973 which has a lot of those lost Village Green songs. Released much to Ray Davies dismay.
Someone mentioned Paul Simon in the chat. I love a lot of his solo stuff. I think he's a great choice for a listography.
The fact that you all differed so much shows how personal and intimate The Kinks were. For me, Waterloo Sunset is one of the greatest songs ever written. However, I was a student in London in the 80s, so their 80s output is the soundtrack of my early 20s. I know it's not their best period but it has a special place in my heart.
What does that song mean, when you hear it? I am american btw.
@xvx5872 having your first steady girlfriend in your teens , being a bit a bit overwhelmed by it all but excited to think you have your whole life ahead of you.
I have been revisiting some of their earlier stuff lately - i saw them 3 times in the 70's - THANK YOU
1:03:47 The Kinks actually predate the Byrds and The Beatles doing the indian style on their single 'See My Friends' from 1965
I have a few suggestions that I hope you guys will consider.
Prince
The b52’s
The pub on the cover of Muswell Hillbilly album is the Archway Tavern which is my favourite pub in London.
Most underrated band of all time, right there with Blue Oyster Cult, and I'm so stoked for this ranking!!!
My List :
24. Phobia 2.5
23. UK Jive 2.5
22 Percy 3
21. Think Visual 3
20. Word of Mouth 3
19. State of Confusion 3
18. Soap Opera 3
17. Schoolboys in Disgrace 3
16. Everybody's in Showbiz 3.5
15. Preservation Act 2 3.5
14. Low Budget 3.5
13. Misfits 4
12. Give the People What They Want 4
11. Preservation Act 1 4
10. Sleepwalker 4
9. Kinda Kinks 4
8. The Kink Kontroversy 4
7. Kinks 4
6. Muswell Hillbillies 4
5. Face to Face 4.5
4. Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One 4.5
3. Something Else by The Kinks 5
2. Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) 5
1. The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society 5
Of every list I saw here, this is the most similir to mine, thus, in my opinion, Musswell hillbillies deserve 4.5 (at the start it's hard to catch, but it gets better with time), and face to face is five stars.
🤠 God save The Kinks.
Great episode guys! Kinks, one of my favourite bands of all time. I think Ray Davies are up there with Lennon/McCartney and a few more as a songwriter and for me it has always been more about the songs than the albums. My favourite song Waterloo Sunset. But my favourite albums are some of the ones you had on the top:
1. Lola Versus The Powerman And The Money Go Around
2. Everybodys In Showbiz (studiodisc)
3. Village Green Preservation Society
4. Sleepwalker
5. State Of Confusion
6. Something Else By The Kinks
7. Muswell Hillbillies
8. Preservation Act One
I was lucky enough to see the Kinks in April of 93 at a bar in Charlotte NC. Ray was having a good time, taking requests and drinking a ton of beer, Dave not so much. He kept getting pissed off at Ray for talking to the audience, and it was amazing to see the two of them annoy each other.
I lived in NC then and was a huge Kinks fan. I even liked Phobia which came out then. Sure wish I had known about that show. No internet then.
@@catsofsherman1316 some place called Rocky’s on Independence Blvd.
@@williambowers2820 I was in Chapel Hill but would have made the drive to see the Kinks especially for a club gig
The Kinks have been one of my favorite 25 bands since high school. However, they were also, in terms of their wider catalog, victims of the “everyone has their prime” theory, which led me to eschew less critical/fan acclaimed eras of even my most appreciated artists with big catalogs, with the idea that there’s too much good stuff out there to waste time on stuff like, for example, ‘80s-and-onward Stevie Wonder. This listography gave me the opportunity to deep dive the band post-1971.
The results: well, they’ve rocketed up to #3 in my artist rankings behind The Beatles and Bowie. Ray Davies is definitely one of the most distinctive and talented voices in rock ‘n’ roll. I have a master’s degree in modern British history, so I certainly dig his antiquarian (and distinctly British) musical themes. Listening to the post-’71 material did confirm that ’64-’70 was their heyday, but nothing they put out is completely without value. They are definitely the godfathers not only of hard rock and metal (through their first two groundbreaking hit singles) but also of power pop, college rock, and Britpop. Ray is still probably the coolest figure in ‘60s British rock in terms of how his vision and largely timeless music have perdured into the 21st century.
If each of you all don’t get to five stars, I might have to go Theon Greyjoy on you.
24. Think Visual (3.5 stars)
23. Phobia (3.5 stars)
22. Preservation Act 2 (3.5 stars)
21. UK Jive (3.5)
20. Misfits (3.5) - Don’t really get the hype on this one among the Arista albums. “Father Christmas” as a bonus track certainly elevates it.
19. State of Confusion (3.5) - No “Come Dancing” hate, but the rest is weaker, for example, than the material on the subsequent album.
18. The Kinks Present a Soap Opera (4) - Elevated greatly by the final two tracks.
17. Percy (4) - They are actually well-suited for this soundtrack approach. A much better listen than it usual gets credit for.
16. Word of Mouth (4)
15. Low Budget (4)
14. Muswell Hillbillies (4) - I’ve heard this a lot more than most of the surrounding albums here. I like the Americana aspect, but the songs just aren’t as interesting as what they did before or would do after. Not enough hooks.
13. Schoolboys in Disgrace (4) - I really enjoy this one. Closing out their theatrical period with great rock ‘n’ roll.
12. Preservation Act 1 (4)
11. Sleepwalker (4) - Very enjoyable, solid album.
10. Give the People What They Want (4) - Love the opening track - essentially the mid-period Replacements four years early.
9. Kinda Kinks (4) - Certainly hit and miss as an album. However, The Kinks are one of the bands most hurt in their early album evaluations by the exclusion of singles and EP tracks. If the bonus tracks from the era are included, which would themselves comprise one of their best albums, it would rocket up to number 4 on this list and a very solid 4.5 stars (!).
8. The Kinks (4) - If the “All Day and All of the Night” single is included as a bonus track, 4.5 stars (cf. the Songs video tomorrow…) and it moves up past the #7.
7. Everybody’s in Show-biz (4) - What a breath of fresh air after Muswell Hillbillies! The studio portion is a joy after Muswell Hillbillies. The lyrics would be annoying written on a page, but as delivered in the often upbeat musical context, they’re fine. And “Celluloid Heroes,” while diverging in style from the earlier classics, is probably their best post-’69 track.
6. The Kink Kontroversy (4.5) - A very weak 4.5, definitely pulled up by “Till the End of the Day” and “Where Have All the Good Times Gone,” but very enjoyable and pointing to the greatness to come.
5. Arthur, or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire (4.5) - I have spent nearly 30 years wrestling with this album. I like the subject matter, and “Victoria” and “Shangri-la” are great, but the programmatic tell-don’t-show lyrics and the weaker songwriting throughout the rest of the album makes it their Goat’s Head Soup in my opinion - very good, but way the hell weaker than what came before. I can only roll my eyes in exasperation at anyone who would rank this above the three prior albums (which I bet will include at least one of you dweebs).
4. Lola vs. Powerman and the Money-go-round (4.5) - And this is absolutely far better than Arthur as an album. “Lola” is one of my least favorite tracks here. Definitely not to the standards of their masterpiece stretch, but extremely solid song-for-song. It’s basically their ‘70s magnum opus, which is kind of a bummer with nine more years of that decade forthcoming.
3. Face to Face (5) - This is a massive leap ahead of what they were doing earlier, the emergence of a standard of distinctive and masterful songwriting that put them in peerage with The Beatles, Brian Wilson, and Dylan for a brief time. Some find this too rough-edged in comparison with the next two; I love the blend of the stinging garage rockiness with the more sophisticated textures, and the songwriting is only slightly weaker than the two upcoming albums (and blows Arthur completely out of the water, thank you very much). In the lower reaches of the top 100 albums of all-time for me. Already great, elevated even further by the deathless bonus tracks.
2. Something Else by the Kinks (5+) - A complete song-for-song masterpiece from beginning to end in a variety of styles that were a perfect alternative statement for the Summer of Love. Once again, even better with the bonus tracks. Top 30 all-time for me.
1. The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society (5+) - Something Else was my number one until about ten years ago, but this was always way up there. When you put out a single album with 15 tracks and every one is a banger, you’ve already achieved something. Love the songwriting, the themes, the arrangements, the musical variety, the cleverness, everything about it. And while it’s top 30 all-time regardless, it has the best bonus tracks of any of their CD reissues.
Give the People What They Want is my bottom ranking. It belongs there since Art Lover is on it. Plus, Killer Eyes? That track is terrible. The title track is really bad. Around the Dial is terrible. It’s all just extremely pandering to the Replacements/alternative/college rock demographic.
@@curly_wyn How could they pander to what didn’t exist yet? 🤡 More like they influenced it, and it was a positive influence. I’m not married to that album since it’s new to me with the preps for this discography, but I’ll take your opinion with a grain of salt since it sounds like you’re allergic to good music.
Sad that Ursula took down her reply complimenting my list and agreeing with my take on Arthur. It made me happy for a time.
@@scottanthonyweidner8692 I thought, I'd better relisten, before I agree on any criticism. I have the 2 CDs reissue of "Arthur" from 2019 and never liked it as much as "Village Green" or the compilation of their singles and b-sides "The Ultimate Collection" (best ofs are probably unfair comparisons), but I couldn't really tell you why.
After relistening: I'm afraid I still don't love "Arthur". The opener is a banger and "Shangri-La"'s verses and prechorus (especially when the harmony vocals are added) are total genius (unfortunately I find the chorus and bridge compositionally slightly dissappointing, but maybe that was intentional, because it weirdly fits the song's lyrical content), I also like "Drivin''" and "Young And Innocent Days", but my personal highlight would be the little guitar solo at the end of "Mr. Churchill Says", that's some fine indie rock guitar playing. What I didn't like about "Arthur" however, is the sound on a lot of the tracks. Maybe it's just the particular CD reissue, I've got, or it's Ray sounding extra nasal to my ears, like he's having a flu, or it could be the band beings sloppy at times, but not in a groovy "Stones"-like, or cool protopunkish-early-"Kinks" kinda way, but more in a rushed herky-jerky way, also the mix feels kinda uneven? I can't really put my finger on it. I also think songwise, the album could have improved, if it included Dave's "This Man He Weeps Tonight" for example. Concluding I definitely agree with you and the guys on not having "Arthur" in your top 4.
Interesting selections and analysis.
The Kinks are one of the real iconic bands,but they're very uneven . They have a lot of dreck,but also some of the best albums ever recorded. While a top 10 Kinks song list will be next to impossible to do, a top 10 Album list is actually fairly easy. I feel one album stands above all the rest;
10.Sleepwalker(1977-3.0 stars)
09.The Kink Kontroversy((1965-3.5 stars)
08.Low Budget(1979-3.5 stars)
07.Face to Face(1966-3.5 stars)
06.The Great Lost Kinks Album(1973-4 stars)
05. Arthur ...(1969-4 stars)
04.Something Else(1967-4.5 stars)
03.Muswell Hillbillies(1971-4.5 stars)
02.Lola vs Powerman and the Moneygoround(pt 1)(1970-5 stars)
01.The Village Green Preservation Society(1968-5+++ stars-My AOTY for 1968,and can easily vie for a spot in my all time top 10,and Iv'e heard a LOT of albums!)
The live record from Showbiz is a lot of fun. The MH versions eclipse the studio cuts in my book.
I first heard the Kinks in 1978 when Ronco/Pye released a compilation callled "20 Golden Greats".. one of the greatest compilations of all time. Fell in love with Waterloo Sunset.. but the standout track is "Wonderboy"... just incredible... a big fav of John Lennon too apparently... "I see you and you see me..."
This was a really cool in-depth look at such a vast catalogue. I love the Kinks, and have for a while. I think it was interesting how much all of your lists differed, and I think that is more indicative of how eclectic The Kinks were as a band. I would agree that they don't have any 'perfect' 10/10 albums, though I feel the same way about David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, and other more iconic acts from the same era. And I agree, I wish their mid to late 60s output was better produced. I think they would be held in higher regards to their contemporaries if that were the case. Great rankings, lads!
Great video mates! Overall, there's a lot of wild inconsistencies from list to list which is rather stunning - love it!
It's not to me, because the Kinks don't have a definitive era like the Stones. It's all up to personal preference. I prefer the late 70's and had Low Budget and Sleepwalker way higher than them.
Can't wait for this! One of my favorite bands. Ever since I started watching you guys, I've been waiting for The Kinks. Can't wait to watch and give my opinions in the comments! Now need Van Morrison and a remastered Stones.
🎶 You can see the stars as you walk down Hollywood Blvd .. some that you reckonize .. some that you hardly ever heard of 🎶
Love the way Kinks embrace American culture . .
Arthur is not muddled. It sounds super clean. I think the only reason why Soap Opera was ranked so high by a fella, who seemed to be the biggest actual Kinks fan, was to juke it higher in the final rank, since it is really a good record.
Jeez, Jason has State Of Confusion & Give The People bottom 2. Most Bands/Artists would kill to have Albums that Good.
They’re mid tier Kinks albums which still makes them very good
Been waiting awhile for this one
Loads of quality non album singles. I hope 'Dead End Street' makes an appearance tomorrow! Always been one of my faves...
My top 5:
1. Arthur
2. Face to Face
3. Something Else
4. Village Green
5. Lola
The kinks did the song see my friends which had a very Indian sound prior to the Beatles coming out with their indian inspired sound
Muswell Hillbillies babyyyy
Hmm . . Not too high on my list . .
OK... Finished the video and ready to rank! The Kinks are my second favourite band of all time, so this was a big one for me.
01. Something Else
02. Everybody's in Show-biz
03. Lola versus Powerman
04. Sleepwalker
05. The Village Green Preservation Society
06. Muswell Hillbillies
07. Soap Opera
08. Schoolboys in Disgrace
09. Face to Face
10. Give the People What They Want
11. Misfits
12. Arthur (I like it but almost never want to listen to it... As you all said, something missing with this one. I can never put my finger on what it is. Technically great but I just never reach for it.)
13. Kinks Controversy
14. Preservation act I
15. State of Confusion
16. Low Budget
17. Preservation act II
18. Kinks
19. Kinda Kinks
20. Think Visual
21. UK Jive
22. Word of Mouth
23. Percy
24. Phobia
Interesting list. Out of the box.
Everyone seems to dislike Phobia. I always wonder how it would be viewed if the bloat had been stripped out and it got edited down to 40 or so minutes. I still do occasionally listen to it and I keep hearing 12 great songs buried somewhere within.
I wouldn't put Soap Opera as high as Jason, but it's definitely underrated
Village Green is my #1 by a nose. Lola comes second.
#3 Face to Face
#4 Something Else
#5 Kink Kontroversy
I don't think their stuff is as good after Lola vs Powerman, but like one of you said, there's always a great song in each album.
1 Village Green
2 Something Else
Definite masterpieces. And they definitely have variety. Nobody mentioned Situation Vacant - great song. Some other great songs around then too, such as Rosemary Rose, Lavender Hill, Did You See His Name.
Never liked the Lola song.
One of my favourite bands, they have a lot of good singles in the 60s that weren't on albums worth checking out.
Yes, imo their albums could have been even better, for example if they included "Days" (one of the greatest songs ever written) on the original "Village Green" or Dave's "This Man He Weeps Tonight" on "Arthur".
If I took the best of those and created an album out of it, it'd be my #1.
@@ursula3438 Autumn Almanac and Mister Pleasant on Something Else.
I’m pleasantly surprised- I had thought that my love for Autumn Almanac was quirky and silly, but a lot of Kinks fans love it too
Talk about sleeping on something, I listened to classic 60s Kinks growing up as a kid but I wasn’t into their arena rock era when I was in high school (and actually could have seen them *sigh*) Just felt like Ray pandering too much and just too schticky. I knew the hit Lola, of course, but it wasn’t till freshman year in college in 1980 when a friend played Lola vs Powerman for me. I was like “this is The Kinks??!! How did I miss this? It sounds like The Band! It has banjos!” He said yep it surprised him too. So it became one of my favorite albums in 1980 and is now my absolute favorite 44 years later. I love what Joe said about Lola. That at first he didn’t love it and prolly would turn it off came on, but in the context of the album it works so beautifully. I just love Dave’s high harmonies. I think I was prolly turned off by how Ray would do those audience singalongs to Lola. But it really is quite respectful and while very funny not sleazy or going for a cheap laugh.’ I think they even stay together in the song’s narrative. Anyway, loved you commentary. I listened to these several times because they remind me of how and when I discovered each album and song.
Here's my quickie take:
First three albums: super-fun, early rock and roll, with the third one pointing the way to their classic period.
Classic Period: Face to Face through Muswell Hillbillies. All MUST OWN. The band at its peak.
Transition to theatrical phase: Everybody's in Show Biz. Has some great moments and a fun sound, but the songs are weaker and the subject matter is self-pitying.
Theatrical Phase: Not great, though I would say the first Preservation album has some of their last truly great songs ("Daylight" and "Sweet Lady Genevieve"). Also, though the period isn't great, it's at least distinct, weird and following it's own heart, unlike...
The Product Phase: With the sole exception of "Come Dancing," the Kinks never got anywhere near their classic period again. Sleepwalker through Phobia is uninspired product--the sound of a band doing what it can to remain viable and commercial, but no longer writing their best material or distinguishing themselves from the pack. The stabs into arena rock and hard rock are just sad to witness, and Ray's delivery goes from the delicate, introspective singer of "Waterloo Sunset" to a bombastic and charmless growl. You'll find songs on all these albums to like. But not of it is essential or representative of what made the Kinks so special in the 60s and early 70s.
Buy everything up to Preservation Act I, then get Come Dancing as a single.
And don't forget the excellent compilations: The Kinks Kronikles and The Great Lost Kinks Album. They both have lots of tracks from the classic period that are essential listening.
Great Band - Saw them live in the 80's loved them. With that being said, It seems you're trying to fit their music in a box, but they were one of the first rock bands with the Beatles and Rolling Stones. They are different and unique - and that's what makes them so great!!
Having said that, I think you ranked there albums pretty good, with the exception to soap opera. I don't think it is as bad nor as good as ranked, but closer to the bottom. Good job!!
'Artlover' is one of RD's most interesting songs. First of all because how many other songwriters would go there? But mainly because the song plays with your sympathies, providing a whole new possible explanation for the narrator's behaviour in the final verse - "She's just a substitute for what's been taken from me".
IF he's an individual stricken with grief over the death of his own daughter does that excuse what he does? Does it at least make him an object of pity rather than anger?
Ray Davies has always been good at making you uncomfortable.
When people ask me, Beatles or Stones, I reply, "Don't you mean, Kinks or Who?"
Had the Kinks not been banned from playing in the United States during Ray's most prolific period, they'd be much more heralded.
This took some work but where I currently stand
1. Lola (1970) 5 stars (10)
2. Face to Face (1966) -5 stars (9.9)
3. Sleepwalker (1977) - 5 stars (9.8)
4. Arthur (1969) -5 stars (9.8)
5. Schoolboys in Disgrace (1975)- 5 stars (9.6)
6. Village Green (1968) 4.5 stars (9.3)
7. Preservation Act 1 (1973) 4.5 stars (8.9)
8. Muswell Hillbillies - 4.5 stars (8.7(
9. Showbiz (1972) 4.5 stars (8.6)
10. Soap Opera (1975) - 4 stars (8.5)
11. The Kinks Kontroversy (1965) -4 stars (8.2)
12. Give the People What They Want (1981) - 4 stars (8.1)
13. The Kinks (1964) - 4 stars (8)
14. Misfits (1978) - 4 stars (8)
15. Think Visual (1986) - 3.5 stars (7.8)
16. Preservation Act 2 (1974) - 3.5 stars (7.5)
17. Low Budget (1979) 3.5 stars (7.5)
18. State of Confusion (1983) - 3.5 stars (7.3)
19. Something Else (1967) - 3.5 stars (7)
20. Word of Mouth (1984) - 3 stars (6.5)
21. Phobia (1993) - 3 stars (6.2)
22. Kinda Kinks (1965) - 3 stars (6)
23. Percy (1971) - 2.5 stars (5.7)
24. UK Jive (1989) - 2 stars (3)
hmm . . schollboys very high . . Percy very low . .
@@NaughtyVampireGod Something Else at 19 is the one that threw me
@@catsofsherman1316 Yeah, that’s completely nuts
Joe,celluloid heroes is briiliant!!!!!
Ok have not watched yet. My top 10:1) Village Green Preservation Society 2) Lola Vs Powerman and the Moneygoround vol 1 3) Arthur 4) Something Else 5) Face to Face 6) Muswell Hillbillies 7) Sleepwalker 8)The Kink Kontroversy 9) Misfits 10) Schoolboys in Disgrace. My list has no live albums or collections but Kink Kronicles and Great Lost Kinks I still give honorable mention and Low Budget nearly ekes out Misfits or Schoolboys in the rankings I'd say.
Kinks’ “See my friends” predated Beatles’ eastern influenced songs.
I said that out loud during that part of the video. Haha.
I wholeheartedly thank Wes Anderson for bringing me The Kinks in a way that would stick in my heart forever. The Darjeeling Limited launched me into the Lola vs. The Powerman album. Before that, all I knew of The Kinks was a handful of songs: Lola, You Really Got Me and of course Come Dancing. Thanks to Mr. Anderson, I now have an enormous love for this band and have listened to the majority of their catalog. They kinda lost me with their vaudevillian phase, but after watching this, I may go give them another listen - if only to see what I think of Soap Opera 😂
Great ranking/review, guys!
Enjoyed the whole video! Kinks "Arthur" would be my number one, with Lola at two and Village Green at number three.
1. King Kong
2. Deadend Street
3. Sunny Afternoon
4. Animal Farm / Preservation Society / Picture Book/ Big Sky/
5. Mr. Pleasant
6. Lola
7. This TIme Tomorrow / Got To Be Free
8. Shangri-La
9. David Watts
10. Some Mother's Son / 20th Century Man
Top 7 favorite Kinks albums can't decide after this.
1. The Village Green Preservation Society
2. Lola Vs Powerman
3. Face to Face
4. Arthur
5. Kinks Kontroversy
6. Something Else
7. Muswell Hillbillies
Arthur doesn't have the love that radiates from Village Green.
1/ Arthur
2/ Lola vs Powerman & The Moneygoround
3/ The Village Green Preservation Society
4/ Low Budget
5/ Preservation Act 1
6/ Preservation Act 2
7/ Something Else by The Kinks
8/ Muswell Hillbillies
9/ Soap Opera
10/ Misfits
This is my top 10, and the positions 1-3 are all a 10/10
Disagree with Kramzwr and Joe on soap opera. This album definitely grew on me. Disagree with Joe and Jason on give the people what they want. Classic album.
I recently revisited GTPWTW and I'm on repeated listens, love it still to this day. Low Budget, VGPS, Misfits, Lola, Sleepwalker, and PA1 are right behind.
Great show guys. The Kinks are quite an underrated band. I only have a compilation, but I’m looking to explore their discography. Very interesting video as always.
I've only recently started exploring their discography more after only having a compilation album and Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround is a great album if you haven't listened to that in full yet.
@@jasonjames6383 Thanks Jason. I’ll give that a try.
@@MrMojoRisin Village Green is an album that everyone should hear, and they can decide if it’s a classic or not their cup of tea
I include Only until Schoolboys in disgrace (1975), I haven't heard enough to give an exact opinion about 1977-1993
1) village green (masterpiece - 5)
2) Arthur (masterpiece -.5)
3) Lola (masterpiece - 5)
4) Face to face (masterpiece - 5)
5) Something Else (masterpiece - 5)
6) Muswell Hillbillies (masterpiece - 5)
(The golden era of masterpieces, 1966-1971)
7) Kink Kontroversy (4'5)
8) Kinks (4'5)
9) Kinda Kinks (4)
10) Preservation act 1 (4)
11) Everybody's in showbiz (3'5)
12) Schoolboys in disgrace (3)
13) Preservation act 2 (3)
14) Percy (2´5)
15) Soap opera (2)
For me, Ray Davies (pronounced Day-viss, by the way) is the greatest lyricist Britain has produced, and from 1967 to 1970 they were untouchable. The wry social commentary and empathy for the lives of ordinary working class people that they espoused in their lyrics was something no other British invasion band was doing at that time to anything like the same degree or standard. Maybe you have to be British to fully appreciate that. Also they had: probably the first heavy rock/proto punk guitar riff with You Really Got Me; first use of an Eastern influenced sound with See My Friends; arguably the first 'story' music video with Dead End Street; one of the first concept albums with VGPS. They really were trailblazers that have never got the proper credit they deserve. GSTK!
I know it’s pronounced Davis but it’s not us pronouncing it wrong. It’s him.
Heart Full of Soul by The Yardbirds pre-empted See My Friends to be the first western rock song with an Eastern influenced sound.
Davies pronounces his name as its spelt because he's English, Not Welsh. Listen to him pronounce his name. Welsh people say Davis.
What? It's their name. They're British. That's how it's pronounced.
@@TastesLikeMusic
Very good show - thank you. You work very hard - much appreciated. I was in a band with Mick Avory's nephew (a great drummer too ).
Loved the British Invasion Kinks & the hippie folk rock Kinks. The theatrical stage wasn't my cup of tea although I know there are good songs scattered throughout. I kind of enjoyed their comeback as an arena rock band. At least the first 2 or 3 albums. Their British eccentricities may have been the only thing holding them back from the acclaim lavished on other big Brit Invasion groups. Favorite album has to be Lola vs the Powerman & the Moneyground Pt. 1.
Love the kinks. Glad you guys finally got to them. Even though the Beatles and stones are considered the top two British Invasion bands, I’d rank the kinks above the stones. So interesting with their output which changed constantly. Not always great albums but as Kramer said evne the worst albums still have some good songs.
I would rank them above the Beatles to
*two
The most impressive rock song, ever, in my opinion, can be found on the band's best LP, Muswell Hillbillies, "20th Century Man". Anyone who can rhyme Shakespeare with Gainsborough, is just showing off:
"You keep all your smart modern writers,
Give me William Shakespeare
You keep all your smart modern painters,
I'll take Rembrandt, Titian, Da Vinci and Gainsborough"
I've been a Kinks fan since I heard the opening chords of All Day and All of the Night roll out of my transistor radio, in late December, 1964 (I Feel Fine was #1 that week). It debuted at #69 the week of Dec 26, 1964 (one year after the arrival of the Beatles), but was topped by the debut of I Can't Stop (by the Honeycombs - extra points to all who remember that one), at #68. I'd heard You Really Got me (1st chart appearance Sep 26, '64, exactly 3 months before ADaAotN), and liked it, but wasn't committed to the band. I was getting my rock 'n' roll on, and YRGM was easy to play. All Day and All of the Night was as easy, my first experiences with "bar chords" (it would be a couple years before I tumbled to "barre"), and the solo spoke volumes to my restless young soul.
ADaAotN rose to #7, spent three weeks at that position, before slipping off the charts. You Really Got Me started at #92, beat out by Beach Girl (#90, Pat Boone), I'm Crying (#78, the Animals), All Cried Out (#75, Dusty Springfield), and I Like It (#66, Gerry & the Pacemakers). It also spent three weeks at #7, before slipping off the charts. Wikipedia show these songs at #1 and #2 (in order of release), but the Billboard Charts for 1964 and '65 tell a different tale. The band's third release, Tired of Waiting for You (yes, I know the Kinks released singles before YRGM, but neither Long Tall Sally nor You Still Want Me charted) hit the Billboard Hot 100 on Mar 13, 1965, the highest-charting new single that week, at #62. The record stopped at #6, for two weeks, blocked by Game of Love (Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders), and the juggernaut of Mrs Brown You Have a Lovely Daughter. Sunny Afternoon was stopped in its tracks at #14, and A Well Respected Man stalled out, at #13.
I became a fan, along the way, and saw the boys at Denver Municipal Auditorium in June '65, not an auspicious occasion. My band had been playing the first three singles, plus Set Me Free and Who'll Be the Next in Line, for months, and we'd become pretty practiced, so we were expecting a lesson in how one goes about creating 3-minute slices of ear candy. What we got was a gang of hooligans who paid less attention to their instruments than to internal strife in the group. I didn't miss the band, after they were "banned" from touring the US, but I kept buying their records, seeking that same elusive breath of pure pop essence that made their records into ear worms. The band continued recording great pop until the mid-'80s, when the mojo ran out, although there are rumors of another album by the intrepid Davies boys.
Best of the Kinks
01 M U S W E L L H I L L B I L L I E S (1971)
02 F A C E T O F A C E (1966)
03 L O L A V S P O W E R M A N (1970)
04 M I S F I T S (1978)
05 L O W B U D G E T (1979)
06 S O M E T H I N G E L S E (1967)
07 V I L L A G E G R E E N P R E S E R V A T I O N S O C I E T Y (1968)
08 G I V E T H E P E O P L E W H A T T H E Y W A N T (1981)
09 W O R D O F M O U T H (1984)
10 S T A T E O F C O N F U S I O N (1983)
11 E V E R Y B O D Y ' S I N S H O W B I Z (1972)
12 S L E E P W A L K E R (1977)
13 A R T H U R (1969)
14 S O A P O P E R A (1975)
15 K I N D A K I N K S (1965)
16 S C H O O L B O Y S I N D I S G R A C E (1975)
17 K I N K S (1964)
18 P R E S E R V A T I O N A C T I (1973)
19 T H E K I N K K O N T R O V E R S Y (1965)
20 P E R C Y (1971)
21 T H I N K V I S U A L (1986)
22 P R E S E R V A T I O N A C T 2 (1974)
23 U K J I V E (1989)
24 P H O B I A (1993)
©BW2023 03/07/2024
anarchitek™
The Kinks are one of those weird bands in that they were very popular and successful in their time and continue to have songs that endure in the public conscious today like "Lola", "You Really Got Me", "Waterloo Sunset", "Sunny Afternoon", "All Day and All Night", but they're still very underappreciated. They deserve to be on level with at least The Beach Boys and the Rolling Stones. I wouldn't say they're underrated because they get a whole ton of acclaim from critics and hardcore music lovers.
The Stones are the greatest musical act ever, and I don’t think the Kinks are near there.
For most music critics the kinks are on a Level with beach boys and stones.🤷♂️
Most bands only have a few hits. I was surprised with how many recognizable songs The Kinks have that still get played on various stations, around 8-10. I agree they are underappreciated in that people might recognize the songs but they don’t know who they are by name, at least in the U.S. Culturally I think quite significant overall, with tons of artists covering their songs, even Steve Vai covered Celluloid Heroes.
Over seas is a different story but this is a very British band so I think it’s understandable they aren’t bigger in other parts of the world. Still many do know their name and recognize their influence, and the fact that quite a few of their songs still get airplay is a testament to how good they were decades and decades ago.
@@ArmandoMPRstones don't touch the beatles.
Should I call the cops??? Are these guys being held at gunpoint and being forced to review Kinks records?
sleepwalker rocks When I worked sound, after load in, I had to stay w/ the gear all day. Daily I blasted SLEEPWALKER on the largest PA in town. That and ANIMALS for my own personal concert. I played w/ the sound all afternoon, trying to get the sweetest sound possible. Made Loud To Be Played Loud.
The biggest difference between my lists and yours is my preference for late 70's Kinks over early Kinks. I LOVE Low Budget and Sleepwalker over the early albums. Love the heavy sound of those as opposed to the really poor sound of the mid 60's records.
I can’t believe you did it! I love the Kinks and I’ve been waiting for this day. You guys are the best
1. The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society - ★★★★★
2. Arthur or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire - ★★★★★
3. Something Else by The Kinks - ★★★★½
4. Face to Face - ★★★★½
5. Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround (Part One) - ★★★★½
6. The Great Lost Kinks Album - ★★★★½
7. The Kink Kontroversy - ★★★★
8. Muswell Hillbillies - ★★★★
9. Everybody's in Show-Biz - ★★★★
10. Sleepwalker - ★★★★
Same top 5 in a different order.
Great list. Interesting addition with great lost kinks album.
@@catsofsherman1316 Thanks, partly because after that I'm not interested in port 1972 albums (all below 4 stars)
I'm with Joe and Kram on Soap Opera. It's easily my least favorite. Bought that album in the early 80s and found it pretty lame, but I've actually come to like it even less over time. That said, I've always really liked the opening track.
Wow, what a treat for the channel to get back to a real meaty discography of an important and trend setting artist! When you three guys get going over the details and depth of these Kinks records it’s a real reward for us in the audience. So all did great, but a particular shout-out to Kramzer for linking the band to both the hard rock origins and, in particular, Blur and much of the Brit Pop movement. Look forward to the songs list, as they have so many great songs from the genius of Ray Davies. Really well done; one of your very best listograhies. Cheers, JPE
Of the 'big 4' of Britpop, the Kinks are an obvious influence on much of Blur's output I also think that they are quite a big influence on Pulp in terms of many of Jarvis Cocker's songwriting themes. While Oasis and Suede don't have that much of a link to the Kinks musically, both bands have a few songs that tap into Davies's lyrical themes of slices of British life.
I can't understand why most kinks fans have think visual rated so low. I mean, cheesy songs existed on almost all their albums...and I agree UK jive and phobia are unlistenable..think visual...the title track is eh....but "repetition " has a "predictable" feel to it...factory and lost and found are good compositions...how are you, when you were a child, killing time has a great groove. Of course video shop hasn't aged well...lol. but to me it's their last decent album.
As much as I love the Kinks and agree that they’re extremely underrated mostly being as they weren’t able to tour the US in the same manner as the Beatles & the Stones due to being banned from the states for lots of bad behavior whilst touring here early on in their career. That being said as underrated as the Kinks are I feel the Move are as underrated if not more so than the Kinks if we’re talking British Invasion bands
The Move did some great stuff, but their catalog is pretty small compared to the Kinks
It is smaller but mighty
State of Confusion may not be great, but on what planet is it the Kinks worst album?? 😂
they had some horrible drum sounds from roughly sleepwalker on. . very sterile
so many of these songs sound WAY better on the 1979 live album
Time for my TLM bash response - mostly directed at Jason. The one with the most knowledge of, and experience with, the Kinks' catalog.
1. Truly pathetic, used toilet paper take on Face to Face. It's significantly better than Aftermath, and certainly deserves to be mentioned in the same sentence with Pet Sounds, Revolver, and Blonde on Blonde (even though it's the clear fourth place). Someone just doesn't appreciate great songwriting.
2. Another case in point, you put three of my 100 favorite albums of all time at 4 stars, and #5 or lower. That was Ray's pinnacle songwriting period, ya Philistine.
3. "Not as good as the Stones' psych-pop period..." The Stones could only dream of being as good as The Kinks in '66 and '67. Get lost.
4. "Copying everyone else with the Indian thing" - Oh, no, my son, "Fancy" was already in the can when "Love You To" came out. And the former blows the latter way out of the water. Moreover, Ray and The Kinks had done the Indian thing fifteen months earlier with "See My Friends," which is completely based on Indian drones, and was just about two weeks away from being the first British/American use of Indian styles (just beaten by The Yardbirds' "Heart Full of Soul," too close together for it to be an influence).
5. Not getting to five stars on The Kinks - so pathetic. The channel's new low point, beyond the Cut the Crap thing.
6. Not so much a bash as advice for Kram - as far as filthy rock 'n' roll in 1964, check out The Pretty Things' stuff from that time. It's not the distorted power chord thing like "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of the Night," but it's raunchy as hell. Phil May can't sing though (even if he does have the shoulder-length wildman hair four years before anyone else in rock).
🙄
@@TastesLikeMusic Hey, that reply is far more intelligent than the commentary we got from you regarding The Kinks’ peak period. It was like saying, “Yeah, these Rolling Stones guys are pretty good, but I don’t like their ‘68-‘72 albums that much.” Drivel.
I don’t have any 5 star stones albums either if that makes you feel any better.
@@TastesLikeMusic Actually it does, after I pick the chunks of my cerebrum off the floor from having my 🤯
Yeh, Yardbirds Heart Full Of Soul had a sitar on the demo, before they went with Jeff's guitar mimic ing the sound.
The Great Lost Kinks Album #1 . Village Green Preservation Society #2.
1. The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society - 5
2. Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) - 5
3. Something Else - 4.5
4. Muswell Hillbillies - 4
5. Lola Vs. Powerman and the Moneygoround - 4
6. Face to Face - 4
7. The Kink Kontroversy - 4
8. Everybody’s in Show-Biz - 3.5
9. Low Budget - 3.5
10. Schoolboys in Disgrace - 3.5
11. Kinda Kinks - 3.5
12. Sleepwalker - 3.5
13. Preservation Act 1 - 3.5
14. Percy - 3
15. Misfits - 3
16. State of Confusion - 3
17. A Soap Opera - 3
18. Give the People What They Want - 3
19. Word of Mouth - 3
20. UK Jive - 3
21. Kinks - 2.5
22. Think Visual - 2.5
23. Preservation Act 2 - 2.5
24. Phobia - 2.5
An even better songs band than album band overall The Kinks might be (so many good non-album tracks on The Kink Kronikles, The Great Lost Kinks Album, Kinks Size/Kinkdom and other bonuses) but the top 3 albums in particular are still 60’s classics for me in themselves.
Excellent ranking. I really don't get the hate for phobia, but I guess the 2.5 is respectable even though you put it last. You are obviously a big fan.
@@catsofsherman1316 There’s definitely a decent normal length album in there but it’s just too long.
@@ThePhysicalillusion you are right. That was the pitfall of the CD era. They put the lesser tracks on that wouldn't have made the cut on a vinyl record.
@@catsofsherman1316 1993- yep, Phobia falls right in the middle of the CD era when just about every album was too long. But it was an industry wide affliction, so I tend to grade '90s albums on a curve.
I've always liked the Kinks as a singles band but surprisingly have never really tried out their albums.
On back of this video have gone out and bought Lola vs Powerman and I love it!
I have long championed "Lola versus..." as the band's greatest work and am happy to see you guys seem to agree (at least a couple of you). I am a bit perplexed at the low rating for GTPWTW. The band was absolutely monstrously huge in 1981, the year they first played Madison Square Garden and it was probably one of their best-selling albums, at least in the U.S. I can understand the sonic criticism, but it really sounds a lot like that time. Go back and listen to stuff made in 1981 and you'll find a boatload of things that sound similar.
81-82 are my two least favorite years in music history. You're not wrong....everything sounded like crap then. -Jason
i’ll have you know the kinks did the indian pastiche thing before the beatles or the byrds with “see my friends” in 1965
Imagine thinking there are maybe 100 artists better than the Kinks lol
There would be lucky to be 1 better let alone 100
Another meaty discography you need to dive into is Cheap Trick
The Ramones and Devo as well. I’ve been waiting three years for them
Is it just a coincidence that he wrote ‘Living On A Thin Line’ in 1984 and The Pretenders had ‘It’s A Thin Line Between Love And Hate’ out the same year? …..them having been a couple etc
Oohhh maybe
But Dave wrote that one.
@@TastesLikeMusic then it is a coincidence
Ray Davies is one of that All Time Best songwriters in the short history of Rock music. In my opinion, the man is a genius!