If you weren’t alive in 64, you can’t imagine the impact those chords blasting out of a car speaker tuned to AM radio. Mind blowing,music was never the same after that.
Every car radio I heard from that era was pretty lousy, and car stereos didn’t come along until ‘69. Was it really that great, or is that just wistful nostalgia talking?
@@BuffaloC305 Check out Link Wray - Rumble (1958). Played through a speaker cone that was pierced with a pencil, if I remember correctly. There's always a pre-history :)
@@michaelbillypec I agree. But I think it's classic where that cover's placed on the awesome Van Halen debut right after "Eruption" on the track order of the LP/Cassette/CD
Only recently discovered the true depth of The kinks catalogue and two weeks ago , quite by accident , bumped into Dave and shared a coffee and recited my poetry for him …..
"There's still something about that riff.." No shit. There isn't a guitar player worth his name that wouldn't give his left testicle to have come up with that one.
@@lamper2 Oh really? That's interesting. But doesn't surprise me. Writing music on one instrument....that you know will later be played/recorded on another instrument....is a technique I've found super useful in my own musical endeavors. It kinda forces your brain to think more creatively....not relying on cliches and tired overused patterns.
I vividly recall this song on our radiogram when it was released. I turned it up and my father marched into the living room and bawled "what the hell is that rubbish"!!!? 6s and 8d in my hand, straight off to buy it. There was nothing like it at the time. God Save The Kinks!!!
I think in those days there was always music around because of the little transistor radio that we had with us when not at school. We were lucky to have all those wonderful DJ's on the pirate boat stations feeding us day and night, what a blissful time.
Thanks PLAP. I'm now 70 and as an Aussie that lived in London between 1964 - 68, the second Kinks album (with the red cover) was the first I ever bought. It was a major influence on me although All Day and all of the Night was the song that did it for me. The best memories. Many thanks.
That opening riff has been my ringtone ever since technology allowed. I am a huge fan! Unfortunately, now I can’t hear the song without reaching for my phone 😂
I was 15, playing the drums badly & just started my first job at the Rising Sun Colliery (pit). This song & group changed everything in music that week ! It naturally went to #1 in England, quickly followed by The Troggs Wild Thing. The only two 45's I bought that fantastic summer both went to #1. Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end.
Ooo I suggested The Kinks a few weeks ago - my wish is granted! Ray Davies wrote lots of fabulous songs, but I dare say that this is the one that you can hear in other music for decades to come. Fascinating video - interesting that Van Halen changed how the riff was played. Shel Tamy is also extraordinarily modest for a man with such accomplishments. Thanks so much for this one, David
Yep, this 'dangerous and bratty' rif was one of the foundation pillars of hard rock... and a few years later they went on to produce what has been described as the perfect pop song, Waterloo Sunset and Sir Ray Davies was knighted on the 50th anniversary of its release. A very versatile band.
A perfect single. Heard it in the UK when it came out, and was instantly blown away. It came out around the time as the Stones’ “It’s All Over Now”. Exciting times!!
I love this Video. I have always had a love for this song and the Kinks. I have always said that, "To me this was the first "Garage Band" sound." This is what happens when 4 kids in a neighborhood want to get together and start a band. It's raw, dirty, and loud - it sounds like rock n roll.
As child of the ‘70s, I can’t remember a time when my musical tastes and sensibilities weren’t being influenced by The Kinks (thanks for the reminder Warren). I think my first conscious memory of being aware of them was when I heard “Father Christmas, give us some money! Don’t mess around with those silly toys” on the radio, when I was about 4-5 years old. I’ve had no choice but to be a Kinks fan ever since…
An absolute classic!-from THAT opening guitar intro ,then the driving beat and direct straight to the point lyrics, it's one of the most familiar songs of the 60s
I was ten year old here in Detroit when this came out and -- it really got me. I imagine there wouldn't have been an MC5 (so to speak) if it hadn't been for the Kinks. I think Detroit still embraces the gritty aesthetic of this song.
MC5! Wayne Kramer and Fred Smith, OMG! Plus Rob Tyner on vocals, and a great drummer, I think they called him Machine Gun Thompson, but I might be wrong about that. One of the greatest bands ever! Along with the Kinks, of course.
Love your description and breakdown of that nasty guitar tone that’s practically indescribable. These are the lovely imperfections that make the people’s music the best. Thanks for including this
The Kinks are great. I saw them live when I was in High School in 1981 or 1982. I can’t remember. It was on the “Give the People what they want”. Tour. It was the best concert I ever saw. They put on a great show in those days. It was fun. I also saw Ray’s Storyteller tour in the 90’s and Dave did a similar storyteller thing that I saw. Of course Ray’s was at a bigger venue. I have all their albums from early 80’s until they stopped recording. They could have been bigger if it weren’t for some dumb luck and dumb mistakes. But I still love their semi obscure ness.
The Kinks!!!! to me the quintessential British rockband of the 60's. No one encapsulated the UK more than Ray Davies back then, his lyrics were pure genius and the raw raunchy sound epitomized the swinging times in London.
Warren... I remember "All Day and All Of The Night" being played on the radio first. It was a hit where I come from. Then, a few months later "You Really Got Me" came out as the follow up single.
One of the greatest RNR SONGS EVER! I often wondered how Ray Davies wrote it on piano, seems pure guitar but here we are 60 years later still listening! Thanks.
Before the Kinks, Link Wray stabbed his speaker cone with a pencil for 'Rumble' so maybe they heard about the technique from him. Also there is a piano on the recording, so it would have made sense to tune to the piano in the studio which may well have been out.
My guess is the piano was in tune and the final master was sped up a bit for more impact. IBC was a "professional" studio, the chances that it was NOT in tune? doubtful!
I heard directly from Dave's girlfriend on this matter. My recollection of the conversation is that Dave, with no disrespect intended, says he did not draw his inspiration or idea for YRGM from Link Wray.
"Horrible and ugly and dangerous". It certainly was (is). And marvellous. The structure of the song is great too. Bass and guitars all play the riff which means at the end of the riff there is a beautiful silence before the constant drum beat. Builds up the suspense wonderfully. I loved this track in 1964 and still do :0)
Around 11:45 there's a passage about recordings erring on the sharp side "in the days before electronic tuners". Actually it was commonplace in early British rock to speed up the tape slightly at mixdown to add brightness. Everybody did it except George Martin, and all the artists who were actually playing live were doing it on the A440 standard.
There's a club I used to go to that played classic hard rock all night long and they used to play You Really Got Me alongside stuff by Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Motley Crue, AC/DC etc and it still sounded great next to everything that happened later on. That's how great this song is, it invented hard rock.
tnx for that important slice of rock history. Ray Davies is equally know know his lyrical and poetic content on We are the Village Green preservation Society, that album is packed with lyrical and melodic content. In some ways a lot of the Kinks music is political but not overtly Great artists are observers and listeners and weave observation, and personal interpretation into well krafted art with a story, that my take. In one interview after Ray was knighted, he said something to the effect I will have to write a song about this. On one hand Ray and Dave create some raunchy edgy tunes, and Ray creates gorgeous melodies and lyrics on 'Time', 'Days' and others. Some Kinks songs have me laughing . Both Ray and Dave are pretty funny doing interviews, lots of cool quips If the Kinks are not the greatest band ever, they are certainly most interesting, informed, self reflective and colourful. Sorry for the rant I am huge fan
This song really got me twice! First by the Kinks of course. Then by the yet to be Mighty Van Halen over the speakers at Tower Records before their debut album was released. What a song!
Whenever this song comes on the volume goes up. It's a fantastic song that really gets my body moving. At my age anything that gets me moving is a good thing. LOL This song just shows that having imagination and talent makes up for having a fancy guitar and amp.
Sue and me at a fundraiser, tired and wanting our beds, then the group struck up the opening chords and the energy came back! Two 70 year olds reliving happy days. Thanks Kinks
I heard it for the first time on a cheap plastic transistor radio. I was 8 years old. That led me on a path of cheap whiskey and fast women. I think my school marks went down after that.
In 1979 I saw a new band in the Cape Cod Coliseum in the summer called Van Halen. They were headlining the show riding in on the success of their cover of this song and the sudden success of their first self titled album. It changed my life!
I went to see them a week before they got to number one in the UK. They were loud, even though they were "only" using 15 watt Vox AC15s. Fantastic Band.
Ray is my favorite song writer of all time. To me, he is/was the most consistent in his greatness. Dylan ? Springsteen ? Lightfoot ? All great, for sure. But, they were inconsistent. Ray wrote great songs all the while, commercial successes aside- great songs all the while..... And I love Dave's harmonies with his brother. Like in, "Catch Me Now I'm Falling"& many, many others. But that one is a GREAT example.....🚬😎
One thing that really makes this song, and the guitar work (disclaimer: I'm not at all musically educated so I'm talking as a layperson) is the space, and timing. Part of the 'bratiness' of the guitar is the way Dave takes a little pause after every repetition of the riff, and he gives it just the right amount of silence to really give it that edge. Any shorter, or longer, and it wouldn't work the way it works.
I remember that the speaker was slashed.On an"all on the line single?" Pure chutzpah!! It could have all gone down in flames. There were no effects pedals, right? I was raised on Metallica and the descendants of Sabbath, Aerosmith, AC/DC and more. Dave Davies' raw chord? That had to be the basis of metal! In 1965, parents must have sworn that *riff* was satanic! The kids must have thought it was the coolest thing ever. All by *accident*
@@nicholasromig5506 I have some Sonics in my collection. They were regional to the Pacific NW in the sixties IIRC. I only found The Sonics by way of The Black Keys. Their version of “Have Love, Will Travel” is a Sonics cover. Spotify wasn’t around in the sixties.
After I'd just gotten my first real and also very basic drum set for Christmas in 1980, my big brother gave me the Kinks' 'Lola' compilation album on cassette tape (which of course also had this song on it), and I learnt to play the drums to it, along with The Police's 'Zenyatta Mondatta', AC/DC's 'Back In Black' and whatever was hip on the radio at the time 😀 ...and Van Halen's 1st album, which of course had their 'You Really Got Me' cover version on it 😀
The Kinks Think Visual is an excellent, underappreciated record for their later period. Agree! THey were dropped from the label after that commerically unsuccessful release. Geez
YES, DAVE DAVIES IS A fAN of ROCKIN' JERRY LEE LEWIS. He appeared backing JERRY LEE in 1989 at the Hammersmith ODEON. -- along with other artists. ----
Another excellent video. These are really as good if not better than Beato's 'What makes this song great' series, and that's saying something. Keep up the good work Warren!
Another great one Warren! Correction: Storytellers 1996, not 1966. I remember watching it. Important note here: "You Really Got Me" was engineered by Shel Talmy's first engineer of choice: Glyn Johns. I've seen The Kinks live in New York 5 times since the Word of Mouth tour in the '80s. Ray would always sing a teaser for "You Really Got Me" in "cool jazz" or "lounge" style. As always, thank you!
It’s one of the songs all bands do when they first hire the village hall and have a jam. I know I did with the white Strat I bought from Kingfisher Music in 1982. Warren will know it, Ash Vale Village Hall! :-)
I've long wondered about the link between Davies' wicked guitar sound on "You Really Got Me" and the iconic opening of Townshend's "I Can't Explain" with The Who. I devoured both songs and the styles continue to influence my listening today.👍
The Who and The Kinks used to regularly nick each other's sound. Thus, they are the bands I spent my youth listening to. Glad to have experienced both bands from their beginning.
What do you think of The Kinks 'You Really Got Me'? Comment below other songs that you think changed music!
Greatest rock song ever.
@@chaipup7045 well said!
Since for once I'm so early in the comments, I'd love to see something about Klaus Nomi, or maybe about the earliest Santana.
Sly and the Family Stone, Thank You
Any led zepplin. Pls
If you weren’t alive in 64, you can’t imagine the impact those chords blasting out of a car speaker tuned to AM radio. Mind blowing,music was never the same after that.
I believe you. My father used to indicate it to me, which now I believe it now
Every car radio I heard from that era was pretty lousy, and car stereos didn’t come along until ‘69. Was it really that great, or is that just wistful nostalgia talking?
Thanks ever so much Bill!
I wasn’t alive yet but I believe you. I Love rock history so I am aware how this song was a breaking point. Sorry for my English.
The immortal Kinks, a ground-breaking band 💜🤘🏾
Absolutely!
Most roadworkers use a Steamhammer to break ground. Dave Davies used his guitar. And then some.
My 15 and 16 year old sons think this song is awesome.There must be something in this song that cause the younger generation appreciate it.
Every punk, garage and grunge band owe the Kinks a debt of Gratitude
Agreed 100%!!
This is the birth of Metal. If this song hadn't been popular, no telling what would have happened to distortion.
@@BuffaloC305 yes, indeed
@@BuffaloC305 Check out Link Wray - Rumble (1958). Played through a speaker cone that was pierced with a pencil, if I remember correctly. There's always a pre-history :)
YES!!
In those days, there tended to be 2 camps.
You either liked the Beatles, or you liked the Stones.
But EVERYBODY liked the Kinks.
Well said!
Anyone who didn't like all of them wasn't welcome at my house!
It was also do you like Donavan or do you like Dylon
I liked all of them!
I thought that was just a Boston thing...Beatles or Stones...and yes, always the Kinks..p.s., Beatles❤
Still sounds edgy and dangerous all these years later. Thanks Warren.
Agreed! Masterpiece
Yes it does, and that’s why I’ll take it any day of the week over Van Halen’s cover
@@michaelbillypec I agree. But I think it's classic where that cover's placed on the awesome Van Halen debut right after "Eruption" on the track order of the LP/Cassette/CD
@@AZDC99 I usually skip it when listening to VHI
The solo was raw, barely-controlled chaos. One of the best solos in rock history.
Very well said
Still slaps every time I listen
Only recently discovered the true depth of The kinks catalogue and two weeks ago , quite by accident , bumped into Dave and shared a coffee and recited my poetry for him …..
You recited your poetry to Ray Davies? Where was this?
@@Producelikeapro His imagination
700 songs!
Raw. Gritty. Base. Powerful. Unapologetic. Iconic.
Agreed!
The KINKS were/are a source of joy and entertainment. What fabulous songs were written after this classic in the 70s.
"There's still something about that riff.."
No shit. There isn't a guitar player worth his name that wouldn't give his left testicle to have come up with that one.
Hahahaha exactly!!
Ironically written on piano
@@lamper2 Oh really? That's interesting. But doesn't surprise me.
Writing music on one instrument....that you know will later be played/recorded on another instrument....is a technique I've found super useful in my own musical endeavors.
It kinda forces your brain to think more creatively....not relying on cliches and tired overused patterns.
The thing that always caught my ear on this song, and “All Day and All of the Night”, is the sound of the snare on these songs. Very distinctive.
Agreed, great drum sound! Especially for the period!
The snare and the guitar compliment each other perfectly, its the space that's important
Pretty sure it was a session drummer brought in for that song..
Played this song a thousand times in a live band...always an audience favorite. Killer lead guitar.
Thanks Michael!
Dave is a woefully underrated riffmeister.
I vividly recall this song on our radiogram when it was released. I turned it up and my father marched into the living room and bawled "what the hell is that rubbish"!!!?
6s and 8d in my hand, straight off to buy it. There was nothing like it at the time.
God Save The Kinks!!!
Very well said! Thanks for sharing!
"You Really Got Me," "All Day and All of The Night," and "Til The End of The Day" -- those 3 tunes still click and throw sparks!
Yes, they do!
my parents had a pile of 45s from when they grew up and I listened to them all the time. This song was my favorite of the bunch.
Such a great song!!
Ray and Dave are way under rated, both are genius
Agreed! Both absolutely incredible!!
The Kinks are easily one of the best bands of all time! So many great songs!
Agreed 100%!
The best in my book.
I think in those days there was always music around because of the little transistor radio that we had with us when not at school. We were lucky to have all those wonderful DJ's on the pirate boat stations feeding us day and night, what a blissful time.
Thanks PLAP. I'm now 70 and as an Aussie that lived in London between 1964 - 68, the second Kinks album (with the red cover) was the first I ever bought. It was a major influence on me although All Day and all of the Night was the song that did it for me. The best memories. Many thanks.
That opening riff has been my ringtone ever since technology allowed. I am a huge fan! Unfortunately, now I can’t hear the song without reaching for my phone 😂
Haha thanks for sharing Michael!
Same for me when I hear ZZ's TUSH! It's been my ringtone for donkey's years! (Well since I bought last ph which must be about 6 years now!)
😅
I was 15, playing the drums badly & just started my first job at the Rising Sun Colliery (pit). This song & group changed everything in music that week ! It naturally went to #1 in England, quickly followed by The Troggs Wild Thing. The only two 45's I bought that fantastic summer both went to #1. Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end.
Thanks ever so much for sharing! That’s very cool
@@Producelikeapro Wild Thing was released in 1966.
This song is so good, it made the Kinks and Van Halen famous.
This was one of the first song I was allowed to hear that wasn’t gospel as a child. I’ve always gotten chills when I hear that riff.
Thanks for sharing Luke!
@@Producelikeapro thanks for all the content! 🙏🏻 The Deluxe Reveb was my first tube amp! I will forever love those amps.
@@johnqpublic2718 thanks ever so much for sharing! Great amp!
Wow, that seems like quite an extreme jump - from gospel straight to hard rock with suggestive lyrics :D
Gotten is 17th Century English. I always get chills when...............
Ooo I suggested The Kinks a few weeks ago - my wish is granted! Ray Davies wrote lots of fabulous songs, but I dare say that this is the one that you can hear in other music for decades to come.
Fascinating video - interesting that Van Halen changed how the riff was played.
Shel Tamy is also extraordinarily modest for a man with such accomplishments.
Thanks so much for this one, David
Thanks ever so much
Yep, this 'dangerous and bratty' rif was one of the foundation pillars of hard rock... and a few years later they went on to produce what has been described as the perfect pop song, Waterloo Sunset and Sir Ray Davies was knighted on the 50th anniversary of its release. A very versatile band.
@@Dave_Sisson agreed 100%! I'm such a huge fan of Ray Davies and The Kinks!!
Hope you see my comment about the Van Halen version.
A perfect single. Heard it in the UK when it came out, and was instantly blown away. It came out around the time as the Stones’ “It’s All Over Now”. Exciting times!!
thanks for a great video, very good production with nice nterview with Shel Talmy, big Thnx !! Johan
Thanks ever so much!!
I love this Video. I have always had a love for this song and the Kinks. I have always said that, "To me this was the first "Garage Band" sound." This is what happens when 4 kids in a neighborhood want to get together and start a band. It's raw, dirty, and loud - it sounds like rock n roll.
Timeless riff. Classic.
Agreed 100%!!
One of the great songs and openings ever.
Oh, my God! How i love Kinks, "You Really Got Me" and this channel.
Thanks ever so much
@FMF Veteran Really cool band.
As child of the ‘70s, I can’t remember a time when my musical tastes and sensibilities weren’t being influenced by The Kinks (thanks for the reminder Warren). I think my first conscious memory of being aware of them was when I heard “Father Christmas, give us some money! Don’t mess around with those silly toys” on the radio, when I was about 4-5 years old. I’ve had no choice but to be a Kinks fan ever since…
Thanks ever so much for sharing James!
That's one of my favourite Xmas songs
You beat a song that has kids threatening to beat up Santa Claus. 😉
Best xmas song ever !....haha ....love it and play it all year
The opening riff IS dangerous! It's sexual, primal, teenage longing. The Beatles sang about love,the Kinks lust.
An absolute classic!-from THAT opening guitar intro ,then the driving beat and direct straight to the point lyrics, it's one of the most familiar songs of the 60s
Thanks ever so much Bryan!
I was ten year old here in Detroit when this came out and -- it really got me. I imagine there wouldn't have been an MC5 (so to speak) if it hadn't been for the Kinks. I think Detroit still embraces the gritty aesthetic of this song.
The Grande Ballroom... I saw The Kinks at Cobo Hall.
MC5! Wayne Kramer and Fred Smith, OMG! Plus Rob Tyner on vocals, and a great drummer, I think they called him Machine Gun Thompson, but I might be wrong about that. One of the greatest bands ever! Along with the Kinks, of course.
Love your description and breakdown of that nasty guitar tone that’s practically indescribable. These are the lovely imperfections that make the people’s music the best. Thanks for including this
Thanks ever so much Scott!!
"Bratty AND Foundational". GOD SAVE THE KINKS.
Thing about this is that in 1964 Beatle mania was peaking and this song went going off in another direction.
Indeed! Thanks ever so much
The Kinks stayed always themselves. They did not concede anything and created a very rich englishness work. I think they are the best band
What other direction was that?
@@obbor4 my
My dear fellow. If you need an explanation for that observation, you won’t understand what I’m talking about.
@@nickdryad I guess not. Seems to me that The Beatles were just as hard a rocking band as anyone out there. What have you got to suggest otherwise?
They also pioneered the whole garage band sound!
ozzy says it's this song that inspired him to be a musician
That's amazing to hear!
Nice that they had the support of their family.
I always thought that this song was the birth of punk.
Definitely Proto Punk!
The Kinks are great. I saw them live when I was in High School in 1981 or 1982. I can’t remember. It was on the “Give the People what they want”. Tour. It was the best concert I ever saw. They put on a great show in those days. It was fun.
I also saw Ray’s Storyteller tour in the 90’s and Dave did a similar storyteller thing that I saw.
Of course Ray’s was at a bigger venue. I have all their albums from early 80’s until they stopped recording.
They could have been bigger if it weren’t for some dumb luck and dumb mistakes. But I still love their semi obscure ness.
Gotta love the finger noise on the slides, too. That's human playing right there.
Yes, it is!!
that's my favorite part of the entire riff
The Kinks!!!! to me the quintessential British rockband of the 60's. No one encapsulated the UK more than Ray Davies back then, his lyrics were pure genius and the raw raunchy sound epitomized the swinging times in London.
Agreed, Ray Davies is the bees knees! Huge fan!!
Warren... I remember "All Day and All Of The Night" being played on the radio first. It was a hit where I come from. Then, a few months later "You Really Got Me" came out as the follow up single.
Love that riff. Snotty and rebellious.😡🤘💪
Agreed 100%!
Even as a child, when I heard that song, I knew it was something unlike anything else.
That’s great! And agreed, first time I heard it I was blown away
damn.......i remember that name "PYE" on soooo many OG Stereo systems in afew friends/family homes
I have it on my console!! It’s a CADAC that used to belong to PYE Studios
One of the best rock n roll songs ever!
Absolutely
Its a master-stroke that the guitar repeats the killer catchphrase "You really got me". The older you get, the more you appreciate it.
Warren your best comment here is "I would practice it if I was you."
Haha thanks ever so much
This was one of the songs that transformed pop music into rock music ❤❤
One of the greatest RNR SONGS EVER! I often wondered how Ray Davies wrote it on piano, seems pure guitar but here we are 60 years later still listening! Thanks.
Thanks ever so much
I adore this portion of your channel. Such a fantastic insight and the musical history is unparalleled!
Thanks ever so much Mackenzie!
Before the Kinks, Link Wray stabbed his speaker cone with a pencil for 'Rumble' so maybe they heard about the technique from him.
Also there is a piano on the recording, so it would have made sense to tune to the piano in the studio which may well have been out.
Indeed, it is possible they knew that? Dave Davies was just 17 years old when he recorded it!
My guess is the piano was in tune and the final master was sped up a bit for more impact. IBC was a "professional" studio, the chances that it was NOT in tune? doubtful!
I heard directly from Dave's girlfriend on this matter. My recollection of the conversation is that Dave, with no disrespect intended, says he did not draw his inspiration or idea for YRGM from Link Wray.
"Horrible and ugly and dangerous". It certainly was (is). And marvellous.
The structure of the song is great too. Bass and guitars all play the riff which means at the end of the riff there is a beautiful silence before the constant drum beat. Builds up the suspense wonderfully. I loved this track in 1964 and still do :0)
Thanks ever so much for your wonderful comment
When I had my first band in high school this was one iof the first songs we learned. A true classic!
THIS SONG REFLECTS PUBERTY AND WAS IT FOR MILLIONS OF KIDS ! !
Around 11:45 there's a passage about recordings erring on the sharp side "in the days before electronic tuners". Actually it was commonplace in early British rock to speed up the tape slightly at mixdown to add brightness. Everybody did it except George Martin, and all the artists who were actually playing live were doing it on the A440 standard.
There's a club I used to go to that played classic hard rock all night long and they used to play You Really Got Me alongside stuff by Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Motley Crue, AC/DC etc and it still sounded great next to everything that happened later on. That's how great this song is, it invented hard rock.
Thanks ever so much for sharing your insight! Great story!
@@Producelikeapro My pleasure!
@@richalderson6069 fantastic
Thanks, Warren. Love the Kinks!
Me too! Thanks ever so much
Great stuff, as always. I think it is clear that, amongst a few other songs, this was one of the precursors to punk music. Hard, angry, and simple.
Fantastic
Loved this video, so great, it had everything! Now I must go listen to The Kinks! Thanks, Warren ♡♡
Thanks ever so much BB!
What I always really like is that the song ends on an unresolved V chord. The unanswered question - did the boy get the girl?
Woah, I never realized that riff was originally written on the piano! 🎹 Great video!
Agreed! Hard to imagine!
tnx for that important slice of rock history. Ray Davies is equally know know his lyrical and poetic content on We are the Village Green preservation Society, that album is packed with lyrical and melodic content. In some ways a lot of the Kinks music is political but not overtly
Great artists are observers and listeners and weave observation, and personal interpretation into well krafted art with a story, that my take.
In one interview after Ray was knighted, he said something to the effect I will have to write a song about this. On one hand Ray and Dave create some raunchy edgy tunes, and Ray creates gorgeous melodies and lyrics on 'Time', 'Days' and others. Some Kinks songs have me laughing . Both Ray and Dave are pretty funny doing interviews, lots of cool quips
If the Kinks are not the greatest band ever, they are certainly most interesting, informed, self reflective and colourful.
Sorry for the rant I am huge fan
This song really got me twice! First by the Kinks of course. Then by the yet to be Mighty Van Halen over the speakers at Tower Records before their debut album was released. What a song!
Agreed on both instances!
Whenever this song comes on the volume goes up. It's a fantastic song that really gets my body moving. At my age anything that gets me moving is a good thing. LOL This song just shows that having imagination and talent makes up for having a fancy guitar and amp.
Sue and me at a fundraiser, tired and wanting our beds, then the group struck up the opening chords and the energy came back! Two 70 year olds reliving happy days. Thanks Kinks
I heard it for the first time on a cheap plastic transistor radio. I was 8 years old. That led me on a path of cheap whiskey and fast women. I think my school marks went down after that.
Amazing
Absolutely do not slice up your amplifier speaker to try to replicate that sound. Borrow a friend's amp to try that.
Hahahaha
Is that person still your friend? 😎
Hilarious and true...but move to a different country if it's my rig....ahhh..still find you anyway...😂😂😂😂😂
Super song then and epic now!
Agreed! Masterpiece
I grew up on punk, but I always felt at home listening to The Kinks.
The Kinks were the original punks
In 1979 I saw a new band in the Cape Cod Coliseum in the summer called Van Halen. They were headlining the show riding in on the success of their cover of this song and the sudden success of their first self titled album. It changed my life!
The guitars on this song deserve all of the attention you give them. Ray's amazing vocals probably deserver they're own video!
So much of what is taken for granted today was revolutionary at some point in history.
I went to see them a week before they got to number one in the UK. They were loud, even though they were "only" using 15 watt Vox AC15s. Fantastic Band.
Wow! Thanks ever so much for sharing
and let's not overlook that Snare Sound! boom-crack=awesome, and perfect for the track
Agreed 100%!
Ray is my favorite song writer of all time. To me, he is/was the most consistent in his greatness. Dylan ? Springsteen ? Lightfoot ? All great, for sure. But, they were inconsistent. Ray wrote great songs all the while, commercial successes aside- great songs all the while.....
And I love Dave's harmonies with his brother.
Like in, "Catch Me Now I'm Falling"& many, many others. But that one is a GREAT example.....🚬😎
One thing that really makes this song, and the guitar work (disclaimer: I'm not at all musically educated so I'm talking as a layperson) is the space, and timing. Part of the 'bratiness' of the guitar is the way Dave takes a little pause after every repetition of the riff, and he gives it just the right amount of silence to really give it that edge. Any shorter, or longer, and it wouldn't work the way it works.
Indeed, Dave has incredible feel! Plus he was so young! Only 17! Wonderful
Exactly!! The rhythm of this song is so original. Unprecedented in rock n roll.
I remember that the speaker was slashed.On an"all on the line single?" Pure chutzpah!! It could have all gone down in flames. There were no effects pedals, right?
I was raised on Metallica and the descendants of Sabbath, Aerosmith, AC/DC and more. Dave Davies' raw chord? That had to be the basis of metal!
In 1965, parents must have sworn that *riff* was satanic! The kids must have thought it was the coolest thing ever. All by *accident*
Thanks ever so much for your wonderful comment!
I remember hearing that to make a really ugly, gnarly sound the Sonics covered their amps with garbage bags
"It wasn't called Heavy Metal when I invented it." Dave Davies.
@@nicholasromig5506 I have some Sonics in my collection. They were regional to the Pacific NW in the sixties IIRC.
I only found The Sonics by way of The Black Keys. Their version of “Have Love, Will Travel” is a Sonics cover.
Spotify wasn’t around in the sixties.
After I'd just gotten my first real and also very basic drum set for Christmas in 1980, my big brother gave me the Kinks' 'Lola' compilation album on cassette tape (which of course also had this song on it), and I learnt to play the drums to it, along with The Police's 'Zenyatta Mondatta', AC/DC's 'Back In Black' and whatever was hip on the radio at the time 😀 ...and Van Halen's 1st album, which of course had their 'You Really Got Me' cover version on it 😀
Shel Talmy is to the early Kinks what George Martin was to The Beatles. Serious gravitas points for having him on this video.
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
"Storytellers 1996" surely, rather than 1966? Anyway, glorious vid, thanks ever so much :)
Great video as always, loved it
Thanks ever so much!
The Kinks Think Visual is an excellent, underappreciated record for their later period. Agree! THey were dropped from the label after that commerically unsuccessful release. Geez
I love all things Kinks! Amazing band
YES, DAVE DAVIES IS A fAN of ROCKIN' JERRY LEE LEWIS. He appeared backing JERRY LEE in 1989 at the Hammersmith ODEON. -- along with other artists. ----
I joined my first band in 1991, and "You Really Got Me" was one of the very few covers we did. Lots of fun to play on drums!
I agree! I played it very badly in my first band!!
The slow vs fast reminds me of That Thing You Do.
Another excellent video. These are really as good if not better than Beato's 'What makes this song great' series, and that's saying something. Keep up the good work Warren!
You’re too kind! Rick Beato makes incredible videos! Humbled to even be mentioned alongside him
Yes, he's really good, but then so are you.
@@sayrerowan734 you're very kind!
Another great one Warren!
Correction: Storytellers 1996, not 1966. I remember watching it.
Important note here: "You Really Got Me" was engineered by Shel Talmy's first engineer of choice: Glyn Johns.
I've seen The Kinks live in New York 5 times since the Word of Mouth tour in the '80s. Ray would always sing a teaser for "You Really Got Me" in "cool jazz" or "lounge" style.
As always, thank you!
amazing album genuinely i am not one for 60s rock but they are just so much more than that
Captured Dave's guitar sound spot on but that second solo not easy to copy
Absolutely! Incredibly unique part!
It’s one of the songs all bands do when they first hire the village hall and have a jam. I know I did with the white Strat I bought from Kingfisher Music in 1982. Warren will know it, Ash Vale Village Hall! :-)
Like the sound of Satisfaction. Grundgy...
I've long wondered about the link between Davies' wicked guitar sound on "You Really Got Me" and the iconic opening of Townshend's "I Can't Explain" with The Who. I devoured both songs and the styles continue to influence my listening today.👍
Great stuff!!
The Who and The Kinks used to regularly nick each other's sound. Thus, they are the bands I spent my youth listening to. Glad to have experienced both bands from their beginning.
About the tuning. Don't forget there's a piano on it! So I think it's probably a tape speed thing maybe when copied.
Maybe! Or they tuned to the piano! Probably tape speed either to match the piano or change the tempo haha
The first true Rock song ... I was 13 and it was like nothing that had played before ...
Thanks ever so much for sharing
I was 11 and totally agree. There was a lot going on, Beatles, Stones, DC5 and then that, so raw and exciting at the time