The Kinks released one of their best albums, Arthur (or the decline and fall of The British Empire) October 10 in 1969. It is the seventh studio album by the band. Ray Davies constructed the concept album as the soundtrack to a Granada Television play and developed the storyline with novelist Julian Mitchell; however, the television programme was cancelled and never produced. The rough plot revolved around Arthur Morgan, a carpet-layer, who was based on Ray Davies’ brother-in-law Arthur Anning.
It is a natural successor to The Village Green Preservation Society, but it is even more British in its tone and storyline.
The Kinks – Victoria (from the concert film One For The Road):
“No one can penetrate me. They only see what’s in their own fancy, always.”
– Ray Davies
June 21: Ray Davies was born in 1944 Happy Birthday
Sir Raymond Douglas “Ray” Davies, CBE (born 21 June 1944) is an English musician. He was the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for The Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave. He has also acted, directed and produced shows for theatre and television.
Ray Davies is one of my favorite british songwriters, he really is up there with Lennon/McCartney and Jagger/Richards. He is that good!
Ray Davies’ influence on british music is large and important. It really became visible during the brit-pop period, but I can hear his way of talking about the english way of live in today’s pop and rap/hip-hop also. They might not know why they do it the way the do, but we do, it is the way Ray Davies taught them through his songs .
While almost every other songwriter working in a rock band at the time was talking about altered states or sticking it to squares, Ray Davies developed a vocabulary of traditional English life, and even mocked Carnaby Street fashion on “Dedicated Follower of Fashion”. The Kinks were culture without the “counter” prefix, a rock band that anomalously acknowledged the dignity in the middle-aged woman who went out and bought a hat like the one Princess Marina wore, the one that adopted the mannerisms of music hall without pastiche or irony, the one that sang about tea and gooseberry tarts and favoring neighborhood life over new patterns of development.
This is a classic TV-concert by Kinks at their best, giving us some incredible versions of some of their hits and a rousing Good Golly Miss Molly.
Some info from Bootlegzone: There are conflicting opinions as to where this show was filmed, and when it was first broadcast – it all boils down to whether you believe the BBC or the bootleggers. :
Theory 1 Filmed at The Rainbow Theatre, Finsbury Park, London 1972-01-21 Shown on BBC TV on 1972-07-23, repeated on 1973-01-24
Theory 2 Filmed at BBC Televison Centre, London 1973-01-24 Broadcast on 1973-03-15 Supported by 1) The BBC referring to the show as being “from March 1973” 2) The BBC “Copyright 1973” sign at the end of the film (rather than “Copyright 1972”) 3) Doug Hinman’s book “The Kinks – All Day And All Of The Night” which lists The Kinks’ activities from 1961 to 1996
France withdraws its forces from NATO. President De Gaulle visits the USSR (June 20).
Sukarno leaves office in Indonesia; Suharto assumes power.
Botswana, Lesotho, and Guyana become independent states within the British Commonwealth.
India suffers the worst famine in 20 years; Lyndon Johnson asks for $1 billion in aid to the country.
US: Medicare begins (July 1).
US: Supreme Court decides Miranda v. Arizona, protecting rights of the accused.
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Movies: A Man for All Seasons, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Alfie
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My rules:
Only one song per artist/group
The song must be released that specific year
Songs from live albums not allowed
Restricted to only 20 songs
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Again a LOT of wonderful music was released in 1966 (actually 1966 might be my fav year in music), hard to pick only 20.
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Visions of Johanna – Bob Dylan
Written by Dylan & released on his album “Blonde On Blonde” ~May 16, 1966 (possibly as late as July 1966).
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Ain’t it just like the night to play tricks when you’re tryin’ to be so quiet?
We sit here stranded, though we’re all doin’ our best to deny it
And Louise holds a handful of rain, temptin’ you to defy it
Lights flicker from the opposite loft
In this room the heat pipes just cough
The country music station plays soft
But there’s nothing, really nothing to turn off
Just Louise and her lover so entwined
And these visions of Johanna that conquer my mind
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