The Kinks announce 'The Journey,' a two-part special anniversary anthology release

It's wonderful to see The Kinks getting some well-deserved attention via "The Journey," a special release coming next month...Robert Kinsler

Special 60th anniversary celebration of one of the greatest British rock bands of all time   The Kinks announce The Journey, a two-part special anniversary anthology release   The Journey - Part 1  2CD, 2LP, Digital & HD Digital Worldwide release March 24, 2023    The Kinks, one of the greatest ever British rock groups, celebrate their 60th Anniversary in 2023. Formed in 1963 in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies with their friend Pete Quaife, and joined by Mick Avory in early 1964, the band quickly established themselves as one of the epoch-defining groups of the 60s, with their impact still being felt around the world today.   The stats speak for themselves: The Kinks have sold over 50 million records worldwide and have been streamed over a billion times; they have achieved five US Top 10 singles, nine US Top 40 albums, seventeen UK Top 20 singles and five UK Top 10 albums, with four albums certified Gold. Among numerous honors, they have received the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Service To British Music and have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame and the UK Music Hall of Fame. Multi-award winning, legendary frontman Sir Ray Davies is widely recognized as one of the greatest British songwriters of all time.   The Kinks 60 campaign will be a two-year-long celebration of their illustrious musical journey career, confirming their place as one of the greatest and most influential rock groups of all time. As a key part of the campaign, and to mark this milestone, a career-defining anthology, The Journey, will be released on BMG in two parts, with The Journey - Part 1 released on 24 March 2023.   The songs on The Journey - Part 1 (1964-1975) have been handpicked for the first time by Ray, Dave and Mick, curated according to themes inspired by the trials and tribulations of their journey through life together as a band since 1963. Featuring hits such as “You Really Got Me,” “Waterloo Sunset,” “All Day And All Of The Night,” “Celluloid Heroes,” “Supersonic Rocket Ship,” “Dead End Street,” and “Death Of A Clown” The Journey - Part 1 follows recently remastered 50th anniversary deluxe editions of The Village Green Preservation Society, Lola Versus Powerman Part 1, Muswell Hillbillies and Everybody's In Show-Biz. All tracks have been lovingly remastered from the original audio sources.   "Ask yourself the question, is this journey really necessary?.......Yes!” Ray Davies muses on The Journey. Dave Davies continues, “I’m delighted with what I think is an inspiring selection of timeless and magical Kinks music.”   The Journey - Part 1 will be released on 2CD, 2LP, Digital and HD Digital albums. The physical formats contain a booklet with band photos and personal track-by-track notes from Ray, Mick, and Dave, sharing their memories of the time these tracks were recorded and weaving them into the Kinks’ incredible story.   Details of the The Journey - Part 2 will follow later this year.   A host of global events and activities will be launching throughout 2023 & 2024 to mark the band’s 60th, with more to be announced in the coming months. RELEASE FORMATS: 2LP

Side 1 Songs about becoming a man, the search for adventure, finding an identity and a girl:  1.        You Really Got Me (UK#1, 1964) 2.        All Day And All Of The Night (UK#2, 1964) 3.        It's All Right (1964) 4.        Who'll Be The Next In Line (1965) 5.        Tired Of Waiting For You (UK#1, 1965) 6.        She's Got Everything (1968) 7.        Just Can't Go To Sleep (1964) 8.        Stop Your Sobbing (1964) 9.        Wait Till The Summer Comes Along (1965) 10.      So Long (1965) Side 2 Songs of ambition achieved, bitter taste of success, loss of friends, the past comes back and bites you in the backside: 1.        Dead End Street (UK#5, 1966) 2.        Schooldays (1975) 3.        The Hard Way (1975) 4.        Mindless Child Of Motherhood (1969) 5.        Supersonic Rocket Ship (UK#2, 1972) 6.        I'm In Disgrace (1975) 7.        Do You Remember Walter? (1968) Side 3 Days and nights of a lost soul, songs of regret and reflection of happier times: 1.        Too Much On My Mind (1966) 2.        Nothin’ In The World Can Stop Me Worryin’ ‘Bout That Girl (1965) 3.        Days (UK#2, 1968) 4.        Where Have All The Good Times Gone (1965) 5.        Strangers (1970) 6.        It’s Too Late (1965) 7.        Sitting In The Midday Sun (1973) Side 4 A new start, a new love, but have you really changed? Still haunted by the quest and the girl: 1.        Waterloo Sunset (UK#2, 1967) 2.        No More Looking Back (1975) 3.        Death Of A Clown (UK#3, 1967) 4.        Celluloid Heroes (1972) 5.        Act Nice And Gentle (1967) 6.        This Is Where I Belong (1967) 2CD CD1 Songs about becoming a man, the search for adventure, finding an identity and a girl:  1.        You Really Got Me (UK#1, 1964) 2.        All Day And All Of The Night (UK#2, 1964) 3.        It's All Right (1964) 4.        Who'll Be The Next In Line (1965) 5.        Tired Of Waiting For You (UK#1, 1965) 6.        Dandy (Germany#1, 1966) 7.        She's Got Everything (1968) 8.        Just Can't Go To Sleep (1964) 9.        Stop Your Sobbing (1964) 10.      Wait Till The Summer Comes Along (1965) 11.      So Long (1965) 12.      I'm Not Like Everybody Else (1966) Songs of ambition achieved, bitter taste of success, loss of friends, the past comes back and bites you in the backside: 13.      Dead End Street (UK#5, 1966) 14.      Wonderboy (1968) 15.      Schooldays (1975) 16.      The Hard Way (1975) 17.      Mindless Child Of Motherhood (1969) 18.      Supersonic Rocket Ship (UK#2, 1972) 19.      I'm In Disgrace (1975) 20.      Do You Remember Walter? (1968) CD2 Days and nights of a lost soul, songs of regret and reflection of happier times: 1.        Too Much On My Mind (1966) 2.        Nothin’ In The World Can Stop Me Worryin’ ‘Bout That Girl (1965) 3.        Days (UK#2, 1968) 4.        Last Of The Steam-Powered Trains (1968) 5.        Where Have All The Good Times Gone (1965) 6.        Strangers (1970) 7.        It’s Too Late (1965) 8.        Sitting In The Midday Sun (1973) A new start, a new love, but have you really changed? Still haunted by the quest and the girl: 9.        Waterloo Sunset (UK#2, 1967) 10.      Australia (1969) 11.      No More Looking Back (1975) 12.      Death Of A Clown (UK#3, 1967) 13.      Celluloid Heroes (1972) 14.      Act Nice And Gentle (1967) 15.      This Is Where I Belong (1967) 16.      Shangri-La (1969) CONNECT WITH THE KINKS WEBSITE I FACEBOOK I TWITTER I SPOTIFY

The Kinks announce special release of 'Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire' deluxe box set out Oct. 25

Great to see The Kinks' brilliant album 'Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire' being reissued via several deluxe editions this fall...

The Kinks

Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire

50th Anniversary Edition Out October 25th on BMG

Formats: Deluxe Box Set, 2LP, 2CD & Digital

Features Brand New Doo Wop Choir Recordings, The Great Lost Dave Davies Solo Album, New Ray Davies Remixes

And A Host Of Previously Unreleased Tracks
Including "The Future" 

Listen HERE

To mark its 50th anniversary, The Kinks today announce a special release of Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire - out October 25 on BMG, which includes previously unreleased track "The Future" - https://youtu.be/dTWrThdOcEU.

Without doubt, the Kinks 7th studio album is one of the greatest rock albums ever made, a near perfect example of Ray Davies' incredible storytelling ability in what was an innovation in 1969: a concept album. It's also poignant that a record based on the story of emigrating from the UK around its potential to enter the Common Market should hit its 50th anniversary right now. With Brexit on the horizon, the themes of 'Arthur' ring alarmingly familiar.

Arthur received unanimous acclaim on its release. Each of its 12 original album tracks is an absolute gem and all perfect examples of Ray Davies' intrinsic ability to weave a story around a song. In what was a golden period for the Kinks, Arthur followed another classic, The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society when it was released on October 10, 1969.

Rolling Stone wrote: "Arthur is a masterpiece on every level. The Kinks supreme achievement and the best British album of 1969." Melody Maker was equally enthusiastic: "Ray Davies' finest hour......beautifully British to the core."

"I started Arthur before the end of Village Green." says Ray. "The albums piggyback one another because they are joined. I'd already written the song 'Arthur'. I think I wrote 'Australia' when I was still living at 87 Fortis Green so it was quite early on. I remember taking it over to Dave, he lived in Cockfosters at the time, and playing it to him. We were laughing at the irony in the line, 'nobody's got a chip on their shoulder'."

In the midst of the Arthur sessions, studio time was devoted to completing tracks for Dave Davies' proposed solo album. The idea had progressed in staggered intervals since the initial success of Dave's 1967 single, "Death Of A Clown" but, ultimately, never reached completion.

"One of the reasons the album wasn't finished was because I felt The Kinks' management and record company were forcing me too much," Dave reflects. "I felt very comfortable being in The Kinks and it seemed fulfilling to be part of a band. I didn't really want for more. I couldn't see the point."

Ray says; "Hearing Dave's songs again after all this time, I found them quite moving because they were like the back story of what The Kinks were going through at the time."

 

Reprise eventually scrapped the release by September 1969 and over the years, Kinks fans continued to obsess as to what Dave's album - which some referred to as "A Hole In The Sock Of," a working title Ray had jokingly thrown to a music journalist - might have contained.

 

Included in this anniversary edition are 4 CDs comprising of 81 tracks in total, 5 of them unreleased and 28 previously unreleased versions. These include 2019 newly remastered versions of the original album from HD sources (in its original track listing), mono and stereo single versions, B-sides, alternate mono and stereo mixes, rehearsal tracks, BBC mixes and the lost Dave Davies' solo album, with bonus tracks.

 

It also includes Ray Davies' compiled medley of unreleased demo tracks, 2 new recordings of Ray Davies with The Doo Wop Choir, "Arthur & The Emigrants" including one previously unreleased track, 3 previously unreleased "The Come Dancing Workshop Ensemble" tracks, and new Ray Davies remixes of "Australia" and "Shangri-La."

 

A 68-page softback book has also been included, featuring extensive essays by world-renowned Kinks experts, original cancelled Arthur play co-scriptwriter Julian Mitchell, and original album sleeve designer Bob Lawrie. There are also new interviews with Ray Davies, Dave Davies and Mick Avory, as well as band photos, original release international cover artwork and printed memorabilia.

 

Four 7" singles from the album can also be found - "Drivin," "Victoria," "Shangri-La" & "Hold My Hand" (Dave Davies solo) - all reproduced with original international artwork. Finally, a bespoke, exclusive, metal & enamel Kinks logo pin badge is included for fans to wear.

THE KINKS ARTHUR OR THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

LIMITED EDITION, 50TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE BOX SET

- 88 TRACKS, INCLUDING 5 UNRELEASED TRACKS &

26 UNRELEASED VERSIONS

- 4 x CDs: REMASTERED MONO & STEREO ALBUM,

SINGLES, B-SIDES, ALTERNATE TRACK VERSIONS,

NEW DOO WOP CHOIR RECORDINGS, RAY DAVIES

REMIXES & DEMOS MEDLEY, THEATRICAL & BBC

TRACKS, 'LOST' DAVE DAVIES ALBUM

- 4 x REPRODUCED 7" SINGLES

- 68 PAGE DELUXE BOOK WITH ESSAYS, NEW BAND

INTERVIEWS, RARE IMAGES

- REPRODUCED POSTERS & PHOTOS

- KINKS METAL PIN BADGE

https://thekinks.info

THE KINKS - ARTHUR BOX SET - TRACK LISTING

 

DISC ONE

ORIGINAL STEREO ALBUM, 2019 REMASTER

1.        Victoria (Stereo)

2.        Yes Sir, No Sir (Stereo)

3.        Some Mother's Son (Stereo)

4.        Drivin' (Stereo)

5.        Brainwashed (Stereo)

6.        Australia (Stereo)

7.        Shangri-La (Stereo)

8.        Mr. Churchill Says (Stereo)

9.        She's Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina (Stereo)

10.       Young And Innocent Days (Stereo)

11.       Nothing To Say (Stereo)

12.       Arthur (Stereo)

Bonus Tracks

13.      Plastic Man (Stereo)

14.      Victoria (Alternate Stereo Mix)

15.      Yes Sir, No Sir (Alternate Stereo Mix)

16.      Drivin' (Alternate Stereo Mix)

17.      Brainwashed (Alternate Stereo Mix)

18.      Australia (Alternate Stereo Mix)

19.      Shangri-La (Alternate Stereo Mix)

DISC TWO

ORIGINAL MONO ALBUM, 2019 REMASTER 

1.         Victoria (Mono)

2.        Yes Sir, No Sir (Mono)

3.         Some Mother's Son (Mono)

4.         Drivin' (Mono)

5.         Brainwashed (Mono)

6.         Australia (Mono)

7.         Shangri-La (Mono)

8.         Mr. Churchill Says (Mono)

9.         She's Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina (Mono)

10.      Young And Innocent Days (Mono)

11.      Nothing To Say (Mono)

12.      Arthur (Mono)

Bonus Tracks

13.      Plastic Man (Mono)

14.      King Kong (Mono)

15.      Victoria (Alternate Mono Mix)

16.      Australia (Alternate Mono Acetate Mix)

17.      Shangri-La (Alternate Mono Mix)

18.      She's Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina (Alternate Mono Mix)

19.      Australia (Australian Mono Single Mix/Edit)

DISC THREE

THE GREAT LOST DAVE DAVIES ALBUM PLUS

1.         This Man He Weeps Tonight (Stereo)

2.         Mindless Child Of Motherhood (Stereo)

3.         Hold My Hand (Stereo)

4.         Do You Wish To Be A Man? (Stereo)

5.         Are You Ready? (Stereo)

6.         Creeping Jean (Stereo)

7.         I'm Crying (Stereo)

8.         Lincoln County (Stereo)

9.         Mr. Shoemaker's Daughter (Stereo)

10.      Mr. Reporter (Stereo)

11.      Groovy Movies (Stereo)

12.      There Is No Life Without Love (Stereo)

 

Bonus Tracks

13.      Lincoln County (Mono Single Mix/Edit)

14.      There Is No Life Without Love (Mono)

15.      Hold My Hand (Mono)

16.      Creeping Jean (Mono Single Mix/Edit)

17.      Mindless Child Of Motherhood (Mono)

18.      This Man He Weeps Tonight (Mono)

19.      Mr. Shoemaker's Daughter (Alternate Stereo Mix)

20.      Mr. Reporter (Alternate Stereo Mix)

21.      Groovy Movies (Alternate Stereo Mix)

22.      Lincoln County (Acoustic Mix)

23.      Hold My Hand (Alternate Take)

DISC FOUR

DEMOS, REHEARSALS, BBC & REMIXES

Part 1

1.         Arthur's Journey (Introduction)

2.         Australia (2019 Mix)

3.         Home Demos Medley, 1969: Arthur / Victoria / Some Mother's Son / Drivin' /

Brainwashed / Mr. Churchill Says (TV Premix)

 

Part 2

4.         Shangri-La (2019 Mix)

5.         My Big Sister (Theatrical Version)

6.         Stevenage (Theatrical Version)

7.         Space (Theatrical Version) (Full Version)

8.         The Future (Doo-Wop Version)

9.         Arthur (Doo-Wop Version)

 

Part 3

10.      The Virgin Soldiers March

11.      Soldiers Coming Home (Instrumental)

12.      King Kong (BBC Mix)

13.      Victoria (Ray Davies & Band With The DR Symphony & Vocal Ensemble) (Stereo)

14.      Arthur (BBC Mix)

'The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society' 50th Anniversary Edition to be released Oct. 26

Fans of The Kinks (including yours truly) couldn't be more excited than by today's stellar announcement!

The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society

50^th Anniversary Edition Set for Release Oct. 26, 2018

 

Includes Previously Unreleased New Track 'Time Song'

Proud Gallery Photo Exhibition Oct 4^th - Nov 18th

 

50th Anniversary Multi-Format Releases: Super Deluxe Box Set, 1CD, 2CD Deluxe, LP, Digital, MFiT & HD

Listen to 'Time Song':

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/2M5SB01gEj5UcX7nUO5Fi2

Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/ album/time-song-single-stereo- mix-2018-remaster-single/ 1423318136?ls=1

YouTube Lyric Video: https://thekinks.lnk.to/TimeSongYTPR

The Kinks will release a 50^th Anniversary Edition of one of the greatest British rock albums of all time The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society on BMG on October 26.

 

This essential album by one of the world's best ever bands is defined by the extraordinary catalogue of Ray Davies' songs, driven by brother Dave Davies' power pop guitar and became the foundation of generations of British guitar pop. The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society cemented Ray Davies reputation as one of Britain's greatest ever songwriters of his and any generation.

 

"I think The Village Green Preservation Society is about the ending of a time personally for me in my life," says Ray. "In my imaginary village. It's the end of our innocence, our youth. Some people are quite old but in the Village Green, you're never allowed to grow up. I feel the project itself as part of a life cycle."

Somewhat overlooked upon its release in November 1968, The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society is now regarded as one of the best British

albums ever recorded. Created in difficult circumstances by a band on the verge of disintegration and who refused to follow fashion, it is an album of timeless, perfectly crafted songs about growing up and growing old, and the decline of national culture and traditional ways. Enduring and unsurpassed, with its wit, sadness, quiet anger, regret and charm, it is generally considered the high point of The Kinks' outstanding career and Ray Davies' masterpiece.

 

Included in this anniversary edition are many previously unreleased tracks and versions, including the previously unreleased track 'Time Song'. Despite never been included on a release, 'Time Song' was performed by The Kinks at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in January 1973, celebrating Britain's entry into the Common Market.

 

'When we played a concert at Drury Lane in '73 to "celebrate" us about to join what was called The Common Market, I decided to use the song as a warning that time was running out for the old British Empire.' Says Ray. 'This song was recorded a few weeks later but never made the final cut on the Preservation Act I album. Oddly enough, the song seems quite poignant and appropriate to release at this time in British history, and like Europe itself the track is a rough mix which still has to be finessed.'

 

Ray mixed the track earlier this year and it is included on the new VGPS Deluxe Box Set and Deluxe 2CD. The single version will also be available as a limited edition 7" single exclusively with pre-orders of the box set via The Kinks Music Glue official store, and as a digital download single.

 

The deluxe box set includes extensive sleeve notes, interviews, photography and specially created online & press content "telling the story" of the album's production, release and cultural impact. Also included are two essays on the album written byPete Townshend and renowned journalist Kate Mossman.

 

Launching October 4, 2018, there will be an exhibition at London's Proud Central Gallery titled 'The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society' which will run until November 18, 2018 displaying a selection of rare collector's items including specially commissioned artworks by members of the band and vintage memorabilia, together with a collection of photographs documenting this remarkable period in the band's history. Each work is hand-signed by surviving band members Ray Davies, Dave Davies and Mick Avory - visit www.proud.co.uk for more info.

 

THE KINKS ARE THE VILLAGE GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY

50TH ANNIVERSARY RELEASES

 

SUPER DELUXE BOX SET

(In special packaging with debossed box cover, foil & metallic text and linen cloth finish. Bespoke accessories holder. 174 audio tracks total)

 

LPs (180 gram heavyweight vinyl):
- Gatefold 2LP featuring original album new stereo remaster and new mono remaster. Original artwork faithfully reproduced in high resolution
- Continental (Swedish) original 12 track version of the LP

CD1:
2018 Stereo Remaster, from the original HD tape transfers + bonus tracks of singles, B sides and original album related tracks

CD2:
2018 Mono Remaster, from the original HD tape transfers + bonus tracks of singles, B sides and original album related tracks

CD3:
Village Green Sessions - Including alternate versions, mixes and backing tracks, many previously unreleased

CD4:
Village Green At The BBC - TV performance track audio and band interviews, many previously unreleased

CD5:
Preservation, Sessions, Live & Demos - including mid 70s recordings, previously unreleased home demos, Ray Davies live in Denmark 2010 and unreleased track 'Time Song'.

 

CD booklet includes notes by Ray Davies on the home demos and comprehensive track source and mastering notes from world renowned mastering engineer Andrew Sandoval

 

7" singles (reproduced original picture sleeves):

-       Days / She's Got Everything (1968)

-       Starstruck / Picture Book (1968)

-       The Village Green Preservation Society / Do You Remember Walter? (1969)

Book:
Deluxe, beautifully produced, 52-page hardback photo book with extensive sleeve notes and new band interviews, essays by Pete Townshend and other writers, plus rare and unseen Kinks Village Green related photos and imagery

Memorabilia:
Reproduced original memorabilia: Poster of Village Green LP inner gatefold; Empire Liverpool 1968 tour poster; glossy 10" x 8" photos from Hampstead Heath 1968 photoshoot; colour press photo with reproduced band signatures; Bournemouth 1968 gig ticket; PYE Records promo card; 'Days' sheet music

1LP: ART OF THE ALBUM2018 Stereo Remaster of original album, from original tape high definition transfers.180 gram heavyweight vinyl. Original gatefold artwork replicated. Insert with notes and band photos
1CD: ART OF THE ALBUM2018 Stereo Remaster of original album, from original tape high definition transfers. Booklet with notes, band quotes and Village Green era photos Insert with notes, band quotes and Village Green era photos.

2CD DELUXE: ART OF THE ALBUMOriginal album 2018 stereo and mono remasters plus bonus tracks of singles, B sides, alternate versions, mixes and other original album related tracks. Contains previously unreleased track versions and unreleased new single 'Time Song'. Hardback book packaging with linen finish, 20-page booklet with extensive notes, band quotes and rare Village Green era imagery. 49 tracks total

 

DIGITAL DELUXEOriginal album 2018 stereo remaster plus key bonus tracks from the box set, includingsingles, B sides, alternate and unreleased versions, mixes and other original album related tracks. Contains previously unreleased new single 'Time Song'. 60 tracks total

DIGITALOriginal 15 track stereo album as: Standard Digital, MFIT & HD. Remastered from HD original tape transfers.

Original LP tracklist:

 

Side One
1. The Village Green Preservation Society   
2. Do You Remember Walter?
3. Picture Book
4. Johnny Thunder
5. Last Of The Steam-Powered Trains
6. Big Sky
7. Sitting By The Riverside

Side Two
1. Animal Farm
2. Village Green
3. Starstruck
4. Phenomenal Cat
5. All Of My Friends Were There
6. Wicked Annabella7. Monica
8. People Take Pictures Of Each Other