Comments on: Ray Davies

By: The Fool

The Fool — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:45:58 +0000

They always seemed kind of shallow to me. Some nice catchy pop songs but I never saw much going on there.

By: carl

carl — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:01:50 +0000

the man is genuis ~ all the wondeful songs he wrote ,
he is human and expresses what most people feel
impressed how great he was

By: Daverz

Daverz — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 07:47:13 +0000

It’s understandable that some folks might not get the Kinks worship if all they know is the post Muswell Hillbillies music (that’s my cutoff, anyway, despite a few good songs in the remaining RCA and Arista years). Much of the later stuff is even paler than that. But between 1966 and 1970 or so Ray’s output of great songs is staggering. And they’re songs that don’t have to be apologized for as great rock songs. Great songs period.

By: virgil xenophon

virgil xenophon — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:04:10 +0000

Lee—
Some good picks…

By: Jon Mandle

Jon Mandle — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:59:24 +0000

No – up in Albany on Monday.

By: The Modesto Kid

The Modesto Kid — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:06:45 +0000

Excellent, did you see him in Montclair on Tuesday? I was there too! I had never seen him before, was just blown away.

By: Lee A. Arnold

Lee A. Arnold — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:43:50 +0000

Ray Davies is one of the few rock songwriters who also possesses the prolific and sophisticated melodic invention of the Tin Pan Alley geniuses such as Berlin, Gershwin and Porter. There aren’t that many others in Davies’ class: Lennon, McCartney, Paul Simon, Brian Wilson.

My favorites:

Sunny Afternoon (1966)
Autumn Almanac (1967)
Waterloo Sunset (1967)
Days (1968)
Shangri-La (1969)
Victoria (1969)
Apeman (1970)
Lola (1970)
20th Century Man (1971)
Alcohol (1971)
Skin & Bone(1971)
Celluloid Heroes(1972)
Sitting in My Hotel (1972)
Sitting in the Midday Sun (1973)
Misfits (1978)
Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy (1978)
Catch Me Now I’m Falling (1979)

By: virgil xenophon

virgil xenophon — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:03:59 +0000

mheh, sort of agree with zhaz here. Last time I caught their act live was at Felixstowe Pavillion in Felixstowe-by-the Sea in 70 or 71? as a young Capt in the USAF stationed nearby at RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge. “old Ray” has some courage tho—was shot while successfully resisting and giving chase to some muggers in my home town of New Orleans a few years back—had to fly back from the UK to testify against them couple yrs later. And he was no spring chicken then, either. Got to give the man credit where credit is due…

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:57:19 +0000

This should’ve been about the physicist…

By: zhaz

zhaz — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:52:45 +0000

… old Ray eh. Hazy recollection of a pasty Joker-type face, lank hair and god awful vocals. Don’t get this Kinks appreciation among ivory tower types of a certain age. Perhaps it reminds them of snogging with mini skirted ‘birds’ in darkened rooms while a scratchy LP played in the corner. I think rock stars should be forced to sign a contract that by the age of 40 they retire permanently and never reappear.

By: MR Bill

MR Bill — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:45:20 +0000

I saw the Kinks in Atlanta on the “Sleepwalker” tour, a great show then, varied and unlike so many performers, he seemed to be really enjoying himself. I keep hoping someone will revive the middle period albums like “Soap Opera” as a short performance or theater piece.
“Alcohol” is the sort of thing Noel Coward would have done did he write rock and roll..