Kinks (Dlx Ed) [Import]

After a couple of failed singles in the U.K. (included as bonus tracks on this Castle reissue), the Kinks unleashed their trademark sound on the classic "You Really Got Me" and helped launch thousands of garage bands across the country in the mid-sixties. [Let's face it, there was nothing terribly complex about their music, but it rocked!]

With the success of "You Really Got Me," the Kinks were rushed into the studio to record this, their first full length album. As such, fewer than half of the songs are Ray Davies originals. But among those are the classic "Stop Your Sobbin'" (from the original album release) and from among the generous 12 bonus tracks on this reissue are "All Day and All of the Night" and the should-have-been-hits "I Gotta Go Now" and "Things Are Getting Better."

The covers are typical of other R&B-influenced groups of the period like the Rolling Stones. The Kinks work through respectable versions of Chuck Berry's "Too Much Monkey Business" and "Beautiful Delilah," as well as bluesman Slim Harpo's "Got Love If You Want It."

The Castle reissues of the Kinks' first ten albums illustrate that the Beatles weren't the only British group to have their U.K. releases doctored before they reached these shores. Essentially what this Castle reissue amounts to is the Kinks' first two U.S. albums [You Really Got Me and Kinks-Size (minus "Tired of Waiting for You" and "Come on Now"--both on the Castle reissue Kina Kinks)] plus five bonus tracks.

Bonus tracks include the first two singles: a Little Richard cover of "Long Tall Sally" and Ray's "You Still Want Me" and the B-side "You Do Something to Me." Both singles failed to chart. Also included are "It's Alright" (the B-side of "You Really Got Me"), the previously unreleased "I Don't Need You Any More," and "I Took My Baby Home" (the B-side of "Long Tall Sally," which was included as one of the tracks on the original Kinks debut album in the U.K., but not released stateside prior to this reissue).

All of these songs were recorded in 1964. As such they reflect the freshness and exuberance of a band that would go on to become one of the most important bands of the rock 'n' roll era. RECOMMENDED

Not really one star on a track-by-track basis, but this is not an accurate description of this album. As far as I can tell, this is the current US Sanctuary release, including only 2 bonus tracks. Don't confuse the US Sanctuary release in with the UK Castle release! The UK Castle release has 26 tracks, making it a much better deal. Same front cover, very different track listing.

Don't buy this CD. Look for "Kinks" Castle; ASIN: B000006B8B, which has all these tracks and 10 more, and is being sold for less by Amazon.

Two discs-66,61 minutes each approximately. The discs were made in Germany. The sound is improved from the original thin production of the LP, and subsequent CD editions. The discs snap in, inside a quad-fold cardboard holder, which has nice graphics, and track information on the back. The booklet is well done, with a good synopsis of the KINKS and their music, along with some good period photographs and graphics.

The KINKS first album, released in 1964, is a collection of several different styles of music. There's rock 'n' roll ("Too Much Monkey Business", "Cadillac", etc.), r&b/blues ("Long Tall Shorty", "Got Love If You Want It"), something approaching folk-rock ("I've Been Driving On Bald Mountain"), beat ("Just Can't Go To Sleep"), and a number of pop songs. This "quicky" approach sounds like a collection of various styles rather than a coherent album. But in the early days this was the way albums were done-rushed out for release to capitalize on a hit single or two, with the rest of the album filled out with usually lesser tunes.

This album has a number of good, exciting tracks-certainly as good as most other bands who released a full LP (as opposed to an EP), on a usually small budget. This album is a good example of early/mid 60's English rock. Of course the hit "You Really Got Me" is here in all it's glory. This song has one of the best, primal electric guitar solos in rock 'n' roll-noisy, passionate, and immediate sounding. The same can be said for "All Day And All Of The Night", heard in pure mono.

The original album (in stereo) is on the first disc, along with a number of mono demos, singles, a couple of tunes by the (pre-KINKS) BOLL-WEEVILS from 1963, and tracks from the EP "Kinksize Session". For KINKS fans the extra tracks will be a valuable addition to the band's discography. The best of the demos add depth to the original album, and give some insight into the workings of the band.

Disc Two contains the original album in glorious mono. This has been around for some time, but not with the improved sound quality found here. Also here are tracks not used on the album, some alternate recordings, a mono mix for the U.S., and several good BBC recordings (in mono), plus a couple of short interviews with the band and Ray Davies. The BBC tracks are full of that early, slightly naive, excitement of the era-the band sounds ready to just get on with things. It's music played by a group that hadn't yet been worn down by touring, recording, and the constant pressure of writing another hit single. The short DJ "patter" between songs is reminiscent of early period radio.

For whatever reason the KINKS were never as popular in the U.S. as in England. Despite some good songs and some hot singles, Ray Davies writing style increasingly focused on England and things "English". And that's too bad, because Davies became a focused song writer, who only improved as time went on. But this first album, now much improved, is still a fine example of the early days of British rock. Fans will want this edition for the improved sound and the extras. If you're new to the KINKS, this is a fine example of the "early days" when you could turn on the radio and hear something as exciting as "You Really Got Me", or "All Day And All Of The Night". But there are other early treasures here-give it a listen and hear for yourself.

If you're wondering about the band's second album ("Kinda Kinks"), and/or their third ("The Kink Kontroversy"), they're in the same format as this Deluxe Edition. Both have even more fine music-the original albums (in mono), demos, unissued tracks, singles, outtakes, alternates, and live tracks, plus great notes/photos, on/of, the band and their music. Together, the first three Deluxe Editions paint a good picture of this underrated band.