The Kinks: The Kink Kronikles

Years ago, a friend gave me the 1972 double-disc set, The Kink Kronikles, comprising 28 pieces from the last half of the Sixties and very early Seventies and, after a listen or two, it was put away and largely forgotten.  Why it didn't get more of my attention is baffling now, especially because as a long-time admirer of The Jam, it should've been abundantly clear to me just how much Paul Weller drew/nicked from one of his idols.  This hour-and-a-half recording is a staggering compilation of consistent greatness from a band that was part of the first British Invasion with proto-metal tunes like "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of the Night," but moved into richer, deeper territory that left them far less appreciated stateside than such peers at The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and others.

Presumably, a major reason why The Kinks did not resonate as much with American listeners, excepting tunes like "Lola," is because they were "too British."  Principal songwriter Ray Davies crafted carefully constructed character studies coupled with remarkable instrumental touches steeped in music hall, as well as rock, and with the occasional horns or the vastly underappreciated keyboard work of frequent contributor Nicky Hopkins (who did this for the Stones and many others).

Davies told of British life in ways that were wistful, ironic, critical, comedic, wry and detached, yet trenchantly observant.  The other band members including Davies' brother Dave, whose guitar work is not always as recognized as it should be; drummer Mick Avory, bassists Peter Quaife and John Dalton and keyboardist John Gosling that could, though often after intense arguments or outright fisticuffs, adapt beautifully to his highly unusual and idiosyncratic methods and provide top instrumental accompaniment to these immersive works.

It should be added that Ray Davies is a preeminent songwriter, but three songs by Dave Davies, including "Death of a Clown," "Mindless Child of Motherhood," and "Susannah's Still Alive," are top-notch tunes, as well.  Those early 1964 hits, as well as "Tired of Waiting For You" and other tunes may not be here, but this album is filled to the gills with unforgettable and remarkable music, much of which should be better known here in the States.