10 Reasons to be a Kinks Fan: 1. They have lots of music: 24 studio albums and 5 live albums. 2. They cover 4 decades: sixties, seventies, eighties, and nineties. 3. They have many popular songs: 26 Top 40 hits. 4. They have a wide variety of music styles: rock, pop, R&B, ballad, music hall, hard rock. 5. They have concept albums! 6. They were key members of the original British Invasion 7. Dave Davies: inventor of the “hard rock guitar riff”. 8. Ray Davies: master of social commentary and hero of the working class. 9. You can dance to The Kinks! 10. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.

No one ever mentions what a phenomenal B side 'I gotta Move' was, incredible performance

The Kinks should have reached Stones or Who-level fame if it weren't for their touring ban in the US. The very epitome of an underrated band.

To me, the pantheon was always The Beatles, The Stones, The Kinks, and The Who - not necessarily in that order (or in any order), and not necessarily my favorite bands throughout the years, but simply the ultimate important rock bands of the boomer era. The Kinks have spent the most time at the top of that pantheon for me, especially as I've gotten older. Ray wasn't writing music that spoke to the 1960's, he was writing music that spoke to people in their 60's.

ray davies is a gift the universe gave to us. a vivid scene unfolds from each and every one of his songs, a completely vicarious experience.

I think i'm a part time missionary/evangelist for the worth of The Kinks music and why they were done so dirty by the music industry at large, so happy to see you talk about them.

I think it shows what another label would have handled the Beatles. Such great songs by the Kinks but such a toll on Ray and the rest of the band. A hard way to live. Great info Andrew.

I think The Kinks were a great singles band at first, but it wasn't until "Face To Face" from 1966, that they really hit their stride as a great albums artist. And they continued making albums of the highest standard, from 1966 - 1971. One of the best runs of consecutive albums ever.

Face To Face is a superb LP. Essential Kinks with a lot of terrific tracks and for me, second only to Revolver as British LP of the year. I'm amazed it didn't sell better than it did.

15.6kHz is a frequency old CRT computer monitors used to produce. You can find it all over the place in 90's and 00's recordings. However it's hard to imagine why there would be a CRT monitor in the mastering studio and how it worked it's way onto the audio.

Another great band is the small faces from 1965-1969 the music they released between those years goes up with many fantastic bands such as the beatles

Hopefully a video on the small faces maybe on the horizon? Another great band, fronted by in my opinion one of the greatest singer songwriter of that generation

"You pay tradesman in Pounds but gentlemen in Guineas" feels like it explains a lot about Britain.

Enjoyed this Kinks overview. A guide to the best Kinks retrospective collections would be welcomed. There are so many.

It’s great to see you cover the kinks, I would love to see you dive into the who’s albums from 1965-1978

I would love to hear your take on the Pretty Things S.F. Sorrow Lp.........recorded at abbey road in '67

You mention their later albums, and I used to be a "The Kinks lost it after 'Lola'" advocate, but although they do get v patchy in the 70s, tracks like 'Oklahoma USA' and 'Celluloid Heroes' are now definitely among my favourites of theirs, if not of all-time. Re future videos: would love to see something on UK psych, whether original, lost-classic albums (Tomorrow, SF Sorrow etc) or the best compilations.

Great video Andrew! I discovered the Kinks later in life. Although I bought the Kinks Greatest Hits on Rhino record in 1990, I did have much else in my collection until about 8 years ago when I started getting their 1960s albums Face to Face, Something Else and Village Green. I have all of their mono vinyl reissues up through Arthur and they sound great. Thanks for sharing

I really enjoyed this video Andrew. I saw the Kinks three times in the mid-70's mostly during the Misfits/Low Budget era. One show at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, Dave was off his rocker drunk and tried to give his guitar away to someone in the front row (probably a gal). So a couple of roadies instantaneously ran out and grabbed it back. I do remember "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of the Night" on AM radio in the mid-60's (I was born in 1960 and I also clearly remember the Fab's "Eight Days a Week" when it was a current hit). Schoolboys in Disgrace, Muswell Hillbillies and Lola vs Powerman... are I think my favorite LP's. My late brother's favorite was "A Soap Opera". He saw them perform that in Hopkins, Minnesota before the LP was released. Pretty sure it was presented as a stage show/concert. Must have been amazing. Cannot wait for the rest of this series Andrew!

Dedicated Follower Of Fashion was covered even in (Soviet) Estonia by a band called Toomapojad and was titled "Pilv puistab lund" ("Cloud is Spreading Snow").Check out.

The Kinks are so great! I really like The early stuff!! Takes me back

Love the Kinks! I’ve seen them so many times, I feel like I could comfortably ask Ray for a loan. 😂

Very worthy deep dive into The Kinks! Can’t wait to listen to your video on the period 1967-71, my favorite years in The Kinks. I like The Journey, Part 1 very much and appreciate the coming of Part 2 also this year.- I’d like to hear your thoughts on Small Faces and The Moody Blues in future videos.- But please don’t walk away too far from holy Beatles territory. Your Beatles videos are essential!

The Move would be a good band to cover !They were a great singles band who created 4 excellent albums! Also the Harold Wilson court case would make an interesting edition to their story!

Andrew. Great episode. I really like the new Kinks compilation. I've never understood why they don't have the same cache as the Stones or Who. For other sixties bands as you mentioned, how about the Shadows non cliff richard albums? I think up to and including Jigsaw is a superb collection and I wish some company could put out a reissue box set as was done so well with the polydor years when the material was much weaker.

As always, a very informative and entertaining video, Andrew. I’d love to see you have a go at untangling the mess that is The Yardbirds catalogue.

My first Kinks albums were Kinda Kinks and Kontroversy. I still value them greatly. The Kinks Greatest Hits was great. This was actually my favorite Kinks period, although I do like the later material. The Kinks were my favorite British invasion band.

I've always loved the Pye label, their stereophonic material has always sounded fantastic and well balanced, compared to their contemporaries at EMI.

Hi Andrew! Great stuff for a great group! I did wanna mention that the Kink Kontroversy actually did come out much later in the US on Reprise, with a March 30th, 1966 release date. This was do to many factors but namely Reprise’s inpatients for new material. After the You Really Got Me Reprise album was issued only a month after the UK counterpart, Reprise was keen to have an album to cash in on the All Day and All Of The Night and Tired of Waiting On You singles, so rather than wait, they started to compile their own album. This would be called Kinks-Size was made up of both the As and Bs of the previous mentioned singles and the Kinksize Session EP from the UK as well as the two left over tracks from the first album (I Took My Baby Home could not be used as it appeared as the b-side to Long Tall Sally on the Cameo label originally in the states and thus untouchable by Reprise. Once Kinks-Size was made up and compiled, the Kinks had finished their second proper album, Kinda Kinks, but Reprise had already invested enough time to where they would put the actual new material on hold and issue Kinks-Size in March of 65 while Kinda Kinks was issued the same month in the UK. Since Reprise used the both sides of the Tired single for the Kinks-Size album, they had to rework the Kinda Kinks record so as to not have repeats. This meant adding the sizeable US hit Set Me Free and the new American flip side Ev’rybodys Gonna Be Happy. After that singles relative flop in the UK, Reprise chose not to issue it and instead waited till another hit turned up so in the US, Set Me Free was issued first, but still fearful for failure, Reprise switched the sides making Who’ll Be The Next In Line the A and surprising a decent charting single. The reworked version of Kinda Kinks was issued in August, with its two UK singles songs missing but also the absence of Naggin’ Woman. Shortly afterwards the Kwyet Kinks EP was issued in the UK and became a popular disc for its Well Respected Man. Reprise issued this as single instead but due to the instant success, quickly wanted another album to capitalise on it. But the Kinks were back at home trying to rush out their Kontroversy album before the end of 65. So once again Reprise went to work to make up another album. This would be called Kinks Kinkdom or Kinkdom depending on your source. Unlike Kinks-Size this American LP was made up from all kinds of different tracks. The entire Kwyet Kinks EP was used as was both sides of the See My Friends single, which had only reached bubbling under status in the states, Naggin’ Woman was finally given a home as well, plus the Set Me Free B-side I Need You and the UK B-side but US A-Side Who’ll Be The Next In Line. Desperate for two more songs to round out the album, Reprise went all the way back to the You Really Got Me single and included it’s B-side, It’s All Right and likely since they couldn’t find anymore material, Reprise decided to simplify repeat Louie Louie from the Kinks-Size album on Kinkdom (so much for no repeats.) When all was said and done, the album, Kinkdom was scheduled for November 65, just as the Kinks proper 3rd album was being readied. Reprise, once again, decided to hold off on the release of Kontroversy as well as the Till The End Of The Day single until March of 66 and issue Kinkdom in November of 65 as planned, the same month as Kontroversy’s UK release. However, by this point it seemed Reprise’s concerns to space things out fell by the wayside with their decision to issue the Dedicated Follower single in later April 66, only 2 months after the Till The End of The Day single was issued in the US. Reprise made no changes to the track listing for Kontroversy or any other Kinks studio album from this point onwards. I’m not sure why but it’s likely that they stopped being enough of a hitmakers act for Reprise to put what they felt was wasted effort on. Adverts for Kinks material on Reprise 66-69 was extremely minimal with early 65 photoshoot shots being used as late as 68 to promote Wonderboy. They’re were attempts to release further US made Reprise albums, notably 1968’s Four More Respected Gentlemen album, an intended US Version of Village Green compiled by Ray. But this, while getting very far, never happened. Reprise wouldn’t make up any more albums until after the Kinks would leave reprise in 1971. Reprise would continue to issue the groups albums noticeably later on though with Face To Face issued in Dec. 66 stateside, Something Else Jan. 68, and Village Green Jan. 69. Arthur was the first reprise album issued nearly simultaneously. Also the Live At Kelvin Hall album WAS weirdly issued in the States in August of 67 under the title The Live Kinks rather than Jan. 68 like the UK. The story with that seemed to be that Pye wanted to wait till after the new album, Something Else was issued whereas Reprise at this point likely did not care. Anyway, if you could follow any of that and got all the way to the bottom of this long winded comment, I applaud you sir! Just wanted to give some insight on the weird world of US Kinks releases. Great vid, I love your content, keep doing what you doing! Cheers!

The Kinks were awesome in the 60's but also made great songs in the 70's and 80's. Another Pye signed band I like is Mungo Jerry.

Was this a trick question? The answer with the Kinks work, especially their groundbreaking early work, is hell yes.

Another great video Andrew - I’ve always been a huge fan of the Kinks. Arthur, Something Else & Village Green are my own personal favourites, such brilliant albums 👌

😃Thank you Andrew for bringing the Journey compilation to my attention.I've downloaded and listened to part one already and the sound is nothing short of great and enlightening.Once I saw Kevin Gray's name on the mastering I knew it would be treat,even to a long time fan like myself. The song listing is like an added bonus-works so well.Ty for the many Beatle videos-they have greatly enhanced my life by following your tips and your great knowledge the process of their making.

There seems to have been a ridiculous number of great British bands during the mid 1960s. The Beatles, the Stones, the Who, the Kinks, the Hollies, the Moody Blues, Herman's Hermits, the Animals, the Small Faces, Cream, the Incredible String Band etc Anyway I cant wait for part 2 when the Kinks really take off.

I have got the 15 kHz issue on several recordings too and detected it peaked at 15.625 hz. IMHO it has something to do with the horizontal scan rate of the PAL-system. I am not quite sure and I don't know how this tone is getting on a remastered copy. Besides thanks for your content. Mach weiter so.

Fantastic video! God save the Kinks. When people would ask me, Beatles or Stones, I would say the Kinks.

The kinks and the Who!! Absolutely the best!! Great job Andrew!!! Excellent work

I love that this is something different! I love love LOVE The Beatles, but it’s a nice change of pace to see other stuff highlighted!

A lesser known hit, but my favorite was "A Well Respected Man" by The Kinks.

Just a few 60s British artists I’d like to see -The Who -The Stones -Zeppelin -Pink Floyd’s 60s stuff -

This was sooo much fun to listen to, ill have to make today an All Kinks music day here in San Diego.

Thank you very much for The Kinks, Andrew. One of my favorites. Will wait for more great stories about them and other bands. To see Led Zeppelin album covers was a huge joy

Just bought The Journey Part 1 last week mainly because it wasn’t just another greatest hits album. Can’t wait for Part 2. Great video Andrew, looking forward to the rest.

I only listened to their hits album, which was loaded with gems, but the video comments have piqued my curiosity to belatedly dig into the vault of their albums.

My first exposure to the Kinks in the early 70s was through the Kink Kronikles compilation in the US, so hopefully this new similarly themed comp (great tracks and many deep cuts) will connect with a new generation of fans.

The kinks were so good live saw them.many times in the 80s in chicago. High energy shows so much fun.

Your content really is excellent and so well put together. If I could make suggestion. There’s a Hifi review channel fronted by a guy called John Darko. He, somehow or other, has managed to have an “ad break” placed in his videos. This makes the annoying adverts bearable and it doesn’t spoil the flow so much. Great stuff and what a potential gold mine of material you can investigate and present. Cheers

Hey Andrew, great episode! I would absolutely love to see your take on the early Stones and Who albums.

I wish their early Raven's demos would officially get released one day. Their demo 'Ooba Diooba' is an essential track IMO. It starts my own Kinks compilation I made and remastered for my own listening.

Great video as always Andrew; informative, and put together in a very visually pleasing way. It’s great that you’re branching out from what I’m sure is both of our favorite band. I’m delighted to say I saw the Kinks twice; later in their careers. Really good tickets the second time, as a friend of mine was dating the opening act’s singer! Great after party! I’d love you to do a piece on 10cc, another band I had the great fortune to see live. The history of the members is fascinating; as is the story of how they made their biggest hit, ‘I’m Not in Love.’

Those albums are sheer legend. You MUST own all of them!

Really appreciate your videos and this is another great one. 'The Kink Kronikles' is for me, the greatest Kinks compilation and my favourite comp by any artist. Originally a North American release on Reprise, it received a Record Store Day issue in 2020. Not just a 'hits' collection, it covers the period roughly from 'Sunny Afternoon' until 'Lola' (and the 'Percy' lp). But though there are precious few hits, the songs are from this vintage period when they were banned from U.S. touring until 1969 and is a wealth of fantastic music from what I consider to be their best period. For greatest hits, I too have the single lp 'Best of the Kinks 1964-1970' mastered by Kevin Gray and it is my go to when I want hits only. But that is rarely the way I want to listen to them. Another great compilation is the hard to find 'The Kinks' double album known as 'The Black Album'. But anything that gets new listeners to discover The Kinks is most welcome in my book!

Nice to see you cover The Kinks.Been a diehard Kinks fan since I was a preschooler in 1965. Being in the US, I never found a 60s Kinks EP until I started buying on ebay, just before the turn of the millennium. I have them all. Since I bought those 60s LPs as a child, it took me over twenty years of digging to complete my set of those tri-colour Reprise albums in mint minus condition, replacing copies I played to death. And I was able to find mono and stereo versions of both, in mint minus shape . In all my years of digging, I have never seen an original UK pressing Pye Kinks LP, but have found the occasional original German and Australian pressing from these years, in the same condition. Those original Pye albums are expensive! Original 60s Kinks LPs in top condition are very difficult to find, regardless of country, which you sort of imply when you mention poor sales. Ray Davies is one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th Century. Even the much maligned RCA period has some of his greatest songs. While it took a couple of years before Ray hit his stride, with songs like "A Well Respected Man", but many of those early songs are outright rock & classics. Any interest in covering The Searchers in future videos?

Are you kidding?? The kinks were/are lyrical giants with a lovely sense of rhythm... I felt cheated for not being a teenager when the kinks started out but I was rewarded for my admiration in the resurgence when they released a magical line of albums starting with misfits (yes released in 78 but it started the resurgence) pinnacled with Low Budget and the 2 album Live on the road with singles here and there. The Kinks are the lyrical giants thanks to the brothers and musical giants thanks to all members who stopped kicking their drunk Master long enough to play together. Thank heaven!!

Hi Andrew Great Video as always.... You were talking about the inaudible noise at the beginning of some of the Kinks recordings.... I'm not sure were I heard this but PYE 's recording studios didn't always use virgin tape for their recording sessions. They used bulk erased tapes which sometimes leaves a noise residue on playback. Anyway knowing me with my technical efforts I'm probably wrong.

Damn! You found my favorite band... and I don't know how Kevin Gray does it but these remasters of his equal 2014 Beatles mono which is fitting The Kinks. It's like heaven.

In Junior High School I visited a friend's home. His dad had a fancy Hi Fi set up with tape deck, in wall speakers throughout the house, etc. That was where I first heard the first KinKs compilation the Reprise Greatest Hits album. I later got Kronikles and Great Lost and a couple of those Golden Hour albums and the Come Dancing compilation. Reports that the sessions for those first albums were rushed, low budget and sometimes "one take only" remind me of a line about a fictional band - Spinal Tap or the Masked Maruaders... "Their next album was only 23 minutes long and was recorded in even less time than that." I was startled to see the thumbnail that included Face To Face with the "early" KinKs. It was certainly a huge step forwards - which the video does acknowledge. Personally, I always tend to listen to Face To Face and Something Else as if they were a two record set and I quite seriously consider them to be The KinKs versions of Rubber Soul and Revolver. While I can think of at least a half dozen KinKs albums I like better, Face to Face and Something Else (the band's 4th and 5th studio albums) were certainly an incredible "starting point" which in my opinion ranks them as equals to The Who and The Stones and, you know, those lads from Liverpool.

Thanks again ,Andrew. I have the first mono U.S. pressing of their first album. I have much respect for them but have never been an actual "fan". It just didn't click with me. But as you were closing, you flashed some covers for some artists that you may plan to do videos on soon. Please, do the David Bowie video. I would bet that I'm not alone in asking for this one topic. Thanks again and keep up the fantastic work you put into every one of these clips for us.( We all love you for it ! ).

Thank you for doing this. I've been wanting to watch a Kinks album review for a long time. I bought The Journey a great collection of songs. The Kinks made some great songs a lot I think are underated. Can't wait for your next one on the psychedelic era I call of The Kinks . And The Journey Part 2. I would like to see a review of Nick Drakes albums. I remember you mentioning Five Leaves Left before. 👍

Of COURSE they’re worth owning!! 👍👍

Really enjoyed this episode Andrew. Thanks. :- )I can't tell you how many Kinks compilations I've seen over the years ad nauseam, but I do think they've quite possibly now surpassed The Searchers in these type of packages... LOL. Looking forward to the next installment.

Hello Andrew, It always good to watch a new Kinks vid. Just a couple of pointers. Their debut (Kinks) in true stereo was a proper' UK commercial release. It was however, Kink Kontroversy in faux stereo (by adding bass in one channel and reverb in the other) that indeed pressed for export only, along with the true (and pretty awful) stereo mix of FtF. As far I can make out the majority of export copies went to either the middle or far east or other areas where British overseas forces were stationed at the time. BtW Kinda Kinks got the faux stereo treatment in 1969 with a budget re-release on Marble Arch label. I'm pretty sure Ray is quite rightly proud of the FtF album, he was when I worked on the re-issues 🙂 Keep up the good work.

Face To Face is incredible. There is so much going on and it is all so clever (and some of it is dark, in a good way).

What a wonderful video Andrew, I've lined up The Journey Pt1 for my listening tonight (via KZfaq Music). I think a series on other British artists would be amazing! The Searches and The Hollies obviously, but also pioneering singles by artists from Joe Meek! Keep up the good work please 👌👌👌

This is brilliant Andrew. The Kinks aren’t exactly underrated given how popular they are, but I think they are greater than they are given credit for, if that makes any sense. I love the way your videos give an insight not only into the music but also the British (and American views of British) culture at the time. For an Anglophile like me who has made a living teaching British literature and having visited England fifteen times, these videos bring me great joy. I love the early Kinks (that opening riff on You Really Got Me is so iconic!), but the Kinks of the 70s and 80s are also great. I’m thinking of the Sleepwalker album in particular. Their 1980 live album One for the Road is worth hearing. Thanks again Andrew for making my Sunday brighter. How about a video on arid Stewart, one if my faves?

Hi My number three British bands, behind The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Especially the years 1966 - 1972 are so great, from Face To Face up to Everybody's In Showbiz included. I consider Ray Davies the best "short story in a three minutes popsong" writer. I love that it's just English, typical English.

The Kink Kontroversy and Face To Face were the first Kinks albums that really got me. Lots of great songs to my ears. I'd like to see a retrospective on *The Move.* Or perhaps two, on the Carl Wayne and Jeff Lynne eras of the band.

Nice little Sgt. Pepper cover easter egg on the Golden Guineas inner sleeve at 12:48 with the photo of Max Miller on his 'Max At The Met' album.

Very interesting and informative. The Animals would be great, and Gerry and the Pacemakers…

Hi Andrew, Great job ! I love that you mentioned the enhanced You Really Got Me👍 I had it back in the 7Os on a European collection and didn’t find it again until the stereo/mono cds that came out about 20 years ago. Definitely my favorite version ! Can’t wait for part 2 !

Other than the Four Kings of EMI my all-time favorite band (yes, that is a picture of me and Ray Davies in March of 2006) Born on March 22, 1963 (the day of the Beatles first LP release) I was late to the party. A college radio DJ in the late 70's in Atlanta turned me on to FACE to FACE. Ray actually signed my PYE copy on the day we met. Thanks for the video

One of the best bands ever all winners

When I see a nice used copy of The Kinks on vinyl, I buy it! The Kinks are awsome.❤

So underrated.

Great video for a great band, Andrew. I'd suggest videos for The Pretty Things, The Small Faces and The Yardbirds.

My sister's Reprise Lp "Kinks Size" was the first time I heard the Kinks. Was always in my listening queue when learning to play drums

Back in the late 70's I couldn't find a copy of Face to Face here in the US to save my life, it was long out of print and a real rarity.

I’m going out tomorrow to pick up “The Journey pt. 1”, it looks fantastic! Love the 3 cuts on side 2 from “Schoolboys in Disgrace” one of the all time underrated LPs. That alone makes me think it’s gonna be a winner! I garbage picked a US Kinda Kinks in mono that is in great shape. It got criticized for the mixes but I didn’t know any better and I kinda like it. BTW the primer on British currency was a bonus!!

Worth noting that Ray himself painted the cover artwork for Face To Face!

Hi Andrew, you mentioned suggestions... The Move and The Idle Race would be great! Thanks

I’m surprised the kinks have the most compilations. I would have thought The Who have been the most overwrought with greatest hits, compilations and best of collections.

The Kinks are a great singles band

THANK YOU ANDREW…TOTALLY OUTSTANDING…SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE OUTINGS : THE ROLLING STONES SESSIONS PRODUCED BY ANDREW LOOG OLDHAM ALSO THE YARDBIRDS ! !

Great piece Andrew. I'd like to see Gene Pitney covered. I have some of his albums, he was a great singer

Surprised See my friend wasn't included on The Journey album, a great song

Regarding the 15K signal.... this is a long shot, but in the early days of CD, I remember hearing about how a 15 or so K signal would often get in the way of a totally clean track, which, as you said, is beyond almost anybody's ear. I grant you that the theory doesn't actually work, given the consistency of that sound across releases. That's all I have though...

Thanks for diving into the Kinks' early LPs. Even as a fan I've felt the first two to be inconsistent, and no wonder, since as you point out Pye were so intent on pushing product with little regard for the artist. I love Kontroversy, which I believe has been given short shrift (although maybe not by such fans as Van Halen, right?). Face to Face announced (to the few that heard it) that they would be a major artistic, if not always commercial, voice to be reckoned with.

This is a very informative video! Could you please do a similar video about the Small Faces? That would be fantastic😀

For the Kinks, I think the US Reprise albums for these years were better compiled and more fun, with great cover art as well.

I LOVE Kink Kontroversy. It's their best early record. I like it even more than Something Else by The Kinks

Hello 🎉 I think It's worth to buy 1st and 2nd albums on CD with mighty bonus tracks. Also four grear albums from 1966 to 1969 are obvious choices to own on vinyl. And greatest hits' compilation from 1970 to, well, whatever, is a great idea. ❤ Kinks.

I enjoy the manufacturing history of the LPs...

Really looking forward to other 60's band features, but if I was to put forth one particular suggestion, then it would be The Move.

I have the first four of the Kinks original American Reprise stereo LPs as I bought them in the 1970s and they sound like they were recorded in a large cave. Of course, they are reprocessed, Duophonic fake stereo much like Capitol used with the early Beatles singles. Glad the great Kinks song catalogue is being celebrated. Great idea for a video and please consider delving into the Who catalogue as well.

Andrew would love you to cover the Move and the Creation, great videos as always.

As a kid I inherited all my mum's records. Which was basically all the Beatles LPs up to the White LP, she told me the others were lent out and never returned. What interested me more were the singles, mostly Beatles, Cliff/Shadows and two Kinks singles. Even as a kid You really got me and All day and all of the night really stood out. Never understood why she never owned the albums. I assume she was a much bigger Beatles fan as she told me she met the Beatles a couple of times, bunking off school to go to the Cavern and had all their autographs on a leather cap.

Being a fan of The Kinks, I bought The Journey Part 1 a few weeks back and find it to be a fascinating collection with the inclusion of lesser known tracks. Loved your history of Pye Records and their Golden Guinea label! Also your assessment of the early albums. Ray Davies was such a prolific songwriter who wrote so many quality songs for the Kinks. Compare this situation to the Beatles who boosted three songwriters -four if you include Ringo. No wonder Ray had a nervous breakdown in 66 considering the extreme pressure he was under. Compare Really looking forward to part 2, Andrew!

Of the albums you discussed, I only have Face to Face and it is a very good album. I have it on CD and it is a special edition with two CDs, a mono version and the stereo version. Each has bonus tracks. Like you. I prefer the mono version. '66 was a good year for albums: Revolver, Aftermath, & Pet Sounds to name a few.

Great video as always. Perhaps something on the Dave Clark Five or Tony Burrows.

Generally, I think The Kinks' Katalogue (sorry) has been treated quite well, with the Pye-era albums being made available on CD in both mono and stereo (where applicable) in the Essential/Sanctuary range - and with a fine selection of bonus tracks. I realise vinyl might well be preferable, but the ease with which they can be found on CD is welcome. I've gone for the monos up to and including 1967, arbitrarily switching to stereo in '68 (maybe I should have switched in '69). Unfortunately, it's at that point that the albums start to become overly compressed - so it's worth looking out the older PRT CDs for better dynamics. Anyway, back to the content of the video: for me, it's with Face to Face that things start to come together, but the earlier albums are certainly engaging. I can't help wondering, however, how The Kinks records might have sounded had Pye invested in them in the same way that EMI did with The Beatles (even though that was still rather modest during this period).