“The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society” by The Kinks - album review

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TJR says

This famously English affair, all written by Ray Davies, had more in common with the worlds of folk and music hall than it did with the blues-rock crunch of the mid-60s. They lined up: Ray Davies (vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica, mellotron), Dave Davies (lead guitar, backing vocals), Pete Quaife (bass, backing vocals) and Mick Avory (drums, percussion). It'd be the last time the original quartet would make an album together, much to Ray's dismay. Pete Quaife had ambitions to lead his own country rock band, and departed The Kinks in April, 1969. Session man Nicky Hopkins (keyboards, mellotron) was as good as a fifth member on the set. Folk rocker “The Village Green Preservation Society” starts things off splendidly with a catchy tune and a whole-host of feel-good phrases which connected with folks up and down the country. On one hand, it was a celebration: “We are the Desperate Dan Appreciation Society… God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties… We are the Draught Beer Preservation Society” and on another a criticism: “We are the Skyscraper condemnation Affiliate, God save tudor houses, antique tables and billiards” The tone was set. Another highlight on side one is the psuedo-psychedelic “Big Sky” which is almost seen to have a godly presence over the little people below. That's a far-out cosmic jive man. Party girls and boys are under the cosh in the pop-ish “Starstruck”; don't forget that good old family values are the ones which will serve you best, an idealism which is in the DNA of this LP.

The Jukebox Rebel
03–Aug–2008

Tracklist
A1 [02:45] 7.8.png The Kinks - The Village Green Preservation Society [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Folk Rock / Americana
A2 [02:23] 6.3.png The Kinks - Do You Remember, Walter? [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Cerebral Pop
A3 [02:34] 6.6.png The Kinks - Picture Book [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Cerebral Pop
A4 [02:28] 6.0.png The Kinks - Johnny Thunder [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Folk Rock / Americana
A5 [04:03] 6.6.png The Kinks - Last Of The Steampowered Trains [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
A6 [02:49] 7.4.png The Kinks - Big Sky [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Psychedelia
A7 [02:21] 5.1.png The Kinks - Sitting By The Riverside [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Pop
B1 [02:57] 6.8.png The Kinks - Animal Farm [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Cerebral Pop
B2 [02:08] 5.8.png The Kinks - Village Green [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Folk Rock / Americana
B3 [02:18] 7.3.png The Kinks - Starstruck [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Pop
B4 [02:34] 6.4.png The Kinks - Phenomenal Cat [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Folk
B5 [02:23] 5.5.png The Kinks - All Of My Friends Were There [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Pop
B6 [02:40] 5.6.png The Kinks - Wicked Annabella [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Psychedelia
B7 [02:13] 5.1.png The Kinks - Monica [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Cerebral Pop
B8 [02:10] 6.2.png The Kinks - People Take Pictures Of Each Other [original mono album version] (Ray Davies) Pop

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