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The last third of The Kinks career contains some dreadful music, ruined further by some of the worst production ever committed to tape. But, because it is Ray Davies, some of those Arista and MCA records have some brilliant songs. It's unfortunate though, that many of them get lost in what would be considered bombast by Def Leppard. But not the last song on the last album released by Ray and Dave as The Kinks.
"Scattered,"from "Phobia," is perfect. It is perfect the way "Waterloo Sunset" is perfect. It is perfect the way "Something Better Beginning" is perfect. It is perfect the way "Oklahoma U.S.A." is perfect. It is the type of song that would appear four or five times on the same record during the Reprise years. There is no gimmick, no unnecessary or at least obvious quoting of past Kinks tunes, and no excessive anything. It's just gorgeous and is in my Top 10 list of Kinks tracks of all time.
16 comments:
The sound on some of those final records kept me away.
"Scattered" is a fitting closer. Makes it extra bittersweet.
The Kinks had me with "You Really Got Me".
I was fortunate to see "Preservation" as the big stage extravaganza.
I can't believe "Anytime" had to wait 40 years to be heard as a "Lola" bonus.
http://alanwalkerart.com/audio/kinks_anytime.mp3
As good as the track is (and it is real good) it just is not up there with the vast majority of Kinks tracks from their first 10 years.
Captain Al
You are right, Captain. But that wasn't the exercise. It's in MY Top 10 even though I know most won't give a shit.
I got nothing for the Kinks. I'm a "hits" guy all the way (and, admittedly, there are a *lot* of them). I borrowed "Picture Book" from the library and made it through and it was pleasant, but none of the deep tracks on that set -- including this one -- made an impression on me.
I should revisit it some time...
So so true. One of their best. They have quite a few that fall in that category.
No More Looking Back is another
Agreed! - an undiscovered gem in the Katalog. Along with everything Sal pointed out: it's got a classic Ray Davies melody, the descending part of the bridge that he and Dave harmonize through; it's got humor ( how many "rock stars" would write " I feel older, I feel fatter"?), and the tune in combination with the lyric convey a melancholy wistfulness and hopefulness - all at once.
Love it.
Another sleeper late Kinks beauty:"Summer's Gone" from Word Of Mouth. Another wistful wonder with a great tune, and a great verse about parenthood.
Mine is the title track of the To The Bone album.
Sal,
That's wonderful. Although I love the Kinks dearly and have for decades, I gave out on the new stuff in the mid-80s,and so had never heard this. Thanks.
Put me in the ‘Most’ column . . . But the more I glance at Now Playing, the more I want to spend a solid hour with Teatro.
I love The Kinks. But I understand not loving The Kinks. If you like The Kinks, I don't get not liking Scattered, not as a Davies tune, or as a pop tune in general. Doesn't need to be a fave, or Top 10, otherwise this whole week of posts wouldn't exist. But indifference or worse? I don't get, not if you're a fan of any capacity.
Ray Davies is one of those songwriters who, when he's on, just amazes you with his way with a melody and ability to capture a mood (often, but not always, a melancholy one). "Don't Forget to Dance" is one of the "later" Kinks tracks that gets to me.
Neil Finn does that in his own way as well.
The combination of melodic craft with the ability to cut to the bone emotionally is a rare gift, but the good ones always seems to be able to go back to that well even when it seems they're "past their prime."
I second Alexi's mention of Summer's Gone from Word of Mouth. There are a number of good ones on that album--Do It Again, Good Day, and Going Solo always stick with me too. Many lines from those songs have stuck with me over the years, like these ones from Do It Again:
Days go by and you wish you were a different guy
Different friends and a new set of clothes
You make alterations and affect a new pose
A new house, a new car, a new nose
I'm among those rarest of breeds who happens to think that Phobia is a brilliant finale from the band. I love Scattered, but I also cherish The Informer, Still Searching, Hatred (A Duet), Only A Dream and Drift Away from that album. My personal top Kinks song that no one gives a shit about would be Sweet Lady Genevieve, however.
I feel the same way about "Killing Time" from Think Visual, MCA. A melodic, wistful latter day gem IMO.
I stopped listening to the Kinks before these LPs, so now I just heard it for the first time - you're right, it's a great song. The harmonies - well, I miss Dave's hoarse idiosyncratic brotherly tones, but as for the song - it's super. Thanks!
"Better Things" always does it for me. Just brilliant.
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