Posted on 12/23/2023 9:00:15 AM PST by DallasBiff
The Kinks found themselves on the receiving end of a four-year ban from touring in the States sanctioned by the American Federation of Musicians. The banning severely hampered the band’s career across the pond as once they were allowed to tour again tastes had drastically changed
(Excerpt) Read more at faroutmagazine.co.uk ...
So the union banned them for wrongthink and called THEM commies? Typical.
The song was inspired by Davies' memories of his older sister, Rene, who died of a heart attack while dancing at a dance hall. The lyrics, sung from the perspective of an "East End barrow boy," are about the boy's sister going on dates at a local Palais dance hall.[2]
"Come Dancing" is a tribute to the Davies' older sister Rene. Living in Canada with her reportedly abusive husband, the 31-year-old Rene was visiting her childhood home in Fortis Green in London at the time of Ray Davies' 13th birthday—21 June 1957—on which she surprised him with a gift of the Spanish guitar he had tried to persuade his parents to buy him.[3] That evening, Rene, who had a weak heart as a result of a childhood bout of rheumatic fever, suffered a fatal heart attack while dancing at the Lyceum ballroom.[3][4]
Where my life comes full circle with this song, is that my Dad had rheumatic fever while he was in the Navy during WWII and years later died of his weakened heart just like Rene.
This ban may have been a blessing in disguise as they turned their backs on America and write the beautifully symbiotically British ‘Waterloo Sunset‘ which is one of the most gorgeous songs in existence which is, of course, a love letter to The Kinks’ hometown of London.
Definitely a blessing in disguise. They lost out on the chance to make money but they retained their selves. So many musical acts gain money and lose themselves while doing it.
From 'Do It Again' by The Kinks
Standing in the middle of nowhere
Wondering how to begin
Lost between tomorrow and yesterday
Between now and then
And now we're back where we started
Here we go 'round again
Day after day, I get up and I say
I better do it again
...
The 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 job, a new nose
But it's superficial and it's only skin deep
Because the voices in your head keep shouting in your sleep
Get back, get back
Back where you started
Here we go 'round again
Back where you started
Come on do it again, do it again
Back where you started
Here we go 'round again
Everyday, I get up and I say
Do it again, do it again
Probably stating the obvious to his fans, but Ray Davies ranks alongside the very best songwriters. He gets overlooked too often.
Wife and I saw Ray Davies with a so-so backing band in 2006. He played for over 2 hours to a crowd of probably 1200. He still never got to a lot of his ‘good’ songs.
He talked about Dave Davies turning ‘You Really Got Me’ from a bluesy number to an outright rocker. Ray’s version is that Dave spit at the band, turned to face the back wall of the crummy little studio, and ‘played the chords that put us into rock and roll history’.
Dedicated follower of fashion and Apeman were always my favorites
I’m Not Like Everybody Else, is also a great song.
Featured in a Sopranos episode...one of my favorite scenes when Tony says to Janice “I wonder what’s French-Canadian for ‘I grew up without a mother?’.......’Sacré bleu, where is me mama?’” Then walks out triumphantly with the song playing.
Many great tunes. Jukebox Music, Mr. Big Man and the Sleepwalker album....underrated.
.
And quite shortly, we 21st century people will be reclaiming those things.
Happy New Year! and Merry Christmas!
“ I was born in a welfare state
Ruled by bureaucracy
Controlled by civil servants
And people dressed in gray
Got no privacy
Got no liberty
‘cause the 20th Century people
Took it all away from me.”
Wow .
Saw them on that tour (twice) and the Low Budget tour.
Was at two concerts actually used as part of the OFTR tour.
Just listened to Misfits on One For the Road. Think I’m done crying now.
I watched The Beatles on Sullivan, as I sat there on the sofa... I was also watching my sister’s gush at the Beatles on Sullivan and I thought to myself what the heck is going on?
So I came away from that moment knowing that the Beatles were a chick band.
Kinks, Yardbirds, The Nice, ELP, Yes, ELO.
But the Beatles? pfffft... even when they were psychedelic and hip and mod... nope. In time I was diggin’ the jazz scene, all aspects of it. Sure I listened to Rock and whatever... but the Beatles? I never gave them that second chance to make a good first impression. And I still don’t understand the draw.
We’ll respected
You are in a unique company of a few who don’t like Beatles, as opposed to billions of their past, present and future admirers of all ages, genders, nationalities and so on.
I recall in 1964 I was shoveling our driveway after a heavy snow with my brother, I was 12 and he was 16.
All of the sudden in the middle of shoveling, he starts singing “I want to hold your hand...”
I thought, he’s gone bonkers. The rest is history.
I never did by one record.
God Save the Kinks!
I looked in the mirror and what did I see
A nine stone weakling with knobbly knees
I think the most frustrating thing about the Beatles is that they were a great rock and roll band when they wanted to be. Twist and Shout, Back in the USSR, and I Saw Her Standing There are amazing rock and roll songs, and their blues and soul covers were amazing.
But from Rubber Soul on, they were a folk band, not a rock band. They had more in common with Simon & Garfunkel and the Mamas and the Papas than The Rolling Stones, Zeppelin, or The Who.
That’s fine and all, but their music is too fruity and sentimental for me to be passionate about.
And Strawberry Fields Forever is the worst song ever recorded.
LOLA turned out to be reality here.
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