Just to be frustratingly maddening (where others may say simply a prick), I've decided to revamp God Save The Kinks into a more concise and personal set list called God Bless Ray Davies. While revisiting GSTK, Pts.1&2, (as well as the now never-to-be-published Pt.3, all of which were actually assembled over a year ago), I realized that perhaps I was trying too hard to fit in absolutely everything that I felt represented Davies craft, actually diminishing the very power of the material I'd originally hoped to substantiate. To do that would be a sin for which I could never forgive myself. It probably all makes no difference to you whatsoever, but having license to redesign my past work by virtue of being my own editor and publisher in a virtual medium, I decided to exercise my authority to reconstruct GSTK.My love for Davies music should be evident by now, but rather than attempt to showcase phases of his career, the subject matter of his musical portraits, or even attempting to present a well balanced compilation, these songs are very simply my singular favorites from his vast songbook. Some are repeats, others new (which are marked with an asterisk) like the romping 'Berkley Mews,' and the rollicking 'Victoria.' You'll also find the hilarious 'All Of My Friends Were There,' a rare acoustic version of 'Dedicated Follower Of Fashion,' and the wonderful 'David Watts' among others. And of course I could never forgive myself, nor could I ever be forgiven if I didn't include Davies sublime masterpiece once again, his gorgeous 'Waterloo Sunset.' These are the songs that make me the happiest, and the ones that make me thankful that my years have run parallel with the lifetime of Ray Davies and his music. The takeaway lesson for me: K.I.S.S. The takeaway for you? What I believe are some damn fine tunes.
1) Sunny Afternoon
2) End Of The Season
3) Until Death Do Us Part
4) Look A Little On The Sunnyside*
5) Lavander Hill
6) Rosemary Rose
7) Misty Water
8) Holiday
9) Waterloo Sunset
10) When I Turn Off The Living Room Light
11) Did You See His Name?*
12) 9 To 5*
13) I Need You
14) You Really Got Me
15) Berkley Mews*
16) Where Did My Spring Go?
17) Dedicated Follower Of Fashion (Acoustic)*
18) Little Miss Queen Of Darkness
19) David Watts*
20) All Of My Friends Were There*
21) Oklahoma U.S.A.
22) Wonderboy
23) Where Did All The Good Times Go?
24) The Village Green Preservation Society
25) Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues
26) Victoria*
27) The Way Love Used To Be
28) Pictures In The Sand
29) Alcohol
30) 20th Century Man
3) Until Death Do Us Part
4) Look A Little On The Sunnyside*
5) Lavander Hill
6) Rosemary Rose
7) Misty Water
8) Holiday
9) Waterloo Sunset
10) When I Turn Off The Living Room Light
11) Did You See His Name?*
12) 9 To 5*
13) I Need You
14) You Really Got Me
15) Berkley Mews*
16) Where Did My Spring Go?
17) Dedicated Follower Of Fashion (Acoustic)*
18) Little Miss Queen Of Darkness
19) David Watts*
20) All Of My Friends Were There*
21) Oklahoma U.S.A.
22) Wonderboy
23) Where Did All The Good Times Go?
24) The Village Green Preservation Society
25) Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues
26) Victoria*
27) The Way Love Used To Be
28) Pictures In The Sand
29) Alcohol
30) 20th Century Man
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2 Comments:
Of course there can be no "God Save the Kinks Pt 3", assembled over a year ago! In the tradition of "Four More Respected Gentlemen" there must be a selection withdrawn, and another (partly overlapping) substituted, as fully befits one of the very greatest songwriters of the recording era. I still occasionally dream about coming across a forgotten, never-released Kinks album in some second hand bin. That said, I am a fan of davies' two latest releases!/Radar.
Since so many highlights were in the first two sets, I was scratching my head about what Part 3 might've been anyway. Now I'll never know...
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