Big Black Smoke Explained

Big Black Smoke
Type:single
Artist:the Kinks
A-Side:Dead End Street
Released:18 November 1966
Recorded:21–22 October 1966
Studio:Pye, London
Genre:Rock
Label:
Producer:Shel Talmy
Chronology:The Kinks UK
Prev Title:Sunny Afternoon
Prev Year:1966
Dead End Street
Title2:Big Black Smoke
Next Title:Waterloo Sunset
Next Year:1967

"Big Black Smoke" is the B-side to The Kinks' single "Dead End Street", written by Ray Davies. The song was not originally included on any album, but has since appeared as a track on the popular 1972 Kink Kronikles compilation and as a bonus track on the CD reissue of Face to Face.

The Big Smoke is a euphemism for London, the setting of the story told in the lyric.

The song makes reference to the recreational use of the drug Drinamyl with the lyric "And every penny she had was spent on purple hearts and cigarettes."

Personnel

According to band researcher Doug Hinman:

The Kinks

References

Sources