The Kink Kontroversy Explained

The Kink Kontroversy
Type:studio
Artist:the Kinks
Cover:1965 - The Kink Kontroversy - front.jpg
Border:yes
Recorded:
  • 25–26 October and
  • (except for "Ring the Bells")
Studio:Pye, London
Genre:
Length:30:12
Label:
Producer:Shel Talmy
Prev Title:Kinda Kinks
Prev Year:1965
Next Title:Well Respected Kinks
Next Year:1966

The Kink Kontroversy is the third studio album by the English rock band the Kinks. It was released in the United Kingdom on by Pye Records. Issued in the United States on by Reprise Records, it was the Kinks' first American album to feature an identical track listing to its British counterpart. It is a transitional album, with elements of both the earlier Kinks' styles (heavily blues-influenced songs such as "Milk Cow Blues" and variations on the band's power chord-driven hits from 1964 to 1965 such as "Till the End of the Day") and early indications of the future direction of Ray Davies' songwriting styles ("The World Keeps Going Round" and "I'm on an Island"). The liner notes were written by Michael Aldred.

Background

The album's title is a mocking reference to the notorious reputation the band had developed over the previous year, including onstage fights and concert riots in Europe, which led to a ban on the group's concerts in the United States.

"Where Have All the Good Times Gone" makes several references and/or allusions to Beatles and Rolling Stones songs.[2]

Release

The single "Till the End of the Day" was a major hit, reaching #8 in the UK[3] and #50 in the US, spending eight weeks or more in each chart.[4]

American singer Bobby Rydell covered "When I See That Girl of Mine", which was released as a single in the US a full month before the Kinks' version was made public.

Reception

AllMusic praised the album as the Kinks' coming-of-age, commenting that their raw early material was being replaced by more thoughtful and sophisticated songs. They pointed out "I'm on an Island", "Where Have All the Good Times Gone", "Ring the Bells", "The World Keeps Going Round", and "I Am Free" as particularly strong examples of this.

Legacy

American indie rock band Sleater-Kinney used the same album cover layout as an homage for their 1997 album Dig Me Out.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ray Davies except where noted.

Side one

  1. "Milk Cow Blues" (Sleepy John Estes)3:44
  2. "Ring the Bells"2:21
  3. "Gotta Get the First Plane Home"1:49
  4. "When I See that Girl of Mine"2:12
  5. "I am Free" (Dave Davies)2:32
  6. "Till the End of the Day"2:21

Side two

  1. "The World Keeps Going Round"2:36
  2. "I'm on an Island"2:19
  3. "Where Have All the Good Times Gone"2:53
  4. "It's too Late"2:37
  5. "What's in Store for Me"2:06
  6. "You Can't Win"2:42

Personnel

According to band researcher Doug Hinman:

The Kinks

Additional musicians and production

Charts

+Weekly chart performanceChart (1965–66)Peak
position
UK Melody Maker Top Ten LPs[5] 7
UK New Musical Express Best Selling LPs10
UK Record Retailer LPs Chart[6] 9
US Billboard Top LPs95
US Cash Box Top 100 Albums[7] 72
US Record World 100 Top LPs[8] 52
West German Musikmarkt LP Hit Parade[9] 8

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mike Saunders. The Kink Kronikles | Album Reviews. Rolling Stone. 1972-05-25. 2014-06-13.
  2. Web site: Dave. Swanson. 1 December 2015. How the Kinks Took Big Steps with 'The Kink Kontroversy'. Ultimate Classic Rock.
  3. Web site: Kinks | Artist | Official Charts . officialcharts.com . 24 October 2012.
  4. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the kinks|chart=all}} ''Billboard'' – Music Charts, Music News – The Kinks | ''Billboard'' ]. Billboard . 24 October 2012.
  5. Melody Maker Pop 50. Melody Maker. 15 January 1966. 2. WorldRadioHistory.com.
  6. Web site: The Kinks . . 17 February 2023.
  7. Cash Box Top 100 Albums. 4 June 1966. Cash Box. 37. WorldRadioHistory.com.
  8. 100 Top LP's. 4 June 1966. Record World. 20. WorldRadioHistory.com.
  9. Web site: Offiziellecharts.de – The Kinks – The Kink Kontroversy . . 22 February 2023 . de.