| The Kink Kontroversy | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | the Kinks |
| Cover: | 1965 - The Kink Kontroversy - front.jpg |
| Border: | yes |
| Recorded: |
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| 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.
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]
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.
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.
American indie rock band Sleater-Kinney used the same album cover layout as an homage for their 1997 album Dig Me Out.
All tracks are written by Ray Davies except where noted.
Side one
Side two
According to band researcher Doug Hinman:
The Kinks
Additional musicians and production
| +Weekly chart performance | Chart (1965–66) | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| UK Melody Maker Top Ten LPs[5] | 7 | |
| UK New Musical Express Best Selling LPs | 10 | |
| UK Record Retailer LPs Chart[6] | 9 | |
| US Billboard Top LPs | 95 | |
| US Cash Box Top 100 Albums[7] | 72 | |
| US Record World 100 Top LPs[8] | 52 | |
| West German Musikmarkt LP Hit Parade[9] | 8 |