Legendary British guitar band, The Kinks, are set to re-release three classic albums in double CD deluxe format, following the re-issue of their first three albums in March of this year. Featuring rarities, outtakes, demos, sessions tracks and in-depth, liner notes, “Arthur” (or “The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire”) originally released in 1969, “Face To Face” from 1966, and 1967 effort, “Something Else” are due for re-release on June 13th.
Formed in North London in 1964 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies, The Kinks went onto become one of the most important and influential bands of the era. “Waterloo Sunset”, “Lola” and “Dedicated Follower Of Fashion”, are just some of the tracks the band are known and loved for, and which soundtracked and defined an entire generation.
The band where influenced by a range of genres including rhythm and blues, folk and country. They shot to prominence in 1964 with, “You Really Got Me”, written by Ray Davies, and topped the UK Charts and entered the US Singles Charts at Number 10.
The mid 1960s and early 1970s saw The Kinks revel in the success of commercially and critical acclaimed singles and LPs. They brought a unique style of reflecting on English lifesyle and culture to music, with Ray Davies’ impressive, observational songwriting technique.
The band’s theatrical concept releases were met with less success than their earlier recordings, and their career hit a slump, but they enjoyed a revival in the early 1980s, when The Pretenders, The Jam, The Knack and Van Halen covered their songs, and, inadvertantly, boosted the record sales of their back catalogue.
In their career, The Kinks enjoyed five Top 10 Singles in the US Billboard Chart and nine of their studio albums charted in the US Top 40. Similiar success was relished in the UK with seventeen Top 20 singles, and five Top 10 albums.
In 1990, The Kinks were inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, and later, The UK Music Hall Of Fame, in November 2005.
Disappointing reception and sales of their later albums, and creative tension between the Davies’ brothers, induced the band’s break-up in 1996. Both Ray and Davie Davies pursued solo projects following the band’s split, and rumours of a reunion circulated, but neither brother expressed an interest in playing together again, until Dave Davies spoke favourably of a potential reunion in 2003, to coincide with The Kinks 40th anniversary breakthrough. However, Dave suffered a stroke in June 2004, which temporarily impaired his ability to speak, and play guitar. Rumours have circulated as recently as April of this year, of a potential reunion, but reports have yet to be confirmed.
The double CD deluxe release of their classic material follows the March 2011 re-issue of, “Kinks” from 1964, “Kinda Kinks” of 1965, and “Kink Kontroversey”, also from 1965. This very special re-release of classic Kinks albums commemorates one of the most important and influential bands of a generation, the inspiration for the generations that followed.
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