Something Else by The Kinks

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Something Else by The Kinks
Studio album by The Kinks

Publication
(s)

15th September 1967

Label (s) Pye Records

Format (s)

CD, LP

Genre (s)

skirt

Title (number)

13

running time

36 min 32 s

occupation
  • Bass : Peter Quaife

also:

production

Shel Thalmy, Ray Davies

chronology
Face to Face
(1966) 		Something Else by The Kinks The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
(1968)

Something Else by The Kinks is the fifth official studio album by British rock group The Kinks . It was recorded in the period from November 1966 to July 1967 and released in England on September 15, 1967.

It is one of the best albums of the band, even if it does not have the same thematic unity as the previous album Face to Face . However, the release turned out to be a commercial flop for the band (number 35 in the UK album charts). The problem was - besides the not very up-to-date song themes - that several very successful best-of albums with the Kinks hits from 1964 to 1966 had been released in the past few months. In addition, at the instigation of the single-oriented record company Pye Records, two songs from the LP were released in advance ( Waterloo Sunset and Death of a Clown ), which may have clouded the desire to buy from some fans. Regardless of this, the American Rolling Stone magazine ranks the album at number 288 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time and the single Waterloo Sunset at number 42 of the 500 best songs of all time .

With his lyrics, Ray Davies, who was already busy with the plans for the next LP, The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society , dealt with explicitly British topics and here especially with everyday English life. The harpsichord- dominated Two Sisters, the cocky and carefree Harry Rag and the lazy swing of End of the Season show Ray Davies as a mature composer. The hit single Waterloo Sunset , released on May 5, 1967, is considered by many to be the highlight of Ray Davies' songwriting. It came in at number 2 in England, the Beatles composition All You Need Is Love could not be displaced from first place. With the exception of the number 3 success Autumn Almanac in October 1967, this was Ray Davies' last big hit in the 1960s, and it wasn't until 1970 that something similar happened again with Lola .

The three compositions by Dave Davies on it are unusual for a Kinks album, including the hit single Death of a Clown. Based on the unexpected success of that release, the younger Davies brother was toying with a solo career. However, since the subsequent publications did not receive the same attention, Dave Davies put his ambitions in the service of the group aside.

The album title is allegedly a hint from Ray to the Kinks management that he wants to write "a lot more" than just hit singles.

Most of the keyboard recordings are by Nicky Hopkins , while Ray's wife Rasa can often be heard on the background vocals. Shel Talmy was last responsible as producer, but Ray Davies also appeared as producer for the first time.

Track list

page 1
  1. David Watts - 2:32
  2. Death of a Clown - 3:04 (Ray Davies / Dave Davies)
  3. Two Sisters - 2:01
  4. No return - 2:03
  5. Harry Rag - 2:16
  6. Tin Soldier Man - 2:49
  7. Situation Vacant - 3:16
Page 2
  2. Love Me Till the Sun Shines - 3:16 (Dave Davies)
  3. Lazy Old Sun - 2:48
  4. Afternoon Tea - 3:27 am
  5. Funny Face - 2:17 (Dave Davies)
  6. End of the Season - 2:57
  7. Waterloo Sunset - 3:15