Something Else by The Kinks

Something Else by The Kinks
Studio album by The Kinks
Released	15 September 1967
Recorded	April 1966 - July 1967 at Pye Studios, London
Genre	Rock
Length	36:32
Label	Pye NPL 18193; Reprise
Producer	Shel Talmy, Ray Davies
The Kinks chronology
Face to Face (1966) Something Else by The Kinks (1967) The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (1968)

Something Else by The Kinks, often referred to as just Something Else, is the fifth UK studio album by English rock group The Kinks, released in September 1967. The album marks the final involvement of American producer Shel Talmy in The Kinks' 1960s studio recordings; henceforth Ray Davies would assume recording production. Many of the recordings feature the keyboard work of session player Nicky Hopkins, and the backing vocals of Ray Davies' wife, Rasa. In 2003, the album was ranked number 288 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Background

Songs on the album composed by Ray Davies followed his affinity for strongly English-inspired subject matter, including the harpsichord-laden "Two Sisters", the lazy shuffle of "End of the Season", and the sardonic "David Watts". The album includes the hit singles "Waterloo Sunset" and "Death of a Clown".

With the departure of Shel Talmy, Something Else marks a change in the sound and production style of The Kinks. As mentioned earlier, Ray Davies would now assume control over production. At first, however, he felt unsure of himself and his skill in the mixing and recording of their records. He later commented:

“

I feel that I shouldn't have been allowed to produce Something Else. What went into an album required someone whose approach was a little bit more mundane.

”

-Ray Davies, Something Else by The Kinks CD liner notes.

Apart from "End of the Season", the album was recorded between the autumn of 1966 and the summer of 1967, when The Kinks had cut back on touring and had begun recording and stockpiling songs for Davies' as-yet poorly defined "village green" project. In fact, the song "Village Green" was recorded in November 1966 during the sessions for the album but was released on a French EP in 1967 and would not appear on a Kinks LP until the next release, The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society.

The album includes three songs composed by Dave Davies, including the hit single "Death of a Clown". Based on the unexpected success of the song, the younger Davies began exploring a solo career but follow-up singles did not meet with the same success and, by mid-1969, his solo ambitions would be set aside for a decade.

The album sold poorly in the UK, in part because it competed with budget-priced compilation albums of early Kinks hits from 1964-1966. Singles-oriented Pye Records released "Waterloo Sunset", "Death of a Clown", and other songs before the album itself. The Kinks would score one more big UK hit single shortly after the release of Something Else with "Autumn Almanac", then would not have a big hit again until "Lola" in 1970.

Something Else also sold poorly in the US upon release in January 1968, as did its predecessor, Face to Face. These albums had strong British themes; more importantly, the group was still the subject of a US ban on live and television performances.

Critical opinions at the time of the album's release were very positive, especially those of the nascent underground rock press, such as the publication Crawdaddy.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Blender
Rolling Stone

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Ray Davies, unless otherwise noted. 

Side 1
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"David Watts"		2:32
2.	"Death of a Clown"	Dave Davies, R. Davies	3:04
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

Side 2
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Love Me Till the Sun Shines"	D. Davies	3:16
2.	"Lazy Old Sun"		2:48
3.	"Afternoon Tea"		3:27
4.	"Funny Face"	D. Davies	2:17
5.	"End of the Season" (mildly rechanneled on all issues)		2:57
6.	"Waterloo Sunset"		3:15

2004 UK CD release bonus tracks Sanctuary Records SMRCD029
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
14.	"Act Nice and Gentle"		2:39
15.	"Autumn Almanac"		3:05
16.	"Susannah's Still Alive"	D. Davies	2:22
17.	"Wonderboy"		2:49
18.	"Polly"		2:51
19.	"Lincoln County"	D. Davies	3:12
20.	"There Is No Life without Love"	D. Davies, R. Davies	2:01
21.	"Lazy Old Sun" (Unreleased Alternate Stereo Take)		2:53

Personnel

Band members

• Ray Davies – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
• Dave Davies – lead guitar, 12 string guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals (on tracks 2, 8, 11, 16 and 19)
• Pete Quaife – bass, backing vocals
• Mick Avory – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

• Nicky Hopkins – keyboards, piano, organ, harpsichord
• Rasa Davies – backing vocals

References

• Something Else by The Kinks at Discogs (list of releases)

External links

• The Official Dave Davies Site
• Official Ray Davies Web Site
• The Official Ray Davies Forum - "The Old Grey Board"
• The Official Ray Davies Forum on YouTube