Something Else by the Kinks
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
Something Else by The Kinks, often referred to as just Something Else, is the fifth UK studio album by The Kinks, released in September 1967. It marks the final involvement of American producer Shel Talmy in the Kinks' 1960s studio recordings; henceforth Ray Davies would produce recordings. Many of the recordings feature the keyboard work of Nicky Hopkins and the backing vocals of Ray's wife, Rasa. Two hit singles are included: "Waterloo Sunset" and "Death of a Clown". In 2003, the album was ranked #288 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[3]
Recording
As Ray Davies had assumed control over production after the departure of Shel Talmy, Something Else marked a change in the sound and production style of the Kinks. He felt unsure of his skill in mixing and recording their records and 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".[4]
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 Ray's as-yet poorly defined "village green" project. 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 did not appear on a Kinks LP until the next release, The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society.
Composition
Ray's lyrics on the album deal with English-inspired subject matter, including the harpsichord-laden "Two Sisters", the lazy shuffle "End of the Season", and the sardonic "David Watts".
The album includes three songs composed by Dave Davies, including the hit single "Death of a Clown".
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |  [2] |
| Rolling Stone | (not rated)[5] |
The album sold poorly in the UK, in part because it competed with budget-priced compilation albums of early Kinks hits from 1964–1966;[citation needed] also, Pye Records had released "Waterloo Sunset", "Death of a Clown" and other songs before the album appeared. Something Else also sold poorly in the US upon release in January 1968 where the group was still the subject of a US ban on live and television performances.
James Pomeroy in a March 1968 review in Rolling Stone felt it was the best album the Kinks had made to that point, praising the "humor, cynicism, perception and irony" where he felt the band are at their best.[6] He picked out "David Watts" and "Waterloo Sunset" as the best tracks, and also praised the three contributions of Dave Davies.[6]
Stephen Thomas Erlewine in a retrospective review for Allmusic felt that the "nostalgic and sentimental" songwriting are key, and that part of "the album's power lies in its calm music, since it provides an elegant support for Davies' character portraits and vignettes".[2]
In 2003, Something Else was ranked #288 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[3]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Ray Davies, unless otherwise noted
| 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 |
| 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" | 2:57 | |
| 6. | "Waterloo Sunset" | 3:15 |
| 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 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Act Nice and Gentle" (mono) | 2:39 | |
| 15. | "Mr. Pleasant" (mono) | 3:00 | |
| 16. | "Susannah's Still Alive" (mono) | D. Davies | 2:21 |
| 17. | "Autumn Almanac" (mono) | 3:09 | |
| 18. | "Harry Rag" (alternative take) | 2:13 | |
| 19. | "David Watts" (Alternative take) | 2:32 | |
| 20. | "Afternoon Tea" (Canadian mono mix) | 3:26 | |
| 21. | "Sunny Afternoon" (recorded for the BBC) | 2:52 | |
| 22. | "Autumn Almanac" (recorded for the BBC) | 3:05 | |
| 23. | "Mr. Pleasant" (recorded for the BBC) | 2:48 | |
| 24. | "Susannah's Still Alive" (recorded for the BBC) | D. Davies | 2:14 |
| 25. | "David Watts" (recorded for the BBC) | 2:10 | |
| 26. | "Love Me Till the Sun Shines" (recorded for the BBC, different from that released on the Picture Book boxset) | D. Davies | 2:19 |
| 27. | "Death of a Clown" (recorded for the BBC) | D. Davies, R. Davies | 2:54 |
| 28. | "Good Luck Charm" (recorded for the BBC) | 1:20 | |
| 29. | "Harry Rag" (recorded for the BBC) | 2:25 | |
| 30. | "Little Women" (backing track) | 2:10 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Susannah's Still Alive" (stereo) | D. Davies | 2:21 |
| 15. | "Autumn Almanac" (stereo) | 3:13 | |
| 16. | "Sand on My Shoes" (stereo) | 3:05 | |
| 17. | "Afternoon Tea" (alternative version) | 3:45 | |
| 18. | "Mr. Pleasant" (alternative version) | 3:22 | |
| 19. | "Lazy Old Sun" (alternative vocal version) | 3:15 | |
| 20. | "Funny Face" (alternative stereo version) | D. Davies | 2:42 |
| 21. | "Afternoon Tea" (German stereo version) | 2:15 | |
| 22. | "Tin Soldier Man" (alternative backing track) | 3:06 |
Personnel
- Ray Davies – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica, harp, harpsichord, organ, tuba, maracas
- Dave Davies – lead guitar, 12 string guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals (on tracks 2, 8, 11)
- Pete Quaife – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Mick Avory – drums, percussion
- Nicky Hopkins – keyboards, piano
- Rasa Davies – backing vocals
See also
References
- ^ Dave DiMartino (15 April 2016). Music in the 20th Century (4 Vol Set). Routledge. p. 347. ISBN 978-1-317-46430-3.
- ^ a b c Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Something Else by The Kinks - The Kinks | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
- ^ a b "288 | Something Else By the Kinks - The Kinks". Rolling Stone (Special Issue). Straight Arrow. November 2003. ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
- ^ Something Else CD liner notes
- ^ "Something Else By The Kinks". rollingstone.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
- ^ a b James Pomeroy (9 March 1968). "Something Else By The Kinks | Album Reviews |". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
External links
- Something Else by The Kinks (Adobe Flash) at Radio3Net (streamed copy where licensed)
- Something Else by the Kinks at Discogs (list of releases)
- Dave Emlen's Unofficial Kinks Web Site - Covers Latest News Concerning the Kinks
- The Golden Age of the Kinks - Discusses the Kinks' Most Artistically Fertile Period (1966-1972)
