In 1990, their first year of eligibility, The Kinks were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The Kinks live - their DLA: One for the Road. This really should be in my Top Ten list of DLA's - and on certain occasions - like for instance - when I am actually playing it - in my Top Five. This record was constantly on in Dale V.'s dorm room in college. I love the opening to Celluloid Heroes - ... "Everybody's a dreamer and everybody's a star, And everybody's in movies, it doesn't matter who you are..." In their brief review, Allmusic wrote that "One for the Road is a fascinating document of trailblazing elder statesmen who paved the way for heavy metal and punk, but never felt a glorious pop song was out of their grasp." Well put. The Kinks of course were a seminal English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorized commonly in the US as a British Invasion band, The Kinks remain, looking back, as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Like many other brothers-in-the-same-band (think Van Halen, Black Crows, CCR) oft times there was a certain blood feud that only a brother can truly appreciate. Ray Davies (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Dave Davies (lead guitar, vocals) remained members throughout the group's 32-year run. Original members Pete Quaife (bass guitar, vocals) and Mick Avory (drums and percussion) were replaced by John Dalton in 1969 and Bob Henrit in 1984, respectively. Dalton was in turn replaced by Jim Rodford in 1978. The great Nicky Hopkins joined the band during studio sessions in the mid-1960s. Later, various keyboardists, including John Gosling and Ian Gibbons, were full-time members.
Will NEVER forget - I was 13 years old and a few of us "outsiders" were big Kinks fans while our buddies formed more "popular" cliques around the Who and the Stones. One night, trying to avoid my homework by listening to Scott Muni on the radio in NYC, I heard him introduce the new Kinks live album by playing Till the End of the Day in that slowed down, almost reggae style that appears on OFTR. Chills.
ReplyDeleteCus, 2 or 3 weeks ago I caught Celluloid Heroes on a local station here in phx. Way too many beer fogged memories came rushing back. Caught it on 103.1 KCDX out of Globe/Miami Arizona. You can stream the station at www.kcdx.com The owner privately funds the station which has been running for over 10 years. Their MO is "Commercial Free" and have been since they started broadcasting. Had Mac hooked when he was out a couple years ago. Late last year they celebrated their 1M song played without a commercial break. Lot of B sides and loads of bands we grew up with. Rumor has it the guy who runs the station was a founding member of 93.3 here in PHX and left as the station turned to play lists and top 40 formats. All kinds of variety here and non-stop music.
ReplyDeleteI've got the DVD. I'll always remember Dave's rambling commentary. The video's editors showed a LOT of shots of the crowd. At one point, during Celluloid Heroes, we see a bunch of girls walking toward the camera, their heads disappearing as they walk toward us. You hear an awkward silence in the commentary. Then Dave says, "Nice pair of tits." Classic.
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