CD-Charts Position 1
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You Really Got Me - The Best Of

by: The Kinks

Release Date February 26, 2008
A really excellent Kinks collection. The whole CD drips with classy recordings from a hugely influential band. The price is a steal, the quality is uncompromising. A treasure trove of innovative British music, full of songs that surely require little or no introduction.
The Kinks made some superb music & a good cross section can be found here - you really would be barking mad not to get this, it's just ideal !

CD-Charts Position 2
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Picture Book

by: The Kinks

Release Date December 08, 2008
A really excellent Kinks collection. The whole CD drips with classy recordings from a hugely influential band. The price is a steal, the quality is uncompromising. A treasure trove of innovative British music, full of songs that surely require little or no introduction.
The Kinks made some superb music & a good cross section can be found here - you really would be barking mad not to get this, it's just ideal !

CD-Charts Position 3
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The Village Green Preservation Society

by: The Kinks

Release Date February 26, 2008
Originally released in 1968 The Village Green Preservation Society is now seen as The Kinks finest individual release. In retrospect it's easy to see why it sold so poorly as its cosy nostalgic songs were well out of place in a time when rock was just beginning to get heavy. It's only with the passing of time than one can admire the albums brilliance.

The album is all Ray Davies originals and the themes of the songs are sepia toned to a time which probably never existed, but should have. What really makes the album work is the punchy production, which is at once rhythmic and melodic, and prevents the atmosphere from being twee. The subject matter of the tracks tell stories of lost childhood friends ('Do You Remember Walter?'), old photographs ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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The Ultimate Collection

by: The Kinks

Release Date September 13, 2004
It has been difficult for some time to buy a Kinks compilation that truely represents how good a band they were.

For me, this collection does just that. The real advantage is the second disk which I, contrary to the previous reviewer, think is the main reason for buying this cd above any of the other alternatives.

In particular, the tracks David Watts, Dandy, Mr Pleasant, Where Have all the Good Times Gone?, Well Respected Man, Starstruck and Shangri La are all fantastic songs. Shangri La in particular is an overlooked gem.

If you are speculating whether to get a Kinks cd or not, then this should really be the place to make your first stop.

CD-Charts Position 5
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Something Else By The Kinks

by: The Kinks

Release Date February 26, 2008
A gorgeous album when it first appeared now enhanced with bonus tracks. This is the Kinks at their most thoughtful.

CD-Charts Position 6
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Arthur (Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire)

by: The Kinks

Release Date February 26, 2008
'Arthur' was originally conceived as a musical television drama, but when the drama never materialised, Ray Davies went ahead and released the music in the form of a concept album. The basic story relates to Ray's brother-in-law Arthur who emigrated to Australia some years previously.
Generally, the music here has a much more 'modern' feel than previous Kinks albums, mainly due to its very rich production and the typical Kinks sound augumented by horns. In many ways 'Arthur' is much more suited to the ideals normally associated with concept albums than 'The Village Green Preservation Society' because it does seem to be much grander in scope.
The songs are generally strong despite the fact that 'Victoria', 'Shangrila' and 'Australia' tend to stand head and shoulders above ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
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Lola Vs Powerman & The Moneyground

by: The Kinks

Release Date February 26, 2008
Another slab of brilliance from Ray, Dave Davies and co. The paradoxical and contradictory nature of mankind has never been written about better (by any philosopher or intellectual heavyweight) or understood (as much as it is possible to do)more so, than Ray Davies. The very nature of this album is contradictory and i'm sure the irony of this has not been lost on Mr Davies himself. It's a mixed up muddled up shook up world............indeed it is. Buy and cherish this.Genius.

CD-Charts Position 8
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Face To Face

by: The Kinks

Release Date February 26, 2008
'Face To Face' is sometimes acknowledged as a Kinks classic yet i believe overall it's a rather average album which is well below the standards set by the Kinks contempories (for example The Beatles, Stones, Bob Dylan) in that same time period (1966) both in songwriting, use of instumentation and production. However, there are indications on a number of tracks that the Kinks were really advancing lyrically and occasionally musically with a sustained english flavour to many of their songs in addition to an occasional use of unusual instruments like the harpsicord.
'Rosie Won't You Please Come Home' is an autobiographical song which relates to Ray and Dave's sister's emigration to Australia and has some aristocratic references alongside some inspired use of the harpsicord and a bass refrain ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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The Kink Kontroversy

by: The Kinks

Release Date February 26, 2008
The Kinks Kontroversy marks the end of the first hard rocking era of the Kinks; the follow-up album would be produced by Ray Davies himself.
The album is mostly songs in the well-known Kinks-style. All songs except one are selfpenned, and though it is a mixture of rockers and and softer songs, this is probably on of the most hard sounding Kinks albums, which of course has a lot to do with Shel Talmy`s production style.

Apart from Estes`"Milk Cow Blues", which I find unnecessary and pretty uninteresting, there are not weak songs here. The single "Till the End of the Day" which was the first Kinks single I bought back in the 60`s, is another "You Really Got Me"- rip off; but it`s the best of them all. The B-side "I`m on an Island" is another highlight.

There are several ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
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Kinks

by: The Kinks

Release Date February 26, 2008
We were taught by a Latin master in the early 60's who drove a Lotus Elite and a Lagonda. He had amazing taste in music for what we thought was an old man.

This was the album with which he introduced us to the Kinks. I have both vinyl and cd versions.

Thank you for introducing me to a new direction in music Eric!