Waterloo Sunset: The Very Best of The Kinks and Ray Davies

Best collection of hits on a cd great value.

Watching Ray Davies get out of a taxi at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in London and walk across the stage to sing his classic song 'Waterloo Sunset' was a truly defining moment. This was his Gold Medal. This is a man who has influenced modern music considerably. He and his brother Dave invented the rock riff in 'You Really Got Me', Ray has chronicled us English over the years in dozens of songs including 'Sunny Afternoon' and 'Dead End Street'. He invented the rock opera in'Arthur', written a Number One single about a transvestite in 'Lola' and so on. 20 or so hit records, 30 albums and a back catalogue that most modern bands would crawl over broken glass to own.The Very Best of The Kinks and Ray Davies doesn't include any new material - and it blatantly has been released off the back of his Olympics Finale appearance - but it does provide a window into Ray's and his band's world. It includes nearly all the classic hits plus songs centred around London, his hometown. The order of the songs (apart from those relating to London) are in a strange order - or effectively no order at all. That's disappointing because they could have done hits, London songs and Ray Davies' songs in chronological order.However, as an introduction to probably one of the most underated bands of all time, it is great value. You get 45 songs for under £10 - half of which are Kinks hits. Some who are new to The Kinks (this album is in the Top 20 as I write this review) may at first find the none hits material difficult to follow - but it's important to persevere. A song like 'Holloway Jail' may sound depressing stuff but the lyrics and mood of the song are very powerful - just needs a few listens. Ray went through a phase where he seemed to lose interest in writing hit singles, so these songs are not so 'catchy' shall we say.Anyway, if you are new to The Kinks and enjoyed 'Waterloo Sunset' on Sunday night, this is as good an introduction to The Kinks as you will get. Ray - thanks for a moving performance on Sunday night - 'Waterloo Sunset' is not only your finest moment but also the song that defines London so very well.

Although many Kinks fans will have most of these tracks in their collection, there are still hidden gems included in this compilation. The London songs featured on the second CD highlight the ongoing fascination Davies has with London life , he captures the essence of London without being sentimental. There are many tracks included which are part of the Kinks canon but not well known to the general public like, 'Denmark Street, Did ya, London Song; which are true classics and I would recommend this purely for the lesser well known tracks featured on CD2. Also you have the underated Dave Davies contribution , Fortis Green', which is sublime and well worth the admission price along . Along with the hits this is the best compilation issued in years,believe me as i have bought them all. Also Check out the BBC years and have yourself a kinks fest.

What distinguishes this from other Kinks greatest hits compilations is the second disc of London Songs, which offers a very interesting sample of Davies’ reflections on the city he grew up in.Intensely nostalgic, at best it speaks of family, childhood and times lost. Come Dancing is a fine example, recalling as a child seeing his older sister returning from the local dancehall after a night out with her present boyfriend.The evocation of ‘fifties London as somehow better than today, can however verge on a denial of the rich multiculturalism of the present city.That said, there is some great material here, and not a little humour on this album.

Having been to see Sunny Afternoon on stage in London this is a good reminder of the Kinks struggle to reach stardom & the way at the end of the day a group is left with not a lot after everyone has taken their cut!I liked the Kinks from the beginning but didn't have a CD of their music which now also reminds me of when I saw them live as a teenager. Thoroughly enjoy playing & listening to their music.

What can you say about a kinks compilation. They one of the best groups to come out of the sixties and like the Beatles ,Rolling Stones, Who, Hollies etc., had numerous hits over a considerable period of time. Classed as founders of heavy metal, this the story of an exceptional songwriter(Ray Davies) and an excellent guitarist( his brother Dave). If you haven't heard the Kinks you are missing one of the best bands ever, listen to this compilation.

I have been a huge Kinks fan since 1964 and love all these songs including Ray Davies solo albums of which there are quite a few here.The only glaring omission is"Living on the thin Line" written by Dave Davies". This song was featured in the "Sopranos Box set"and I think it is the best song the KInks ever recorded, You can find this track on "Word of Mouth" album released in the 80,s

I was Ray Davies's next door neighbour whilstgrowing up in Fortis Green. I love listening tohis music, knowing he wrote most of it in his houseIn Fortis Green. The lyrics are very well writtenand I find a lot of the songs very nostalgic.This album is particularly good. I love it!!

Groupe mythique

It arrived sooner than I thought. Easter Sunday to be exact. Amazing!

Die CD beinhaltet einen großen Querschnitt über die vielen Songs der Kinks, obwohl sie keiner Original LP entspricht. Wer die Musik der genialen Band und die tollen Texte sowie Kopositionen von Ray Davis mag, kommt hier auf seine Kosten.

Este doble cd compilación es bastante mas interesante de la mayoría de los compilaciones sobre los Kinks porque incluye bastante de temas en solitario de Ray Davies y uno de Dave Davies. Recomendado

TAKES ME BACK TO THE GREATEST ERA IN MUSIC.