Comments for Kinks, the, Face To Face

This album occupies a unique position in the Kinks' catalog. It's the first where Ray is writing about the types of characters who keep popping up on Something Else and Village Green, but the band is still in its high-energy rock 'n' roll phase, rather than the somewhat laid-back style of the next two albums. The combination, as heard in songs like House in the Country and Most Exclusive Residence for Sale, makes this one of my favorite Kinks albums.

Face to Face is markedly different from other Kinks abums in that mid- to late-1960s period in their history: here Ray Davies' gentle songwriting capabilities--his exquisite caricatures and the beginnings of his vivid songwriting imagination--are tempered by the steely edge of Dave's guitar and Mick's drums. Face to Face stands between the juvenille (meant in a good way) roughness of Kinda Kinds, Kinks Size, etc. and the whimsical fancies of Village Green and Something Else. It is not only inventive and clever with lyrics, but its music never loses tempo, cover to cover. A throughly solid album.

The best Kinks LP, in my opinion. Shamefully out of print in the United States for the past 20 years or more.

An excellent Kinks album. Yes it is not in print in the U.S., but Zafiro Records out of Madrid imports many here on cassette along with the "Kinks Kontreversy"(with the U.K. cover) and "Kelvin Hall." The quality is not outstanding, but tolerable.

Tracks: (side 1)'Party Line', 'Rosy Won't You Please Come Home', 'Dandy', 'Too Much On My Mind', 'Session Man', 'Rainy Day In June', 'House In The Country', (side 2)'Holiday In Waikiki', 'Most Exclusive Residence For Sale', 'Fancy', 'Little Miss Queen Of Darkness', 'You're Lookin' Fine', 'Sunny Afternoon', 'I'll Remember' The UK release was Oct. 1966 and the US release was Dec. 1966. 'Sunny Afternoon' was released as an A-side prior to this: UK release: June 1966; US release: July 1966. Just out of curiosity, how did this song become one of top three rock songs of all time when it only got to number 14 on the Billboard chart?

This is a big album for 1966 and is almost as good as albums like "Revolver" and "Aftermath." This was the start of their classic Kink period. The sound is a bridge between the garage feel of their early albums and their introspective low key classic late 60's albums. A very diverse one too! I luckily found this CD in the import bin a year ago.

RATING: 7 (out of 10). To be honest I found this to be a disappointing album, due to filler such as "Session Man" and "I''ll Remember." Still, the highlights are some of Davies'' best mid-60s gems including "Sunny Afternoon" of course and "Fancy."

includes "Sunny Afternoon" One of the Top 3 Rock SinglesOF ALL TIME !!!!

First of all, the comment about Sunny Afternoon being a Top 3 song of all time was a personal opinion. Plus, the Beach Boys arguably 2 most renowned songs God Only Knows (#39) and Don't worry Baby (#24) did not even chart in the Top 20. The Kinks song that gets mentioned as a Top 10 of all time song (#2 on a Mojo magazine list a few years ago) is Waterloo Sunset. It came out when the group was banned from America, so barely made the Top 70. Another anecdote is that My Generation only made #73. I think my point is made. As far as Face to Face, this is rock's first concept album. It was not Sgt Pepper or Pet Sounds, so that is a major innovation for the Kinks: just as creating power chord rock and introducing the sitar into pop in August 1965 on See My Friends (not the Beatles Norwegian Wood a year later). The Kinks are possibly the most influential band of the time, so it is so sad to see their legacy often ignored. I rate Village Green ahead of Face to Face slightly, but Face to Face is a 10. In fact, Face to Face, Something Else, Village Green, Arthur, Lola, and Muswell Hillbillies may be the greatest 5 album succession in rock history. God Save The Kinks!

You are date-challenged. Norwegian Wood was released December 3, 1965 on the album Rubber Soul. Face to Face was released October 28, 1966, and recorded from October 23, 1965 through April 1966. How could Fancy, which I do not believe was ever a single, have predated Norwegian Wood?