Comments for Kinks, the, The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society

Ray Davies as pure songwriter. Not intended for live performance.

voted as the overwhelming favorite Kinks album in the Kinks fan club magazine "now and then." Highlights include "Big Sky", "Animal Farm" and "Picture Book." "

voted as the overwhelming favorite Kinks album in the Kinks fan club magazine "now and then." Highlights include "Big Sky", "Animal Farm" and "Picture Book." "

17 copies in the U.S.??!! No way! It's true this album never showed up on any of the three major U.S. charts, but it probably sold about 10,000 copies here. Really, if it had done that poorly we wouldn't be talking about it today -- there would have been NO ONE to spread the word.

The sales for VGPS were 17,000 NOT 17.

At last check VGPS had actually shifted over a 100,000 copies worldwide. At present (early '96) it's probably doing the best it's ever done. It's also the best ever Kinks album, which means that it's totally sublime. Unmatched by anything.

I think the reason that the fan clubs must like this album so much is because of its cult quality. But if you study the album carefully, it is nowhere close to the personal memoir of Muswell Hillbillies, nowehere close to the hard edge of their early recordings, nowhere close to the intellectual complexity of Arthur, and not even near the commercial success of Lola. Village Green might be compared to the White Album of the Beatles, except that I would consider the White Album far superior. Village Green was composed during that time when the Kinks appeared near their career's end. The songs on the album are a mishmash of vignettes--2-1/2 minutes sketches that are fanciful enough, but not sustaining any intensity to the album. This was during the time when the Kinks were relegated to playing small clubs and dinner shows, and when they were recording scads of material at such a furious pace that it took many years for some of that material to surface on "lost" albums. Does anyone, for example, want to compare the brilliance of Shangri-La with People Take Pictures of Each Other, or can Fanciful Cat hold a candle to Rainy Day in June? I am a big Kinks fan, but I must say that, despite all the praise from fan groups, is one of the poorer overall efforts the Kinks have produced. Honest.

Sorry, but it's "Phenomenal Cat" not "Fanciful Cat". Honest. Let's just say that this album is the best thing Pete Quaife was involved with. And I like Pete Quaife! When this album was released, I was more interested in playing with "Hot Wheels" than listening to the Kinks. I was not alone.

"It's one of their poorer recordings. Honest." Honest? Really? Well if you're That sure, then maybe it is. I always considered it to be their best. It's an album that is quite personal to me; it presents a kind of sustained fantasy world that is perfect escapism for me when I need it sometimes. If you're sure, though, maybe I'll listen to one that sold more instead. Give The People What They Want - that's the purpose of an album, isn't it?

Personally this is my favorite Kinks disc (along with Arthur & portions of Everybody's In Showbiz). It is currently #1 on my wish-list of CD's in need of being re-mastered.

As a late convert to the Kinks (in album form anyway), I find it quite shocking that the late 60s/early 70s output seems to have coincided with their commercial nadir as far as record sales. The Village Green, Arthur, Lola, Muswell Hillbillies are truly inspirational albums. OK Lola was a huge hit single, but the single Shangri-La doesn't even appear in the UK hit singles directory. What went wrong?

I know one thing, Wicked Annabella gives me the creeps.

Not as great as 'Arthur' the way I see it - a little too arch for my liking, and not enough great tunes. HOWEVER, the track "Village Green" is just wonderful - so sad and nostalgic but with a typical undertow of mocking (reinforced by the lyrics ot the earlier title track). One of the best ever Kinks songs, and not mentioned above.

I wasn't yet born when any Kinks albums have come out, VGSP is definitely my favorite so far.. with so many high quality songs - VGSP, Big Sky, Animal Farm, Do you Remember Walter?, Wicked Annabella, Village Green, All of My Friends Were There, others... how can you go wrong? Arthur, although intectually intriguing, lacks the high quality songcrafting, although Shangri-La is my favorite Kinks song of all.. and Yes Sir, No Sir is excellent, as well, and a few others, but they just pale in comparison to VGSP, and to Something Else by the Kinks, as well....

The mix on the CD release is noticeably awful on some songs. Well due for remastering.

As much as I like this album, I don't think it was produced very well. Maybe, as people mentioned above, it's the poor cd mastering that's influencing me here, but one of the reasons I like "Arthur..." better is the sound quality, it seems so much fuller and more ALIVE.... Wicked Annabella gives me the creeps too. Then I rewind and listen to it again. Maybe these are good creeps. On various compilation tapes I make for myself, I always seem to incluce "Do you remember Walter?"...

People, please! Where are all of the lo-fi junkies out there? I think we're forgetting that Ray was, is, and always will be a connoisseur of lo-fi productions, including VGPS. He recently said in an article that the first thing he does when he walks in a record store is "head for the lo-fi." Perhaps VGPS lacks the production of Arthur, but that's what makes the album so real! Personally, I think the production makes it the BEST Kinks album. Also, did someone mention that VGPS had a song called "fantasic cat" ? hm....maybe they do need to remaster it.

Well I might as well join in on the pile up on mdishii. Just to keep things straight, the Kinks played dinner halls before their record contract, not during the Village Green period. As far as your personal opinion of the record goes, I can't answer to that other than by disagreement, since you clearly have a right to your own opinion. The problem is that by saying 'honest', you don't present your point of view as an opinion, but as a fact, which invalidates your credibility. As far as I'm concerned, at least 12 of the 15 songs on this album are among the best Kinks songs ever. But,of course, that's just my opinion.

Tracks:(side 1)'The Village Green Preservation Society', 'Do You Remember Walter?', 'Picture Book', 'Johnny Thunder', 'Last Of The Steam-Powered Trains', 'Big Sky', 'Sitting By The Riverside'(side 2)'Animal Farm', 'Village Green', 'Starstruck', 'Phenomenal Cat', 'All Of My Friends Were There', 'Wicked Annabella', 'Monica', 'People Take Pictures Of Each Other' Released Nov. 1968 in the UK; Jan. 1969 in the US. An earlier version of this LP was released in Denmark, France and Italy that is now a collector's item: Tracks:(side 1)'The Village Green Preservation Society', 'Do You Remember Walter?', 'Picture Book', 'Johnny Thunder', 'Monica', 'Days',(side 2)'Village Green', 'Mr. Songbird', 'Wicked Annabella', 'Starstruck', 'Phenomenal Cat', 'People Take Pictures Of Each Other' It is also worth noting that the song 'Village Green'(not the title track, but the one on side 2) had been released in Europe as an EP track way back in the summer of '67.

OK, I stand corrected. I was looking through my Kinks literature, and mdishii is right about the dinnerhall gigs. But I still think it's a great album!

I love the album. I spent years looking for a copy in the early 80's, but it was worth the wait. It's witty, paints vivid images,makes you feel happy, and Ray's talent shines all through it. It isn't meant t be as complex and difficult as "Arthur", but a celebration instead. Has anyone else heqrd "BIG Sky" and got the idea that this is a Hendrix pastiche? The way the bass cuts in a few bars in and follows the lead melody, the semi-spoken,apparently profound but actually straightforward lyrics, and the deliberate overcomplexity of these lyrics-what the hell, go and listen to it and see if you hear a dig at Hendrix's early, rather grandiose style. (BTW I am a Hendrix fan too, so I'm not denigrating him.) I just think that Ray picked up on his style in a superbly accurate way.

I am guilty of catching up with this record way too late. In the book "Well Respected Men", Ray admonishes those Kinks fans who praise VGPS but have never heard it! I ran out and got it, played it, and didn't think much of it at first. The production is not very good, and most of the songs seemed like lightweight pop (and I'm basically a rocker). But darned if I wasn't soon humming "Starstruck" and "Animal Farm." Then I began singing "Picture Book" in the shower, and whistling the title track whilst walking the dog. Every track is a winner. A remastered CD goes to the top of my want list.

One of the best albums The Kinks ever made, the more you listen to it, the better it sounds.

This is just one of the many classic late 60's and early 70's Kink recordings. It has a very low key sound too it which just makes it sound so elegantly quirky and quaint. The Kinks move away from the open, bright, pop sounds of "something else" to this equally great catchy album. Though the quality isn't the greatest and the production isn't as up to the standards of "Arthur" it doesn't need to be. The songs are mini-masterpeices. Basically every song is memorable; hummable tunes with irresistable hooks. the title track, "Do You Remember Walter?", "Big Sky", "Village Green", "All of My Friends Were There", "Wicked Annabella", "Starstruck", and "Phenominal Cat" are just several of the highlights. This was also my first Kinks purchase at age 12 without even knowing any of the songs on it. If you are a Kinks fan i can't see why you wouldnt like this album.

A damn fine album. Probably my third favorite Kinks album(after Muswell and Arthur)So many good songs i won't bother naming them individually. Except for "Phenomonal Cat"Does anyone else think this is the neatest song of all time?

almost cloying, almost cute; strange and wonderful. I love every minute of it. My favorite song about a cat (along with "Lucifer Sam" by Syd Barrett/PinkFloyd). Phenomenal! Now , read "Under Milk Wood" by Dylan Thomas...

I have been a Kinks fan bigtime for a long time. Had the "Kinks Kronikles" on cassette, album and now CD. How about a remix on this one? Anyway, I just bought VGPS on CD, liked it so much I bought the remastered version form Velvel almost immediately. Definitely thier best, right ahead of "Something Else" and "Arthur", but, yes the sound on the first version I bought was very muddy on some songs, much better on remix. Now if they would just re-isssue the Great Lost Kinks Album. Please!

I bought this album my freshman year in college without knowing any of the songs. I thought the cover was cool. It caught my friends ear and he asked "Is this the Kinks Greatest Hits?" I thought that says something about the album. It all just kicks booty.

I was dancing to ''all of my friends were there'' at my 33rd bitrthday party and all of my friends were there at 3:39 in the morning. I love this album every song is great and hummable and fantasiitc and I could give 2 shits if it ever gets remeastererd. Give the People what they want was my first favorite kinks albums but VGps usurps it. Down by the riverside is my favorite song. You should have been there.

sold 17 copies in the US

This album is like a trip from start to finish. My kind of concept album, where the concept isn't clear but the whole thing seems so unified. The title track is one of my favorite songs ever. Maybe the album would have done better if they had left Days on it. I think the fact that so many great Kinks singles weren't on their albums ( I know it was a common practice at the time) has kept their albums from getting the recognition they deserved. Days should have been a huge hit in the US and I don't think it was even released here. When I discovered how much great Kinks material is out there, I was blown away, why didn't my childhood radio station tell me about this!

arthur was a better effort than the village green. the arrangements are more dynamic, the songwriting was more varied and there is generally more music per second on their first (and best) rock opera. still something about the village green preservation society strikes me as more geniuine, more unique and more precious. the title track is one strange place where nostalgia and sarcasm can somehow occupy the same space while "remember walter" sounds cooler than any song to have been recorded by anyone since then (a bold claim, but mostly my opinion). picture book is absolute fun without being optimistic. and those are just the first three tracks.

VILLAGE GREEN ES NOSTALGIA INTERIOR. SON SONIDOS DEL ALMA, Y POR SIMPLE QUE ESO PAREZCA, LO HACE AL ALBUM MÁS RICO DE LOS KINKS, EL MÁS PROFUNDO. UN SALUDO A TODOS LOS ANGLOPARLANTES.