The Kinks Sleepwalker / Celluloid Heroes March 8, 1977

[@naomi369]

I’m 30 now. And I just discovered this group. Man this band still amazing in 2023. Songwriting and melody so brilliant ❤

[@vitoponzio2234]

Welcome to the fan club, from a senior ... way too senior :) ... member.

[@J.OKRoadrunner]

The Kinks will live forever, and only we, the fortunate ones , are blessed with ears to eyes keen enough to recognize the special nature and songs of Ray and Dave. I’ve been listening to The Kinks for over 40 years now. JOK

[@fitronald09]

THESE GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!

[@eneDK5594]

Welcome to the club. Their records from 65 to72 are unbelievable. I am 39. My favourite band ever

[@eargasm1072]

Make sure u listen to Something Else, Village Green Preservation Society, Arthur & Lola Vs Powerman for the full conversion to the Kinkdom!

[@TPAwavelink]

Ray is one of the most intelligent rockers ever..such a class act.Jagger has nothing on Davies.Long live The Kinks!

[@joeymaterese8095]

Yes so true

[@JohnChalmers617]

They use too yell from the audience "God Save The Kinks"!

[@johnwatts8346]

theyre both amazing, and yeah smart and well read too.

[@oestdefranc7205]

P

[@jimplummer4879]

Totally Agree, never was stones fan.

[@easy288]

Celluloid Heroes - one of the best rock and roll songs.

[@tarkusmjg]

One of the greatest lyricist, songwriters of all time. The Davies are above the rest!

[@tarkusmjg]

@MiamiBeach xxx To each his own. The Beatles lyrics we're too drenched in drugs compared to the Kinks.

[@tarkusmjg]

@MiamiBeach xxx To each his own. The Beatles lyrics we're too drenched in drugs compared to the Kinks.

[@asmahism]

@MiamiBeach xxx not really below them though. Plus your comparing a duo of writers to Ray, if Ray had someone of his caliber writing with him your comparison would be a bit more fair. Dave Davies did write good songs but to keep the Beatles analog going Dave was more like George. Great songs but not full albums consistently.

[@fredmuller7400]

One of the most underrated superstar Songwriter, Clever, cynical, and cool lyrics

[@raywkilleen]

To me, the British Invasion was The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who and the KINKS. It made for a satisfying addition to music growing up.

[@billjackson1317]

More like the Animals , the Who came later..

[@stefanhul2793]

Absolutely right! As a DJ, a night is not complete unless I‘ve put on The Big Four. I usually play them one after one everytime, wondering if anybody else is noticing 😅

[@johnned4848]

Mike Douglas was so cool. A Philadelphia institution who had so many great bands.

[@paulbrucker7840]

So many bands could get by doing a lip sync because they had a great singer and session musicians. Here's a band that excelled because it had a great singer, songwriter, guitarist and could really play a great live show. Thanks for posting this.

[@classicguitarfan8]

Love the Kinks but this is a lip synch

[@adolforodolfo6929]

@@classicguitarfan8 I think Ray is live but the backing maybe pre-recorded - that was often the way back then.

[@777RockNRollin]

There's no band that had a run of albums like THIS ; THE KINKS !!! Every single creation a concept Masterpiece ,...

[@MsSmitty9]

I love these Guys till the end. The Kinks got me through some tough times. I saw them with my late Brother Michael a bunch of times on the East coast. Unbelievable shows in Boston Garden and Providence Civic Center. There’s video of a couple of Songs from Providence on KZbin. Those Davies Brothers had there problems but when they played boy , they were all in all the time. You can have the Beatles and the Stones. I’ll take the Kinks every time. God Bless the Kinks.

[@michaelp3138]

who tells a better story through lyrics than Ray Davies? nobody I can think of! Kinks rule!

[@emmettmckenna4565]

Elvis Costello and Ron Sexsmith!

[@philcollins884]

Dylan, Young for starters

[@allbottledup9513]

@@philcollins884 Dylan, for sure. Can’t agree with Young despite him being my top 10. Davies is leagues above Young regarding storytelling.

[@amdreh]

Phill Lynott, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Neil Peart...

[@jamesbueker11]

Such a force: a creature of the night. Coolest band in history. Never stopped making awesome music. Brothers in arms.

[@PS987654321PS]

My God, Britain produced some of the finest rock and roll in the 60's and 70's.

[@ogam5]

.....America, was NO slouch EITHER.....

[@allbottledup9513]

@@ogam5 English speaking countries in general excelled in rock from the 60’d-90’s. England was clearly number one by far, followed by America/Australia depending on your taste. Canada, Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, and others all have some great rock as well. In my opinion, the worst at it was Ireland, and even they had Thin Lizzy and The Cranberries!

[@ogam5]

@@allbottledup9513: AS to Australia, The Easybeats were BIG rock pioneers (but RARELY recognized as such by MOST music historians.....)

[@allbottledup9513]

@@ogam5Agreed. Australia had great rock for days. AC/DC, INXS, Cold Chisel, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Crowded House, Easybeats, Hoodoo Guru’s, Powderfinger, Skyhooks, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and The Go-Betweens. The Go-Betweens definitely are more pop than rock but they have their rocking hits. Australia has been chalkfull of great music, it’s a shame they don’t get the respect England and America do.

[@dixgun]

Ray’s voice always reminds of Steve Miller’s voice on ‘Sleepwalker.’ Neat performances. Mike Douglas was a unique presence on television in the USA.

[@RichardSchaefer-zx9ig]

Sleepwalker is one of my favorites of '70s. Juke Box Music

[@fortunazee]

I will always love the Kinks ❤

[@knittingbouvier]

Impossible to tire of this song. Great to see this performed live, what a brilliant band.

[@alanowens3]

Sleepwalker was one of my favorite albums of all times.

[@albertoracaj2718]

The best .❤

[@wtaylorg]

Long live the Kinks. When I was 14, one of the 1st records I ever bought was Sleepwalker. I bought it after hearing the song on WMMS in Cleveland, 1977.

[@ТехноДом-я1у]

Сильная группа жаль в семидесятых было мало их записей рок 🎸 навсегда

[@what5927]

The Davies brothers are/were so gorgeous.

[@helencampbell4900]

Indeed

[@Daffy310]

Truly!!!

[@Haberdashery22]

Great guitar work Dave ..

[@henryhawk2904]

There's no way the Stones, Who or Beatles could have written that. Ray Davies is da man!

[@blackmore4]

Hmm... I think that Davies was a better lyricist than any of the Beatles and his (60s) music was nearly as good. I think The Kinks' 60s music was better than The Stones and The Who and that Davies was the equal of Jagger and Richards and Townshend as a lyricist. However, this song... I think that Charlie Watts could've written it. 😆

[@allbottledup9513]

@@blackmore4 I partly agree. I think Kinks had the best 60’s music OVERALL, despite The Who and Beatles occasionally outshining them. All four bands are spectacular of course, but the Stones and Who didn’t hit their prime until the 70’s by which time the Beatles were already gone. To me, the really impressive part is the sheer amount of great material the Kinks continued to put out - twice the material of The Who and Beatles, 3x as good as anything the Stones ever did with select exceptions! For context on my opinions, for me it goes The Who, The Kinks, The Beatles and lastly the Stones! All great!

[@neilphelan145]

I grew up not far from Hollywood Blvd. Saw the Kinks 3 times in the seventies. No Other band like them! They created a style that many tried to emulate but failed but failed miserably big time!!

[@alejorvalenzuela]

Yeah, Sleepwalker was sync'ed because of the promotion of the album, but Celluloid Heroes was totally live, as a complement. Marvelous complement.

[@erestube]

Only the lead vocal was live.

[@petersonlafollette3521]

Both show the band's deep musical dynamics and lyric storytelling talents...

[@MikeBUSA]

None of it was live. Both songs had a full compliment of backup singing. But you can tell they set out to make it look live with all their equipment and the guitars were even plugged in.

[@brianharbut4054]

That was a lovely version! Ray Davies is such an incredible & prolific songwriter & this is one of my most favourites 🙏

[@tarkusmjg]

God bless the Kinks!

[@JMacque]

I saw The Kinks live one time at Richfield Coliseum in Richfield Ohio mid 80's. Rocked the ballz off the place. Much respect for Ray, Dave, and the lads.

[@petrslivinski7481]

"Rock-On" with The Kinks! Ray and Dave cool Englishmen from the British Invasion. They can invade my music space anytime!

[@MrZinser1]

Wow!!! These are two great songs! The Kinks were certainly one of the best British Invasion bands!!! I missed these songs 40 years ago, But , now they are some of my favorites! Peace! Steve

[@memory-nownow-anticipation7087]

The Kinks are a garage band fronted by a brilliant songwriter. Johnny Rotten says that they invented punk rock.

[@sapainca]

yup, check out their early stuff. pure punk...limited chords, atonal sometimes. Later they got more melodic, they are ever changing and evolving.

[@rokyericksonroks]

Good to see Mick at the drumkit.

[@papajohn240]

Great live act. Saw them once. Wish they would reunion before it's to late.

[@markpetersen2469]

I saw them in 1985 on Come Dancing Tour

[@thomasdonaghy5107]

Up the Kinks.. As a 🇬🇧, these are the boys 👍

[@linclinc5]

Celluloid Heroes reminds me of the pathos of ‘ Puff the Magic Dragon’....’Where do you go to my lovely’.....that sort of chord sequence lends itself to melancholy and nostalgia

[@kevin104z]

the kinks on mike douglas.....mike had some pretty cool people on his show....those were the days!!!!

[@Shadobanned4life]

What a treasure! Thanks for sharing,the sound is great compared to many vids.

[@navywoman7709]

Totally agree! 👍🏻

[@jamesbueker11]

Saw them live in Austin in the late 80’s. Armadillo World Headquarters. Awesome incredible show. Everyone standing dancing and clapping on their folding chairs. Went to an all night lake party after: when Austin was cool.

[@vitoponzio2234]

Thank u 4 posting this, as a big Kinks/Philly fan, on the Mike Douglas show. Time traveling at it's very best.

[@Triewer]

That was an everything sync'ed for Sleepwalker. Gotta love them going through the motions LOL. Live Celluloid, I would agree.

[@kevincorcoran6493]

Mike Douglas was cool. He always had great Rock acts on his show. I remember it would come on after we got out of school in the afternoon. Always something great to look forward to. Additional you have Tony Bennett there I don't know who the other lady is. Too bad we don't have shows like this anymore.

[@BritIronRebel]

The Rolling Stones were pornographic, The Kinks were geographic! VH-1 had a program, "Storytellers" about bands who's songs told stories. The Kinks OWNED that program!

[@michaelwells4693]

Ray inspired the series from his Storyteller tour and album shortly after the band broke up

[@josephlemko3027]

Thanks for posting this performance by my favorite group. This is my introduction to this performance.

[@chrissnape9537]

Very under rated band . Dave Davies is as good a writer / poet in the last 6 decades. It always makes me happy to hear them

[@69birdboy]

ray you mean..although i like daves stuff too

[@erestube]

Tens of millions of records sold. I am so tired of the word "underrated" being used for so many successful acts. Maybe the meanings of words are underrated?

[@philcollins884]

You mean Ray, Dave was the guitarist, not the writer.

[@upthcreek]

when Ray puts on that dress, He looks like a priceless princess...

[@matthewstetson1840]

Few here are aware of the song you're referring to.

[@deedonnerramone4757]

Saw the Kinks on this tour. Detroit May 1977. They played Cobo Hall.

[@tapnodyl]

oh noooooo!!- lip-synching! I guess they figured the live amps would scare the hell out of Mike's crowd. Excellent vid! good Quality. Wait! C. Heroes has a live vocal. Even better

[@benwilliams6081]

Sleepwalker was mimed - Celluloid Heroes live.

[@uliseshomero]

Simplemente uno de los mejores, para Mí el mejor, letrista de Rock, Ray Davies, y claro uno de mis grupos favoritos .

[@romelovesdan]

I remember seeing this with my Granny afterschool oh so many years ago. Mike Douglas did have some rock guests out of left field that made you HAVE to check the guest list before going out to play.

[@eugeneshoemaker1833]

Romeo

[@dananthony6258]

I’ve never heard this. What an awesome song. So wasn’t expecting this.

[@Cap683]

Saw Ray in the nineties when he was doing his storyteller tour in the States. It was only him and an accompanying guitarist. His wit was amazing. He played a lot of the Kinks catalogue telling stories in his very English style. On a side note, his name Davies is pronounced like Davis.

[@manskullman6509]

Ray Davies was a very intelligent song writer, singer and musician ! What a great man! He was very important😊! - jon fisher

[@jamesbueker11]

Such a band for the common man. I’ve always felt like I just wanted to be alone. For much of my life I’ve felt like allowing people into your life is a two edged sword. Ray seems to vocalize and understand this

[@paulcastillo5199]

Over a span of about 25 years, Ray Davies just continued to write hit songs. Can any other musician make that claim?

[@MA_808]

Thank you, Mike Douglas...you were far ahead of your time...

[@billjackson1317]

Dave invented guitar distortion on you really got me 👍👍

[@Haberdashery22]

Loved the Kinks over all these decades. Sleepwalker has the vibes of the West Coast music, California, of that time, I think....

[@billjackson1317]

Sleepwalker great album 👌

[@LukasFin]

If i reborn after my coming death someday, i hope Ray Davies reborns in that very same era to keep my feet on the ground and ears receiving his music. Long live the Kinks!

[@AnimalsMatterMorally]

WHAT a SINGER. SO great ! Ray Davies was AWESOME here !

[@MrGoldenthroat]

Orichalon99 - I concur wholeheartedly!! The phenomenal 1977 whistle blower live version is easily the best version of this tune ever done!!

[@lucyfoster4082]

Yes, I love that footage dearly

[@soulballet]

Celluloid Heroes... amazing title

[@michaelwells4693]

Andy Pyle on bass for that brief time after the great John Dalton and before Jim Rodford. Sleepwalker was a breakthrough after their string of concept albums and theatrical shows( although Schoolboys in Disgrace is quite amazing!). But it's rare to see them perform Celluloid Heroes live without omitting the final verse with George Sanders and Marilyn Monroe

[@karmeng2773]

Always so good - no matter how many times i have heard it😊

[@jamesbueker11]

His hands are so dramatic. He’s amazing.

[@fazlurbaksh5969]

Ray Davies was a great live performer. I wish that he never stopped touring.

[@robfninh]

Cell Heroes! That was great! Prerecorded or whatever.

[@cliffboulle2457]

why ar e the kinks so dam good?

[@davesmith1199]

As Bowie said"They have God given ass"

[@gabrielthissen3280]

correct, when they eat shit, they shit gold, like in the fairy tale, its called talent ;))

[@LordofDublin4]

Ray Davies !

[@biggjonn75]

@@LordofDublin4 Dave too.

[@bellinghammond]

Sleepwaker is "mimed" Celluloid Heroes is live

[@davidhoffmann6771]

Dave’s Lead guitar seemed live

[@bellinghammond]

@@davidhoffmann6771 on Sleepwalker? at 1:05 he should be doing a vibrato, but isn't

[@Hollandblauwegirl]

Omg after Ray said "I might come in for a bite" he actually bit omg stop

[@botaman02]

I’ll always be a fan of Ray Davies and the Kinks!

[@jorgecampa453]

Naomi... This group its great.. I now since the 70.s.

[@cityzen2717]

GO, RAY, GO!

[@e28stevo]

Superb !!!!!!

[@suepoch3931]

TFS! WOW! Bringing me back!! 👍👍👍👍👍❤️☮️🇺🇸

[@antoniocaballero5559]

Simply superb!!!

[@brandnutopian]

@Def14121 Actually, you got it wrong. The Joker came out in '73 and Sleepwalker came out in '77. Still, I think the similarities between the songs are minimal and God knows Miller owes a much greater debt of gratitude to Davies in terms of songwriting.

[@chriscantor6329]

Celluloid heroes was one of their many greats.

[@martinbench3657]

God Bless the Kinks , and Mike Douglas

[@jeffandersen7397]

Ray was so good, he could double his vocals live ! ((eventhough it's lip-sync'd, it nice to have video of the lads from this era))

[@tedcabana]

They had the craziest "Brotherly" hate/love musician-relationship. I keep hoping someday there will be a movie about them. It would be EPIC! btw.... First band I ever saw live, 1982. No other rock and roll story compares

[@SavoirLife]

Back around 2008-2012 I worked in an area of London near Marylebone and would see a much older but hip Ray walking with lady friend trying to stay out of the limelight. The interesting thing was it was always on a street called Davies St…coincidence?

[@missing101]

Lovely guitar Dave is playing.

[@LeoJSmerkin]

Ya really got me … long time ago

[@jamesfarrington9030]

Dave playing a Gibson L5S. A rare bird axe. Impossible to find today.

[@apexjoe4769]

I always thought the intro to "Celluloid Heroes" sounded like "This little piggy went to market" Lol

[@Orichalon99]

I know right... their best version of sleepwalker is actually the 1977 whistle blower live version, brilliant, better key than the live version.

[@warmonkey8529]

I am no sleepwalker i am a night owl when every body's going to bed I wide awake its driving me nuts

[@JimDiBattista]

I'm still looking for a version with the "If you covered him with garbage George Sanders would still have style" verse in it. I guess I'll have to do one myself.

[@craigfatkin5192]

Long live the Kinks!!!!

[@johninjersey]

This is an anthem!

[@carolew9206]

The rockin brothers. Awesome!

[@santinocorleone1204]

I hear the female background singers but don't see em? beautiful (on Celluloid Heros)

[@judd8935]

Michael Nardella it’s possible they were part of the mike Douglas band, he had a great band. And the horns as well, I think the house band was supplementing.

[@69birdboy]

thats dave

[@chicanobear13]

I think it was a budget thing..if shown on tv they get tv union scale.. just a hunch..because i thought same thing..

[@erestube]

You hear a sax at the end too. Only the lead vocal is live! It's the way British television does lip-syncing. (Yes, they took those "karaoke" tapes to the States!)

[@davesmith1199]

THE most underated band ever.And you can add Rays writing in the same category...…..THZ Alex K...…………...17 dislikes?

[@johnmccarthy5483]

Congratulations Sam !

[@danielhouseworth5714]

Sweet Gibson Dave.

[@narredude]

yep lip synced no if's no but's and i agree the version on the old grey whistle test was the best

[@chrissnape9537]

No lip sync just that good

[@cityzen2717]

like the lick at 7:20.

[@susankapur4364]

God save the Kinks.❤

[@gregnewman2512]

Top 5 songwriter of all time. 1 or 5, depends on your taste. But, top 5.

[@adolforodolfo6929]

I would put Ray somewhere between 1 and 1.000000009

[@JesusChristisfake]

He’s the Best song writer to walk this planet.

[@gregnewman2512]

@@JesusChristisfake You'll get no argument from me, about Ray OR your handle.