First Reaction To Dead End Street by The Kinks

[@lannydante9390]

I’m a kinks fan since 1964 - I’m 74 now - they have 700 songs in their catalog- with Ray saying he has written over 2000 songs in his career - I would rate the kinks second only to the Beatles with the stones following them - 100’s of their unknown songs just as good as their HITS! Give me …..Around the Dial ….Holiday “live” …Artificial Man….I need you …. Big Sky …..You can’t stop the music…..Alcohol “live” …. Only a Dream ….Moments…..Picture Book …..Two Sisters…..Still Searching……Animal ….To the Bone….the list goes on and on!

[@johnniekight1879]

"Waterloo Sunset" is their masterpiece. The great Nicky Hopkins on piano on Dead End Street.

[@alabhaois]

One of many

[@citizenghosttown]

And one of the best uses of trombone you'll ever hear on a rock track.

[@robertmarlow255]

My funeral song!

[@toniyoung5131]

To me, Waterloo Sunset is on of the most perfect pop songs, which isn't really a pop song, but the Kinks sharp social commentary writ large.

[@m06een00]

It's one of their best. Personally I think Lola s even better, as is Days, the song (Sir) Ray Davies would like to be the one played at his funeral.

[@lesart3446]

The kinks were one of the most important bands of the 60s and 70 also a massive on influence Punk.

[@jimmeltonbradley1497]

The Kinks were an exceptional band. Lots of truly great songs you still need to listen to.

[@alabhaois]

They are still exceptional. Way ahead of their time!! 😎🎸

[@sjames1955]

Sir Raymond Davies is one of the great songwriters of his era. He's been called Rock's Poet Lauriate and Shakespeare. He's in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Kinks were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the first time they were nominated. Ray received his knighthood (long overdue) for his contribution to modern music. I think you don't understand how absolutely revolutionary You Really Got Me was in 1964. No one had done anything like it. The distorted guitar, the power chords and intensity were completely new. Leonard Bernstein called it fantastic. It's been called the first heavy metal song and even the earliest punk or grunge. It's the only Kinks song to have a Grammy. It is acknowledged as changing the course of music history. Please note that Ray wrote it when he was 15 and when they recorded it Dave, the lead guitarist, was 16. There's a conspiracy theory that says Jimmy Page played it but it's simply not true. Waterloo Sunset is number 14 on Rolling Stone's list of most beautiful pop songs of all time. Now these kinds of lists are always somewhat questionable but that enough people who are supposed to know about this stuff regard it so highly must mean something.

[@adamdunbar8260]

The Kinks are one of those bands who are impossible to pigeon hole. I grew up with punk and metal in the late 70's and 80's. The one thing my punk people and my metal people could agree on was Motorhead, The Ramones, Johnny Cash, and The Kinks were all bands we could agree were awesome.

[@z-man2343]

Muswell Hillbillies (1973) is one of my top ten all-time albums, from all groups. Ray Davies is a genius songwriter, mixing keen insight, biting sarcasm, sweet sentimentality and classic British humor, many times all in the same song. He is up there with all the best.

[@Farmlandsfallfan]

MH was 1971 to be pedantic. And yes it is a fantastic LP, Holloway Jail being my personal fav.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Kinks have a wide range of songs. A terrific ability for satire and sentimentality rolled into one. Great stuff.

[@lawrencesmith6536]

Ray Davies....one of the great lyricists of the rock era. The catalogue is deep

[@dellafenton2417]

A true English poet.

[@davidblackburn3396]

For my money the Kinks are right up there with the Beatles and Stones in terms of their body of work, and are the most "British" band of the 3. Check out the "Arthur" album, especially the title track, "Victoria" and "She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina's."

[@davescurry69]

And their suburban masterpiece "Shangri-La".

[@davidblackburn3396]

@@davescurry69 Yes, absolutely. Brilliant song. The whole album is just one gem after another.

[@ChipG3000]

The Kinks rule! Listen to “Victoria,” “Celluloid Heroes,” “20th Century Man,” “Ape Man,” all different and all great. Keep up the good work! 👍

[@alabhaois]

You can’t go wrong with the Kinks!! Every song is a masterpiece. Truly!! 👍👍

[@jeffreybooth5129]

Shangri-la and celluloid heroes are two of their finest songs a top group certainly.

[@safespacebear]

GOD SAVE THE KINKS! Just keep going please. We need more folks understanding the brilliance of the Davies brothers

[@mattshaw6180]

"Celluloid Heroes," especially the live version recorded 1979 (from their live album "One For the Road"), is a rich and beautiful song that showcases their talents.

[@rickkane7913]

Sooo many deep tracks! You mention the marching rhythm; you will hear something similar in "Tin Soldier Man"-- very British!

[@AP-gb3eh]

Come Dancing is a beautiful song

[@franceshaas8255]

Really liked this song. Will listen to more.

[@isaacgraham5727]

My father was born in 1952 and grew up as a MASSIVE fan of The Kinks - his older brother as well. It became a bit of a competition to them and the greatest moment of my uncle’s life (and he was a fairly famous conceptual artist in his own right) was when he had dinner with Ray Davies once xD

[@davescurry69]

The Kinks have left behind an astonishing body of work. Hugely influential and often ahead of their time, the deeper you delve into their catalogue the more impressive they become.

[@troyshilanski380]

Love ya guy. Then kinks are so real.

[@cuebj]

Check out the film, 'Cathy Come Home', about follows a family throough a descent through the housing systems at the time

[@paulkruger491]

I love this band..

[@CousinWhatIsIt]

This is one of my favorites. I love the melodies and the cheer-style backup vocals.

[@danhurst9048]

There is to the kink's music.they undoubtably have the very best lyrics...and very few of their many songs are love songs,which is refreshing

[@phillipharrison7283]

In the 60s us kids heard and loved what radio played. The songs of the day on radio were our 'Best Of' albums. The Kinks singles, like Beatles, Stones, Who and dozens of other groups were our life soundtrack. Deeper diving into catalogues were a little financially out of reach. Thank you radio. Kinks tracks 'All day and all of the night', 'Set me free', 'Ape man', 'Death of a clown', 'Tired of waiting', 'Dedicated follower of fashion', 'Well respected man', 'Waterloo Sunset', and 'Sunny Afternoon' all heard on the radio first and I'm pretty sure most were top 10. Cheers Syed✌

[@harlanginsberg7269]

The amazing thing about this song is it was never on a Kinks album (Kinks Kronikles was a compilation album put out in the early 70's). This was a single that bombed but it was a key part of every Kinks concert. I saw them maybe 15 times between 1973 and 1994 and I am pretty sure they played this at every show and it was always a highlight.

[@Grithron2]

It didn't bomb, it got to No. 5.

[@harlanginsberg7269]

@@Grithron2 In England it got number 5. in the US it got 73. The Kinks were banned from the US from 1966 till near the end of 1969 so this song the VGPS album and the Arthur albums all bombed in the US because the Kinks couldn't tour behind them. I've been a Kinks fan since 1973 and if not for Kinks Kronikles that great compilation double album I never would have heard Dead End Street's studio version.

[@markatsvensson]

How is it possible for someone who is into music to not have heard so many incredible songs?

[@Richarddraper]

Good video but you're underestimating how revolutionary and influential the raw guitar sound was on You Really Got Me. The Village Green Preservation Society would be a good next Kinks' song to try.

[@p.millard557]

You are right, the lyrics of The Kinks' songs are on a different level than those of the Beatles. Many of the Kinks' songs are about life or social issues in London and the UK while those of The Beatles (as a group) are normally more personal, usually about love. The Kinks are one of the top groups of the sixties.

[@richardclark2290]

you've not listened to sunny afternoon or warterloo sunset yet have you :)

[@sahewins]

Sunny Afternoon

[@richarddefortuna2252]

20th Century Man, off of their "Muswell Hillbillies" album, is quite a statement, if you ask me. A very under the radar declaration.

[@asgard5968]

The kinks wrote about real life and real life was much harsher in the London they grew up than now, growing up in bombed out ruins

[@brentlund2272]

KINKS...............GOD SAVE THE KING AND GOD SAVE THE K I N K S !

[@markcorcoran482]

“Some Mother’s Son, “ killer, heartbreaking, beautiful, as to the effect of war on the parents, mothers, of course, in particular.

[@robertk2311]

One of the most socially conscious of theirs is Get Back In The Line. Definitely worth a listen

[@jnagarya519]

"You Really Got Me" has never been described as "sweet". What was noted was its grittiness.

[@newremote]

Yes, I thought that was strange too. Been a Kinks fan for decades and I've never thought of "YRGM" as being sweet.

[@CalumCarlyle]

Loved this. There are so many Kinks tracks you should hear, actually. Especially if you're looking for gems among the album tracks (though actually the Kinks had a string of excellent singles throughout the sixties).

[@robertmills8640]

Try their "Village Green Preservation Society"

[@citizenghosttown]

So glad you're enjoying the Kinks. Such brilliant song writing by Ray Davies - a true genius. Unlike many of the British invasion bands, he wasn't trying to pander to the American audience. He sang about the world he saw in the UK --- and he combined a hard edge (garage rock, proto-punk) with older dance hall music (you can here it on this one) --- and always with wit and social consciousness. I recommend "Waterloo Sunset", "Get Back in Line" "This is Where I Belong" and the albums "Arthur" and "Village Green Preservation Society"

[@robertmiller1655]

They can get deep. Try Celluloid Heroes.

[@grassygnoll3345]

It's all coming back. The UK is the most socially divided now than at any time in my life.

[@briantimmons3075]

Ray davies is an exceptional songwriter

[@alabhaois]

He had a social conscience way before it was fashionable

[@jbellinger99]

"Apeman" is the song. Gotta hear it.

[@duderoo1975]

totally agree, I fell for the Jay Z issue you mentioned. The Kinks were so ahead of the times, people living like this were not living but working to die, very working class of the UK at the time, hence the MOD movement, then skinhead until taken over by racists.

[@tcanfield]

There’s a good biographic doc about Ray Davies on YT called “Imaginary Man” and also a single by that name that’s a beauty. He showed he still had his songwriting chops into his 60’s with his “Workingman’s Cafe” album ( 2007).

[@robertlisternicholls]

Excellent review.

[@timarmstrong3251]

'You Really Got Me' is a lot of things, but 'bland' and 'vanilla' ain't two of them. It is often regarded as the the song that invented heavy metal.

[@jnagarya519]

This track -- Ray Davies had for some time been writing social criticism -- actually stiffed in the US. The LPs "Face to Face" and "Something Else" contain others; the latter includes the exquisite "Waterloo Sunset".

[@jnagarya519]

"Dead End Street" is a great single -- totally STIFFED in the US. Ray Davies was the only one writing social commentary.

[@62CDN]

Keep going on kinks songs. They were way ahead of their time

[@scottwallace5180]

It was this 1960s mod music about the working classes. One of the 3 greats mod bands with the Who and the small faces. Try Lazy Sunday afternoon

[@raymeedc]

The morbid beat & French horn combo formed a death March of sorts, & quite appropriately so. Davies was well versed in relating the tone of the music to the lyrics.

[@richardclark2290]

there quintessential Englishness especially in Shangri la and village green presevation society is probably why they did not break america in the same way their contemporaries did

[@noheamike5036]

The Kinks have a long and varied career, going through several different styles and periods. Ray Davies is an excellent lyricist, mixing pointed observations, humor and unique view points. They're not a perfect band by any stretch, but when they are good it's something special. Try Gallon of Gas, written during the oil crisis in the seventies

[@janicejohnson2744]

Only Ray writes great songs about tea/toast/ rheumatic back. lol! marvellous.x

[@123wat456sea]

Would love to hear your reaction to Shanghai-la

[@mitoo4880]

i liked the Beatles and then i met the Kinks.

[@ijustneedmyself]

😂 I'm with you

[@Thejazzfan66]

I’m glad this reactor is getting it. Ray Davies wrote this in 1966. Even The Beatles weren’t singing songs about this subject matter.

[@nicolagianaroli2024]

The Beatles have never been singing anything remotely significant on subject like this

[@kevinjones4559]

Original drummer Mick Avory still going strong with tribute group 'Kastoff Kinks'. Well worth catching .

[@lisarainbow9703]

Keep digging into this rabbithole, there's actually highly intelligent lyrics in a lot of their songs...

[@lathedauphinot6820]

On their first tour of the USA in 1965 The Kinks drank too much, got in fistfights on stage and, worst of all, didn’t pay their U.S. musicians union dues. They were banned from performing in the USA for four years at the height of their popularity. That’s why they’re not as well known in the USA as the rest of the British Invasion bands, and probably also why their sound is more “English”, if that’s valid. They’re not perfect, but they have released some brilliant music over the years. For fun, “She’s Got Everything”, featuring the great Nicky Hopkins, or “I Gotta Move”, with Jimmy Page and Dave Davies on guitars. Thanks!

[@willraresheid34]

Uh-Oh, you went down the Kinks rabbit hole, Bless you! You won't regret it! Listen to Muswell Hillbillies. 'Uncle Son' All Life we work but work is a bore if life's for living what's living for? There are many Kinks scenarios as to how they look at life.

[@goosefarm3602]

Scorpions- 'Wind of Change'.....this video has 1 BILLION views for a reason...they are phenomenal..saw them in the 80s

[@robertlisternicholls]

What many people who didn't live through the 60s don't realise is there was poverty and deprivation as Ray's lyrics demonstrate so eloquently. The image of Britain in the 60s is that of Swinging London, Carnaby Street and such like. The reality was much different

[@larsholzke8475]

People are living in dead end street. This is tragical.

[@lisarainbow9703]

Other deep Kinks tracks: This Time Tomorrow Well Respected Man Ape Man The Money Go-Round Rats Long Way From Home Strangers

[@alabhaois]

Days Sunny Afternoon Celluloid Heroes Waterloo Sunset Superman and on and on

[@jamespopeko9557]

For a fun Kinks song try “Apeman”

[@leedobbs9419]

The Brothers Davies put the Kinks on par with any of the great bands of the 60's British Invasion. Arthur, Village Green, Something Else, Muswell Hillbillies are all brilliant albums.

[@petermizon4344]

ONE OF MY FAVS ALONG WITH VICTORIA AND SITTING ON MY SOFA, CHEERS

[@gforce4063]

Any Zappa

[@duncanpearce7499]

please check out small faces, tin soldier tune mate

[@andrewbrennan7291]

I'd put the Kinks up there with the Stones and that popular beat combo from Liverpool.

[@Markhypnosis1]

Most of the great bands of the 60s.....The Kinks, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who, started in the early 60s with very what we see as mainstream sounding "bubblegum pop" tunes. Then they all started experimenting and maturing. The early Kinks tracks like You Really Got Me and All Day and All of The Night are actually quite punky, and paved the way for the distorted guitar sounds of rock and metal.

[@oliverboone8111]

The Kinks have so much great music and Muswell Hillbillies (1971) is a must as it showcases Rays writing depth of statements exhibiting reality, sarcasm, and humorous lyrics with unique musical overtones about the tensions and frustrations of modern life at the time in the area where the band started. Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues and 20th Century Man tell stories that need to be heard.

[@cuebj]

Just possible that, of Beatles, Stones, Who, Yardbirds, Kinks were the most interesting. They were a bit less driven and a bit more varied and a bit more English rather than American to the point of not being quite as popular and certainly less fortunate in how management and USA worked out as well as bad relationship between the Davies brothers. I, for one, missed their significance at the time as I was a bit young with no radio

[@rustynail3743]

The birth of punk.......

[@maryotoole7389]

Must listen to come dancing

[@jnagarya519]

In the UK WW II rationing continued into the 1960s. That was finally eliminated as result of "The Beatles" worldwide success and the money they brought in.

[@cuebj]

You Really Got Me was a revolution for its time. As Paul McCartney has said. Only reason it sounds twee or dated, it's because it was immediately copied by many others

[@the_judge_8262]

I've never heard this but knew they were edgy. I always heard they were guessing brothers so the Galaghers from Oasis were compared to them a lot in the nineties. P.s. you outro clipped your vocals on the way out of this vid, I missed some if you end statements.

[@PanglossDr]

Times haven't changed that much since then. The UK now has one of the worst poverty levels in Europe.

[@alexflemming5982]

Only one lyricist better than Ray Davies!

[@dino335]

"You Really Got Me" is a "sweet pop tune"? I think you are confused.

[@richardclark2290]

people were certainly poorer then and living conditions were worse, the difference was things were getting better every year average wages and conditions going up /getting better , now we are in reverse by both of those measures

[@sharonsnail2954]

SyedRewinds: This was a UK #5 hit in 1966 which would make it a "poppy track", no? I gather that you haven't heard "Dedicated Follower Of Fashion", "Sunny Afternoon" and "Waterloo Sunset" yet. All great tracks with wit and charm, all UK top 5 hits, all "poppy" tracks. Hhmmm.

[@BensSoZen]

Reminescent of "Eleanor Rigby", a song by The Beatles

[@DawnSuttonfabfour]

Please Syed react to Rock n roll Fantasy and Superman by The Kinks. both brilliant.

[@jnagarya519]

John Lennon said that despite "The Beatles" breaking through the class system didn't change.

[@machoward6443]

Many of the early 60s British groups were made up of kids from working class backgrounds - often the industrial northern cities such as Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle. Their lyrics would reflect their lives and a rebelious reaction to the deprivation they suffered but were slowly emerging from. Rock music was to the working class young Brits what folk music was to the Civil Rights movement in the USA. The British film industry was the same with films like "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning" with "angry young (working) men" as their heroes. It was a period of awakening for the working classes after the post-war doldrums of the 40s amd 50s.

[@jnagarya519]

Ray Davies and John Sebastian ("Lovin' Spoonful") is second only to "The Beatles" as songwriters.

[@markjohnson4936]

Don't forget to check out the best holiday song ever Father Christmas!

[@richarddefortuna2252]

You should see the promotional video The Kinks cut for this track back in '66; the band as pall-bearers carrying a black coffin through what I presume to be the East-end after collecting the body. Very not The Beatles, that's for sure.

[@jlspindler]

You should treat yourself to the album that's considered by many to be their best: a concept album titled The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society. Lots of themes similar to this track you so skillfully analyzed. Also, the song "Waterloo Sunset," done around this time, is considered by many to be one of the best songs to come out of the '60s.

[@jnagarya519]

At the same time these records were being released I was reading Mark Twain, including his anti-imperialist writings.

[@michaelm6948]

Kinks, the greatest English band of the 60s. They cannot be pigeonholed into one style. They used blues, 50s rock, music hall, ballads, folk, country and jazz. One of their great albums is Arthur. It's about WWII life in Britain and post war emigration from Britain.

[@ArmandoMPR]

I think fans in the 60s were more open to new sounds from their favorite artists. The acts that rose in the 60s can sound incredibly different from track to track. In the 70s and onwards, I feel like artists, particularly bands, were more heavily scrutinized by fans when they deviated from the established sound.

[@davidgagne3569]

My favorite Kinks albums are Muswell Hillbilly and Arthur-the decline and fall of the British Empire.

[@griffygut7683]

His voice sounds so much like the lead from cage the elephant on this song

[@BakedTuber]

The only question is who was a better songwriter. John Lennon, Paul Mcartney or Ray Davis?