The Kinks Albums Ranked From Worst to Best

[@tomrobinson5776]

FYI, regarding who did the eastern thing first it was actually The Kinks tune See My Friends. A single released in the UK in 1965 months before The Beatles Norwegian Wood.

[@TheDrectorsCut]

My all time fav British band. Sir Ray deserves every accolade - a songwriter's songwriter. Love Dave's falsetto. The triad of Something Else, VGPS and Arthur is the peak. Imo underrated gems are Schoolboy's in Disgrace, Misfits, and Preservation 1. Thanks for covering .

[@pete3105]

One of my favourite bands of all time. Ray Davies is one of the most underrated songwriters in rock 'n' roll history (Dave wasn't too bad either), and their albums/singles output from 1965-72 alone would be enough to classify them as one of the greatest bands ever.

[@claytonkelley4921]

Hey Pete! Love to see it

[@pete3105]

@@claytonkelley4921 Hi! I loved it their discography. Whole you liked it as well!

[@claytonkelley4921]

@@pete3105 definitely my favorite week since Echo or U2

[@pete3105]

@@claytonkelley4921 this was probably my favourite since Bowie!

[@javithemoondog6289]

Dave is a terrific and underrated guitar player. He's style is groovy, melodic and kinda jammy!

[@cameronf5647]

I can’t believe you did it! I love the Kinks and I’ve been waiting for this day. You guys are the best

[@earwormcity9391]

Well guys, you tanked my day yesterday. I had a scheduled day off, a list of stuff to accomplish for both fun and profit, and reasonably nice weather. Then I saw that this video dropped and I spent two prime afternoon hours parked in my favorite reclining chair instead. A big catalog, a fun catalog, certainly an underappreciated catalog, all laid before us with your usual mix of insight and idiosyncrasy. Personally, I heard them all growing up, but play the arena rock trilogy (Sleepwalker/Misfits/Low Budget) more than the rest these days. Are they my favorites? Who knows, maybe I just like my Kinks easy these days. Anyway, my favorite discography since the legendary Mott the Hoople show. You guys are welcome to keep those two hours, I don’t need ‘em back. Thanks for the fun!

[@walterevans5658]

Can't wait for this! One of my favorite bands. Ever since I started watching you guys, I've been waiting for The Kinks. Can't wait to watch and give my opinions in the comments! Now need Van Morrison and a remastered Stones.

[@SchizoidMan1989]

I've only just discovered Village Green Preservation Society *very* recently. It's something in a similar conversation as Odessey and Oracle or Forever Changes where they only just came to my consciousness and I found really pleasant. And this is from someone who's been on a steady diet of classic rock all his life.

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

. . the Kinks should really be up there w the other great UK bands - Beatles, Who, Stones . . the Mount Rushmore of great bands. .

[@joebloggs396]

Odessey and Oracle has 3 standouts to me but lacks variety.

[@davidkornblatt851]

I think Arthur is the Kinks best underrated album!

[@stevenwetherbee7573]

If I may suggest another criminally underrated psych-pop gem look into the Turtles - Turtle Soup. The album was produced by Ray Davies.

[@etamommy]

@@davidkornblatt851 Agree with you! It is a great album and rocks ferociously at times!

[@179rich]

Great video mates! Overall, there's a lot of wild inconsistencies from list to list which is rather stunning - love it!

[@blakeplaster7139]

It's not to me, because the Kinks don't have a definitive era like the Stones. It's all up to personal preference. I prefer the late 70's and had Low Budget and Sleepwalker way higher than them.

[@Maanebaronen]

Stoked to see love for Sope Opera from Jason. It’s a very underrated album. There is a pretty cool TV special on Grenada TV of the album with Ray Davies singing the songs and acting the story. It’s a great watch. Glad to see all your takes on the Kinks discography. It’s interesting how many great songs were left off Village Green Preservation Society. Mr Songbird was on some early European pressings along with Days as a 12 track album which makes it sound a bit more focused.

[@TimeToGetAlone]

There are so many great Kinks songs in the 60s that didn't show up on UK albums.

[@HawkKing2000]

It's not unusual for me to just randomly start singing to myself "She's got ducks, ducks on the wall, Ducks, ducks, hanging on the wall"...

[@Maanebaronen]

@@HawkKing2000 I do it all the time

[@Maanebaronen]

@@TimeToGetAlone Yeah, there is a great album released in the US callled «The Great Lost Kinks Album» from 1973 which has a lot of those lost Village Green songs. Released much to Ray Davies dismay.

[@ShaneJamesBordas]

I'm shocked that Jason has Village Green Preservation Society so low, but I will admit to agreeing with him about Soap Opera...

[@joebloggs396]

And VGPS certainly has variety. Animal Farm is great too.

[@petesawchuk]

In his “McCarney 321” conversations w/ Rick Rubin, Paul talks about being floored by “You Really Got Me” & the Beatles watching the Kinks from the wings when they toured together to see what it was all about. And Ray Davies is right in the middle of any “top 5 songwriters of all time” conversation.

[@Paul-dw2cl]

No, they talked about Smash Mouth

[@jamesegan2742]

Wow, what a treat for the channel to get back to a real meaty discography of an important and trend setting artist! When you three guys get going over the details and depth of these Kinks records it’s a real reward for us in the audience. So all did great, but a particular shout-out to Kramzer for linking the band to both the hard rock origins and, in particular, Blur and much of the Brit Pop movement. Look forward to the songs list, as they have so many great songs from the genius of Ray Davies. Really well done; one of your very best listograhies. Cheers, JPE

[@trickygoose2]

Of the 'big 4' of Britpop, the Kinks are an obvious influence on much of Blur's output I also think that they are quite a big influence on Pulp in terms of many of Jarvis Cocker's songwriting themes. While Oasis and Suede don't have that much of a link to the Kinks musically, both bands have a few songs that tap into Davies's lyrical themes of slices of British life.

[@billclarke3773]

Very good show - thank you. You work very hard - much appreciated. I was in a band with Mick Avory's nephew (a great drummer too ).

[@adamquinn7993]

Wow, dudes. I’m impressed that you guys invested all the time into this one, cuz IT’S A BEAST!! Side note: Sleepwalker is criminally under-appreciated.

[@chrisdunn1155]

The fact that you all differed so much shows how personal and intimate The Kinks were. For me, Waterloo Sunset is one of the greatest songs ever written. However, I was a student in London in the 80s, so their 80s output is the soundtrack of my early 20s. I know it's not their best period but it has a special place in my heart.

[@xvx5872]

What does that song mean, when you hear it? I am american btw.

[@chrisdunn1155]

@xvx5872 having your first steady girlfriend in your teens , being a bit a bit overwhelmed by it all but excited to think you have your whole life ahead of you.

[@LarsPop-Tartus]

I saw the Kinks several times in the early 70’s and Preservation Act 1 was my first concert I went without a lift from my mom in the 8th grade. They were fantastic Ray would balance a beer glass on his head take out a mirror and flash the audience during “Mirror of Love” tell jokes dance around. Very theatrical and vaudevillian. That’s the point, a British point, which can go over the heads of people. They were always something of a cult band anyway. God save the Kinks!!!

[@johnlefsky8731]

I saw them at the NY Felt Forum where they did a regular set and also performed the Preservation albums as a stage show. My dad drove us in, from Long island, and dropped us off. Sadly it was the only time I saw them.

[@LarsPop-Tartus]

@@johnlefsky8731 yup we were at the same show

[@CanadianJables]

Most underrated band of all time, right there with Blue Oyster Cult, and I'm so stoked for this ranking!!!

[@bengthertzman9918]

Great episode guys! Kinks, one of my favourite bands of all time. I think Ray Davies are up there with Lennon/McCartney and a few more as a songwriter and for me it has always been more about the songs than the albums. My favourite song Waterloo Sunset. But my favourite albums are some of the ones you had on the top: 1. Lola Versus The Powerman And The Money Go Around 2. Everybodys In Showbiz (studiodisc) 3. Village Green Preservation Society 4. Sleepwalker 5. State Of Confusion 6. Something Else By The Kinks 7. Muswell Hillbillies 8. Preservation Act One

[@MyargonautsJason]

so glad you got to one of my favorite bands of all time - Top Ten band for me. The range of styles and the lyricism of Ray's writing is paramount for me.

[@nicholaspappalettera1644]

My first viewing. Thank you gentleman, I enjoyed that immensely. My no.1 - Sleepwalker, no.27 - Muswell Hillbillies. Looking forward more rankings.

[@joshkramon1349]

Wow this was awesome guys!! So glad I discovered it albeit a year later....Love all diverging opinions and how you guys in good fun go at each other...Especially on Soap Opera and the debut. A testament to what a brilliant band they were...Well done guys!!!👋👋👋👋

[@RegMartin]

The Kinks are my all-time favourite band, and Lola is my all-time favourite album, but I'm glad there wasn't total agreement on #1 since this is a discography that begs for hot-takes, and chaos. Jason's ranking of Soap Opera is much higher than I'd put it, but he's right that they didn't put out a better album since. The production, and instrumentation just kick butt. Its general low regard is even sillier than the album itself. The band's absence on this channel made me assume there'd be a lot of hate here, so it was a lot of fun seeing you all enjoy this adventure. Thanks for finally tackling The Kinks!

[@davebaccarini2067]

Great in-depth reviews. As as 70+ yr old Brit, you boys showed great appreciation of classic 60s Uk music. Well done.

[@MrMojoRisin]

Great show guys. The Kinks are quite an underrated band. I only have a compilation, but I’m looking to explore their discography. Very interesting video as always.

[@jasonjames6383]

I've only recently started exploring their discography more after only having a compilation album and Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround is a great album if you haven't listened to that in full yet.

[@MrMojoRisin]

@@jasonjames6383 Thanks Jason. I’ll give that a try.

[@Paul-dw2cl]

@@MrMojoRisin Village Green is an album that everyone should hear, and they can decide if it’s a classic or not their cup of tea

[@ianrobinson4200]

It's been a while since I went through their albums, but I think it's one of the strongest catalogs of any band ever. Even at their worst, they're never terrible IMO. Village Green #1 definitely, probably in my top 10 albums ever

[@LannieLord]

YES!

[@nicholasrosebush6182]

Hands down the most underrated band of all time

[@danieldaniel2]

XTC and The Church are also very underrated. Massive discography

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

Imo the next artist in the cue, The Grateful Dead, also belongs in the "most underrated" conversation.

[@Captain_Rhodes]

status quo for me. The kinks are always acclaimed. status quo have been going as long as the stones and get no credit

[@jtm7336]

Hands down? Not even close!

[@HawkKing2000]

@@danieldaniel2 Can't pass up an opportunity to back up another XTC/Church fan, and I would put Robyn Hitchcock right along side them...

[@JonSmithsVoyages]

This was a really cool in-depth look at such a vast catalogue. I love the Kinks, and have for a while. I think it was interesting how much all of your lists differed, and I think that is more indicative of how eclectic The Kinks were as a band. I would agree that they don't have any 'perfect' 10/10 albums, though I feel the same way about David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, and other more iconic acts from the same era. And I agree, I wish their mid to late 60s output was better produced. I think they would be held in higher regards to their contemporaries if that were the case. Great rankings, lads!

[@javithemoondog6289]

Everybody's a star! I'm so hyped! If I had to pick up my favorites, I would go with the Village Green Preservation Society, Everybody's in Showbiz and Face to Face.

[@claytonkelley4921]

All great picks! 😎

[@tomborgenkristiansen9581]

The pub on the cover of Muswell Hillbilly album is the Archway Tavern which is my favourite pub in London.

[@stevemalek2970]

Thank you! I've been waiting for this one!

[@catsofsherman1316]

I haven't listened to some of these in a while so I won't give a full ranking. Some interesting thoughts from all 3 guys. The less said for Jason's Soap Opera fetish the better. The Kinks are probably my second favorite band after The Beatles. I agree that the production in the 60s or more specifically the engineering was the biggest weakness of those records. Imagine those 60s albums recorded with 8 track machine with someone like Glyn Johns, Geoff Emerick, or Eddie Kramer behind the board. Ray Davies might have benefitted from having a George Martin figure to tighten things up. I would love to hear the 60s catalog totally remixed with no regard for being true to the original mixes. Here is the top part of my ranking 1. Arthur 2. Village Green 3. Lola 4. Something Else 5. Muswell 6. Face to Face 7. Showbiz 8. State of Confusion 9. Schoolboys in disgrace 10. Sleepwalkers

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

Good list. Schoolboys very high!

[@DamnableReverend]

Big week indeed! I've been wondering if this was coming someday. Funny too as I've been enjoying them a lot lately, so the timing is perfect. Going to settle in fora listen shortly.

[@bbchronicles736]

Great job on this video, guys! Really enjoyed it and well worth the extended length (which is not always the case on these long ones). Of course, I am a big Kinks fan, but was a bit apprehensive whether you would fully appreciate all the Kinks had to offer (especially since you hardly ever mentioned the Kinks previously throughout all your albums and songs of the year series), and because 24 albums are a lot to take in over a short period of time. Anyway, there was a lot to like (and dislike) in each of your rankings and comments. You each did a very good job of describing what you liked (and didn't like) about each album (even when you were way off the mark), and it was great to see strong support for almost all the albums by at least one of you, even the much-maligned Preservation set. My own rankings (already posted below) vary quite a bit from time to time, as there is just so much variety and so many great songs and albums, hard to rank. The Soap Opera dispute was a bit surprising, however, since this is generally put somewhere near the middle of the discography, and thus the total disdain from Joe and Krams and the high praise from Jason was not expected (and can't believe no one mentioned the stellar closing track, You Can't Stop The Music, at all). For me, I really like the album, but it still only ranks around #16-17. But I think such disagreements only show how strong the entire catalog is. Anyway, just wanted to say, overall great job, and I think that both dedicated Kinks fans as well as non-fans and those only marginally familiar with the band will get quite a lot out of this video and all your comments.

[@jbellinger99]

I have been revisiting some of their earlier stuff lately - i saw them 3 times in the 70's - THANK YOU

[@nelsonheise7777]

Been waiting awhile for this one

[@ScottTeacher]

Arthur is not muddled. It sounds super clean. I think the only reason why Soap Opera was ranked so high by a fella, who seemed to be the biggest actual Kinks fan, was to juke it higher in the final rank, since it is really a good record.

[@neilloughran4437]

I first heard the Kinks in 1978 when Ronco/Pye released a compilation callled "20 Golden Greats".. one of the greatest compilations of all time. Fell in love with Waterloo Sunset.. but the standout track is "Wonderboy"... just incredible... a big fav of John Lennon too apparently... "I see you and you see me..."

[@scottanthonyweidner8692]

The Kinks have been one of my favorite 25 bands since high school. However, they were also, in terms of their wider catalog, victims of the “everyone has their prime” theory, which led me to eschew less critical/fan acclaimed eras of even my most appreciated artists with big catalogs, with the idea that there’s too much good stuff out there to waste time on stuff like, for example, ‘80s-and-onward Stevie Wonder. This listography gave me the opportunity to deep dive the band post-1971. The results: well, they’ve rocketed up to #3 in my artist rankings behind The Beatles and Bowie. Ray Davies is definitely one of the most distinctive and talented voices in rock ‘n’ roll. I have a master’s degree in modern British history, so I certainly dig his antiquarian (and distinctly British) musical themes. Listening to the post-’71 material did confirm that ’64-’70 was their heyday, but nothing they put out is completely without value. They are definitely the godfathers not only of hard rock and metal (through their first two groundbreaking hit singles) but also of power pop, college rock, and Britpop. Ray is still probably the coolest figure in ‘60s British rock in terms of how his vision and largely timeless music have perdured into the 21st century. If each of you all don’t get to five stars, I might have to go Theon Greyjoy on you. 24. Think Visual (3.5 stars) 23. Phobia (3.5 stars) 22. Preservation Act 2 (3.5 stars) 21. UK Jive (3.5) 20. Misfits (3.5) - Don’t really get the hype on this one among the Arista albums. “Father Christmas” as a bonus track certainly elevates it. 19. State of Confusion (3.5) - No “Come Dancing” hate, but the rest is weaker, for example, than the material on the subsequent album. 18. The Kinks Present a Soap Opera (4) - Elevated greatly by the final two tracks. 17. Percy (4) - They are actually well-suited for this soundtrack approach. A much better listen than it usual gets credit for. 16. Word of Mouth (4) 15. Low Budget (4) 14. Muswell Hillbillies (4) - I’ve heard this a lot more than most of the surrounding albums here. I like the Americana aspect, but the songs just aren’t as interesting as what they did before or would do after. Not enough hooks. 13. Schoolboys in Disgrace (4) - I really enjoy this one. Closing out their theatrical period with great rock ‘n’ roll. 12. Preservation Act 1 (4) 11. Sleepwalker (4) - Very enjoyable, solid album. 10. Give the People What They Want (4) - Love the opening track - essentially the mid-period Replacements four years early. 9. Kinda Kinks (4) - Certainly hit and miss as an album. However, The Kinks are one of the bands most hurt in their early album evaluations by the exclusion of singles and EP tracks. If the bonus tracks from the era are included, which would themselves comprise one of their best albums, it would rocket up to number 4 on this list and a very solid 4.5 stars (!). 8. The Kinks (4) - If the “All Day and All of the Night” single is included as a bonus track, 4.5 stars (cf. the Songs video tomorrow…) and it moves up past the #7. 7. Everybody’s in Show-biz (4) - What a breath of fresh air after Muswell Hillbillies! The studio portion is a joy after Muswell Hillbillies. The lyrics would be annoying written on a page, but as delivered in the often upbeat musical context, they’re fine. And “Celluloid Heroes,” while diverging in style from the earlier classics, is probably their best post-’69 track. 6. The Kink Kontroversy (4.5) - A very weak 4.5, definitely pulled up by “Till the End of the Day” and “Where Have All the Good Times Gone,” but very enjoyable and pointing to the greatness to come. 5. Arthur, or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire (4.5) - I have spent nearly 30 years wrestling with this album. I like the subject matter, and “Victoria” and “Shangri-la” are great, but the programmatic tell-don’t-show lyrics and the weaker songwriting throughout the rest of the album makes it their Goat’s Head Soup in my opinion - very good, but way the hell weaker than what came before. I can only roll my eyes in exasperation at anyone who would rank this above the three prior albums (which I bet will include at least one of you dweebs). 4. Lola vs. Powerman and the Money-go-round (4.5) - And this is absolutely far better than Arthur as an album. “Lola” is one of my least favorite tracks here. Definitely not to the standards of their masterpiece stretch, but extremely solid song-for-song. It’s basically their ‘70s magnum opus, which is kind of a bummer with nine more years of that decade forthcoming. 3. Face to Face (5) - This is a massive leap ahead of what they were doing earlier, the emergence of a standard of distinctive and masterful songwriting that put them in peerage with The Beatles, Brian Wilson, and Dylan for a brief time. Some find this too rough-edged in comparison with the next two; I love the blend of the stinging garage rockiness with the more sophisticated textures, and the songwriting is only slightly weaker than the two upcoming albums (and blows Arthur completely out of the water, thank you very much). In the lower reaches of the top 100 albums of all-time for me. Already great, elevated even further by the deathless bonus tracks. 2. Something Else by the Kinks (5+) - A complete song-for-song masterpiece from beginning to end in a variety of styles that were a perfect alternative statement for the Summer of Love. Once again, even better with the bonus tracks. Top 30 all-time for me. 1. The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society (5+) - Something Else was my number one until about ten years ago, but this was always way up there. When you put out a single album with 15 tracks and every one is a banger, you’ve already achieved something. Love the songwriting, the themes, the arrangements, the musical variety, the cleverness, everything about it. And while it’s top 30 all-time regardless, it has the best bonus tracks of any of their CD reissues.

[@curly_wyn]

Give the People What They Want is my bottom ranking. It belongs there since Art Lover is on it. Plus, Killer Eyes? That track is terrible. The title track is really bad. Around the Dial is terrible. It’s all just extremely pandering to the Replacements/alternative/college rock demographic.

[@scottanthonyweidner8692]

@@curly_wyn How could they pander to what didn’t exist yet? 🤡 More like they influenced it, and it was a positive influence. I’m not married to that album since it’s new to me with the preps for this discography, but I’ll take your opinion with a grain of salt since it sounds like you’re allergic to good music.

[@scottanthonyweidner8692]

Sad that Ursula took down her reply complimenting my list and agreeing with my take on Arthur. It made me happy for a time.

[@ursula3438]

@@scottanthonyweidner8692 I thought, I'd better relisten, before I agree on any criticism. I have the 2 CDs reissue of "Arthur" from 2019 and never liked it as much as "Village Green" or the compilation of their singles and b-sides "The Ultimate Collection" (best ofs are probably unfair comparisons), but I couldn't really tell you why. After relistening: I'm afraid I still don't love "Arthur". The opener is a banger and "Shangri-La"'s verses and prechorus (especially when the harmony vocals are added) are total genius (unfortunately I find the chorus and bridge compositionally slightly dissappointing, but maybe that was intentional, because it weirdly fits the song's lyrical content), I also like "Drivin''" and "Young And Innocent Days", but my personal highlight would be the little guitar solo at the end of "Mr. Churchill Says", that's some fine indie rock guitar playing. What I didn't like about "Arthur" however, is the sound on a lot of the tracks. Maybe it's just the particular CD reissue, I've got, or it's Ray sounding extra nasal to my ears, like he's having a flu, or it could be the band beings sloppy at times, but not in a groovy "Stones"-like, or cool protopunkish-early-"Kinks" kinda way, but more in a rushed herky-jerky way, also the mix feels kinda uneven? I can't really put my finger on it. I also think songwise, the album could have improved, if it included Dave's "This Man He Weeps Tonight" for example. Concluding I definitely agree with you and the guys on not having "Arthur" in your top 4.

[@davidgagen9856]

Interesting selections and analysis.

[@JamesParkour731]

One of my favourite bands, they have a lot of good singles in the 60s that weren't on albums worth checking out.

[@ursula3438]

Yes, imo their albums could have been even better, for example if they included "Days" (one of the greatest songs ever written) on the original "Village Green" or Dave's "This Man He Weeps Tonight" on "Arthur".

[@TimeToGetAlone]

If I took the best of those and created an album out of it, it'd be my #1.

[@TimeToGetAlone]

@@ursula3438 Autumn Almanac and Mister Pleasant on Something Else.

[@Paul-dw2cl]

I’m pleasantly surprised- I had thought that my love for Autumn Almanac was quirky and silly, but a lot of Kinks fans love it too

[@tokyochuchu]

OK... Finished the video and ready to rank! The Kinks are my second favourite band of all time, so this was a big one for me. 01. Something Else 02. Everybody's in Show-biz 03. Lola versus Powerman 04. Sleepwalker 05. The Village Green Preservation Society 06. Muswell Hillbillies 07. Soap Opera 08. Schoolboys in Disgrace 09. Face to Face 10. Give the People What They Want 11. Misfits 12. Arthur (I like it but almost never want to listen to it... As you all said, something missing with this one. I can never put my finger on what it is. Technically great but I just never reach for it.) 13. Kinks Controversy 14. Preservation act I 15. State of Confusion 16. Low Budget 17. Preservation act II 18. Kinks 19. Kinda Kinks 20. Think Visual 21. UK Jive 22. Word of Mouth 23. Percy 24. Phobia

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Interesting list. Out of the box.

[@ijeff2005]

Everyone seems to dislike Phobia. I always wonder how it would be viewed if the bloat had been stripped out and it got edited down to 40 or so minutes. I still do occasionally listen to it and I keep hearing 12 great songs buried somewhere within.

[@BenKarmelich-b7c]

Glad someone gave some love to Soap Opera such a fun album. I came of age when Sleepwalker came out and fell in love with each album going backwards from that one. All great stuff

[@dtlbonniediva]

Finally !!!! I asked you guys a while back when you were gonna get to the Kinks - Joe responded to me and said no worries it will happen - thanks Joe I know how daunting of a task this must've been for you guys - I haven't watched the video yet but thanks again I can't wait to see what your thoughts are on this vast catalog of British rock awesomeness - keep up the great work!!!☺

[@jameddemnis4257]

Thanks for the love guys - love you back❤️

[@MH77391]

I've always liked the Kinks as a singles band but surprisingly have never really tried out their albums. On back of this video have gone out and bought Lola vs Powerman and I love it!

[@JamesParkour731]

1:03:47 The Kinks actually predate the Byrds and The Beatles doing the indian style on their single 'See My Friends' from 1965

[@johnnyborealis]

thanks for this great review, guys

[@mwcool87]

Excellent episode guys! The only Kinks album I have on physical media is One For the Road, I really need to change that!

[@brianvdougherty1239]

Cheers Joe, Ryan and Jason! As a hobby musician (now OAP) who grew up with the Kinks and cannot resist banging out at least one Ray/Dave composition every time I walk by an instrument, I commend your rankings as younger lads who appreciate the nuances. Thank you for keeping it alive...and please pronounce Davies as "Davis" and not "Daveees".

[@179rich]

Are you sure that Ray pronounces it that way?

[@Paul-dw2cl]

“Davis” is the wrong pronunciation. There’s a reason that there’s an E there and that it isn’t spelled “Davis”

[@mikechirhart8840]

Wrong! It is pronounced as "Davis". It's people like you that made Jimmy Page spell his new bands name "Led" and not "Lead" Zeppelin because the less intelligent would have pronounced it "Leed".

[@mikechirhart8840]

​@@Paul-dw2clWrong! It's pronounced "Davis". It's people like you that made Jimmy Page spell his new bands name"Led" and not "Lead" Zeppelin because the less intelligent would've pronounced it "Leed".

[@Vanessa.P]

I loved this week! Getting ready for this week was a pretty big event, lots of great discussion with the community and excitement. Before this I pretty well only knew singles and had heard a couple earlier albums. I'd always meant to get to The Kinks but never found the time to really dive in so I am thankful I finally had an excuse. Even the albums I had at the very bottom I didn't really dislike, just wouldn't go back to. I think with time many of these albums could really grow for me because I know I am not done listening. They have definitely risen up my list of bands I enjoy. I think what's really fun about their discography, and what you guys demonstrated with your lists, is that there are so many different ways people could rank these albums and so many different albums people could consider their favourites. That always makes for a good time listening and discussing. Here's my list as it stands right now. 24. UK Jive - 2 (3.9) 23. Phobia - 2 (4.0) 22. Soap Opera - 2.5 (5.0) 21. Word of Mouth - 3 (6.0) 20. Percy - 3 (6.2) 19. Low Budget - 3.5 (6.7) 18. Think Visual - 3.5 (6.7) 17. Kinks - 3.5 (6.8) 16. Schoolboys in Disgrace - 3.5 (6.8) 15. State of Confusion - 3.5 (7.0) 14. Kinda Kinks - 3.5 (7.0) 13. Misfits - 3.5 (7.0) 12. Preservation Act 2 - 3.5 (7.0) 11. Preservation Act 1 - 3.5 (7.1) 10. Give The People What They Want - 4 (7.8) 9. Everybody’s In Show-Biz - 4 (7.9) 8. Sleepwalker - 4 (8.0) 7. The Kinks Kontroversy - 4 (8.2) 6. Face to Face - 4 (8.4) 5. Something Else - 4.5 (8.7) 4. Lola - 4.5 (8.8) 3. Arthur - 4.5 (9.3) 2. The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society - 4.5 (9.4) 1. Muswell Hillbillies - 5 (9.6)

[@179rich]

Love your list. 🥳

[@Vanessa.P]

@@179rich Love yours too, Rich. Your enthusiasm for some the more overlooked albums is infectious!

[@catsofsherman1316]

My top 6 are same as yours in different order

[@kevtruth]

I just watched a Wilco ranking you participated in with someone (can't remember the fellow's name or channel). It was great!

[@Vanessa.P]

@@kevtruth Thank you! :)

[@johnnykawakid]

Been a kinks fan for 40 odd years. Great video guys. Never seen it before. 👍🎸

[@jamesbaxterfromax]

Very exciting stuff guys! Love the kinks

[@davidellis5141]

One For The Road is an absolutely essential live album .. From The Low Budget tour & capturing The Kinks embracing the new sounds of the day. Opens with The Hardway which The Clash " borrowed " A perfect set list.

[@pete3105]

It's really good!

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

One for the Road is excellent but it's a little heavy on Low Budget, which is not one of my favorite albums of theirs. I think I slightly prefer their very first live album- the one from 1967, Live at Kelvin Hall.

[@bengalgangster]

i have it on vinyl !!! Its awesome!!!! speaking of awesome ...................................................................🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯🐯

[@pete3105]

@@AbbeyRoadkill1 Haven't heard that one. Have you heard To the Bone?

[@davidellis5141]

@@bengalgangster That was an impressive W !

[@179rich]

Someone mentioned Paul Simon in the chat. I love a lot of his solo stuff. I think he's a great choice for a listography.

[@AndI0td763]

For some reason I never got into The Kinks and thought the songs I’d heard were only just okay but I’m getting big into them now. I took Jason’s recommendation and started with Lola versus Powerman and wow what an album that is. I love how hard they rocked, how they were often on the cutting edge, and really enjoy the different styles they embraced, as well as the thoughtful and interesting lyrics. I’m really looking forward to diving deeper into their discography.

[@mikechirhart8840]

Great place to start, my friend!

[@Kinksfan]

I have long championed "Lola versus..." as the band's greatest work and am happy to see you guys seem to agree (at least a couple of you). I am a bit perplexed at the low rating for GTPWTW. The band was absolutely monstrously huge in 1981, the year they first played Madison Square Garden and it was probably one of their best-selling albums, at least in the U.S. I can understand the sonic criticism, but it really sounds a lot like that time. Go back and listen to stuff made in 1981 and you'll find a boatload of things that sound similar.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

81-82 are my two least favorite years in music history. You're not wrong....everything sounded like crap then. -Jason

[@janpoelkamp4229]

Thanks, guys!!! A really interesting discography, one I might venture into, for sure! For anyone wanting to dip their toes I strongly advice the excellent Ultimate Collection!!!! 👍

[@johnr8095]

Love the kinks. Glad you guys finally got to them. Even though the Beatles and stones are considered the top two British Invasion bands, I’d rank the kinks above the stones. So interesting with their output which changed constantly. Not always great albums but as Kramer said evne the worst albums still have some good songs.

[@andrewdyke5561]

I would rank them above the Beatles to

[@Paul-dw2cl]

*two

[@chrisdelisle3954]

I tried pretty hard to listen to all of their post-Lola albums, but they're all a mix of a few good songs here and there, plus a lot of forgettable stuff. I have never understood the exaltation of "Muswell Hillbillies." That said, "The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society" is in my top 15 albums of all time. Of what I do enjoy: 08) The Kinks Kontroversy - 3 1/2 stars - a bit of a letdown, given that Sleater-Kinney took the album cover as a template for their own masterpiece, "Dig Me Out" - but when it was released with extra tracks in the 2000's sometime, they raised my worth of the era around the album's release to be better than 3 1/2 stars 07) Kinks - 3 1/2 stars - a great debut 06) Face To Face - 4 stars 05) Somethin' Else - 4 stars 04) Kinda Kinks - 4 stars - their version of "Dancin' In The Street" is pretty terrible, but I really like the rest of this record 03) Arthur - 4 stars 02) Lola - 5 stars 01) The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society - 5 stars - a perfect album. The album is definitely greater than the sum of its parts, and the parts are already massive. You throw in some of the bonus tracks like "Days" and "Mr. Songbird," and it's even better.

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

I agree that adding a couple-three of the bonus tracks to Village Green makes it even better. And I would say the same thing about Face to Face. Imagine if "Dead End Street," "Big Black Smoke," and "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" were on the album proper. If they had been included, Face to Face might be my favorite Kinks album, period.

[@jhutch888]

The live record from Showbiz is a lot of fun. The MH versions eclipse the studio cuts in my book.

[@stevendavid5370]

Great Band - Saw them live in the 80's loved them. With that being said, It seems you're trying to fit their music in a box, but they were one of the first rock bands with the Beatles and Rolling Stones. They are different and unique - and that's what makes them so great!! Having said that, I think you ranked there albums pretty good, with the exception to soap opera. I don't think it is as bad nor as good as ranked, but closer to the bottom. Good job!!

[@takodabostwick8507]

I'm just waiting The Moody Blues ranking! Love them to death! The first progressive rock band. Awesome band And I would also like to see the Rolling Stones albums ranked. We had that with Jason, but not with the trio at all. I know that the video will be way longer because they have a big discography, but it will be worth watching since a lot of people, including myself are fans of The Rolling Stones.

[@rockingbirdey]

The Kinks are one of those weird bands in that they were very popular and successful in their time and continue to have songs that endure in the public conscious today like "Lola", "You Really Got Me", "Waterloo Sunset", "Sunny Afternoon", "All Day and All Night", but they're still very underappreciated. They deserve to be on level with at least The Beach Boys and the Rolling Stones. I wouldn't say they're underrated because they get a whole ton of acclaim from critics and hardcore music lovers.

[@ArmandoMPR]

The Stones are the greatest musical act ever, and I don’t think the Kinks are near there.

[@Liam123-r8o]

For most music critics the kinks are on a Level with beach boys and stones.🤷‍♂️

[@AndI0td763]

Most bands only have a few hits. I was surprised with how many recognizable songs The Kinks have that still get played on various stations, around 8-10. I agree they are underappreciated in that people might recognize the songs but they don’t know who they are by name, at least in the U.S. Culturally I think quite significant overall, with tons of artists covering their songs, even Steve Vai covered Celluloid Heroes. Over seas is a different story but this is a very British band so I think it’s understandable they aren’t bigger in other parts of the world. Still many do know their name and recognize their influence, and the fact that quite a few of their songs still get airplay is a testament to how good they were decades and decades ago.

[@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerek]

​@@ArmandoMPRstones don't touch the beatles.

[@ijeff2005]

I was really looking forward to the boys ranking the Kinks discography and I have to say they didn't disappoint. I own all these albums and my list would certainly be different than any of these three. The interesting thing and perhaps the most defining thing about the Kinks is virtually nobody can agree on what their best albums and songs were which might explain them not achieving the mass success of some of their contemporaries. I have a few random thoughts on some of the comments made by the guys. The guys kind of hit on it regarding "Arthur" which is definitely an album that must be listened to more often. Once I was able to completely absorb that album it became one of my absolute favorite albums of all time. As for the 1980's, I think Kram and Joe correctly rated "State of Confusion" as the best of that decade. Its made even better with some of the bonus songs added to recent CD releases which I prefer to a couple of the songs that made the original release. I found Kram's take on their first album very interesting as it takes a view of it that I never thought about. I always viewed it more from the perspective that Davies songwriting was not yet totally developed. I need to mention Jason's high ranking of "Soap Opera" is truly baffling, but his even higher ranking of "Muswell Hillbillies" is spot on. One final note, Jason highlighted the bass playing on "Mr Big" from "Sleepwalker" which is actually the only song on the album that Andy Pyle played bass on.

[@kevtruth]

Looking forward to it, fellas

[@kevtruth]

Not that it really matters but when you guys ranked the Beatles you hadn't incorporated your numeric rating scale. I could be wrong. I really enjoyed your lists. Can't wait for you to remaster The Stones

[@davidellis5141]

🎶 You can see the stars as you walk down Hollywood Blvd .. some that you reckonize .. some that you hardly ever heard of 🎶

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

Love the way Kinks embrace American culture . .

[@darrellwhitman4756]

My List : 24. Phobia 2.5 23. UK Jive 2.5 22 Percy 3 21. Think Visual 3 20. Word of Mouth 3 19. State of Confusion 3 18. Soap Opera 3 17. Schoolboys in Disgrace 3 16. Everybody's in Showbiz 3.5 15. Preservation Act 2 3.5 14. Low Budget 3.5 13. Misfits 4 12. Give the People What They Want 4 11. Preservation Act 1 4 10. Sleepwalker 4 9. Kinda Kinks 4 8. The Kink Kontroversy 4 7. Kinks 4 6. Muswell Hillbillies 4 5. Face to Face 4.5 4. Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One 4.5 3. Something Else by The Kinks 5 2. Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) 5 1. The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society 5

[@aprendizdebrujo100]

Of every list I saw here, this is the most similir to mine, thus, in my opinion, Musswell hillbillies deserve 4.5 (at the start it's hard to catch, but it gets better with time), and face to face is five stars.

[@jayneptune2568]

Your 'three headed reviewer' format with heads snapping at each other occasionally and eye rolling other times was very entertaining! There is inherently a problem with ranking only studio albums by this band, especially in the 1966-1970 era. Many great songs were singles only or tracks on UK EPs which didn't make the studio albums. As such, a compilation called 'The Kink Kronikles' should be essential listening. Also, a 1988 Rhino mono compilation called 'Kinks Kinkdom' fills in many of those gaps as well. I have been a fan since first hearing 'Victoria' in 1969 when I was in Gr. 7. This meant I had to suffer through the worst of the RCA theatrical years when I was in high school, definitely not cool. The years have softened views of some albums but not others. My top 5 Kinks studio albums are easily: 1. Village Green Preservation Society 2. Arthur 3. Lola vs. Powerman 4. Something Else 5. Face to Face. The bottom 4 are easy too: 24. Soap Opera 23. UK Jive 22. Preservation Act II 21. Percy. I do not own any of these on vinyl anymore. A couple of other thoughts... two RCA albums that were very revealing about Ray Davies were the first two, 'Muswell Hillibillies' and 'Everybody's in Showbiz'. 'Hillbillies' was a glimpse into the personal demons present in 1971which makes it a more fascinating listen when I look at it that way (it would be #6 in the top 10). I consider 'Showbiz' to be a very entertaining listen when I consider it to be two sides of the same coin - the studio side talks about their 'life on the road' and the live side IS their life on the road! The live version of 'Alcohol' is truly frightening and effective, completely capturing the subject matter whether intended or not. The expanded edition from 2016 adds several live tracks to enhance the overall experience. Finally, 'One for the Road' is my favorite way to reconnect with the Low Budget songs which are much more potent than their studio counterparts. Finally, a hidden gem in their catalogue are the 'To The Bone' releases. I have the rare 1994 UK vinyl which has a gorgeous version of 'Waterloo Sunset'. There is also a 2 cd version which has additional tracks but in true Kinks fashion, leaves off the essential live 'Waterloo Sunset'. Being a Kinks fan has never been easy but it has been worth it, 54 years on! Keep up the great work guys and if you ever revisit The Kinks and want to have guests to participate, let me know. :)

[@stitchgrimly6167]

They played some great later stuff on the Sopranos. David Chase knew. They used Living on a Thin Line twice in possibly the best episode 'University' and a 1994 live version of I'm Not Like Everybody Else in 'Cold Cuts'. Gold. Real eye openers.

[@DavysFlicks]

Jason has Soap Opera spot on, it was a TV production and intentionally OTT. And Ray doing the multiple voices on Holiday Romance cracks me up every time.

[@johnlefsky8731]

Man I was really dreading this one and, mostly, I was pleasantly surprised. The Kinks were one of the first bands I hooked on to as a kid. It was their upfront Englishness and story telling. Yes, Preservation Act 1 is an uneven album, but there are some great songs, and the list of names mentioned in "Where Are They Now?" had me scouring for information on who these people were. Some helpful teachers and PBS helped answer some of those questions. Ray Davies seemed the antithesis of much of what I was hearing in American rock and he was the first songwriter where I noticed a a personality and mind at work. If I was gonna use the expanded editions of The Kinks albums this would be a very different list. For example if ":Dedicated Follower Of Fashion" and "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" were on the original release of "Kinks Kontroversy" I'd likely have it higher. I'm hoping the guys check out the non-LP tracks. The first 4 can be switched around any given day, and the last 4 I'll probably never think about again. 1. The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society 2.Something Else by the Kinks 3.Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) 4.Face to Face 5.Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One. An album that grows in my estimation everytime I hear it, so maybe it'll rise up someday. 6.Muswell Hillbillies 7.The Kink Kontroversy 8. Preservation Act 1 9. Sleepwalker 10. Misfits 11. Everybody's In Showbiz 12. Kinda Kinks 13. Percy. Nerd trivia: The movie was based on a novel written by Raymond Hitchcock, father of Robyn. 14. The Kinks 15. Preservation Act 2 16. Give The People What They Want. Really, I'm mostly indifferent to 80's Kinks, but there are a few good tunes scattered about. 17. Low Budget 18. Schoolboys In Disgrace 19. Soap Opera 21. Phobia 22. UK Jive 23. Think Visual 24.Word Of Mouth

[@claytonkelley4921]

This took some work but where I currently stand 1. Lola (1970) 5 stars (10) 2. Face to Face (1966) -5 stars (9.9) 3. Sleepwalker (1977) - 5 stars (9.8) 4. Arthur (1969) -5 stars (9.8) 5. Schoolboys in Disgrace (1975)- 5 stars (9.6) 6. Village Green (1968) 4.5 stars (9.3) 7. Preservation Act 1 (1973) 4.5 stars (8.9) 8. Muswell Hillbillies - 4.5 stars (8.7( 9. Showbiz (1972) 4.5 stars (8.6) 10. Soap Opera (1975) - 4 stars (8.5) 11. The Kinks Kontroversy (1965) -4 stars (8.2) 12. Give the People What They Want (1981) - 4 stars (8.1) 13. The Kinks (1964) - 4 stars (8) 14. Misfits (1978) - 4 stars (8) 15. Think Visual (1986) - 3.5 stars (7.8) 16. Preservation Act 2 (1974) - 3.5 stars (7.5) 17. Low Budget (1979) 3.5 stars (7.5) 18. State of Confusion (1983) - 3.5 stars (7.3) 19. Something Else (1967) - 3.5 stars (7) 20. Word of Mouth (1984) - 3 stars (6.5) 21. Phobia (1993) - 3 stars (6.2) 22. Kinda Kinks (1965) - 3 stars (6) 23. Percy (1971) - 2.5 stars (5.7) 24. UK Jive (1989) - 2 stars (3)

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

hmm . . schollboys very high . . Percy very low . .

[@catsofsherman1316]

​@@NaughtyVampireGod Something Else at 19 is the one that threw me

[@scottanthonyweidner8692]

@@catsofsherman1316 Yeah, that’s completely nuts

[@Randy950]

Saw them in 83 and 85. They were a smoking hot live band. They know their best songs and they deliver them with total authority. Great period for them. A lot of their other earlier tours were marred with alcoholism and brotherly contempt. They were in synch during this time.

[@jukeboxcowboy]

🤠 Yes, DANG good live! Saw'em around the same time. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@Twotontessie]

Same here - explosive!

[@lionstandingII]

Ray Davies is one of those rare singers who could nest his vocals/lyrics in self-effacement and vulnerability comfortably.

[@UlyssesJonah]

Thank you, nice video

[@soldmeout]

My top 5: 1. Arthur 2. Face to Face 3. Something Else 4. Village Green 5. Lola

[@williambowers2820]

I was lucky enough to see the Kinks in April of 93 at a bar in Charlotte NC. Ray was having a good time, taking requests and drinking a ton of beer, Dave not so much. He kept getting pissed off at Ray for talking to the audience, and it was amazing to see the two of them annoy each other.

[@catsofsherman1316]

I lived in NC then and was a huge Kinks fan. I even liked Phobia which came out then. Sure wish I had known about that show. No internet then.

[@williambowers2820]

@@catsofsherman1316 some place called Rocky’s on Independence Blvd.

[@catsofsherman1316]

@@williambowers2820 I was in Chapel Hill but would have made the drive to see the Kinks especially for a club gig

[@joelbraun9042]

You guys should really do the Hollies! It’s one of my favourite 60’s bands with some great 70’s material as well

[@jbellinger99]

I am with Jason on "Soap Opera" - probably my most listened to Kinks album, besides "Muswell" - i do not really know the rest that well, but i am going to listen to some of your favorites. Soap OPpera is possibly their most fun and consistent album.

[@LarsPop-Tartus]

❤

[@stefano.b65stef77]

Hi guys, I've been waiting for this for a while, well done! My top 10 would be at the moment,as follows. 1) Lola vs the Powerman 2) Village Green Prev society 3) muswell hillbillies 4) Face to Face 5) Arthur 6) something else 7) Misfits 8) Kinks 9) everybody's in show biz 10) kink kontroversy

[@ste.6026]

Always liked the Kinks a lot, for me they are easily one of my top twenty bands of all time but they stand at number two behind the Beatles as far as sixties Brit bands go, I prefer the early period of the Stones to that of the Kinks though... 01… The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society … 1968... 5/5 02… Muswell Hillbillies … 1971... 4.75/5 03… Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire … 1969 ... 4.75/5 04… Face To Face … 1966... 4.5/5 05… Something Else … 1967... 4.5/5 06… Everybody's In Show-Biz - Everybody's A Star … 1972... 4.25/5 07… Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround … 1970... 4.25/5 08… Kinda Kinks … 1965. 4/5 09… Kinks … 1964. 4/5 10… Sleepwalker … 1977... 4.5 11… The Kink Kontroversy … 1965... 3.5/5 12… Preservation Act 1 … 1973... 3.5/5 13… Schoolboys In Disgrace … 1975... 3.25/5 14… Misfits … 1978... 3.25/5 15… Preservation Act 2 …1974... 3.25/5 16… Soap Opera … 1975... 3/5 17… Percy … 1971... 3/5 18… Word Of Mouth … 1984... 3/5 19… State Of Confusion … 1983... 2.75/5 20… Low Budget … 1979. 2.75/5 21… Give The People What They Want … 1981... 2.5/5 22… Think Visual … 1986. 2/5 23… UK Jive … 1989... 2/5 24… Phobia … 1993... 1.5/5

[@3bwana]

As much as I love the Kinks and agree that they’re extremely underrated mostly being as they weren’t able to tour the US in the same manner as the Beatles & the Stones due to being banned from the states for lots of bad behavior whilst touring here early on in their career. That being said as underrated as the Kinks are I feel the Move are as underrated if not more so than the Kinks if we’re talking British Invasion bands

[@catsofsherman1316]

The Move did some great stuff, but their catalog is pretty small compared to the Kinks

[@3bwana]

It is smaller but mighty

[@austinskaggs4184]

I have a few suggestions that I hope you guys will consider. Prince The b52’s

[@ErnestIII83]

Well, their single See My Friends (along with possibly the Yardbirds' Heart Full Of Soul) is often considered the first rock/pop song to have an Eastern influence, pre-dating the Beatles' Rubber Soul with Norwegian Wood on it by months.

[@SteveEspinola]

Thank you. Yeah, "Fancy" wasn't following anyone.

[@atthebridge]

'Artlover' is one of RD's most interesting songs. First of all because how many other songwriters would go there? But mainly because the song plays with your sympathies, providing a whole new possible explanation for the narrator's behaviour in the final verse - "She's just a substitute for what's been taken from me". IF he's an individual stricken with grief over the death of his own daughter does that excuse what he does? Does it at least make him an object of pity rather than anger? Ray Davies has always been good at making you uncomfortable.

[@mikemclintock3893]

We Americans call Ray and Dave "Dave-ease" but the correct pronunciation is actually Davis. I look forward to watching this, I own every studio album, some of them multiple copies due to remasters/deluxe editions.

[@catsofsherman1316]

Have you been buying the deluxe box sets? I have the Arthur and Lola sets and have been very pleased. I missed the village Green one, but might find a copy some day.

[@mikemclintock3893]

@@catsofsherman1316 I did but the Village Green, Arthur, and Lola sets but did pass on the Muswell Hillbillies/Shobiz combined box. I love all three of the box sets I own, but Village Green is probably my favorite. They just threw the kitchen sink in the set, so many unreleased tunes. Arthur is close though, and really great, I do wish the Lola box had a few more unreleased tracks or demos but oh well. I didn't purchase the Muswell/Showbiz box as there just wasn't a ton of new stuff on it, and I'm a CD person so I didn't really need all that vinyl. I did pick up the single-disc versions of both albums, and I dig the bonus tracks. Sorry for the novel, but once I get going on The Kinks...

[@catsofsherman1316]

​@@mikemclintock3893 I was on the fence on the muswell/showbiz box. Still haven't pulled the trigger on that one

[@t_albino]

My third favourite band of the 60s, after the Fab 4 and the Doors. A band that went through so many transitions and phases and weren't afraid to challenge their audiences. Ray Davies is truly one of the greatest songwriters of all time, no-one (and I'm including Lennon McCartney in this) could write about English Ness as well as he could. Despite listening to some of their psych era albums they always still struck me as a singles group, but think I need to go back and revisit their albums again. Not interested in their sound post Muswell, but do love Come Dancing. My absolute favourite track of theirs is Everybody's Gonna be Happy, I break into a sweat whenever I hear it, and I'm sure 60s boys and girls did too. So much fun. Love them!

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

1. The Village Green Preservation Society (1968) 5/5 2. Something Else (1967) 5/5 3. Face to Face (1966) 5/5 4. Arthur (1969) 4.5/5 5. Lola vs. Powerman & the Moneygoround, Part I (1970) 4.5/5 6. Muswell Hillbillies (1971) 4.5/5 7. The Kink Kontroversy (1965) 4/5 8. Misfits (1978) 4/5 9. State of Confusion (1983) 4/5 10. Give the People What They Want (1981) 3.5/5 11. Kinda Kinks (1965) 3.5/5 12. Sleepwalker (1977) 3.5/5 13. Preservation, Act I (1973) 3.5/5 14. Everybody's in Show-Biz (1972) 3/5 15. Low Budget (1979) 3/5 16. Schoolboys in Disgrace (1975) 3/5 17. Kinks (1964) 3/5 18. Percy (1971) 3/5 19. Word of Mouth (1984) 3/5 20. Soap Opera (1975) 2.5/5 21. Phobia (1993) 2.5/5 22. UK Jive (1989) 2/5 23. Think Visual (1986) 2/5 24. Preservation, Act II (1974) 1.5/5 CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER: 3.0 Kinks (1964) 3.5 Kinda Kinks (1965) 4.0 The Kink Kontroversy (1965) 5.0 Face to Face (1966) 5.0 Something Else (1967) 5.0 The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society (1968) 4.5 Arthur (1969) 4.5 Lola vs. Powerman & the Moneygoround, Part I (1970) 3.0 Percy (1971) 4.5 Muswell Hillbillies (1971) 3.0 Everybody's in Show-Biz (1972) 3.5 Preservation, Act I (1973) 1.5 Preservation, Act II (1974) 2.5 Soap Opera (1975) 3.0 Schoolboys in Disgrace (1975) 3.5 Sleepwalker (1977) 4.0 Misfits (1978) 3.0 Low Budget (1979) 3.5 Give the People What They Want (1981) 4.0 State of Confusion (1983) 3.0 Word of Mouth (1984) 2.0 Think Visual (1986) 2.0 UK Jive (1989) 2.5 Phobia (1993) Growing up in America, where The Kinks don't get played a ton, it took me years to fully appreciate the Davies brothers and their anglophile introspection. But once I fell down their rabbit hole I couldn't find a way out, to my eternal benefit. The Kinks' debut LP feels like a typical early-'60s album comprised of a hit single surrounded mostly by filler. But the hit single in question here ("You Really Got Me") is one of the most important songs, well, ever. It arguably invented hard rock *and* punk in one fell swoop. Their sophomore effort, 1965's Kinda Kinks, is kinda uneven but also kinda underrated. The Kink Kontroversy continues their upward trajectory- "Till the End of the Day" spits fire. "Well Respected Man" (from the Kwyet Kinks EP) shows how wry and sophisticated Ray Davies' compositions had already become. 1966's Face to Face and its attendant single, "Sunny Afternoon," kicked off a remarkable run of consistency. Not many bands have released 5 consecutive albums as good as the ones the Kinks released from 1966 to 1970. Something Else (1967) delivered the high-water marks "Waterloo Sunset" and "Death of a Clown." 1968's Village Green Preservation Society is rock 'n roll's foremost tribute to English pastoralism. (I love every track, even the ones that some people say are throwaway, like "Phenomenal Cat.") Arthur (1969) is Village Green's spiritual successor- "Victoria" and "Shangri-La" lead a wistful and frank dissection of the crumbling British Empire. Their 1970 takedown of the music business, Lola vs. Powerman..., is chronically undervalued ("Strangers" and "Rats" are top shelf Kinks, in addition to the famous singles from that album.) Percy, a soundtrack album from 1971, mixes good tunes ("God's Children," "Willesden Green") with forgettable instrumentals (the muzak version of "Lola" almost kills the album.) Muswell Hillbillies (also 1971) feels like Ray Davies' love letter to American roots music. 1972's Everybody's in Show-Biz incorporates elements of vaudeville and is best known for "Celluloid Heroes," a paean to the golden age of Hollywood. For my money, Preservation Act I is the best LP of The Kinks' so-called theatrical period (1972-1975) due to gems like "Sitting in the Midday Sun" and "Sweet Lady Genevieve." (Schoolboys in Disgrace is worth a listen, too.) "Juke Box Music" and the rest of 1977's Sleepwalker marked a return to hooky, radio-friendly songwriting. Misfits (1978) comes even closer to recapturing the old Kinks magic- "Black Messiah," "A Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy," and "In a Foreign Land" are the best 3 consecutive tracks since their classic period. I'm not as fond of their next installment, Low Budget, although the title track and "A Gallon of Gas" certainly hit home. 1981's Give the People What They Want is the hardest rockin' LP of their career. Its follow-up, State of Confusion, launched one of their biggest hits in America, "Come Dancing." Word of Mouth (1984) offers a couple memorable Dave Davies songs (most notably "Living on a Thin Line") but not much else. Their final 3 albums (Think Visual, UK Jive, Phobia) are not embarrassing, but are not anything to write home about, either. Worshipped in the UK, The Kinks were never as big in America, partly due to a dispute with a musicians union that prevented them from touring the USA between 1966 & 1969. Even so, The Kinks persevered, releasing music and staying relevant into the early 1980s (longer than any British Invasion band except The Rolling Stones.) Something that elevates The Kinks above most other groups, in my mind, is their endless parade of great non-album singles, b-sides, and outtakes. (By themselves, they constitute a blockbuster career for any band.) It never ceases to amaze me how many great songs these guys churned out (see tomorrow.) Easily an all-time top 25 artist in my book. MY RATING SYSTEM: 5.0 = major classic (consistently great *and* stratospheric highs) 4.5 = minor classic (consistently great *or* stratospheric highs, but not both) 4.0 = great (a clear majority is worth revisiting and it's an essential record for this artist/style) 3.5 = seriously good (at least half is worth revisiting) 3.0 = nominally good (less than half is worth revisiting) 2.5 = decent (competent but uninspired - not worth revisiting) 2.0 = poor (difficult listen) 1.5 = awful (can't finish it) 1.0 = historically awful (musical apocalypse) ▪︎"Consistently" does not mean "flawlessly." I allow for a few duds if the rest of the songs are good enough. "Stratospheric highs" refer to albums that feature iconic songs or have an iconic sound. (Albums I consider to be "perfect" can also reach 5 stars, even without containing legendary songs or being highly influential.) ▪︎I don't go below 1 star because once I'm in the realm of the truly terrible I don't care to differentiate anymore. ▪︎Anything I rate 3.5 stars or higher is an album I'm enthusiastic about and would likely revisit at some point.

[@179rich]

Excellent summation WB!

[@scottanthonyweidner8692]

Same top three in same order as me - big thumbs-up.

[@KOSMICKEN09]

Well you obviously had some time to kill today 😅

[@telsutton]

Yep, and I've been listening to The Kinks seriously - collecting their lps - for 45 years, since I was nine. And I recorded in Konk, twice, in the 90s. VGPS isn't just the #1 Kinks lp, it's possibly the best of the 60s.

[@179rich]

@@telsutton I have encountered quite a few of you TKATVGPS champions. And it is great. I just happen to think Arthur is a little bit better. Surely you understand?

[@thirdcoast5755]

Kinks’ “See my friends” predated Beatles’ eastern influenced songs.

[@mattbrownsvideothing]

I said that out loud during that part of the video. Haha.

[@johnr8095]

Disagree with Kramzwr and Joe on soap opera. This album definitely grew on me. Disagree with Joe and Jason on give the people what they want. Classic album.

[@capt.animosiac5093]

I recently revisited GTPWTW and I'm on repeated listens, love it still to this day. Low Budget, VGPS, Misfits, Lola, Sleepwalker, and PA1 are right behind.

[@Paul-dw2cl]

Jason said that Strangers has to undoubtedly be Dave Davies’ be song 2:05:17 after he said that Death of a Clown possibly was 1:14:37

[@billkeon880]

Great job guys. Still underrated band. Arthur is an anti-war album in the peak of Vietnam from British perspective. Every track is gold. Driving which descends chromatically by half tones and is such a fun pastoral song.

[@gjones8573]

For me, Ray Davies (pronounced Day-viss, by the way) is the greatest lyricist Britain has produced, and from 1967 to 1970 they were untouchable. The wry social commentary and empathy for the lives of ordinary working class people that they espoused in their lyrics was something no other British invasion band was doing at that time to anything like the same degree or standard. Maybe you have to be British to fully appreciate that. Also they had: probably the first heavy rock/proto punk guitar riff with You Really Got Me; first use of an Eastern influenced sound with See My Friends; arguably the first 'story' music video with Dead End Street; one of the first concept albums with VGPS. They really were trailblazers that have never got the proper credit they deserve. GSTK!

[@TastesLikeMusic]

I know it’s pronounced Davis but it’s not us pronouncing it wrong. It’s him.

[@Onio_]

Heart Full of Soul by The Yardbirds pre-empted See My Friends to be the first western rock song with an Eastern influenced sound.

[@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerek]

Davies pronounces his name as its spelt because he's English, Not Welsh. Listen to him pronounce his name. Welsh people say Davis.

[@Jsee-s6h]

What? It's their name. They're British. That's how it's pronounced. @@TastesLikeMusic

[@andrewdyke5561]

So this is one of my favorite bands of all time . I've done there full discrophy about ten times

[@MarwinEthel-Mollusk]

My favourite british band from the sixties, with the Beatles. Ray Davies, a true genious. Beautiful natural melodies, clever and satiristic lyrics or full of nostalgia. I am very attached to that band. They had plenty of great songs and albums, true gems, like old but nice curios very well crafted. Their musical diversity, their sense of theatrality and humour, their inner siblings fights, their britishness, their uncompromising behaviour...love it, irresistible. And a pioneer band, first hard rock and india influenced music was made by them. God save the village Kinks !

[@blakeplaster7139]

The biggest difference between my lists and yours is my preference for late 70's Kinks over early Kinks. I LOVE Low Budget and Sleepwalker over the early albums. Love the heavy sound of those as opposed to the really poor sound of the mid 60's records.

[@kevinquinn4499]

Weird to think you could rank many of these albums having just discovered them. Many Kinks albums take some time to really get to appreciate. But always worth the effort. GSTK!

[@viscountpalmerston]

Loads of quality non album singles. I hope 'Dead End Street' makes an appearance tomorrow! Always been one of my faves...

[@painless465]

The Kinks are one of the real iconic bands,but they're very uneven . They have a lot of dreck,but also some of the best albums ever recorded. While a top 10 Kinks song list will be next to impossible to do, a top 10 Album list is actually fairly easy. I feel one album stands above all the rest; 10.Sleepwalker(1977-3.0 stars) 09.The Kink Kontroversy((1965-3.5 stars) 08.Low Budget(1979-3.5 stars) 07.Face to Face(1966-3.5 stars) 06.The Great Lost Kinks Album(1973-4 stars) 05. Arthur ...(1969-4 stars) 04.Something Else(1967-4.5 stars) 03.Muswell Hillbillies(1971-4.5 stars) 02.Lola vs Powerman and the Moneygoround(pt 1)(1970-5 stars) 01.The Village Green Preservation Society(1968-5+++ stars-My AOTY for 1968,and can easily vie for a spot in my all time top 10,and Iv'e heard a LOT of albums!)

[@johnmavroudis2054]

Neil Peart on his early influences: "When the Beatles and the Rolling Stones appeared on the scene in 1963, I was only eleven, too young to be really moved by them, but a few years later I started to get excited by the “second wave” of the British Invasion-The Who, the Kinks, the Yardbirds-and the emerging American psychedelic bands"

[@alosadav]

Woah one of my favourite bands! Must listen