Kinks (album)



Kinks is the self-titled debut album by English rock band The Kinks, released in 1964. It was released with three tracks omitted as You Really Got Me in the US.

The album was re-released in 1998 in the UK on Castle Records with twelve bonus tracks. This reissue was itself reissued in 2004 on the Sanctuary label. A deluxe edition was released on 28 March 2011.

Reception
Allmusic assessed the album as lacking in consistency, commenting that "As R&B cover artists, the Kinks weren't nearly as adept as the Stones and Yardbirds; Ray Davies' original tunes were, "You Really Got Me" aside, perfunctory Mersey Beat-ish pastiches; and [the] tunes that producer Shel Talmy penned for the group... were simply abominable." Rock critic Mike Saunders of Rolling Stone described the album as one of their "successful rock and roll albums".

US Release You Really Got Me (Reprise R-6143 (mono) RS-6143 (stereo)) track listing

 * Side one
 * 1) "Beautiful Delilah" (Chuck Berry) - 2:07
 * 2) "So Mystifying" - 2:53
 * 3) "Just Can't Go to Sleep" - 1:58
 * 4) "Long Tall Shorty" (Herb Abramson, Don Covay) - 2:50
 * 5) "You Really Got Me" - 2:13
 * Side two
 * 1) "Cadillac" (Ellas McDaniel) - 2:45
 * 2) "Bald Headed Woman" (Traditional; arranged Shel Talmy) - 2:41
 * 3) "Too Much Monkey Business" (Chuck Berry) - 2:15
 * 4) "I've Been Driving on Bald Mountain" (Traditional; arranged Shel Talmy) - 2:01
 * 5) "Stop Your Sobbing" - 2:10
 * 6) "Got Love If You Want It" (Slim Harpo) - 3:45

The US version is missing three tracks. "I Took My Baby Home" had already been licensed to Cameo in the US as the B-side to "Long Tall Sally" and so could not be included. "I'm a Lover Not a Fighter" and the instrumental "Revenge" were held over for the US-only Kinks-Size album.

Personnel
The Kinks
 * Ray Davies – lead vocals (2, 3, 5, 7-9, 11, 13-14), rhythm guitar, keyboards, harmonica
 * Dave Davies – lead guitar, backing and lead (1, 4, 6, 12) vocals
 * Pete Quaife – bass guitar, backing vocals
 * Mick Avory – drums, tambourine

Additional musicians
 * Jimmy Page – twelve string acoustic guitar (6, 12)
 * Jon Lord – organ (9)
 * Bobby Graham – drums (1-7, 10, 12)
 * Rasa Didzpetris-Davies - backing vocals on "Stop Your Sobbing"
 * Perry Ford - piano (7)

Production
 * Simon Heyworth – remastering
 * Klaus Schmalenbach – design, photography
 * Brian Sommerville – 1998 liner notes
 * Peter Doggett – 2011 liner notes