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The Kinks – RCA Years

English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, in 1963 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies, Mick Avory and Pete Quaife. During their existence they have played different styles of rock ('n' roll) music.

Pete Quaife left The Kinks during the Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire rehearsals. In a June 2018 interview, Ray Davies stated that he, along with brother Dave, and drummer Avory, had reformed The Kinks for a new studio album and to potentially perform live. In March 2023, Mick Avory laid to rest rumours of a reunion, citing differences between the Davies brothers.

Inducted into Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 (Performer).

The 2006 box set The RCA Years collects Velvel's expanded and remastered versions of the Kinks' six albums for RCA (Muswell Hillbillies, Everybody's in Show-Biz, Preservation: Act 1, Preservation: Act 2, A Soap Opera, Schoolboys in Disgrace), originally released between 1971 and 1975

The Kinks - RCA Years

The Kinks' RCA Years box set is generally well-regarded by fans and critics for its comprehensive collection of the band's work during their RCA label period (1971-1976). It includes multiple albums, including Muswell Hillbillies, Everybody's in Showbiz, Preservation Act 1 & 2, A Soap Opera, and Schoolboys in Disgrace, along with non-album singles and B-sides. While some critics note that the albums from this era are not as consistently strong as their earlier work, the box set is praised for its historical value and for offering a glimpse into Ray Davies's experimental songwriting.

Comprehensive Collection:

The box set gathers all the Kinks' RCA albums into one package, plus a wealth of non-album material.

Historical Significance:

It provides a detailed look at a period of the Kinks' career that was marked by experimentation and concept albums.

Sound Quality:

Many reviewers highlight the improved sound quality of the reissues, with some tracks appearing in stereo for the first time.

Valuable Extras:

The set includes a booklet with photos and historical information, and some tracks have been remastered from the original tapes.

Collector's Item:

For serious Kinks fans, the box set is considered a must-have for completing their collection.

Label: Koch Records – VEL-CD-79821, Konk – VEL-CD-79821

Format:SACD, Hybrid, Stereo, Album, Reissue

SACD, Hybrid, Stereo, Album, Reissue

Box Set, Compilation

Country: US

Released: 2006

Genre: Rock

Style: Classic Rock

Track List:

Muswell Hillbillies

1-1 20th Century Man 5:57

1-2 Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues

Brass – The Mike Cotton Sound

3:30

1-3 Holiday 2:39

1-4 Skin & Bone 3:37

1-5 Alcohol

Brass – The Mike Cotton Sound

3:35

1-6 Complicated Life 4:02

1-7 Here Come The People In Grey 3:45

1-8 Have A Cuppa Tea 3:43

1-9 Holloway Jail 3:25

1-10 Oklahoma U.S.A. 2:38

1-11 Uncle Son 2:30

1-12 Muswell Hillbilly 4:57

Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks

1-13 Mountain Woman 3:09

1-14 Kentucky Moon 3:54

Everybody's In Show-Biz

2-1 Here Comes Yet Another Day 3:27

2-2 Maximum Consumption 4:05

2-3 Unreal Reality 3:32

2-4 Hot Potatoes 3:26

2-5 Sitting In My Hotel 3:22

2-6 Motorway 3:28

2-7 You Don't Know My Name

Written-By – Dave Davies

2:35

2-8 Supersonic Rocket Ship 3:30

2-9 Look A Little On The Sunny Side 2:50

2-10 Celluloid Heroes 6:20

2-11 Top Of The Pops (Live) 4:08

2-12 Brainwashed (Live) 2:32

2-13 Mr. Wonderful (live)

Written-By – G.D. Weiss*, J.L. Bock*, L. Holofcener*

0:44

2-14 Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues (Live) 4:02

2-15 Holiday (Live) 3:34

2-16 Muswell Hillbilly (Live) 3:04

2-17 Alcohol (Live) 5:11

2-18 Banana Boat Song (Live)

Lyrics By – I. Burgie*, W.A. Attaway*

Music By – Trad.*

1:42

2-19 Skin & Bone (Live) 3:53

2-20 Baby Face

Written-By – B. Davis*, H. Akst*

2:28

2-21 Lola (Live) 1:40

Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks

2-22 Till The End Of The Day (Live) 2:00

2-23 She's Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina (Live) 3:03

Preservation Act 1

3-1 Preservation (Single) 3:36

3-2 Morning Song

Arranged By [Strings] – Stanley Myers

2:00

3-3 Daylight 3:19

3-4 Sweet Lady Genevieve 3:26

3-5 There's A Change In The Weather 3:00

3-6 Where Are They Now? 3:28

3-7 One Of The Survivors 4:31

3-8 Cricket 2:56

3-9 Money & Corruption / I Am Your Man 6:01

3-10 Here Comes Flash 2:41

3-11 Sitting In The Midday Sun 3:47

3-12 Demolition 4:05

3-13 One Of The Survivors (Single Edit) 4:05

Preservation Act 2

4-1 Announcement

Voice Actor – Chris Timothy

0:41

4-2 Introduction To Solution 2:43

4-3 When A Solution Comes 3:40

4-4 Money Talks 3:44

4-5 Announcement

Voice Actor – Chris Timothy

0:55

4-6 Shepherds Of The Nation 4:17

4-7 Scum Of The Earth 2:44

4-8 Second-Hand Car Spiv 4:01

4-9 He's Evil 4:25

4-10 Mirror Of Love 3:26

4-11 Announcement

Voice Actor – Chris Timothy

0:34

4-12 Nobody Gives

Arranged By [Strings] – Stanley Mayers*

6:33

4-13 Oh Where Oh Where Is Love? 3:40

4-14 Flash's Dream (The Final Elbow) 4:17

4-15 Flash's Confession 4:05

4-16 Nothing Lasts Forever

Lead Vocals – Marianne Price*

3:42

4-17 Announcement

Voice Actor – Chris Timothy

1:05

4-18 Artificial Man

Arranged By [Strings] – Stanley Mayers*

5:30

4-19 Scrapheap City

Lead Vocals – Marianne Price*

3:16

4-20 Announcement

Voice Actor – Chris Timothy

1:05

4-21 Salvation Road 3:18

Bonus Tracks

4-22 Mirror Of Love 3:28

4-23 Slum Kids [Take 1] 6:25

Soap Opera

5-1 Everybody's A Star (Starmaker) 2:57

5-2 Ordinary People

Lead Vocals – Dave Davies

3:49

5-3 Rush Hour Blues 4:27

5-4 Nine To Five 1:48

5-5 When Work Is Over 2:06

5-6 Have Another Drink 2:41

5-7 Underneath The Neon Sign 3:53

5-8 Holiday Romance 3:10

5-9 You Make It All Worthwhile 3:49

5-10 Ducks On The Wall 3:20

5-11 (A) Face In The Crowd 2:17

5-12 You Can't Stop The Music 3:12

Bonus Tracks

5-13 Everybody's A Star (Starmaker) [Mono Mix] 2:54

5-14 Ordinary People [Live] 3:44

5-15 You Make It All Worthwhile [Live] 4:17

5-16 Underneath The Neon Sign [Live] 4:05

Schoolboys In Disgrace

6-1 Schooldays 3:31

6-2 Jack The Idiot Dunce 3:19

6-3 Education 7:07

6-4 The First Time We Fall In Love 4:01

6-5 I'm In Disgrace 3:21

6-6 Headmaster 4:03

6-7 The Hard Way 2:35

6-8 The Last Assembly 2:45

6-9 No More Looking Back 4:27

6-10 Finale 1:02

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Konk Records

Licensed To – Velvel Records LLC

Manufactured By – Koch Records

Distributed By – Koch Records

Recorded At – Morgan Studios

Remixed At – Konk Studios

Remastered At – Gateway Mastering

Recorded At – Carnegie Hall

Engineered At – Toy Specialists

Glass Mastered At – DADC – SUHD-009520

Glass Mastered At – Sony DADC, Terre Haute – SUHD-014710

Glass Mastered At – DADC – SUHD-009720

Glass Mastered At – DADC – SUHD-009730

Glass Mastered At – DADC – SUHD-010800

Glass Mastered At – DADC – SUHD-009530

Arranged By – Raymond Douglas Davies* (tracks: 4-1 to 6-10)

Art Direction – Pat Doyle (2) (tracks: 5-1 to 6-10)

Art Direction [Original] – Pat Doyle (2) (tracks: 1-1 to 4-23)

Art Direction [Reissue] – Christina Battani

Backing Vocals [Other Singers] – Debbie Doss* (tracks: 6-1 to 6-10), Krysia Kocjan (tracks: 3-1 to 4-23), Lee Pavey (tracks: 3-1 to 4-23), Lewis Rich (tracks: 3-1 to 3-13), Lindsey Moore (tracks: 5-1 to 5-16), Marianne Price* (tracks: 4-1 to 4-23), Pamela Travis, Shirlie Roden (tracks: 5-1 to 6-10), Sue Brown (tracks: 3-1 to 4-23)

Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet – Alan Holmes (2) (tracks: 1-2, 1-5, 2-1 to 2-10, 3-1 to 4-23), Davy Jones* (tracks: 2-11 to 2-23)

Bass Guitar – John Dalton

Cover [Original RCA Cover] – Joe Petagno (tracks: 5-1 to 5-16)

Design – Bob Searles

Design [Original RCA Cover], Photography By [Original RCA Cover], Artwork [Original RCA Cover] – Bloomsbury Group (tracks: 1-1 to 1-14)

Design [Reissue] – K. Lee Hammond*

Drums – Mick Avory

Engineer – Dave Davies (tracks: 3-2 to 3-12), Mike Bobak (tracks: 1-1 to 1-12, 3-13), Richard Edwards (tracks: 1-13, 1-14, 2-1 to 2-23), Roger Beale (tracks: 3-1 to 3-12, 4-22, 5-1 to 5-16), Roger Wake (tracks: 6-1 to 6-10)

Engineer [Additional DSD Engineering] – Dawn Frank (tracks: 1-1 to 1-14, 4-1 to 4-23)

Engineer [Compilation, Assistance] – Larry Greenbaum

Engineer [Compilation] – Mike Konopka

Engineer [Konk Archival Tape Engineers And Assistance] – Albert Pinheiro, Graham Hogg, Ryan Tully

Guitar, Vocals – Ray Davies

Illustration [Original RCA Album Cover] – Mickey Finn (7) (tracks: 6-1 to 6-10)

Keyboards – John Gosling (2)

Liner Notes – Matt Resnicoff (tracks: 5-1 to 6-10), Peter Doggett (tracks: 1-1 to 4-23)

Mastered By [For SACD] – Alan Silverman (tracks: 1-1 to 1-14, 4-1 to 4-23)

Mixed By – John Rollo (tracks: 4-23)

Organ – Dave Rowberry (tracks: 2-10)

Photography By [Original Cover] – Chris Hopper (tracks: 3-1 to 6-10)

Photography By [Reissue], Artwork By [Reissue] – Doug Hinman (tracks: 1-1 to 1-14, 4-1 to 6-10), Janet Makosca (tracks: 5-1 to 6-10), Klaus Schmalenbach (tracks: 1-1 to 1-14, 4-1 to 6-10), Russell Smith (8) (tracks: 1-1 to 1-14, 4-1 to 4-23, 6-1 to 6-10), Steven Pines (tracks: 5-1 to 5-16)

Producer – Raymond Douglas Davies*

Producer [SACD Reissue Producer] – Bill Crowley (tracks: 5-1 to 5-16)

Producer [SACD Reissue] – Bill Crowley (tracks: 1-1 to 1-14, 4-1 to 4-23)

Remastered By – Bob Ludwig

Remastered By [Hybrid SACD] – Alan Silverman (tracks: 5-1 to 5-16)

Saxophone – Alan Holmes (2) (tracks: 5-1 to 6-10)

Tenor Saxophone – Nick Newall (tracks: 6-1 to 6-10)

Trombone – John Beecham (tracks: 5-1 to 6-10)

Trombone, Tuba – John Beecham (tracks: 1-2, 1-5, 2-1 to 4-23)

Trumpet – Laurie Brown (tracks: 5-1 to 5-16), Mike Cotton (tracks: 1-2, 1-5, 2-1 to 2-23)

Trumpet, Flute, Tenor Saxophone – Laurie Brown (tracks: 3-1 to 4-23)

Vocals, Guitar – Dave Davies

Voice Actor [Announcer] – Chris Timothy

Voice [Norman's Wife] – June Ritchie (tracks: 5-1 to 5-16)

Written-By – Raymond Douglas Davies* (tracks: 1-1 to 1-14, 2-1 to 2-6, 2-8 to 2-12, 2-14 to 2-17, 2-19, 2-21 to 2-23, 3-1 to 6-10)

Muswell Hillbillies:

1-1 to 1-12: originally released November 1971; recorded at Morgan Studios, London, August - October 1971

1-13, 1-14: previously unreleased, remixed at Konk Studios, London, February 27, 1998; 1-13 and 1-14 recorded at Morgan Studios, London, September 16,1971

Everybody's In Show-Biz:

2-1 to 2-23: released as Everybody's In Showbiz in the United States on August 25, 1972; released as Everybody's In Showbit, Everybody's A Star in the United Kingdom on September 1, 1972;

studio tracks recorded at Morgan Studios, London, March - June 1972; live tracks recorded in concert at Carnegie Hall, New York City, March 2 & 3, 1972;

2-22 & 2-23 previously unreleased; recorded at Carnegie Hall, New York City, March 2 & 3, 1972; remixed at Konk Studios, London, February 27, 1998

Preservation Act 1:

3-1 & 3-13 previously released as singles only; remixed at Konk Studios, London, April 1998; 3-2 to 3-12 originally released November 16, 1973

Preservation Act 2:

4-1 to 4-21 originally released May, 1974; 4-22 previously unreleased as single only, remixed at Konk Studios, London, April 1998; 4-23 previously unreleased, remixed at Konk Studios, London, April 1998

Soap Opera:

5-1 to 5-13 originally released April 25, 1975; 5-14 to 5-16 previously unreleased, recorded live in concert, June 14, 1975, at The New Victoria Theatre, London

Schoolboys In Disgrace:

originally released November 17, 1975