The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Sensing that the Beatles, Stones, and Who were radically transforming rock music by turning it literate and conceptual, Ray Davies decided the Kinks should be his vehicle to explore his unusual longing for a simpler time when the English empire was not in decline. A reliance on English music hall tradition and sentiments indicated in titles such as "Last of the Steam-Powered Trains," "Picture Book," and "Village Green" clearly show Davies's nostalgia streak. Davies's singing has always been rough and non-Kinks fans may have trouble getting past his sloppy pitch. But for those listening closely, the tales are one of a kind. --Rob O'Connor

The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society, Music, The Kinks, British Invasion, England, Pop, Pop/Rock, Popular Music, Rock, Rock/Pop

Average customer rating:

Middlin to fairly great

Ray Davies is a remarkable talent

Memories of people can remain

God Save The Kinks!

THE LAST OF THE GOOD OLD, STEAM POWERED, ROCK AND ROLL

The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music
General | Pop | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000002KOI
Release Date: 1990-05-02

Tracks:

The Village Green Preservation Society
Do You Remember Walter?
Picture Book
Johnny Thunder
Last Of The Steam-Powered Trains
Big Sky
Sitting By The Riverside
Animal Farm
Village Green
Starstruck
Phenomenal Cat
All Of My Friends Were There
Wicked Annabella
Monica
People Take Pictures Of Each Other

Amazon.com essential recording

Sensing that the Beatles, Stones, and Who were radically transforming rock music by turning it literate and conceptual, Ray Davies decided the Kinks should be his vehicle to explore his unusual longing for a simpler time when the English empire was not in decline. A reliance on English music hall tradition and sentiments indicated in titles such as "Last of the Steam-Powered Trains," "Picture Book," and "Village Green" clearly show Davies's nostalgia streak. Davies's singing has always been rough and non-Kinks fans may have trouble getting past his sloppy pitch. But for those listening closely, the tales are one of a kind. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews:

Middlin to fairly great .......2007-06-26

I'm ashamed to say I found this because of the 'Picture Book' song associated with a certain ad for a certain photo printer. It just got stuck in my head, and I should have known. Whenever you have a great song stuck in your head and you don't know who it's by, it's usually by The Kinks.

Initially I was disappointed that I had purchased a CD for one song and the rest was jolly crap. But the more I listened to it, I pardoned the fact that it could have been produced a bit more carefully and now they've got me hooked.

The rest of the darn album is stuck in my head, and it's a good, sweet, concept album, you really need to listen to whole thing to 'get it' and for it to be at its best. Nice and poppy, fun for the whole family, it grows on you like honeysuckle. Finally: 2 stars, no 3 stars, no - 4 stars.

Ray Davies is a remarkable talent.......2007-06-09

I am amused to read how folks seem to think that Ray Davies is nostalgic. I do not believe this. He is an observer. He writes about what he sees and what he hears and puts a personal twist on it. Listen to 'Come Dancing' - this terrific piece comes from listening to his elder sister talk about her 'younger days', which people like me can identify with only too easily. He is a wit and has written a variety of interesting songs. 'Village Green' is an amusement, a 'pastiche' - a description of a dream-like time and place which one is uncertain if it ever truly existed. This is not uncommon in English (not British!) history - afterall, did 'Merrie England' ever really exist? Had The Kinks not been refused a visa to tour the US early in their career, Ray Davies would be revered today by a wider audience in this country and perhaps might be seen as the natural successor to John Lennon (I can hear the cries of horror ....... but pay attention to the words of many of his songs ...... they ain't simple pop songs!) The man is a remarkable talent. He is, at times, laconic and acidic, and always interesting. The early potential of Ray Davies can be heard in 'See my friends', 'Waterloo Sunset', 'Victoria' and 'Lola' etc - but do not dismiss any of the other early material. VGPS is both interesting and charming and a pleasure to listen to both 'then' and 'now'. If you have not heard it, give it a listen ..... you won't regret it.

Memories of people can remain.......2007-02-18

From the superlative music year of 1968 comes THE VILLAGE GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY, the KINKS very best album. This one has gotten better with the passage of time-- a rarity. VILLAGE GREEN belongs in the collection of any 1960s or British rock fan. If you've never heard it, take advantage of the sound samples provided-- then you'll know what to do! And if you once had this on vinyl... well, what are you waiting for?

TOTAL RUNNING TIME -- 39:48

God Save The Kinks!.......2007-02-08

Part 3 of the Kinks trilogy starting with Face to Face, then Something else...This is the best of the 3 and is a genuine masterpiece.
Ray Davies was at the top of his game here.

THE LAST OF THE GOOD OLD, STEAM POWERED, ROCK AND ROLL.......2006-12-20

People take pictures of each other, just to prove that they really existed.
Recently I've been doing a lot of digging into psychedelic era sixties stuff that I have missed over the years. Out of all the albums that I went out and purchased for either the first time, or to get back the albums I lost long ago... this is outright, the coolest. The Kinks are one of the coolest anyways, but this one....
Lets just say, IMHO, that The Kinks delivered what I consider to be the real "first" concept rock and roll album. After all, Sgt. Peppers, wasn't really a concept album, The Beatles even said so themselves. In the time frame between late '66 and early '68, just about every hip band of the day put out at least one psychedelic disc.. some good, some very bad. The Kinks, were not a psychedelic band, and don't try to be really... but they took that psychedelic vibe and added their own groove.
The album chugs out the rock and roll, in that light and airy british pop rock sort of way, but the tunes are so good. Each individual.
Look at reviews for the 1979 Clash album, London Calling. Lots of people refer to it as The Clash's "Sgt. Pepper" album. What they really mean to say is that London Calling was their "Village Green."
The trippy songs are TRIPPY, the rockin songs are ROCKIN', and the lyrics are perfect, in that Ray Davies and his magic pen sort of way.
If you are new to this album I guarantee it will go down like this. Upon first listen, you'll be like "ok, not bad", and probably hand pick about three tunes out of the mix that made the album worth it. By listen number two, you will up the number to seven... and you will probably listen to single songs about three or four times in row, because they will blow your mind. Before long you will realize that this little gem, is probably one of the coolest records ever made, especially for psychedelic sixties. You will say "Gosh Darrrrrrrrn-it, isn't this a great album."
It's all about The Village Green. By the way, is it me, or did Ray Davies really despise photographs? Or was it just that jerk, Tom the grocer, ever since he bought that grocery?
Highly reccomended listening.

The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society

Average customer rating:

Pastoral Masterpiece
Sound Quality Improvement!

The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Vision
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
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Face to Face
Something Else by the Kinks
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ASIN: B00078JZ92
Release Date: 2005-03-01

Tracks:

Village Green Preservation Society
Do You Remember Walter?
Picture Book
Johnny Thunder
Last of the Steam-Powered Trains
Big Sky
Sitting By the Riverside
Animal Farm
Village Green
Starstruck
Phenomenal Cat
All of My Friends Were There
Wicked Annabella
Monica
People Take Pictures of Each Other
Village Green Preservation Society [Stereo Version][*]
Do You Remember Walter? [Stereo Version][*]
Picture Book [Stereo Version][*]
Johnny Thunder [Stereo Version][*]
Monica [Stereo Version][*]
Days [Stereo Version][*]
Village Green [Stereo Version][*]
Mr. Songbird [Stereo Version][*]
Wicked Annabella [Stereo Version][*]
Starstruck [Stereo Version][*]
Phenomenal Cat [Stereo Version][*]
People Take Pictures of Each Other [Stereo Version][*]
Days [*]

Album Description

Digitally remastered 1998 reissue on Castle's Essentiallabel of their 1968 album '(The Kinks Are) The Village GreenPreservation Society', founder Ray Davies' homage toEngland. Also contains 13 bonus tracks: 'Days' (Mono Single)and the 12 track stereo album released overseas (outside ofthe U.K.: 'The Village Green Preservation Society', 'Do YouRemember Walter', 'Picture Book', 'Johnny Thunder', 'Days','Monica', 'Village Green', 'Mr. Songbird', 'Starstruck','Wicked Annabella', 'Phenomenal Cat' & 'People Take PicturesOf Each Other'. 28 tracks total. Also includes original art.

Customer Reviews:

Pastoral Masterpiece.......2007-05-24

'The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society' find the Kinks musically and lyrically in fine form. Topically, it seems to draw and contrast the pastoral setting of the country as a placid anchor and a source for metaphors. Musically, it is diverse, but still relies on intricate guitar, the melodic pub tradition, and Victorian accents. 'Village Green' is mostly a quiet masterpiece with able social commentary and fine character portraitures. It is the third articulate masterpiece from the singer songwriting helm of Ray Davies. It also seems more modern than 'Something Else' and 'Face to Face' with its spare production.

It is sometimes difficult to discern when he is straightforward here and when tongue-in-cheek, but there is certainly an affinity to the serene country with the title track, "Village Green," and "Animal Farm". Certainly, the contrast presented is flattering when he injects tales involving the glamour of success in the city. His funny takes from show business, "Starstruck" and "All of My Friends Were There," are enough evidence that he holds the rustic setting dear.

Nevertheless, Davies is more than a nature lover. He uses the landscape and his characters often to describe alienation. He does this well on the riveting "Last of the Steam Powered Trains" and "Johnny Thunder". Then there is the brilliant and intricate masterpiece "Big Sky," which has been called a communist anthem, but I vote for a more Dickens' interpretation against aloof aristocratic authority. The spirit of English poet Shelly is presented in this song, but it is a thoroughly Davies' original nonetheless. "Do You Remember, Walter?" is a fanciful and mesmerizing song that pensively speculates about people who are able to live happy, conventional lives. Then, there are beautiful songs that do connect to people and nature. "Sitting by the Riverside" is romantic in nature and courtship. The expansive "Animal Farm" should be the best piece of evidence for unveiling the serene beauty of nature.

Conceptually, the album is very cohesive, even if he stretches to other stories and themes. "Phenomenal Cat" is a spare and beautiful song with an engaging story that should appeal to adults as well as children. Similarly, "Wicked Annabella" is an entertaining portrait of someone who truly lives up to the title. Other numbers are more playful, like "Picture Book," which rips off any notions of sentimentality, as does the irreverent reprise, "People Take Pictures of Each Other". Also, "Monica" is an exotic and engaging portrait of a woman who is stuck up and may represent the aristocracy.

'Village Green Preservation Society' is a beautiful Kink's masterpiece that is entertaining lyrically and mesmerizing musically. It remains a classic and is one of their best works ever.

Sound Quality Improvement!.......2007-04-17

If you are viewing this item right now you probably already know about the significance of this album. I wrote a review for 'Lola vs. Powerman and the Moneygoround' and I will state many of the same things about this album. I have owned the old domestic Reprise edition for years now and just recently picked up this pressing. The mono sound quality is superior and the booklet is handsome and much more informative. The stereo versions on this CD are a bit lousy in comparison to the first 15 tracks, but who cares? You will not regret buying this import in lieu of the older, more common Reprise pressing. I have not, however, heard the 3-CD Special Edition, nor do I plan to. This version is very pleasing for those who don't want two extra CDs that are likely to be stored away to collect dust.

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