Preservation: Act 1 [Original recording remastered]
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The late '60s through the mid '70s represented the era of plot rock. From the Who's Tommy onward, plot-driven and suite-length character meditations were everywhere. The Kinks' approach to the rock musical was more conceptually measured than was the norm. The plot and drama behind Preservation, Act 1 and Act 2 are far more subtle investigations of class, culture, and commerce--even if they're couched in characters like rocker Johnny Thunder. The tussle of the Preservation drama is common enough--a citizenry pursuing goals in an increasingly competitive, even ruthless manner, while on the periphery is Mr. Black, who'll save the day and restore balance, and his antagonist, Flash, who seeks to pilfer the Village Green. Both emblematic of community and a direct link to the band's 1969 Village Green Preservation Society, the drama and characters make it far better to tune in for an entire CD rather than for just one song. But "Sweet Lady Genevieve" is a gentle, lovely tune, and so many other selections are, even for passive Kinks fans, important pieces. --Andrew Bartlett
Preservation: Act 1, Music, The Kinks, Album Rock, Hard Rock, Pop, Pop/Rock, Popular Music, Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Rock, Rock/Pop
Average customer rating:
- Half-hearted effort from the Kinks; places concept over songs
- 3 & 1/2 Stars - Really good, but just not as good as the Klassics
- Preservation lives on
- rite up there with the whos tommy
- Don't believe the reviews.
|
Preservation: Act 1
The Kinks
Manufacturer: Velvel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
 General
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General
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Pop Rock
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Progressive Rock
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Hard Rock
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Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
| Classic Rock
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General
| Classic Rock
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Similar Items:
- Preservation: Act 2
- The Kinks Present Schoolboys in Disgrace
- Muswell Hillbillies
- Soap Opera
- Word of Mouth
ASIN: B0002PUH9C
Release Date: 2004-09-21 |
Tracks:
- Preservation (Single) [Alternate Mix][*][Version]
- Morning Song
- Daylight
- Sweet Lady Genevieve
- There's a Change in the Weather
- Where Are They Now?
- One of the Survivors
- Cricket
- Money & Corruption/I Am Your Man
- Here Comes Flash
- Sitting in the Midday Sun
- Demolition
- One of the Survivors [Single Edit][*]
Amazon.com
The late '60s through the mid '70s represented the era of plot rock. From the Who's Tommy onward, plot-driven and suite-length character meditations were everywhere. The Kinks' approach to the rock musical was more conceptually measured than was the norm. The plot and drama behind Preservation, Act 1 and Act 2 are far more subtle investigations of class, culture, and commerce--even if they're couched in characters like rocker Johnny Thunder. The tussle of the Preservation drama is common enough--a citizenry pursuing goals in an increasingly competitive, even ruthless manner, while on the periphery is Mr. Black, who'll save the day and restore balance, and his antagonist, Flash, who seeks to pilfer the Village Green. Both emblematic of community and a direct link to the band's 1969 Village Green Preservation Society, the drama and characters make it far better to tune in for an entire CD rather than for just one song. But "Sweet Lady Genevieve" is a gentle, lovely tune, and so many other selections are, even for passive Kinks fans, important pieces. --Andrew Bartlett
Customer Reviews:
Half-hearted effort from the Kinks; places concept over songs.......2006-03-21
In my mind, "Preservation Act 1" marks the end of the Kinks' golden era. Up to and including "Everybody's in Show-Biz," the band reliably produced great album after great album. Occasionally there might a bum track or two, but they were easily overlooked. Starting with "Preservation," though, the misses came as steadily as the hits.
Despite a few noteworthy and enjoyable songs (particularly "Sweet Lady Genevieve" and "Sitting in the Midday Sun"), "Preservation Act 1" just isn't a great album. Several tracks just meander along and then fizzle out without doing anything memorable. It seems obvious in many instances that Ray's top priority was cramming in the muddled narrative, and the songs themselves were an afterthought. The production also seems rushed--Ray's vocals often sound thin and distant, and the instrumental tracks are missing the crisp earthiness of "Show-Biz," sounding flat and listless instead.
"Preservation Act 1" is not a terrible album, it's just kind of a boring one, and a poor follow-up to the highly enjoyable "Everybody's in Show-Biz."
3 & 1/2 Stars - Really good, but just not as good as the Klassics.......2005-09-19
First off this album gets unfairly bashed from many of the reviews I've read.
Thanks to some other reviews here, I decided to get the album and was not dissapointed. This album is a bit bizzare, and is indeed a rock opera. For some, this may not be the best thing for you. However, if you are a hardcore Kinks fan and/or a completist, or into experimental/wierd music (like me)I do bevieve Preservation Act 1 is worth the purchase.
The sound of the SACD is great, and the album is densely layered which makes the album interesting for multiple listens.
Overall, it's a good album but doens't quite hold up to the klassics like: Arthur, VGPS, Face to Face, Lola, and Muswell Hillbillies.
Preservation lives on.......2005-08-17
As a big Kinks fan, "Preservation" has always been one of my favorite albums, maybe because it is so complete and almost perfect, telling the story of this British town through song. "Preservation" is clearly in the same league as the few true concept albums out there, like The Who's classic "Tommy." For me though, this is a better record because it's a better collection of songs. "Preservation" was kind of the pinnacle of a Kinks discography of concept albums from the late 60s through the 70s including such great records as "Village Green Preservation Society" (a great record full of very fun songs, and really the precursor to Preservation), "Arthur" (love this one), and "Schoolboys in Disgrace." If you like "Preservation," I'd suggest checking these out and others from this era. The Kinks became less conceptual, less folksy, more rock, and more commercial in the mid to late 70s, but still created some fantastic music through and into the 80s. But there is just something about this record that gets to you, or rather, it gets to me.
Some of the individual songs are just great. The reviewer above notes "Sweet Lady Genevieve" as a great song, and he's right, but he misses the true gems. For me, "Sitting in the Midday Sun" is an almost perfect, funny, peach of a song, and at the same time pokes fun at our Western tendency towards materialism, one of main songwriter Ray Davies' constant themes. I also really like the songs "Where Are They Now?," "One of the Survivors," which is basically, a tribute to guys like my father, who still (even now) yearn for the simple days of rock and roll in the 50s when guys like Jerry Lee Lewis and Dion and the Belmonts ruled radio. I also love the song, "Demolition," which perfectly closes the story.
I first heard "Preservation" on a cassette tape someone gave me as a gift. As the tape wore out, I had to buy the CD. My only regret regarding the CD is that they added the first track "Preservation," which was never on the original album, and definitely should not be the first track. It was later added to CDs as a kind of explanatory song, for some reason. The first track of this record should be the first tracks "Morning Song" and "Daylight." The album wakes up with these songs, and was originally intended to. When I play my CD, I skip over that first ugly track. Readers should know that the original record had "Morning Song" as the first track and "Demolition" as the last track. That was the album as it originally was released. All the other stuff (including an additional version of "One of the Survivors" on this listing, is just added filler for your CDs. I'm afraid the people who add these things just don't understand that they are ruining a piece of art when they do it. It would be like releasing a poster of a famous painting, but adding another painting by the same artist and sticking it on the bottom of the poster because there is extra blank space there. Or it would be like releasing a Hemingway novel like "For Whom The Bell Tolls," but adding a short story to the end of it that has nothing to do with the novel and telling readers that this is the novel. (I'll have to look, but I'm pretty sure my "Tommy" CD does not have any extra tracks on it.)
I won't discuss "Preservation Act II," except to say that it is not good and only has a few songs worth anything on it. I think Mr. Davies got a bit carried away with the concept on this sequel, and forgot about the music. And as a result, sadly, he will be overlooked. I used to wonder why "Tommy" was made into a musical but "Preservation" was not, since "Preservation" always seemed to me to be more theatrical, with more characters, and more social commentary. I think I know why it will never happen, and why Ray Davies will never be as recognized as Townsend has been. It's because, although Davies is probably a better songwriter, his music is more British and because his concept album with all the potential, "Preservation," self-destructed in Act II.
rite up there with the whos tommy.......2005-05-14
How could i ever forget sitting in my liveing room playing with my spider man toys and my dad walking in with a newly bought cd in his hand.he told me that this one is one of the best. i was 8 at the time and was in to the Who's Tommy i had the movie and every thing. I listened and was blown away. ever sense then where ever i go i have preservation in my case. the songs on this album are indescribable and could never be replaced.BUY THIS CD
Don't believe the reviews........2004-04-13
I've read alot of bad reviews for this and part 2. Personally, I really love both. In my opinion its one of the most impressive musical creations I've ever heard. The variety of instruments is incredible, but none of them ever seem unnecessary. Its easy to start listening to this album and part two, just for something to listen to while you do something else, and then get caught up in the music and do nothing but listen and focus your attention on the music until the album is over.
Average customer rating:
- Half-hearted effort from the Kinks; places concept over songs
- 3 & 1/2 Stars - Really good, but just not as good as the Klassics
- Preservation lives on
- rite up there with the whos tommy
- Don't believe the reviews.
|
Preservation: Act 1
The Kinks
Manufacturer: Velvel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Progressive Rock
| Progressive
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Hard Rock & Metal
| Styles
| Music
Hard Rock
| Hard Rock & Metal
| Styles
| Music
Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
| Classic Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Classic Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Pop
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
Classic Rock
| Rock
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
Similar Items:
- Preservation: Act 2
- The Kinks Present Schoolboys in Disgrace
- Muswell Hillbillies
- Soap Opera
- Word of Mouth
ASIN: B000009DI3
Release Date: 1998-07-14 |
Tracks:
- Preservation (Single)
- Morning Song
- Daylight
- Sweet Lady Genevieve
- There's A Change In The Weather
- Where Are They Now?
- One Of The Survivors
- Cricket
- Money & Corruption/I Am Your Man
- Here Comes Flash
- Sitting In The Midday Sun
- Demolition
- One Of The Survivors (Single Edit)
Amazon.com
The late '60s through the mid '70s represented the era of plot rock. From the Who's Tommy onward, plot-driven and suite-length character meditations were everywhere. The Kinks' approach to the rock musical was more conceptually measured than was the norm. The plot and drama behind Preservation, Act 1 and Act 2 are far more subtle investigations of class, culture, and commerce--even if they're couched in characters like rocker Johnny Thunder. The tussle of the Preservation drama is common enough--a citizenry pursuing goals in an increasingly competitive, even ruthless manner, while on the periphery is Mr. Black, who'll save the day and restore balance, and his antagonist, Flash, who seeks to pilfer the Village Green. Both emblematic of community and a direct link to the band's 1969 Village Green Preservation Society, the drama and characters make it far better to tune in for an entire CD rather than for just one song. But "Sweet Lady Genevieve" is a gentle, lovely tune, and so many other selections are, even for passive Kinks fans, important pieces. --Andrew Bartlett
Customer Reviews:
Half-hearted effort from the Kinks; places concept over songs.......2006-03-21
In my mind, "Preservation Act 1" marks the end of the Kinks' golden era. Up to and including "Everybody's in Show-Biz," the band reliably produced great album after great album. Occasionally there might a bum track or two, but they were easily overlooked. Starting with "Preservation," though, the misses came as steadily as the hits.
Despite a few noteworthy and enjoyable songs (particularly "Sweet Lady Genevieve" and "Sitting in the Midday Sun"), "Preservation Act 1" just isn't a great album. Several tracks just meander along and then fizzle out without doing anything memorable. It seems obvious in many instances that Ray's top priority was cramming in the muddled narrative, and the songs themselves were an afterthought. The production also seems rushed--Ray's vocals often sound thin and distant, and the instrumental tracks are missing the crisp earthiness of "Show-Biz," sounding flat and listless instead.
"Preservation Act 1" is not a terrible album, it's just kind of a boring one, and a poor follow-up to the highly enjoyable "Everybody's in Show-Biz."
3 & 1/2 Stars - Really good, but just not as good as the Klassics.......2005-09-19
First off this album gets unfairly bashed from many of the reviews I've read.
Thanks to some other reviews here, I decided to get the album and was not dissapointed. This album is a bit bizzare, and is indeed a rock opera. For some, this may not be the best thing for you. However, if you are a hardcore Kinks fan and/or a completist, or into experimental/wierd music (like me)I do bevieve Preservation Act 1 is worth the purchase.
The sound of the SACD is great, and the album is densely layered which makes the album interesting for multiple listens.
Overall, it's a good album but doens't quite hold up to the klassics like: Arthur, VGPS, Face to Face, Lola, and Muswell Hillbillies.
Preservation lives on.......2005-08-17
As a big Kinks fan, "Preservation" has always been one of my favorite albums, maybe because it is so complete and almost perfect, telling the story of this British town through song. "Preservation" is clearly in the same league as the few true concept albums out there, like The Who's classic "Tommy." For me though, this is a better record because it's a better collection of songs. "Preservation" was kind of the pinnacle of a Kinks discography of concept albums from the late 60s through the 70s including such great records as "Village Green Preservation Society" (a great record full of very fun songs, and really the precursor to Preservation), "Arthur" (love this one), and "Schoolboys in Disgrace." If you like "Preservation," I'd suggest checking these out and others from this era. The Kinks became less conceptual, less folksy, more rock, and more commercial in the mid to late 70s, but still created some fantastic music through and into the 80s. But there is just something about this record that gets to you, or rather, it gets to me.
Some of the individual songs are just great. The reviewer above notes "Sweet Lady Genevieve" as a great song, and he's right, but he misses the true gems. For me, "Sitting in the Midday Sun" is an almost perfect, funny, peach of a song, and at the same time pokes fun at our Western tendency towards materialism, one of main songwriter Ray Davies' constant themes. I also really like the songs "Where Are They Now?," "One of the Survivors," which is basically, a tribute to guys like my father, who still (even now) yearn for the simple days of rock and roll in the 50s when guys like Jerry Lee Lewis and Dion and the Belmonts ruled radio. I also love the song, "Demolition," which perfectly closes the story.
I first heard "Preservation" on a cassette tape someone gave me as a gift. As the tape wore out, I had to buy the CD. My only regret regarding the CD is that they added the first track "Preservation," which was never on the original album, and definitely should not be the first track. It was later added to CDs as a kind of explanatory song, for some reason. The first track of this record should be the first tracks "Morning Song" and "Daylight." The album wakes up with these songs, and was originally intended to. When I play my CD, I skip over that first ugly track. Readers should know that the original record had "Morning Song" as the first track and "Demolition" as the last track. That was the album as it originally was released. All the other stuff (including an additional version of "One of the Survivors" on this listing, is just added filler for your CDs. I'm afraid the people who add these things just don't understand that they are ruining a piece of art when they do it. It would be like releasing a poster of a famous painting, but adding another painting by the same artist and sticking it on the bottom of the poster because there is extra blank space there. Or it would be like releasing a Hemingway novel like "For Whom The Bell Tolls," but adding a short story to the end of it that has nothing to do with the novel and telling readers that this is the novel. (I'll have to look, but I'm pretty sure my "Tommy" CD does not have any extra tracks on it.)
I won't discuss "Preservation Act II," except to say that it is not good and only has a few songs worth anything on it. I think Mr. Davies got a bit carried away with the concept on this sequel, and forgot about the music. And as a result, sadly, he will be overlooked. I used to wonder why "Tommy" was made into a musical but "Preservation" was not, since "Preservation" always seemed to me to be more theatrical, with more characters, and more social commentary. I think I know why it will never happen, and why Ray Davies will never be as recognized as Townsend has been. It's because, although Davies is probably a better songwriter, his music is more British and because his concept album with all the potential, "Preservation," self-destructed in Act II.
rite up there with the whos tommy.......2005-05-14
How could i ever forget sitting in my liveing room playing with my spider man toys and my dad walking in with a newly bought cd in his hand.he told me that this one is one of the best. i was 8 at the time and was in to the Who's Tommy i had the movie and every thing. I listened and was blown away. ever sense then where ever i go i have preservation in my case. the songs on this album are indescribable and could never be replaced.BUY THIS CD
Don't believe the reviews........2004-04-13
I've read alot of bad reviews for this and part 2. Personally, I really love both. In my opinion its one of the most impressive musical creations I've ever heard. The variety of instruments is incredible, but none of them ever seem unnecessary. Its easy to start listening to this album and part two, just for something to listen to while you do something else, and then get caught up in the music and do nothing but listen and focus your attention on the music until the album is over.
Average customer rating:
|
Preservation: Act 1
The Kinks
Manufacturer: Jvc Japan
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
Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
| Classic Rock
| Styles
| Music
ASIN: B000PWQOTO
Release Date: 2007-08-06 |
Album Details
Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.
Average customer rating:
|
Preservation Act 1
The Kinks
Manufacturer: Edel
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Hard Rock & Metal
| Styles
| Music
General
| Classic Rock
| Styles
| Music
ASIN: B000LZUJ96 |
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