The Kinks Album: “One for the Road [DVD]”

Dave Davies nails it in his commentary: this period of Kinks history seems like a dream. The video documents that strange time in the 80s when the group found arena-rock fame, particularly in the U.S., and was playing to large houses --- complete with Spinal Tap moves. For those who prefer the cultish days of the 60s, or Ray Davies's ambitious concepts of the 70s, it's not a treasured era. At times, the Kinks come off as just another rock band. Yet Ray's songs are still in there, and he was in peak performing shape, so this DVD is worth owning as a period piece.

Unfortunately, the editing is ham-fisted. Songs are out of sequence, plenty of material from the show is missing and the beginning of Catch Me Now I'm Falling is just chopped right off. The audio commentary by Dave Davies is hit and miss: sometimes funny but more often of the "Oh, yeah. I remember this song! I used to love playing that!" variety. The brief tour through the Kinks London is fun, but the trivia quiz is lame.

All in all, a must for fans. Others should wait for a more definitive history.

Fantastic footage from a late '70s concert in Providence, R.I. interlaced with running commentary by a ruminative latter-day Dave Davies. The concert can be viewed with or without commentary. Plus, there's a map and pictures of North London Kinksites. Any fan will enjoy this well-thought out and executed DVD.

I'd have liked more extra goodies befitting the DVD format, though; a very small complaint.

I was not overwhelmed by the video quality but it was quite acceptable considering the age of the tape. The music itself more than makes up for any questionable video quality, as there is a great combination of old and new (for that time, around 1980, I think) songs that are just a glimpse of Ray Davies' genius. The entire band rocks, though, and even at his age Ray Davies is quite the showman! He puts Mick Jagger to shame! Ray jumps, runs, poses, hams it up, and in spurts acts plain crazy! Even if you are not that familiar with The Kinks you will enjoy the music on this DVD. Dave Davies does a running commentary and at times is pretty funny, especially when he makes fun of himself. Wish there could have been more extras, such as more songs, more archive footage, and perhaps some commentary by Ray or an interview of him. Minor complaints aside, this DVD is still worth having. Get it before it goes out of print!

The Kinks are one of the legendary bands of rocknroll - Beatles, Stones, The Kinks - then came everyone else. Who doesn't know the opening of "You Really Got Me"? I've seen The Kinks a number of times and I recall a show at the Nassau Colosseum: the crowd was younger and Ray Davies announces, "...we're gonna do a Van Halen song now" - and the young crowd seemed genuinely stunned to learn the Kinks did it in 1964.

The Kinks body of work is quite remarkable if one takes the time to travel through time with them... Ray Davies writes the most interesting lyrics. And the music: before there was metal, before there was punk, there was The Kinks. Dave's guitar playing is excellent! Somehow, legend has it that Jimmy Page is responsible for the early Kinks guitar: NOT TRUE! Dave's guitar is the driving force of The Kinks. I know Dave didn't invent the power chord, but since it's almost Christmas: listen to the opening of "Father Christmas" sometime and the lyric to that song - this epitomizes the energy and sentiments of The Kinks. (I wish that was performed here).

The DVD: the production could have been much better. The lighting is just a bit dark, the arena seems a bit cold, and as the other reviewer said, the editing could be better. But the crowd is energetic and enthusiastic as they sing along and grab and paw at Dave's guitar. The band is in good form and having fun. The set list draws from the early years and from what I'd call the "comeback" years: Misfits and Low Budget. Even Dave comments that some of the songs are played at fast tempo - faster than normal. But on the whole: great performance.

If you're a fan, or just curious about The Kinks, then buy this dvd. It's such a shame that this seems to be all there is.

"Rock bands may come, rock bands may go, but rock and roll's gonna go on forever, all day and all of the night!" So says Ray Davies, lead singer and main songwriter for the Kinks, in this video recorded in 1979 - one of the first concerts released simultaneously as a record and video. We're very lucky the cameras captured the Kinks at their peak. Many of us long for the return of the band, but this is an excellent document of the band at the time of their greatest popularity in the U.S. It's also my favorite lineup of the band - Ian Gibbons on keyboards, Jim Rodford on bass and vocals, Mick Avory on drums, and Dave Davies on lead guitar on vocals, along with loony Ray. Mick lays down the rock solid beat, his energy level is just amazing - in fact, the entire band is energized through the whole show. Ray Davies may not have a beautiful voice, but it is perfect for the songs he writes - songs about people dealing with financial downsizing, feelings of inferiority, struggling just to get through another mundane day. These songs would not sound as convincing with a Caruso singing them. Dave Davies is probably the most underrated guitarist in all of rock, and it's fun seeing him and Jim Rodford running around onstage and backing up Ray vocally. These guys are having a ball onstage, and the audience is with them all the way. The versions of "Superman" and "Attitude" here rip the studio takes to shreds, and 'Low Budget" just sizzles, with Dave's smokin' guitar riffing. It's also nice to see/hear them do lesser known Kinks classics like "The Hard Way" and "Where Have All the Good Times Gone", along with the standards "All Day and All of the Night", "You Really Got Me" and "Lola". Recommended for all Kinks fans, or anyone who loves hard driving rock and roll.