The Kinks Album: “One For The Road [Digipak] [Remaster]”

Description :

This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players. The Kinks: Ray Davies (vocals, guitar); Dave Davies (guitar, background vocals); Ian Gibbons (keyboards, background vocals); Jim Rodford (bass guitar, background vocals); Mick Avory (drums). Additional personnel: Nick Newall (keyboards). Audio Remasterer: Bob Ludwig. Liner Note Author: Fred Schruers. Recording information: 03/1979 - 03/1980. The second half of the '70s were a good time for The Kinks, as they had finally become a consistently successful draw in America. The live ONE FOR THE ROAD followed on the heels of LOW BUDGET, an album conceived by Ray Davies as a half-live and half-in-studio effort. If one song sums up the Davies brothers' contrasting personalities, it is ROAD's version of "All Day And All Of The Night." Dave Davies big-fisted chordal riffs give way to his brother Ray's brief trip into the light camp of a "Day-O"-style sing-along. ONE FOR THE ROAD captures an era when The Kinks reclaimed their sleek muscularity, leaving behind the theatrics that had been a feature of their act in the first half of the decade. They easily mix newer numbers ("Attitude," "Superman," "Misfits") with vintage chestnuts ("David Watts," Victoria," "Stop your Sobbing"). The Kinks' live albums present a compelling portrait of the band across the decades, and ROAD stands up nicely alongside both LIVE KINKS and EVERYBODY'S IN SHOW-BIZ.

I received The Kinks' 1979 live album "One For The Road" today as a belated Christmas gift, and I must say I am stunned at how good it is. It is practically forgotten in the great pantheon of rock live albums (which include, among others, The Who's "Live At The Leeds", The Rolling Stones' "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out" and The Allman Brothers' "Live At The Fillmore East"), and yet it rightfully belongs.

What you get on "One For The Road" are 19 (not counting introductions) solid, energetic performances of Kinks klassics such as "Lola", "All Day And All Of The Night", "You Really Got Me" and "Victoria" as well as a host of lesser known tracks like "Catch Me Now I'm Falling", "Low Budget" and "Attitude". There's also a fantastic version of their 1972 classic "Celluloid Heroes" that has an almost haunting effect.

The cd adds two bonus tracks, "20th Century Man" and a blazing finale of "David Watts". The cd has been remastered in SACD, and I must say the sound quality is fantastic. The liner notes are great, and overall this is definitely a great addition to your collection.

If you like straight up no nonsense rock and roll, the Kinks are for you. Dave Davies "cooks" on this CD and is surely underrated when it comes to all time great rock guitarists. The BEST version of Celluloid Heros is worth the price of this CD alone and you'll love the rest.

The sound of this version is far better than the 1999 HDCD version - I could finally listen to this one and enjoy it. There is something magical about Ray Davies' songs that make them get under your skin - it's what a good song should do. I don't own any other Kinks' music - I just heard their hits on the radio or covers, and I didn't get them at first because they didn't seem to fit into categories nicely - they have their own. My favorite parts are Dave Davies guitar solos on "Celluloid Heroes" - this alone is a great reason to buy this.