This version of the Kinks' debut almost came K2-HD remastered but the powers that be in their infinite "wisdom" decided at the last minute not to improve upon what is essentially an identical disc to the 2004 version. The sound quality is poor and muddy and the only difference is the cardboard mlps design. So why should you pay loads of cash for what is essentially a poorly designed cardboard sleeve made of thin, low-quality cardboard that is very sloppily put together? The two booklets which include all the lyrics in English and Japanese plus a short uninteresting essay by Peter Doggett certainly do not justify the high price.
However, for the sake of vastly improved remastering and hence sound quality, one may see the value of paying what amounts to a huge premium over previous versions to get this version of what content-wise is a pretty decent debut album by a talented band. The product description neglects to add the bonus tracks of which there are 12. Listed below is the full track listing:
1. Beautiful Delilah
2. So Mystifying
3. Just Can't Go to Sleep
4. Long Tall Shorty
5. I Took My Baby Home
6. I'm a Lover Not a Fighter
7. You Really Got Me
8. Cadillac
9. Bald Headed Woman
10. Revenge
11. Too Much Monkey Business
12. I've Been Driving on Bald Mountain
13. Stop Your Sobbin'
14. Got Love If You Want It
15. Long Tall Sally
16. You Still Want Me
17. You Do Something To Me
18. It's Alright
19. All Day and All of the Night
20. I Gotta Move
21. Louie, Louie
22. I Gotta Go Now
23. Things Are Getting Better
24. I've Got That Feeling
25. Too Much Monkey Business
26. I Don't Need You Any More
Some of the tracks that made the Kinks famous are here like "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of the Night" (the Doors ripped this off calling it "Hello, I Love you")as well as tracks that made other bands famous such as "Stop Your Sobbing" (Pretenders) as well as a lot of covers of their inspirations such as Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. Another track of note is the extremely naughty and surprisingly uncensored "Long Tall Shorty" which somehow escaped the significantly less tolerant censorship authorities of the day.
The work here is best described as something of a mix of the very early Beatles work and that of the Yardbirds although sound quality and content-wise it falls a little short which is nothing to be ashamed of as was there any band better than the Beatles and the Yardbirds at their prime?
Again, the truly sad thing is that the sound quality is so poor and they could have done something about it with a little remastering.
It's truly shameful that they let at great opportunity to release a decent version of this album go to waste. I cannot in good conscience recommend you to spend big bucks on this version to replace the one you already own. For the others who do not as yet own this, I recommend waiting for a properly remastered version to be released.
Highly not recommended.
