Everybody's in Showbiz [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Live]

The Kinks | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 14, 1998)
• Original Release Date: 1972
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Live
• Label: Velvel Records
• ASIN: B000009DI2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,942 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It makes sense that a transition album by the Kinks wouldn't be a run-of-the-mill transition album. This artifact from 1972 originally came out on two LPs, the first consisting of new studio material (highlighted by the sublime "Celluloid Heroes" and "Sitting in My Hotel") and the second documenting a two-night Carnegie Hall stand. The live selections are representative of the sodden sets the Kinks were notorious for at the time. Ray Davis is in good humor ("My name's Johnny Cash; nice to see y'all"), and a seedy four-man horn section nicely juices up "Alcohol," which surpasses its studio predecessor. As the follow-up to the popular Muswell Hillbillies, Showbiz didn't wow fans and critics when it arrived, but it now stands as a tellingly haphazard venture from a group that just wasn't cut out for straight-to-the-top stardom. --Steven Stolder

Product Description

Two LP set of 21 tracks of this classic early Kinks album, Everybody's In Showbiz. From the opening track of Here Comes Yet Another Day till the legendary closer of Lola, the long time fans will reminiscence about past Kinks shows worthy of revival on stage with their props and antics and new listeners will be hooked with the Brits' twist on life through their music. The Kinks were an English Pop /Rock group formed in 1963, and categorised in the US as a British Invasion band. Despite being less commercially successful than their contemporaries, the Kinks are sometimes cited as one of the most important and influential rock bands of all time. --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Vintage Ray !, February 18, 2000

By 

kevin march (NW Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everybody's in Showbiz (Audio CD)

Although most die-hard Kinks fans seem to regard "Everybody's in Showbiz" as an uncharacteristic weak effort from the boys, I personally believe that that assessment might be a bit harsh and premature. True, the album is twenty-eight years old, but unlike other contemporary Live/Studio sets of its day(1972), the disc holds up remarkably well considering the fact that Ray was usually sloshed out of his mind at most of the major 70's live venues....case in point, listen to his ode to Demon "Alchohol" at Carnegie Hall on this disc. It's CLASSIC! ONLY Ray Davies could pull that off.... I'm old enough to have seen them in concert in 1974 in Toronto, and let me tell you there was NOTHING like a Kinks show...! Even by the 1970's, they had a large repetoire and the stage charisma to back it up. "Showbiz" may have lacked the cohesive luster of their previous year's signature work "Muswell Hillbillies", but it has stood the test of time in the place where it counts most.... in the HEARTS of every true Kinks devotee the world over. WHY? What other LP can claim the ORIGINAL STUDIO version of "Celluloid Heroes" with its touching references to long-gone screen icons which graphically shows Davies' melancholic longing for a simpler time(a tendency he's always readily admitted to). Another gem, (my personal fave on the LP)is "Supersonic Rocketship". Musically this tune is irresistable,a definite sing-along but pay extra attention to the lyrics...it's Classic Ray in his hope for a more equal world. All in all, I love this disc... and not just for sentimental reasons...its because these beloved Brits, I believe, never handed us anything but their best...... WE LOVE YOU RAY.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who Cares If The Liquor Flowed?? Life On The Road And It's Discomforts and Insights, August 21, 2005

By 

Original Mixed Up-Kid "jg" (New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everybody's in Showbiz (Audio CD)

At least the the live half of the CD At Carnegie Hall has feeling...It is pretty clear the Kinks were having a ball and so were the audience listening to the classics of the highly regarded Muswell Hillbilly album whose songs were an insightful view of mental stability in the 20th century...Alcohol,Paranooia etc. all included..The Muswell studio CD is indeed a classic and worth it's weight in gold,these live performances were originally the 2nd LP of the album and the CD presented here is one great long affair, half studio half live and it all flows together well.
The opening half is a collection of top rate songs chronicling Life and it's problems on and off the road.Celluloid Heroes,Sitting In My Hotel,Supersonic Rocket Ship all rate as some of the Kinks most finese moments laid down in the studio..An added bonus are the bonus tracks, additional live songs of the same performance not on the vinyl release.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A flawed classic from the Kinks, July 15, 1998

By 

WTDK "If at first the idea is not absurd, the... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Everybody's in Showbiz (Audio CD)

EVERYBODY'S IN SHOWBIZ always seemed to lack the focus and depth of MUSWELL HILLBILLIES, ARTHUR and VILLAGE GREEN. But, whatever it lacked in depth was made up for in spades with tuneful, interesting songs that ran the spectrum of the Kinks "sound".

Of particular interest is the detailed linear notes that display both a fondness for the music, as well as a fan's interest in and criticism of the music.

The two bonus tracks are both good selections, although, with the running time around 74 minutes, it is surprising that YOU'RE LOOKING FINE from the Limited Edition DJ copy wasn't also included on this disc. While the vocals for YOU'RE LOOKING FINE were a bit ragged, the playing and general performance is up to the standard of the rest of the live material that was originally issued on the second LP when this was released in 1972.

Since there is bound to be more material from the concert recorded for the second half of the cd, it would be nice to see it i! ! ssued as a rarities disc in the near future once Konk/Velvel reissue the remainder of the Kinks catalog.

TILL THE END OF THE DAY and PRINCESS MARINA both give the live disc here(along with other selections from ARTHUR and earlier Kinks classics) a more well rounded, comprehensive feel compared to the later disc ONE FOR THE ROAD.

A flawed, but perfectly enjoyable album with moments of greatness and the Davies' magic touch that captured the feelings of the common person.

Highly recommended.