Customer Reviews

Everybody's in Showbiz

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This album was originally released a double studio/live set.

If you don`t like trumpets of horns in general, this probably won`t be your favourite Kinks album. Around 1971-74 the horn section was more or less a permanent part of the Kinks line-up.

Musically there is absolutely a lot to go for here. Especially the studio-half of the album has its outstanding moment. The classic "Celluloid Heroes", one Ray Davies` greatest compositions, does not need further presentation.

"Sitting in My Hotel" is another great song; actually more or less a sequel to "All of my Friends Were There" from "The Village Green Preservation".

The single "Supersonic Rocket Ship" is catchy and quite amusing.

A Kinks U.S. Tour video-documentary was in the plans early 1972, and several songs has a life-on-the-road theme in the lyrics. There is a degree of disillusion to the lyrics, and a few songs may appear a little uninspired.

Musically most songs are not far from the sound and style of the previous album "Muswell Hillbillies", but apart from the 3-4 strongest songs, the album is generally slightly weaker.

Logically the documentary that never was, had to cover the Kinks` live act, which was quite different from early Kinks, and also from latter year Kinks. There obviously was a quite relaxed atmosphere, at times tending towards the sloppy, at the Kinks` live show in those days. Several jazzy standards were included in the show and Ray Davies seemed to enjoy the role of an entertained more than being a traditional rock-star. With the brass-section dominating most tracks, the album is very different to their next and highly successful live album "One For the Road". This live set is an interesting document and at times quite amusing, but for me the studio half is by far the most important.

An uneven affair with a couple of really great moments.

This Japanese mini-lp replica version of Kinks album is simply a work of art! Very beautifully designed with all the lyrics included and with a sound quality remastered to perfection.
This 2007 JVC reissue is by far the best version of this album that is out there; great sound quality, great packaging, great songs! A must have in any CD collector's library.

This was originally released in '72 as a double-LP, one disc featuring new studio material and the other a live set from a two-night Carnegie Hall stand. It's a vaudevillian music hall mish-mash of variable attraction, but also features sublime tunes such as "Celluloid Heroes" and "Sitting In My Hotel". The overriding vibe seems to be one of either blissful or resigned insobriety, but still highlights frontman Ray Davies' unique and compelling stage persona.