Customer Reviews

Face to Face

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4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
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Don't let the psychedelic appearance of the album art fool you into thinking this is somehow the Kinks' entry in the summer-of-love sweepstakes, including Sgt Pepper, Smiley Smile, Their Satanic Majesties Request, or Of Cabbages and Kings--all which were released in 1967. Instead this is Ray Davies turning away from the hard-driving rock 'n' roll which was the backbone of their first three UK albums and finding a broader range of textures to add to his music and a shift in his lyrics.

Ray's songs often were snapshots of everyday life. "Session Man" was written as a tribute to Nicky Hopkins who frequently appeared on Kinks tracks (and almost every other major British artist of the period). "Rosie Won't You Please Come Home" was directed at Ray's sister who was living in Australia at the time. "Rainy Day in June"--complete with opening thunderclap--was inspired by Ray's backyard garden sanctuary. As he explains in the liner notes: "I love rain and the moistness after a storm, and it was about fairies and little evil things within the trees that come to life." And you can't help but believe that Ray's personal experience with the taxman was the basis for "Sunny Afternoon"--a No. 1 in the UK, but only No. 15 in the US.

There were still songs that were reminiscent of the Kinks of old: the rollicking "Party Line," the hard driving "Holiday in Waikiki." But Ray was broadening his musical landscape. He wasn't going to limit the band to the "Kinks" sound of "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of the Night" and remain a durable and viable band.

This was the beginning of a high water mark for the band. Face to Face, along with Something Else, Village Green Preservation Society and Arthur, is as good an album as any other album to come out of the sixties. And other than the Beatles, no group put out four albums of this consistent quality during the decade. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Between the years 1965-69 (but especially between 66-67) four
UK bands were crowned the royalty of rock: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and The Who. Of these four, The Kinks
would decline and fade the quickest--especially in the United States--by no fault of their own. Released at the tail end of
their chart success in the US (Sunny Afternoon had made #14 there in the summer of '66, and topped the UK charts), "Face To Face" was the album which simultaneously put them in the same artistic league as their three peers while destroying any further chance of commercial success.

"Aftermath", "Revolver", "A Quick One", "Between The Buttons", "Sgt.Pepper" and "The Who Sell Out" represented a stunning growth and maturity in UK album style during this time, and "Face To Face" (along with its successor "Something Else") is no exception. It was 1966 when the LP became more than just a collection of songs, and The Kinks were pioneers in the field, making "Face To Face" a song cycle outlining the UK class system with exquisite detail. Ray Davies' original plan for the album was to link all of the songs without the customary three-second gap (an idea which predated "Pepper"), so sure was he that he had created something of thematic unity. Although he didn't get what he wanted, "Face To Face" remains a landmark in the group's career, a time when their music began to take on greater instrumental color and their lyrics reflected the singer's own personal obsessions (this, of course, characterized albums like "Aftermath" and "Revolver" as well). Harpsichords, horns, sound effects and other odd additions paint a lucid aural sheen of the crazed party lines, Hawaiian holidays, rainy days in June, elitist upper class snobs and forgotten session men who people Davies' world; many of the lyrics were written after he had suffered a nervous breakdown in the spring of '66 and specifically reflect that state of mind ("Too Much On My Mind", the hauntingly dark and ethereal "Rainy Day In June").

Over and above all else, however, "Face To Face" is a portrait
of the ups and downs of the UK class system. Side one gives one
representations of the upwardly mobile, and the emotional impact this leaves on themselves and their families ("Rosy Won't You Please Come Home", "House In The Country"), while side two generally charts their decline and fall in an almost Dylan-esque fashion ("Most Exclusive Residence For Sale", "Sunny Afternoon").
The most revealing song on the album--and the one which most reflects its pop-art psychedelic cover--is the hypnotic "Fancy", in which Davies outlines the boundaries of his ego by his tastes and preferences, which cannot be penetrated by others.

In short, "Face To Face" is an essential purchase, in spite of a few filler tracks (which were actually leftovers from the '65 "Kink Kontroversy" sessions, such as "I'll Remember") that don't seem to fit in its overall scope. The expanded CD import includes many essential bonus tracks which fit the mood of the era, including the scorching b-side "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" and the cautionary lower-class tales "Dead End Street" and "Big Black Smoke", both of which are augmented by the same growing attention to lyrical and instrumental detail that marked the album.

this album is a flat-out masterpiece! i think of it as the kinks' revolver -- and, trust me, i'm not guilty of hyperbole. it was recorded in the same year (1966) and it has the same dreamy (i.e., druggy) feel of the beatles LP. nearly every song is a daring departure from the earlier, wildly popular kinks sound of you really got me and till the end of the day. even the extra tracks on this english import shine like pure pre-summer of love authentic psychedelic diamonds. do your head a favor and check this out.....P.S.: the kinks next two albums, something else and the villiage green preservation society are -- and it almost scares me to say this -- even better than face to face and are a must own for anyone who claims to care at all about rock n' roll (or whatever their calling it these days).

Admittedly the Kinks got even better after this one. Check out "Something Else". You will thank me later. But that does not detract from the fact that this is one wonderful album. It is one of Metamorpho's "secret finds" that can now, finally, be revealed to a wider audience. I bought this in it's original incarnation as an L.P. Is Metamorpho dating himself? Don't tell.
What comes to mind here is Ray Davies incredible talent at songwriting and the wonderful pop-hook. All in glory. All ever-reaching onward. Think they had the inimitable Nicky Hopkins playing on this. What a wise choice. It is a transition album, for sure. Davies is exploring new areas of pop nuance - away from the charged chords of "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of the Night". Two early rockers. Actually, I preferred the understated but subtle chord changes of "Tired Of Waiting for You". That sort of thing is more evident here- although he still gives the rockers their just due.
Love the beginning of "Party Line". Nowhere in rock is there a beginning like this. But, sound bits were coming into vogue as witnessed by that summers "Pet Sounds" and the forthcoming Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper". This gives you some idea of the genius of Ray Davies. Real depth in some tunes. Still like the subtle "Fancy". They only see what's in their own 'fancy'. Isn't it true? Don't we only see what we want to? So clever of Ray to get this into a song. I love tunes you have to think about. Ray is a songwriter that has levels you must explore. But there are also those tunes there to amuse and entertain. But, a sure-fire genius nevertheless.
He channeled Metamorpho with "Too Much On My Mind". I am sure many of you have gone through this. Also, the forces that be are always conniving to take away the pleasures of life, i.e; "A big fat mama, tryin' to break me", in a 'Sunny Afternoon'. Davies is the little man, the everyman, and his songs always reflect the plight of the common man.
If you like pop - and especially circa mid 60's, this little known but highly regarded work is for you. Metamorpho has so deemed. And may the color of the cover match the color of all your dreams. Considerable - INDEED!

The eternal tickster - Metamoprho :)

Music people argue, what was the first rock concept album: SF Sorrow, Tommy, Sgt. Pepper, Village Green. In a sense, who was first really does not matter. The more informative fact to realize is that in the 60s, great artists fed off and tried to outdo each other, and this fuled some wonderful records.

Face to Face is prime example. This is about swinging London. It talkes about party lines, run away teenagers, session men, and being home on a sunny afternoon. Ray Davies, maybe rock's best storyteller after Dylan, creates a masterpiece that discribes English, and London, life in the 1960s. If the record is not a story in itself, it definately linked by its themes.

You can also argue, to no end, if this is his materpiece. Or is Village Green better, or is it the epic, experimental sweep of Something Else. True, Something Else is more ambitious, musically, and when Village Green arrived, recording technology had improved, so the music did SOUND better.

Actually, I feel that Face To Face and Village Green are two sides, same coin. Where the first is about city live, the other is about the rustic countryside during the same period. But they are both sound paintings of the England Davies documented so well.

After more than a handful or so great singles, the Kinks produce their first great album. FACE TO FACE displays the Kinks in an experimental mode and clearly the band was ready for the growth demonstrated by this album and the classics that followed.

"Party Line" starts things off with a hard rock feel--its almost of a goodbye kiss to their previous sound(which matured so well on Kontroversy the previous year). While there are a few clunkers mixed in with this set, almost every song has a redeeming virtue whether it be an unexplored type of arrangement(Session Man), or strong social commentary(Dandy).

The bonus tracks are particulary noteworthy featuring such minor Kinks classics are I'm not like everybody else, Big Black Smoke and Mister Pleasant, as well as, the anthem Dead End Street. Of the two unreleased tracks, Mr. Reporter(from an abandoned EP on professions), has a distinct Dylanesque feel to it. Dave's vocal is stronger than his previous vocal performances. The melody, while it doesn't break any new ground, has an interesting counterpoint in the horn arrangement(which points to the horn arrangements on Arthur and Village Green). Little Women, an unfinished track, showed great potential but, sadly, was abandoned before any vocals were added.

Altogether a worthy addition to any Kinks collection and certainly one of the 6 or 7 best Kinks albums.

For those of us who were alive and paying attention when this album came out, it was deja vu when "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" came out in June 1967. I know that Paul McCartney credits The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" as a major influence; but, he must have been listening to "Face to Face" on the other turn table. Ray Davies paens to a deteriorating British middle class while using skiffle, rock and ballads to tell the tale was a preview of coming attractions by The Beatles. Compare the two + "Well Respected Man" and "Dedicated Follower of Fashion" and you be the judge.

I'm mainly writing this review as a public service announcement. The Castle/Sanctuary re-issues are available at amazon's UK site (amazon.co.uk) for normal, low CD prices. As a fan of rock and pop you owe it to yourself to buy this CD along with the ones that followed through 'Lola' ('Percy' on is your call ;)) First of all, the Castle/Sanctuary reissue has lots of awesome bonus tracks including "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" and "Dead End Street". This is the only version to buy. This is one of the best Kinks albums, showcasing Ray Davies and brother Dave writing infallible pop melodies in various sub-genres and applying them to witty, at times condescending lyrics about various folks in British middle class society but nonetheless applicable to anybody with a dry, sarcastic sense of humor. this is the start of the Kinks' awesome second phase which would end with the 'Lola' album. Buy it now!!!

This Kinks album is a phenomenal listen and the group's initial departure from the pre-punk hits of "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of the Night" and first foray into their more complex and British-y compositions which would come to full fruition on Something Else by the Kinks and The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society. When I first began buying all the Kinks' Pye output, I was shocked to find this album curiously out-of-print in the US while almost everything else is available. Checking out Amazon.co.uk for the first time, I found this to be available (and only 3.99 GBP) and all of the UK Sanctuary releases of the Pye albums have substantially more bonus content than their US counterparts (for example, the US version of Kinks (debut) has 2 bonus tracks while the UK version has 12).

Since the site's shipping rates reward multiple items in a single purchase, I was able to get the band's entire 10 album Pye output from Amazon.co.uk for under $50 and the items arrived to my US address quickly and without incident. Highly recommended for the true Kinks fans. Don't pay $20 for a used copy here.

This album showed that the Kinks were headed down a new creative path.The only rocker is the opening track which is awesome. "Party Line" is a funny song. Then there's "Rosie Won't You Please Come Home" which is the sound most of the album has. "Dandy" is a funny jab at Dave's party going lifestyle from his brother Ray. "Holiday in Waikiki" is skippable and seems to be ripping off "Last Train To Clarksville" by The Monkees and "19th Nervous Breakdown" by the Rolling Stones. But, it seems to only be me who thinks this.The album also has "Sunny Afternoon" which is one of the Kinks most famous songs. It's also the album's best.There's also one bonus track that I quite like: "Dead End Street" which is a cynical song. It's probably the only bonus track that I felt was essential. Although this album isn't as essential as other Kinks discs (I'd give it 4 1/2 stars if I could), it is still essential and worth the money.