Customer Reviews

Kinked

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My primary reason for buying this CD was for the previously or limited release songs of which there are 3. Nothing else new here, but my purpose here is to review this release as a so called "Best Of" package intended more for the uninitiated. In that respect it is a very good compilation, a solid 4 star. For starters the 3 songs previously unheard by these ears are all outstanding:

1. God In My Brain (newest song here recorded post-stroke and an encouraging sign that Dave has not lost his creative juices or talent).
2. Give Me Love, Give Me Peace On Earth (nice solo rendition of the George Harrison classic very well suited to Dave's casual, intimate guitar and voice style).
3. When The Wind Blows - Emergency (beautiful song in all aspects of singing, playing and production mood).

Also included is the excellent Unfinished Business which in retrospect seemed to have jump started the Dave Davies creative output around 1996. There are 2 songs from the Bug CD. Both are worthy songs, but I can't help but think a few other excellent songs from Bug should have been included. Other studio recordings have also appeared on the Unfinished Business CD and are re-recordings of some older Davies compositions such as This Man He Weeps Tonight and Love Gets You which are two of my favorites.

Rounding out the selections are live recordings previously appearing on the Rock Bottom Live CD. Hardcore Davies fans should already have that one. Simply, a brilliant return to live performing back in 1997 that I believe more than any other thing showcased the major force that Dave was in the Kinks and put to rest any of these misconceptions that he was a mere sideman to brother Ray. Of these, Strangers and Too Much On My Mind are my favorites. Major omissions from this collection is his incredible live versions of the great lost Kinks songs, I Need You and I'm Not Like Everybody Else. You'll just have to buy that CD to get them.

If you are a hardcore completist, you know you need this CD. For the more casual fans out there that know of and have enjoyed Kinks music over the years, this is a good introduction to the solo work of Dave Davies and is highly recommended. But, be aware this only covers the past 10 years of recordings. After digesting this you might want to explore the recent excellent Bug CD, the aforementioned Rock Bottom Live as well as some of his 1980's recordings, especially Chosen People.

All the songs on this CD work very well together. I have all but three of these songs on other CDs, but the three new ones
are a real treat.

"God In My Brain," Dave's song written about his experience after waking up from his stroke, really Rocks! Dave did a fantastic job with this song. As with most of his solo material he played and sang all the parts. Very powerful!

Dave's rendition of George Harrison's "Give Me Peace On Earth," and his own, "When The Wind Blows" are two beautiful songs. As I listened, my eyes filled with tears. Dave's voice is so crystal clear and soulful on both of these songs. I wondered where he had been hiding these two jewels all this time!

This new CD is a perfect compilation to add to the rest of your collection.

To put it in Simple Terms, this CD is Great from Start to Finish. To hear a tune is good as "Unfinished Business" with it's Beatles Style Production and Excellant playing as the Opener will certainly make you smile. Dave is like Buried Treasure, he's been out there for over Forty Years now but you have to dig a little for the Loot. The Kinks songs that Dave revisits sound as Fresh on this Disc as they did all those Years ago when I first heard them. He has Re-Done a George Harrison Ditty I was tired of hearing and made it sound like a Present under the tree on Christmas Morning. There are some Live Numbers from the "Bottom Line" CD mixed in as well, if you don't already have that Disc, Get it now, Do Not Delay... It's GREAT ( as that Tiger used to say ). This is one of Best CD Releases I have heard in quite a while, maybe the best of 2006. I hope the Man remains in Good Health, I for one want Dave Davies to be making More Fantastic Music for many more Years.

This CD is for everyone tuned in to Dave Davies' unique (and much-loved) music.

I think this is excellent, and have given it My 4 Stars for:

-God In My Brain
-Give Me Love, Give Me Peace On Earth
-When The Wind Blows (Emergency)
-The brilliance of recognizing that the 1997 Bottom Line renditions of Strangers, Too Much On My Mind, as well as Picture Book, can't be topped or overpraised, and including them on this.

I'm of the opinion that replication like this is justified: it will not only lead listeners to the Bottom Line recording and its other delights, but, in combination with these selections, forms something new and great.

I recommend this CD.

I, also, wish Dave Davies a continued recovery, with music in plenty.

"God In My Brain" is Dave's first post-stroke and most important track on this new disc. KINKED is a thoughful collection of works from Dave's lengthy career (albeit it does leave off some of his best tracks from "Bug", the album that I rank as one of the finest all-time any-time albums). But what a great CD to buy for someone who may not be aware of Dave's versitility as a songwriter who proves here he is as capable of writing a great tune as his well-showcased brother Ray. I've always thought Dave deserves much more credit over the years for his important contributions to popular music. Here find exhibit A. KINKED is a great collection and am enthused to see Dave back with the new track and look forward to more.

Since the "Unfinished Business" compilation is out of print and somewhat hard to find these days, "Kinked" is currently the closest thing to a Dave Davies career overview easily available. It combines live versions of some Kinks compositions with a handful of more recent studio tracks. Dave's '80s solo output is not represented, except for an excellent acoustic reinterpretation of "Love Gets You." His most recent solo album "BUG" is also curiously underrepresented, with only two tracks, "Fortis Green" and the ballad "Rock You, Rock Me." A harder rocking album track like "Who's Foolin' Who" or "Let Me Be" would have been a welcome addition.

Most of the rest comes from the live album "Rock Bottom" and the American version of "Unfinished Business." There are a handful of previously unreleased or rare tracks to entice devoted Dave fans, however, including the gorgeous "When the Wind Blows (Emergency)," a heartfelt cover of kindred spirit George Harrison's "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)," and Dave's first (and so far only) post-stroke recording, "God in My Brain."

Taken as a CD of music, "Kinked" is pretty great. But as a compilation, it feels like a missed opportunity to present a concise summation of Dave Davies' solo work, without leaning so heavily on Kinks material. Really, is there anyone interested in this disc that hasn't already heard 50 different renditions of "Death of a Clown"? "Imaginations Real" or "Take One More Chance" would have been so much more valuable.

The appearance of this CD, a month or so after the much heralded release of Ray's first "real" solo album, Other People's Lives, is another example of how Dave's efforts have been overshadowed by Ray's. It's not really fair to compare the two, since Kinked is a compilation of recent solo items and remakes of his Kinks contributions. Judged by itself, Kinked is a fine CD. Although I do admit being more of a Ray man, Dave has contributed his share of great songs, as well as his guitar playing, to the Kinks. My favorite Dave song "Strangers" appears here in its From the Bottom Line version, which is fine in its own right. "Unfinished Business" from the 1998 2-CD compilation is also here, as well as his version of George Harrison's "Give Me Love, Give Me Peace On Earth", which originally appeared on a Harrison tribute CD. The newer songs, such as "God In My Brain" are also good. My one problem is that I frankly did not care for Dave's version of "Picture Book", which also came from the Live at the Bottom Live CD. I wasn't happy with Dave's vocals in this song. "Fortis Green" the song that came after it, was a pleasant surprise, full of heartfelt detail of his childhood, which sounded like it belonged in Something Else By the Kinks. In fact, I feel that "Fortis Green", with "Unfinished Business",along with Ray songs such as "My Diary" and "Million Pound Semi-Detached" could have made up, well not the Great Lost Kinks Album, but a Darn Good Lost Kinks Album. I agree with the previous reviewer in that a few more songs from Bug should have been included instead of "Picture Book" and some of the rerecordings to give a better picture of Dave's later solo career. Anyway, Kinked is a worthy purchase, especially for Kinks fans, and I would like to wish Dave a continuing recovery from his stroke.