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Editorial Reviews
From the Artist
"I think these songs fit together really well as a record," Davies says. "I couldn't re-record anything unless I could bring something new to it, and I think I certainly have."
Product Description
After massively successful career spanning more than 40 years, Ray Davies, the legendary lead singer of The Kinks, is back with creative and unusual interpretations of songs from his extensive catalogue. Often referred to as "almost indisputably rock's most literate, witty and insightful songwriter," Davies had the ambitious idea to collaborate with the 65-strong Crouch End Festival Chorus at the 2007 BBC Electric Proms in London to create The Kinks Choral Collection. This masterful CD will be in stores November 10th on Decca with a nationwide tour scheduled to coincide with the release. (U.S. dates to be announced soon.)
Produced by Davies himself and with uplifting, sometimes epic, choral arrangements by David Temple, Steve Markwick and Davies, this union casts a fresh light to some of The Kinks' timeless compositions including striking new versions of classics such as "You Really Got Me", "All Day And All Of The Night", "Waterloo Sunset" and many more. Ray said of his Crouch End vocal colleagues; "With a song like `Waterloo Sunset', I feel as if the people I wrote it for are singing it". And they display an ingenious palette of choral techniques. Hearing `See My Friends' recast as an acappella gospel hymn is instantly striking, hugely magnifying the impact of Ray's life-after-death lyrics.
A fascinating feature of the program includes a six-song suite from the 1968 album The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society. Although not as well known as some of the bigger hits, this collection is now widely regarded as The Kinks' masterpiece, with songs like "Do You Remember Walter?" which is a poignant memoir of a vanished childhood world.
Overall this inspirational new album offers so much to explore and admire from fans who own the entire Kinks catalogue on vinyl or to complete newcomers. This is a great introduction to Davies' idiosyncratic, delightful world. A slice of pop history revived: "Thank you for the days . . . Days I'll remember all my life".
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Choirmaster Davies,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Kinks Choral Collection (Audio CD)
Hmmm?...one wonders, how would anyone, even the amazing Raymond, pull this off? Ray Davies is my favorite WRITER - not just song writer, but wordsmythe of all kinds and all time. His wit, cynicism, sometimes joy, and freakin' cleverness never fails to make me smile. As I listened to this for the first time I couldn't stop smiling and simply got lost in a concept that really COULDN'T be 'pulled off' by anyone else I can think of. His web site talks about what a joy it was to have 'the people he was singing TO on Waterloo Sunset' actually singing WITH him on it! His genius to me is underlined by this treatment of Waterloo Sunset, what I consider the greatest rock 'n roll arranged song ever. I thought "how could even a chorus improve on the original vocal arrangement"? It doesn't! It honors that original arangement with the richness of a chorus. How beautiful! It just makes you wonder, what's he gonna be up to next?
20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Masterpiece,
This review is from: The Kinks Choral Collection (Audio CD)
The Kinks Choral Collection is definitive a Masterpiece.Some of the best Songs ever written in the History of Music in a fantastic new Choral/Band Arrangement. Shangri La, See my friends and the Village Green Suite to name a few by so many Highlights from that wonderful CD. You really got me Ray , I like your Angels from North-London !!!
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Different and Entertaining,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Kinks Choral Collection (Audio CD)
I didn't know what to expect, but I was blown away by the first song (Days). Ray's voice is still at the top of his game (at least with the help of studio recording), and the additon of the choir doing countrapuntal harmony (I think that's what it is called) was beautiful.As I continued to listen, I was surprised when one tune turned out to be You Really got Me. During parts of the CD it sounded as though I was in church, but these songs are better than anything I've every heard in a place of worship. Overall, I really enjoyed the CD. But you have to know I've been a die hard Kinks and Ray Davies fan since the 60's.
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