Kinks - Ultimate Collection [Import]

The Kinks | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 23, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Sanctuary
• ASIN: B0000BWVCD
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,094 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #11 in Music > Imports > Classic Rock
  • #24 in Music > Pop > Oldies > Baroque Pop
  • #32 in Music > Rock > Oldies & Retro > Garage Bands

Editorial Reviews

Arguably the finest and most expansive Kinks collection on the market! The first disc of this double-disc begins with their third single and first No. 1, the insistent 'You Really Got Me', then races through the glory years with the absurdly infectious likes of 'Sunny Afternoon', 'Waterloo Sunset', 'Lola' and 'Apeman'. Dave's two hits are included, too, and the disc ends with 'Come Dancing' and other selections from The Kinks' early-80s comeback. Disc Two includes songs that were hits for others ('David Watts' and 'Stop Your Sobbing'), various B-sides and other rarities, including 'God's Children', from the soundtrack of Percy, a movie about a fellow seeking the original owner of his recently transplanted penis. The Ultimate Collection is an excellent addition to the Kinks's cannon. 44 tracks in all spread over two discs. Sanctuary. 2007 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For the record:, May 30, 2007

By 

B. Lowe (Toronto, ON Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ultimate Collection (Audio CD)

The following tracks on this compilation are in mono: "You Really Got Me", "All Day And All Of The Night", "Tired Of Waiting For You", "Everybody's Gonna Be Happy", "Set Me Free", "See My Friend", "Till The End Of The Day", "Dedicated Follower Of Fashion", "Sunny Afternoon", "Dead End Street", "Autumn Almanac", "Susannah's Still Alive", "Wonderboy", "Days", "Plastic Man", "Lola", "Dandy", "Mr. Pleasant", "I Gotta Move", "Who'll Be The Next In Line", "I Need You", "Where Have All The Good Times Gone", "Sittin' On My Sofa", "A Well Respected Man", "I'm Not Like Everybody Else", "Love Me Till The Sun Shines", and "She's Got Everything".

The following are in stereo: "Waterloo Sunset", "Death Of A Clown", "Victoria", "Apeman", "Supersonic Rocket Ship", "David Watts", "Stop Your Sobbing", "Starstruck", "Shangri-La", "God's Children", "Celluloid Heroes", "Superman", "Do It Again" and "Living On A Thin Line".

"Better Things", "Come Dancing" and "Don't Forget To Dance" sound like mono, which had been phased out long before then. They could possibly be single fold-downs from stereo.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glorious!!, January 11, 2010

By 

Barry McGloin "Baz" (Canberra, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kinks - Ultimate Collection (Audio CD)

Well this has been released for some years now and anyone who has wanted to revisit The Kinks has probably bought it, but if you are thinking of getting yourself a copy don't hesitate, it is undoubtedly the best collection, both in terms of sound quality and songs. The Singles Collection is a fine CD, but go the extra distance with this which includes some later material and you won't be disappointed. The 2008 UK released Picture Book Box Set does not appear to be available as yet in the US.

I was checking Kinks' reviews and noticed there were some differences of opinion re the band being originators of heavy metal, not that it really matters after all, being the originators of such a plodding dinosaur is hardly noteworthy. The early singles You Really Got Me and All Day And All of the Night did promote heavy chording with a raw in your face production (which Ray Davies had to fight for) but these singles exhibited much faster beat and were far more spirited than most heavy metal, which by definition is lugubrious and loud. I should also point out that Louie Louie, a song which also used staccato chording was in the Kinks early repetoire. The original version was played by Hannibal & The Headhunters from 1958; maybe they are the rosetta stone of heavy metal? Hardly, but for early metal progenitors check out Jeff Beck's Truth (1967) and Zep's first album (1968), although both discs had more to offer than heavy (base) metal.

I do think however that you could safely attribute the Kinks to having heavily influenced that basic, some might say inept, performance of minimalist r 'n b songs now called garage rock,. It was so basic you could describe it as punk in attitude and execution and many three chord Charlies, myself included, saw themselves as maestros of the genre, anyone could do it and many did. Check out the garage bands series of albums called Nuggets, issued now by Rhino.

The Kinks' first album had many examples of basic R 'n B which thankfully, for my taste, are not included although excellent rock numbers are here. It wasn't long before Ray Davies' artistic vision began to assert itself in terms of lyrics, music, arrangements and sometime later in the 60s, production, although the band retained its ability to rock out with its rawness and that somewhat shakey edge. It was an unusual combination, a loose, sometimes rough feel yet highly sophisticated arrangements - revisit Autumn Almanac, it is astounding - check out Shangri-La! I think that Mick Avory's drumming and Pete Quaife's bass playing served the band well, as did brother Dave's guitar when he was on form.

The Kinks had such a large output of good material and I can think of songs which I might have included - Two Sisters, Harry Rag, It's Alright, Alcohol, Don't You Fret, Last of the Steam Powered Trains, Animal Farm, Monica, Village Green, Do You Remember Walter? As you might guess I'm not so familiar with the later material, although the later tracks which are included are very good. When you think that the band had primarily one writer, as opposed to other units of the time, Ray's output in terms of quality and quantity was phenominal. Grab yourself a glorious slice of rock history from primal pulse to pastoral eloquence, from lusty bravado to incisive observation, and thank them for the Days.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unbeatable Collection, Fantastic Band, September 20, 2007

By 

mroxie "mroxie" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Kinks - Ultimate Collection (Audio CD)

The Kinks are, undoubtedly, one of the British 'greats' of the 1960s, along with The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and The Who. The Kinks seem to have a quintessentially British quality that is charming and immediately apparent in the brilliant songwriting of Ray Davies. Their influence has been all-pervasive, inspiring the work of later artists (like Oasis and Blur) and having their songs covered ("David Watts" - The Jam, "Stop Your Sobbing" - The Pretenders, "Victoria" - The Fall, etc.) Even more casual music listeners will likely be familiar with songs like "You Really Got Me", "All Day and All of the Night", "Tired of Waiting For You", and "Lola".

This 2-CD compilation contains ALL of their hit singles, PLUS many other favorite tracks; not many compilations can boast that! Though many of The Kinks' studio albums are worth listening to as well (The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society, for one), if you are looking for solid, thorough coverage of The Kinks at a reasonable price, the Ultimate Collection is it!