Misfits [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

The Kinks | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 24, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Velvel Records
• ASIN: B00000FDJU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,366 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Misfits

2. Hay Fever

3. Black Messiah

4. Rock & Roll Fantasy

5. In a Foreign Land

6. Permanent Waves

7. Live Life [UK Album Version]

8. Out of the Wardrobe

9. Trust Your Heart

10. Get Up

11. Black Messiah [Single Remix][*]

12. Father Christmas [*]

13. Rock & Roll Fantasy [US Single Edit][*]

14. Live Life [US Single Mix][*]

Editorial Reviews

This CD is an out of print collectible! It is the 1998 remastered Velvel release. Catalog 63467-79726-2. There is a hole punch through the UPC.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An overlooked gem, June 7, 2000

By 

Brian D. Rubendall (Oakton, VA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Misfits (Audio CD)

The Kinks 1980s "comeback" album was "State of Confusion." But in the late 1970s, the band released a quiet gem that might actually be better than that album. Ray Davies delivers his strongest set of songs since the early 1970s. The song "Rock'n'Roll Fantasy" is dedicated to devout fans (which was about all the band had during this time), while other songs like "Misfits," and "A Foreign Land" cover typical Davies territory. Inclusion of the ace holiday track "Father Christmas" on the CD is great bonus. Overall, this is the best Kink album of the late 1970s.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Kinks Album Of The 70's..., February 28, 2008

By 

Mike B. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Misfits (Audio CD)

...and the most consistently good (no bad tracks). This can't be said of any of their other 1970 to end-of-career releases.

After their 3-in-a-row masterpieces "Face To Face" (1966), "Something Else by the Kinks" (1967), and "The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society" (1968) - The Kinks ended the decade with their best album ever - "Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)" (1969).

This was followed by the nearly flawless (if not perfect) "Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround" (1970). This would be their last consistently good album until "Misfits" (1978). All the releases in-between these two are only "half-good". That is to say, half the album tracks are good to great, and half are negligible to bad. Of the half-good albums, the best were "Muswell Hillbillies" (1971) and "Sleepwalker" (1977). Of their much-maligned "concept" album period (1973 to 1976), "Soap Opera" (1975) stands out as the most amusing and entertaining.

Following the sometimes boring "Sleepwalker", "Misfits" came as a surprise. The lyrics and music were playful and witty. Some songs were comical vignettes, others had social commentary, and yet others were rueful ruminations. In short, everything you'd expect and want of a Kinks record. The album rocks, but also has a little reggae (performed in the style of 10cc). But most impressively - there wasn't even one bad song!

The very next year they put out "Low Budget" (1979), on which for the first time the number of bad songs outweighed the good. This would continue to be the pattern until the end of their career.

Those wishing to buy the best Kinks albums should get "Face", "Something Else", "Village Green", "Arthur", "Lola", and "Misfits". All of these are fantastic and are must-haves for serious music fans. After all is said and done, they are arguably the best band of all time. Even lesser Kinks songs are better than most artists' best songs. Having said that, I'll further opine that their very early and later-period albums aren't good enough to collect. To get their great British Invasion singles and the best of their later work, just invest in a good compilation like "The Ultimate Collection" (2002).

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Kinks Stop Sobbing, August 23, 2003

By 

Thomas Alan Gamble (Puyallup, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Misfits (Audio CD)

This is truly a cathartic piece of work by a band that never knew its relevance to the world at large. The Kinks did not enjoy the 70's like the rest of us. Instead, at the point when they signed their big contract (with RCA) they were immediately steeped into the visions of Ray Davies with a series of eclectic and difficult to comprehend operatic efforts which ultimately cost them their audience to all but the most ardent of fans. Imagine the journey of a fan of the "You Really Got Me" era trying to evolve from the likes of "Waterloo Sunset" (not so hard) on to "Lola" (getting strange) through to "Soap Opera" (what is this?). Quite a difficult journey for the fan, as well as the artist.

Stop at August 16, 1977. The King is gone, and the Davies' brothers realize that his bloated corpse represented something about them as well. Were they past their prime? Maybe. Could they still make relevant music? Who knows. Did they even want to? This is what the album ends up answering.

"A Rock-n-Roll Fantasy" is as interesting a song as the band ever wrote. In it the band forms a bond with their fans, with a full realization that they are all victims and benefactors of the mirage that was the 70's rock scene. Davies yearns not only to shake off the malaise and become a full person, but to finally recognize that being loved by one person is ultimately a very profound thing. They made this album for one person: anyone who wanted to listen.

"Misfits" expands on this theme. Setting the standard for bands like Big Star and the Replacements, Davies ultimately realizes that his approach will never be fully embraced. Not that he could live with that kind of acceptance, anyway. "...This is your chance, this is your time. Don't throw it all away, yuo can have your day..." They set their sights in a more realistic sense and reveal, "...Yes, it's true, what they say. Every dog has his day." This song narrative sets the tone for such latter day gems as "Don't Forget To Dance," "Heart Of Gold" and "Come Dancing."

The rest of this album contains some vigorous music, if not the amp-busting sound of their live and early work. Highlights include the hairstyle lament "Permanent Waves," the plain spoken politics dasher "Black Messiah," the so-what-if-life-gives-you-lemons-make-lemonade "Live Life," and the wonderful "Father Christmas." The latter must be heard to be believed: only the Kinks could have made this song.

The sole disappointment in the set it "Out Of The Wardrobe." Trying to extend on the Lola theme, this cross-dressing ditty contradicts itself to the point of irrelevancy.

Get this album if you like the songwriting voice of Ray Davies.