Other People's Lives

Ray Davies | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 21, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: V2 North America
• ASIN: B000E1JOPM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (93 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,128 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Things Are Gonna Change

2. After The Fall

3. Next-Door Neighbour

4. All She Wrote

5. Creatures Of Little Faith

6. Run Away From Time

7. The Tourist

8. Is There Life After Breakfast?

9. The Getaway (Lonesome Train)

10. Other People's Lives

11. Stand Up Comic

12. Over My Head

13. Thanksgiving Day

Editorial Reviews

UK edition includes 2 bonus tracks. 2007 release of the second solo album by the founder and former frontman of The Kinks, one of the best albums of his incredible career. His first, Other People’s Lives, was a lifetime in the making, while this album happened relatively quickly. It was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee and mixed in North London at Konk Studios, featuring 10 stellar songs co-produced with Ray Kennedy. They assembled a crackerjack band of top musicians who breathed life into a wonderful collection of songs. The album is infused with a transatlantic sound befitting Ray’s close ties to the American south coupled with his well respected Englishness. From the first upbeat notes of the lead track ‘Vietnam Cowboys’, it is clear Ray has never sung better. The album presents a wistful, humorous and poignant look at life in the 21st Century, just what we have come to expect from one of Britain’s greatest songwriters. Highlights are many and include the Preservation Jazz Hall sway of ‘Morphine Song’, the painful longing of ‘Imaginary Man’ and the haunting emotion of ‘One More Time’. Brimming with variety, ‘Voodoo Walk’ is a steamy stroll on the rock side. ‘You’re Asking Me’ and ‘In A Moment’ offer incredibly affecting pop while ‘Working Man’s Café’ revisits familiar Davies territory, that yearning for an era gone by. V2 --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2 stars great return to form from head Kink, February 26, 2006

By 

WTDK "If at first the idea is not absurd, the... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Other People's Lives (Audio CD)

Ray Davies has been MIA for too long."Other People's Lives" is a terrific return to form. The glossy production surface compliments the songs-- here he does what he does best creating character studies in each song perfectly crafted with rich melodies. From the touch of sonic discord (pardon the pun) that opens "Things are Gonna Change" to the witty lyrics and a melody that would have fit at home on "Village Green" in "Is There Life After Breakfast?" Ray's in top form. The playing perfectly supports his witty observations in "Stand Up Comic" which acts as a perfect metaphor for his own career.

The CD booklet has great liner notes from Ray discussing the origin of the songs, how they came to be recorded, what he thinks of them now that they're finished. As usual the notes are clever, witty and feature his brand of self depreciating humor that fans love. While the material was written and recorded prior to his attack in New Orleans (he chasd a purse snatcher that had his girlfriend's stuff and was injured in a knife attack in the process) and Hurricane Katrina they sound like they capture that vibe.


His last album 1998's "The Storyteller" CD had some new material that was extremely good mixed in with vintage Kinks tunes as part of Ray's "audiobiography" tour for X-RAY. These songs were recorded in 2002 but weren't mixed until last year with finishing touches put on the album as well. At age 62 Ray has found his muse and that's good for us the listeners. Sure some people complain that Dave's biting guitar playing is missed (and it is on a few tracks)but it would also have felt out of place on some of these more intimate tracks. Besides, Dave's been busy making some fine music of his own with "Bug" and was recovering from his stroke last year.

Ray we missed you! Don't wait another 7 years to release the next album!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glimpses of Raw Unpolished Kinks, November 10, 2007

By 

Morten Vindberg (Denmark) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Working Man's Cafe (Audio CD)

"Working Man's Café" is Ray Davies' second solo-release in two years; but it actually could be called his first real solo album. "Return to Waterloo" from 1985 was a soundtrack-album, "Storyteller" was mainly a live-recording and last year's "Other People's Lives" was recorded over a 3-4 years period.

It been more than ten years since Ray last recorded with brother Dave as the Kinks, so maybe it's irrelevant to compare his present music with his legendary band. But as his vocals and songs were such a big part of the band's profile, it's really hard not to do so; especially as his new album has so many ingredients that were also typical of the Kinks.

The raw unpolished sound that characterised the Kinks' early recordings for Pye is more or less reinvented on this new album; and this without losing Ray's unique melodic touch. Actually this new album features most virtues of the best Kinks albums. Great songs, lots of energy, great vocals and a lot of variation - without losing consistency.

"Other People's Lives" was not a bad album at all, but it did not really work as well as an album as this new release. Several songs deserve to be brought forward, and a good handful of them are already among my Davies favourites.

There some very beautiful ballads; several with moving melancholy lyrics. The closing track "Real World" is a great song in the vein of "Don't Forget to Dance". "Imaginary Man" is another ballad - just as strong. "One More Time" is a great midtempo song, very much sounding like the Kinks of the late 70's.

More bluesy is "Working Man's Café" and "Morphine Song" has some female harmony vocals that make you think of "Preservation Act" - both fine tracks.

"You're Asking Me" is Ray at his wildest - great melodic rocker - with a "Sunny Afternoon" bridge - it's almost as if Dave Davies singing the harmony vocals; an obvious live-favourite.

A great album from an artist who has neither lost his powerful voice nor his unique writing skills.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Return Of A Legend, February 21, 2006

By 

ralph (Woodbridge, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Other People's Lives (Audio CD)

A long wait for this one. Mr. Davies first proper solo disc! It's all I expected (and more) from Ray Davies. 13 minor masterpieces, and nothing drags this disc down! It's been a long
long time we've heard anything new from Ray (with or without the Kinks). Savor this one! A very solid 5 star CD!!!