Working Man's Cafe

Ray Davies | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 19, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: New West Records
• ASIN: B0010ZOCIU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,645 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Vietnam Cowboys (4:12)

2. You re Asking Me (3:22)

3. Working Man s Café (3:41)

4. Morphine Song (4:18)

5. In A Moment (4:29)

6. Peace In Our Time (4:39)

7. No One Listen (3:13)

8. Imaginary Man (4:09)

9. One More Time (4:28)

10. The Voodoo Walk (4:24)

11. Hymn For A New Age (3:42)

12. The Real World (5:06)

13. Angola (Wrong Side Of The Law) (4:29)

14. Vietnam Cowboys (demo) (2:52)

15. The Voodoo Walk (demo) (4:25)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

2008 must be an interesting year to have an outsider's view on the US and its role in the world, and when Ray Davies sings "everywhere I go it looks and feels like America," it's hard to miss a bit of the bitterness in the observation. His second studio solo album in three years, Working Man's Cafe feels like exactly the album a 60-something rocker would craft--assured and direct yet searching and restless, a glimpse into the head of a man who's comfortable in his skin but still wonders how he fits into a world that seems to be turning faster and stranger as the years pass by. Davies has cultivated this contraposition of bitter and sweet, of intertwining comfort and conflict throughout his years leading the Kinks, and now continues into what looks to be a fruitful solo career. There's a bit of George Harrison in the melody and sentiment of "One More Time," acknowledging the widening gap between powerful corporations and the overtaxed little guy, while still envisioning the possibility of a brighter future. And the title track's half-acidic, half-nostalgic take on modern homogenization follows the classic Davies approach of reporting what he sees around him with one eye toward a fading past: "I bought a pair of new designer pants where the fruit and veg man used to stand." It's nice to note that, 40 years on, the songwriter that skewered '60s Brits with "A Well-Respected Man" and "Dedicated Follower of Fashion" still wields a sharpened pen and pulls no punches. --Ben Heege

Product Description

Jewel Case CD of 2008 studio album by legendary musician and Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame member Ray Davies (founder, singer, songwriter, of The Kinks). Three bonus tracks are 'Angola' (Wrong Side Of The Law) and the demos of 'Vietnam Cowboys' and The Voodoo Walk'. Working Man's Cafe features 12 new songs written by Davies, and co-produced with Grammy Award winning producer/engineer Ray Kennedy (Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle). Recorded in Nashville, mixed in London, this is Davies' second solo album, following his solo debut Other People's Lives, released in 2006. The album focuses on the plight of the worker, the every day man around the world. It is Davies' 'American record' (many of the songs were written in the U.S.) describing the changes he's seen in this country since he first started visiting in the '60s. 15 tracks. New West.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars King of the Kinks, February 20, 2008

By 

Jack (Doylestown, Pa.) - See all my reviews

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

There is no need to go into great details here, suffice to say that Ray Davies has produced a classic album where every track is musically strong, has something to say about the world, and displays the artists' singular style with romance, a social conscience, and, of course, a sense of humor. If you loved the great Kinks' albums (Lola, Arthur, Village Green, Muswell Hillbillies) you will recognize the touches that Ray used then and re-explores on Workingman's Cafe. It's not a retread, it's an artist going in many musical directions, but never forgetting to be true to himelf. In this age of Attention Deficit Disorder and single tracks, one of the masters has asked us to listen for 45 minutes, if you chose to stay focused you'll enjoy the ride and be that much wiser for it. Ray's cd is a grand slam homer that is still in flight.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SHINING ON BRIGHTLY, February 20, 2008

By 

J. Gambino - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

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

Few singer songwriters have the ability to truly look beyond their own perimeters. In contrast, Mr. Davies has the rare skill to consistently craft infectious, thoughtful and insightful songs about the human condition at large. While the mediocrity of mankind has not escaped him, the critical observations in his music are constructed within the context of compassion and humor. With age and wisdom, he may now view particular aspects of life with some resignation...but never bitterness.

"Working Man's Cafe" is a strong follow up to his superb, meticulous first true solo effort "Other Peoples Lives" released in 2006. I have been listening to the import version of WMC for a few months now but also purchased the U.S. release because it contains two additional excellent new songs as well as alternate versions of other tracks. The music on this collection feels quite visceral and spontaneous. It would be well suited for live performances. The sound is clearly 21st century, yet there are scattered shards within that make one reminiscent of the classic Kinks albums such as "Arthur" and "Something Else". This CD is smooth listening from start to finish and your favorites are likely to shift with time. Vocally Ray Davies is as strong as ever and much attention has been given to the sound quality and arrangements. The title cut along with: "Imaginary Man", Vietnam Cowboys and especially "In a Moment" get honorable mention but all the songs are memorable in their own way. Uninitiated listeners not familiar with this performer's body of work should find this collection very enjoyable even if they lack the proclivity to ruminate over the lyrics like some of us might.

I will always remember the Kinks with great appreciation and fondness even with the occasional uneveness of some of their albums. With this second impressive solo effort; Ray Davies has fortified his stature as a valued independent artist in his own right. I no longer lament for a Kinks reunion...but instead...only hope this performer maintains his zest for life and music so we can continue to be so royally entertained for many more years to come.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ray davies is back, December 4, 2007

By 

Mathieu B. Prevost (warwick, new york United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Working Man's Café (MP3 Download)

he's back and it couldn't happen fast enough for me. there is nothing tentative about this collection. ray has found his footing and everything here is confident and fun. working with ray kennedy in nashville (again) he has crafted a collection with strong songwriting and some truly fine playing. there's something for everyone here. i've always found it difficult to separate ray from his band but there's really no need to. this reminds me of a kinks record, only with a fatter production. great songwriting.