Working Man's Cafe [Original recording remastered, Import]

Ray Davies | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 3, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered, Import
• Label: Universal Japan
• ASIN: B001GM7GM6
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,885,549 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Vietnam Cowboys

2. You're Asking Me

3. Working Man's Café

4. Morphine Song

5. In a Moment

6. Peace in Our Time

7. No One Listen

8. Imaginary Man

9. One More Time

10. The Voodoo Walk

11. Hymn for a New Age [*]

12. The Real World [*]

Editorial Reviews

Vinyl pressing of the studio album by legendary musician and Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame member Ray Davies (founder, singer, songwriter, of The Kinks). Working Man's Cafe features new songs written by Ray Davies, and co-produced with Grammy Award winning producer/engineer Ray Kennedy (Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle). Working Man's Cafe was recorded in Nashville, mixed in London and it is Ray 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. This is Ray 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. 12 tracks. New West. --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glimpses of Raw Unpolished Kinks, October 27, 2007

By 

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

"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.