Hidden gems of the Kinks discography
In a recording career that spanned more than 30 years, The Kinks created a huge catalog of records. 24 studio albums, 6 EPs and 78 singles, as well as a host of live and compilation albums, is clearly a large body of work.
Most people will be familiar with the greatest hits and best-known albums, but there are plenty of lesser-known hidden gems from The Kinks discography.
Here are my picks from these hidden gems: an album and a single.
Album – Phobia
The last Kinks studio album was released in 1993. It didn’t chart in the UK and only charted at number 166 in the US. This seems like a farce to me because it’s not only my favorite Kinks album, but which I think is the best rock album you can listen to. The listener receives no less than 16 tracks, with an additional track 17, Did Ya, on some formats, in some territories. It’s one of those albums that if you didn’t know better, you’d use it as a greatest hits package. There are so many great songs. Wall Of Fire, Drift Away, Still Searching, Over The Edge, The Informer and Hatred – these were all good enough to have been singles. As it was, Scattered (UK/Europe only) and Only A Dream (UK only) were the singles. Scatter was the pick of the bunch, a truly fantastic record.
Single – Sweet Lady Genevieve
This track, from the Preservation Act 1 album, was released in the UK only in 1973. It did not chart. It’s a beautifully uplifting ballad in strong 4/4 time but with lots of 2/4 time included. It’s the song of a wanderer, longing for the love he lost, and all because he went and ruined it. My favorite lines are the ones in the first verse:-
“Once under a scarlet sky, I told you endless lies,
But they were the words of a drunk bum
Who knew very well that it would break your heart in no time
Oh forgive me Genevieve”
this really is tea lost Ray Davies masterpiece and Kinks Classic.
There are plenty of other hidden gems in The Kinks catalog and you may have your own favorites, but if you listen to my recommendations I’m sure you’ll agree that despite their lack of “hit status” they were both absolutely amazing discs. .
