The Kinks – Kinda Kinks – Vinyl LP

‘Kinda Kinks’, the band’s second release, is more or less of a piece with its predecessor. On the previous album, however, the band had used covers to fill the spaces between the Ray Davies originals, and here the tracks are almost all penned by Davies (with the exception of their version of ‘Dancing in the Street’). Davies’ lovelorn songs had yet to fully flower into elegies for disappearing lifestyles and values (‘Something Else’, three years later, effectively marked that change). But his wistful melodicism can be heard in tunes such as ‘Something Better Beginning’, ‘Don’t Ever Change’ and ‘So Long’ which mingle quite nicely with the pop propulsion of ‘Tired of Waiting’. With the focus so squarely on the singing songwriter, it’s almost easy to forget how powerful the rest of the ensemble was – a tight little rock and roll band of the highest order.

1. Look For Me Baby
2. Got My Feet On the Ground
3. Nothin’ In the World Can Stop Me Worryin’ ‘Bout That Girl
4. Naggin’ Woman
5. Wonder Where My Baby is Tonight
6. Tired of Waiting For You
7. Dancing In the Street
8. Don’t Ever Change
9. Come On Now
10. So Long
11. You Shouldn’t Be Sad
12. Something Better Beginning