The Kink Kontroversy


The Kink Kontroversy is the third studio album by the English rock band the Kinks. It was released in the United Kingdom on by Pye Records. Issued in the United States on by Reprise Records, it was the Kinks' first American album to feature an identical track listing to its British counterpart. It is a transitional album, with elements of both the earlier Kinks' styles and early indications of the future direction of Ray Davies' songwriting styles. The liner notes were written by Michael Aldred.

Background

The album's title is a mocking reference to the notorious reputation the group had developed over the previous year, including onstage fights and concert riots in Europe, which led to a ban on the group's concerts in the USA.
"Where Have All the Good Times Gone" makes several references and/or allusions to Beatles and Rolling Stones songs.

Release

The single "Till the End of the Day" was a major hit, reaching No. 8 in the UK and No. 50 in the US, spending eight weeks or more in each chart.
American singer Bobby Rydell covered "When I See That Girl of Mine", which was released as a single in the US a full month before the Kinks' version was made public.

Reception

AllMusic praised the album as the Kinks' coming-of-age, commenting that their raw early material was being replaced by more thoughtful and sophisticated songs. They pointed out "I'm on an Island", "Where Have All the Good Times Gone", "Ring the Bells", "The World Keeps Going Round", and "I Am Free" as particularly strong examples of this.

Legacy

American indie rock band Sleater-Kinney used the same album cover layout as an homage for their 1997 album Dig Me Out.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ray Davies except where noted.
Side one
  1. "Milk Cow Blues" – 3:44
  2. "Ring the Bells" – 2:21
  3. "Gotta Get the First Plane Home" – 1:49
  4. "When I See that Girl of Mine" – 2:12
  5. "I Am Free" – 2:32
  6. "Till the End of the Day" – 2:21
Side two
  1. "The World Keeps Going Round" – 2:36
  2. "I'm on an Island" – 2:19
  3. "Where Have All the Good Times Gone" – 2:53
  4. "It's Too Late" – 2:37
  5. "What's in Store for Me" – 2:06
  6. "You Can't Win" – 2:42

Personnel

According to band researcher Doug Hinman:
The Kinks
Additional musicians and production