Kinks

The debut album, built from rhythm and blues covers, a few originals and the riff of You Really Got Me.
The Kinks, 1964

Released: 2 October 1964
Label: Pye (UK), Reprise (US)
Producer: Shel Talmy

The debut came out on Pye on 2 October 1964. The American edition appeared on Reprise on 25 November 1964 under the title You Really Got Me and left off three tracks: "I Took My Baby Home", "I'm a Lover Not a Fighter" and "Revenge". Alongside Ray Davies originals it holds covers of Chuck Berry, Don Covay and others, plus songs credited to Talmy.

Session players are documented in some detail. Bobby Graham played drums on side one and on "Revenge", Arthur Greenslade played piano on "You Really Got Me", Jon Lord played organ on "Bald Headed Woman", and Jimmy Page played twelve-string acoustic guitar on two tracks.

Critics were divided. AllMusic's Richie Unterberger found it inconsistent, while Consequence of Sound called it a key example of proto-punk and named the band's version of "Beautiful Delilah" the first punk rock cover. A deluxe edition was released on 28 March 2011.

Track listing

Beautiful Delilah2:07
So Mystifying2:58
Just Can't Go to Sleep1:58
Long Tall Shorty2:50
I Took My Baby Home1:48
I'm a Lover Not a Fighter2:03
You Really Got Me2:13
Cadillac2:44
Bald Headed Woman2:41
Revenge1:29
Too Much Monkey Business2:16
I've Been Driving on Bald Mountain2:01
Stop Your Sobbing2:06
Got Love If You Want It3:46

Personnel

Ray Davies lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
Dave Davies backing vocals, electric guitar; lead vocals on four tracks
Pete Quaife bass, backing vocals
Mick Avory drums on side two except Revenge
Bobby Graham drums on side one and Revenge
Arthur Greenslade piano on You Really Got Me
Jon Lord organ on Bald Headed Woman
Jimmy Page twelve-string acoustic guitar on two tracks
Shel Talmy producer
Bob Auger engineer

More from The Kinks

The Kink Kontroversy (1965), Kinda Kinks (1965), Face to Face (1966), Something Else by the Kinks (1967), The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (1968), Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) (1969), Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One (1970), Muswell Hillbillies (1971), Low Budget (1979), State of Confusion (1983)

Sources

Kinks (album), Wikipedia