Face To Face – THE KINKS****

Party Line/Rosy Won’t You Please Come Home/Dandy/Too Much On My Mind/Session Man/Rainy Day In June/ House In The Country/Holiday In Waikiki/Most Exclusive Residence For Sale/Fancy/Little Miss Queen Of Darkness/You’re Looking Fine/Sunny Afternoon/I’ll Remember

The Kinks move in a new direction with this release as Ray Davies finds his niche for writing melodic songs with a keenly observed social commentary. Face To Face includes the UK No. 1 hit single Sunny Afternoon. (US:135 UK:12)

"Face To Face is about swinging London. It talks about party lines, run away teenagers, session men, and being home on a sunny afternoon. Ray Davies, maybe rock's best storyteller after Dylan, creates a masterpiece that describes English, and London, life in the 1960s."

"This is where The Kinks finally found a niche in which they were going to stay. Very convincing effort. One of the most groundbreaking, 'artistic' rock records of 1966." "It was certainly the start of a very productive period for The Kinks, where Davies and his music began to develop seriously."

"This album presents a new phase for the group, who develop a completely unique approach to writing music that now includes elements of psychedelia and other influences. The lyrics are full of social commentary on British society, history and way of life, often being quite sarcastic and critical. Always truthful to themselves and their fans, The Kinks wonderfully mix raw energy and melodic sophistication."

"It was 1966 when the LP became more than just a collection of songs, and The Kinks were pioneers, making Face To Face a song cycle outlining the UK class system with exquisite detail. It remains a landmark in the group's career, a time when their music began to take on greater instrumental colour and their lyrics reflected the singers' own personal obsessions, painting a lucid aural sheen of crazed party lines, Hawaiian holidays, rainy days in June, elitist upper class snobs and forgotten session men. Above all else, it is a portrait of the ups and downs of the UK class system. Face To Face is an essential purchase, in spite of a few filler tracks."

"Has a great balance of passable filler, fun pop-rock songs, plus more poignant and affecting pieces."