April 21, 2017 the legendary frontman of the kinks discusses his new solo album, americana, which deals in part with his relationship, as a brit, to the united states. Ray davies born june 21, 1944, british guitarist, musician. Ray davies says new album americana is coming soon. April 6th, 2017 milwaukee, wisconsinthe northern lights theaterapril 8th, 2017 st. He liked to hang out in pubs and was considered a ladies man. The kinks were an english rock band formed in muswell hill, north london, by brothers ray and dave davies in 1964. Being a bolshie 21yearold, i said, lets make records and tour the rest of the. Based on the formation and career of the english rock band the kinks, the musical made its world premiere in 2014, at the hampstead theatre, london, before transferring to the west ends harold pinter theatre. America is a beautiful but dangerous place, says ray davies, as he.
Ray davies et le reve americain des kinks france inter. Feb 27, 2017 on davies bio webpage at the site, ray explains that hes putting out a followup to americana, which will arrive later in 2017, because there was too much music to fit on to onerecord. In april 2017, davies released the album americana. Charles, illinoisarcadia theatreapril 11th, 2017 nyc, new yorkcity wineryapril 12th, 2017 nyc, new yorkcity wineryapril th, 2017 natick, massachusettscenter for the arts. At first i was worried whether i would finish the book if davies turned out to be a jerk. As a young man, he wrote some of the defining songs of the 1960s and 70s with the kinks.
Ranging over his life as a band member for the legendary rock outfit, the kinks, as a friend to many, a son to beloved parents and as a brother to a host of sisters and that man, ray davies. Waterloo sunset is a captivating collection of short stories and americana. Ray is mentioned in this article on the deathray davies. Apr 21, 2017 this is ray davies first new album in 10 years. On his first solo album in a decade, americana, ray davies explores his troubled relationship with the us next, hes writing a book about britain published. Act ii, which can be preordered now, is the sequel to davies 2017 album. Lead singer for the kinks, ray davies is known for his decadeslong career in rock, hits like lola,and ongoing feuds with brother and bandmate dave davies. Raymond allen davis is a former united states army soldier, private security firm employee, and contractor with the central intelligence agency cia. The continuing story of the kinks cofounders journeys through america, as depicted in his 20 memoir americana and 2017s album of the. The best of his solo recordings ray davies collected was released. The west end musical sunny afternoon, based on the kinks rise and fall, continues to be a huge smash, and hes got a new. Sir ray davies band 2017 at sony music entertainment view profile view profile badges. Ray davies lead singer for the kinks, ray davies is known for his decadeslong career in rock, hits like lola,and ongoing feuds with brother and bandmate dave davies. Clare white but will they still play it in 30 years time.
Davies published a second memoir, americana, in 20. Some 30 odd years later, around the time of the eventual demise of the kinks in 1994, davies published his first book, the semifictional memoir x ray. Ray davies says new album americana is coming soon, shares. Had the band been able to tour the us, could they have competed with the beatles. In the summer of 2012 london hosted the summer olympics and the closing ceremonies featured ray davies singing his classic song waterloo sunset. Laurie wisefield sir ray davies band 2017 sony music.
Jayhawks play with ray davies at hyde park gala three fourths of the jayhawks. On the night the kinks finished recording waterloo sunset, in april 1967, the longsuffering wife of the 22yearold ray davies drove him from the studio down to the riverside spot. Kinks lola versus powerman and the moneygoround, part one, commonly abbreviated to lola versus powerman, or just lola, is the eighth studio album by british rock band the kinks, recorded and released in 1970. Lola, who walked like a woman but talked like a man. They called us the invaders, as though we came from another world, he sings. In 1997, he published a book of short stories entitled waterloo sunset. He played his first gig with his brother, dave davies, at 16, and at 18 they formed the band that would become the kinks. From left to right, ray davies, mick avory, pete quaife, dave davies. No followup has been announced, but ray does have a new book, americana. He is the seventh of eight children born to workingclass parents, including six elder sisters and younger brother dave davies. For the next twenty years, the women in ray s life would be his. The former kinks leader speaks with steve inskeep about americana, a musical distillation of his sometimes tumultuous life as british rock star in the u. As a keeneyed chronicler of british manners and mores, ray davies. The kinks ray davies reveals why hes so enamored with.
All of the songs have to do, more or less, with being a british musician living and working in america. Ray davies has fashioned an autobiography that brings to light the vagaries of being a successful musician. Apr 11, 2017 the newest album by ray davies finds him in a reflective mood. May 11, 2017 a s a keeneyed chronicler of british manners and mores, ray davies is thinking about brexit a lot. Then, as part of the british invasion, he toured the us with the kinks during one of the most tumultuous. Witness the bands beginnings, as brothers dave and ray davies join forces and write their first songs. Ray davies, legendary frontman of the kinks, is one of the alltime greatest rock n roll musicians and also one of its most troubled and enigmatic. Apr 21, 2017 and now ray davies has been knighted, but hes not resting on his laurels.
The kinks on the the television program fanclub, in 1967. Ray davies on understanding hipsters, not talking to pete. Taken together, the book and record amount to a selfportrait of a man whose. A concept album, it is a satirical appraisal of the music industry, including song publishers, unions. Robert polito calls it an experimental nonfiction and describes davies as a prose stylist of nabokovian ambition. The story is a fascinating exploration of his experiences in the united states, going back to when the kinks first arrived stateside. Ray davies discusses upcoming solo album, americana. Hes currently writing a book about britain focusing on what it had. His work on soundtracks amazing spiderman 2, man of steel, rush. This is a recording a storyteller show that ray davies made in ny. This record has been brewing deep within ray davies ever since the kinks first touched down in america in the summer of 1965 for their first ever us tour, right before the now infamous four year performance ban imposed on the group by the american federation of musicians from 1966 through to 1969. It was the final year of award presentations as the president of the aprs, sir george martin, sadly passed away the following march.
Reviewed in the united states on may 27, 2017 verified purchase i am not exaggerating when i say that not only is americana the best album of ray davies solo career, but it may be the best solo album of the entire british invasion. In 1963, he joined daves band the ravens on rhythm guitar and vocals. I knew that their music had really grown on me and was full of stories, a sense of humor and seemed to have some meaning. Sir raymond douglas davies, cbe is an english singer, songwriter and musician. He adds, i want both records to be put together and ultimately listened to in that way. The kinks frontman ray davies, 75, looks typically cool in. Raymond davis march 29, 1940 july 5, 2005 was the original bass singer and one of the founding members of the parliaments, and subsequently the bands parliament, and funkadelic, collectively known as pfunk. The kinks kinkdom the village green preservation society. Lola, who walked like a woman but talked like a man, turns 50.
Apr 21, 2017 similarly, despite having all the hallmarks of a great ray davies songa sweetly sighing melody, a sympathetic character, a singalong chorusthe deal still falls a bit flat in its. On january 27, 2011, davis killed two reportedly armed men in lahore, punjab, pakistan. Anyone who appreciates ray davies will enjoy this book. Aside from george clinton, he was the only original member of the parliaments not to leave the parliament. Ray davies most recent album was 2010s collaborative see all my friends. Featuring songs by the kinks, sunny afternoon includes their hits such as lola, waterloo. Synopsis ray davies was born in london on june 21, 1944. In support of the book, the singer performed a series of concerts entitled storyteller, which featured classic kinks songs, passages from the book, old stories, and new songs. Well, im really looking forward to hearing new material from ray davies. Categorised in the united states as a british invasion band, the kinks are recognised as one.
Like davies 20 book of the same name, it explores his lifelong fascination with the music and culture of the united states, and his experiences of touring and living there. Hes currently writing a book about britain focusing on what it had when i was young. He is the seventh of eight children born to workingclass parents, including six elder sisters and younger brother dave davies ray s father, frederick davies b. In 2010 ray toured the united states, united kingdom and was featured at festivals throughout the summer. To ray davies, america is still a land of opportunity. Davies wrote and arranged all the music on americana and coproduced the album with guy massey and john jackson with the jayhawks serving as davies backing band. The kinks ray davies reveals why hes so enamored with america. In the summer of 1964, aged twenty, ray davies led the kinks to fame with their number one hit you really got me.
Today, the band founded by brothers and occasional frenemies ray and dave davies in 1963 is dormant, but not dead, and hardly spent. December 2017 learn how and when to remove this template message raymond davis march 29, 1940 july 5, 2005 was the original bass singer and one of the founding members of the parliaments, and subsequently the bands parliament, and funkadelic, collectively known as pfunk. The album features contributions from members of american country rock band the jayhawks. Many tours and trips later, he experienced a transformative event in new orleans when he was shot during a botched robbery. Sunny afternoon is a musical with music and lyrics by ray davies and a book by joe penhall. This set is a limited edition, lavishly packaged, 50th anniversary deluxe 10 book pack of that album, containing many previously unreleased tracks and versions. Pete townshend wrote his own, but he says davies should be englands poet laureate. Ray davies triumphs with americana rock music opinions. Ray davies autumn 2010 tour 1 ray davies with the 88s 1 see my friends 1 the kinks choral collection 3 the kinks choral show 1 the storyteller 3 the storyteller concert 2 uk tour 2002 1 uk tour 2009 1 working mans cafe tour 11 x ray 41. So i bought this book without knowing too much about the kinks and ray davies. Dave davies 2018 usa tour dates the kinks preservation. World cafe the legendary frontman of the kinks discusses his new solo album, americana, which deals in part with his relationship, as a brit.
It follows his acclaimed 20 memoir of the same name, and uses the book as both source material and jumping off point. I know my kinks ray davies story having been a fan and kontributing to fanzines and books so this book was a treat mr rogan interviewed many associates good, bad and sometimes it was ugly. It includes a vivid account of being shot in new orleans. Ray davies was born on june 21, 1944 in fortis green, which is located in muswell hill, north of london, england. Get ray davies setlists view them, share them, discuss them with other ray davies fans for free on. Americana is an album by english rock musician ray davies, released by legacy recordings in april 2017. You can find the list of the kinks tour dates here. Whether the acrimony this band had surfed over the years will keep that album from seeing the light of day, or if the band will release it and tour, playing local pubs, as the singer quipped, we.
In the box set, theres a snippet from a 1968 bbc interview, where davies says, i was looking for a title. Davies was born at 6 denmark terrace, fortis green, north london, england. Singer and guitarist, dave davies, talks to paul rigby we could talk about the arguments now but that would be too easy. Like many kinks albums and ray davies records, americana is thematic without being plotted. He stood on the bridge, surveyed the scene, decided that he had and told her to drive him home. Dave davies 2017 open road usa tour dates the kinks. Jun 12, 2020 from left, pete quaife, dave davies, mick avory and ray davies of the kinks at john f. To ray davies, america is a beautiful but dangerous place bbc. The jayhawks are an excellent backing band and i hope that ray tours with them as i. Lola versus powerman and the moneygoround part one 50 th anniversary deluxe box set. Relive their barnstorming debut on top of the pops, their troubled american tour, and their triumphant comeback. Theres more storytelling here, a performance with a back up band for one segment, and a selection of songs that makes you wish hed included all his numbers that he did on the vh1 show. Le chanteur, compositeur et producteur nick waterhouse sur scene lors dun concert au.
Jayhawks news jayhawks play with ray davies at hyde park. He liked to hang out in pubs and was considered a ladies. May 04, 2017 and davies is also a fine author of books. It was the final year of award presentations as the president of the aprs, sir. April 6th, 2017 milwaukee, wisconsin the northern lights theater april 8th, 2017 st. Experience the thrill of the music and the power of a live kinks performance. He played his first gig with his brother, dave davies, at 16, and at 18 they formed the band that would become the. X ray 1994 was ray davies first major attempt to write prose outside his musical career as founding member of the british rock band the kinks. The bands singer and songwriter ray davies announced that he, his brother dave and original drummer mick avory are making a new kinks album. The book has got song references in it, and the songs are part of the. And now ray davies has been knighted, but hes not resting on his laurels. Oct 01, 20 ray davies is the most literary of british invaders writing about their lives and music. Feb 10, 2021 in 2014 ray davies was elected into the american songwriters hall of fame, and in 2017 he was formally knighted by queen elizabeth ii for his services to the arts. Following its release, he worked on adapting the book into song, recording an album with the jayhawks during the course of 2016.
234 707 821 565 861 12 341 813 832 1066 533 542 560 1414 492 1313 1040 905 1166 307 596 602 1192 1477