Misfits

by The Kinks

Overview

The Kinks became arena rockers with Sleepwalker, and its follow-up, Misfits, follows in the same vein, but it's a considerable improvement on its predecessor. Ray Davies has learned how to write within the confines of the arena rock formula, and Misfits is one of rock & roll's great mid-life crisis albums, finding Davies considering whether he should even go on performing. "Misfits," a classic outsider rallying cry, and "Rock and Roll Fantasy" provide the two touchstones for the album -- Davies admits that he and the Kinks will never be embraced by the rock & roll mainstream, but after Elvis' death, he's not even sure if rock & roll is something for mature adults to do. Over the course of Misfits, he finds answers to the question, both in his lyrics and through the band's muscular music. Eventually, he discovers that it is worth his time, but the search itself is superbly affecting -- even songs like the musichall shuffle "Hay Fever," which appear as filler at first, have an idiosyncratic quirk that make them cut deeper. Although Ray would return to camp on their next album, Misfits is a moving record that manages to convey deep emotions while rocking hard. The Kinks hadn't made a record this good since Muswell Hillbillies. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	10/18/2024
Label:	Bmg
UPC:	4099964062373
Rank:	1118

Tracks

1. Misfits
2. Hay Fever
3. Live Life
4. A Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy
5. In a Foreign Land
6. Permanent Waves
7. Black Messiah
8. Out of the Wardrobe
9. Trust Your Heart
10. Get Up

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Kinks   Primary Artist
Nick Newell   Clarinet
John Gosling   Piano,Keyboards,Synthesizer,Organ
Mike Cotton   Trumpet
Mick Avory   Drums
John Dalton   Guitar (Bass)
Ray Davies   Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Synthesizer
Nick Trevisick   Drums
Ron Lawrence   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Andy Pyle   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Dave Davies   Guitar,Vocals,Harmonica,Keyboards
Michael Cotton   Trumpet
John Beecham   Trombone
Clem Cattini   Drum Overdubs,Drums
Zaine Griff   Guitar (Bass)

Technical Credits

John Swenson   Liner Notes
Steve Waldman   Audio Engineer,Engineer
Ray Davies   Audio Production,Arranger,Composer,Producer
Bob Ludwig   Remastering
Mycle Konopka   Compilation Engineer
Dave Davies   Composer
Cristina Battani   Art Direction
Barry Plummer   Photography,Reissue Art
Graham Hogg   Assistant,Archival Tape Engineer
Russell Smith   Photography,Reissue Art
Doug Hinman   Photography,Reissue Art
Klaus Schmalenbach   Photography,Reissue Art
James Wedge   Photography
Ryan Tully   Assistant,Archival Tape Engineer
K. Lee Hammond   Reissue Art
Albert Pinheiro   Assistant,Archival Tape Engineer