The Kink Kontroversy


The Kink Kontroversy is the third studio album by English rock band the Kinks, released on 26 November 1965 in the United Kingdom and in March 1966 in the United States, where it was the first American Kinks album to feature an identical tracklist to its UK counterpart. It is a transitional work, 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 band 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 US.
"Where Have All the Good Times Gone" makes several references and/or allusions to Beatles and Rolling Stones songs.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Ray Davies, except where noted.

Release

The single "Till the End of the Day" was a major hit, reaching #8 in the UK and #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

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.

Personnel

Track numbering refers to CD and digital releases of the album.
;The Kinks
;Additional musicians
American indie rock band Sleater-Kinney used the same album cover layout as an homage for their 1997 album Dig Me Out.