Face To Face [Original recording remastered]

Like many fans of this great British band, I've watched the release of 6 Kinks 'Deluxe Editions' since the beginning of 2011 with a certain amount of scepticism. Haven't these albums been done to death already and isn't this just more monetary milking of it? But then several of our customers began to rave about the great new remastered sound on these doubles - so I took the plunge on "Face To Face", "Something Else"" and "Arthur..." - and they were right. They're better than previous issues - and how. But along with the gains (there are also 8 'previously unreleased' tracks), there are some strange omissions too...

Here are the details first - "Face To Face DELUXE EDITION" was released 20 June 2011 in the UK on Universal/Sanctuary 277 262-0 and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (57:35 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 14 are the MONO version of "Face To Face" LP released 28 October 1966 in the UK on Pye Records NPL 18149 and 7 December 1966 in the USA on Reprise Records R 6228
Tracks 15 and 16 are "Dead End Street" and "Big Black Smoke" - they are the MONO A&B-side of a non-album 7" single released 18 November 1966 in the UK on Pye Records 7N.17222 and 30 November 1966 in the USA on Reprise Records 0540
Track 17 is "This Is Where I Belong" - the MONO non-album B-side of a UK 7" single on Pye Records 7N.17314, released 21 April 1967, pressed up for export issue to Europe - it's A-side is "Mr. Pleasant" (that track is missing here - it's on the 2004 CD reissue)
Track 18 is "She's Got Everything" - the MONO non-album B-side of the UK 7" single on Pye Records 7N.17573, released 28 June 1968 (A-side is "Days"). It was also released in the USA on 24 July 1968 on Reprise Records 9762.
Track 19 is "Little Miss Queen Of Darkness" - a Previously Unreleased Alternate Take
Track 20 is "Dead End Street" - a Previously Unreleased Alternate Version first issued on the 2008 Sanctuary Records 6CD box set "Picture Book"

Disc 2 (63:28 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 14 are the STEREO version of the LP - Pye Records NSPL 18149 in the UK and Reprise Records RS 6228 in the USA
Tracks 15, 16 and 17 are "This Is Where I Belong", "Big Black Smoke" and "She's Got Everything" - these 3 STEREO versions were first slotted for release on the 1968 "Four More Respected Gentlemen" UK LP, but withdrawn - they finally saw release in the USA on the 2LP Reprise Records retrospective "Kinks Kronikles" in March 1972. 15 and 16 are listed as 'Previously Unreleased'
Tracks 18 - 22 are "You're Looking Fine (Alternate Stereo Mix)". "Sunny Afternoon (Alternate Stereo Mix)", "Fancy (Alternate Stereo Mix)", "Little Miss Queen Of Darkness (Alternate Stereo Mix)" and "Dandy (Alternate Stereo Mix)" - all are listed as 'Previously Unreleased'

The 24-page booklet is tastefully laid out - liners notes by noted Kinks expert DANIEL RACHEL, photos of both the UK and US LP artwork along with many rare Euro and US 7" single picture sleeves, trade adverts, newspaper clippings, memorabilia and input from fan sites etc. The breakdown of the tracks is very well done too - what came from what and why. Both of the discs are also themed - the CDs reflect the purple colouring of the original UK Pye Records LP label - with Side 1 pictured beneath the see-through tray of CD1 and Side 2 beneath the tray of CD2 - all nice touches.

The remasters were carried out by ANDREW SANDOVAL, DAN HERSCH (of Digiprep and Rhino fame) and ANDY PEARCE and the sound quality is exceptionally good. The STEREO mixes in particular sound superb and fresh, not just separated two-channel reprocessing, but a cohesive whole - very warm and beautifully clear. The difference between the MONO and STEREO versions in fact is acute - some prefer the stark power of the MONO, but I think this is one of those 'Deluxe Editions' that actually benefits from the presence of both - they different beasts for sure - but equally admirable.

Great tracks include the hypnotic "Rainy Day In June" (lyrics above) which sounds like its going to turn up in an episode of "Mad Men" real soon, while it's followed by the equally classy Sixties pop of "House In The Country" - Ray at his acidic best. The sonic punch out of both "Sunny Afternoon" and "Too Much On My Mind" is fantastic. The acoustic guitars at the beginning of "Dandy" and "Too Much..." are so clear now - as are the keyboard flourishes of ace sessionman Nicky Hopkins throughout. I was also surprised at how different the previously unreleased Stereo mixes of "You're Looking Fine" and "Little Miss Queen Of Darkness" are, but not in a bad way. They're very cool additions - and all in all (released or unreleased) - the whole thing feels like an embarrassment of riches.

Niggles - on Disc 1, Tracks 17 and 18 are 'B-sides', when a quick glance at the short playing time for Disc 1 will reveal that there was plenty of room for the A's - "Mr. Pleasant" and "Days" - yet you have to keep your 2004 version for those or buy the DE of "Something Else". It's a small point, but it's worth making.

To sum up - a superb new remaster on both mixes, properly upgraded packaging and liner notes and extra tracks that actually warrant the title 'bonus'. Very nice indeed.

Recommended - like lazing on a Sunny Afternoon...

The previous cd issue of Face to Face was bass-light and too high at the top end, making it sound incredibly dated. Despite being called a 'remaster' it was not up to scratch.

But the good news is that this really is. The mastering has been done well, sorting out the issues mentioned above and at last helping the drums and guitars to sound like drums and guitars. Due to the nature of how the Kinks recorded, it's not necessarily a slick sound by any means, but it is clearer whilst retained the dirtiness which is typical of their earlier sound. It's hard to imagine this sounding better.

The packaging itself has been really well done, with a great booklet, lots of photos and a really nicely designed chunky fold out case. There is also the advantage of both stereo and mono recordings with all the singles and b-sides (Look out in particular for Big Black Smoke!). These sound great.

Overall it's the mono which wins out for me. The stereo has a brittle prettiness to it which is really nice, but there is a purposefulness and intensity to the mono which fits the dark lyrics. At times Ray sounds on the edge of a mental breakdown and its worth listening to the lyrics carefully to find the desperation beneath the cheeky smile. Lyrically he is incredible.

This is a great place to start if you have the best of the Kinks and want to expand your collection. Highly recommended.

Opening with the one-two punch of Dave Davies' "Party Line" (incorrectly attributed to Ray here--Dave wrote it according to his autobiography)and "Rosie Won't You Please Come Home", "Face to Face" the fourth album by The Kinks is in many respects Ray Davies "Rubber Soul" or "Aftermath" (if we want to compare Ray to the two biggest bands of his era); the detailed songwriting and the focus on the small details of life in the U.K. as well as its strong English flavor make this an essential album for Kinks fans.

The deluxe edition features both the mono (disc one)and stereo (disc two) mixes of the album. Most Kinks fans prefer the mono version of the album but both have their merit. The mixes differ slightly and provide a unique experience individually. The album sounds better than it ever has with the original mastertapes used where possible. Audiophile should keep in mind though that this is louder than previous editions but still manages to be quite dynamic.

Disc one also features the following bonus tracks: "Dead End Street", "Big Black Smoke", "This Is Where I Belong", "She's Got Everything" (an essential b-side)all of which were singles/b-sides and all presented in mono. The first disc is rounded out with alternate takes of "Little Miss Queen of Darkness" and "Dead End Street" (in fact this is the first unreleased version and sounds like it was transferred from an acetate).

Disc two rounds up "This Is Where I Belong", "She's Got Everything" (previously released on the U.S. "The Kinks Kronikles" 2 disc set but from an inferior copy), "Big Black Smoke" all in stereo. We also get alternate mixes for "You're Lookin' Fine", "Sunny Afternoon", "Fancy" (with the vocal curiously located firmly in the right speaker as opposed to the more balanced sounding stereo version on the proper album), "Little Miss Queen of Darkness" and "Dandy" all remixed from the original 3 track mastertapes by Sandoval.

As with the other two releases coming out at the same time (Arthurand Something Elsethere's an informative booklet that has interviews with Ray, Dave, Mick and John Dalton.

Highly recommended.