Thanks to Kinks fan Russell Smith for this review, first published on the Dave Davies Q&A forum:
"Dave Davies Hidden Treasures has probably taken as much work to
pulling together as the Picture Book box set did. In my humble opinion it a very
important release. Yes, strictly speaking it is a compilation - but, in reality
it is far more than that and certainty more important and should not be
considered just another arbitrary rounding-up-of-tracks that the Kinks down the
years have been victim to. Whilst it will not have quite the impact now, had it
been released back in 2002 or 2004, it is still a very important release not
least because it pieces together one of last enigmas in the Kinks catalogue, the
long overdue and eagerly awaited recordings that were considered and recorded
for Davies Davies's legendary unreleased 1969 solo album, including the
remaining unreleased tracks.
Thoughtfully compiled it includes outtakes, rarities, alternate mixes, as well
as all of Dave Davies's Pye singles (in pristine quality) from 1967 when Death
of a Clown rode high in the charts, until 1969 when the first phase of his solo
career was put on hold. The entire album is *newly* mastered by Andrew Sandoval
(the sound quality is gorgeous and makes it stands apart from what has gone
before on that point alone) an extensively researched 7000-word liner note essay
written by yours truly, along with a very detailed track and recording
annotations provided and prepared by Doug Hinman. All housed in a beautifully
designed package, containing rare images and memorabilia throughout. In my
humble opinion it is probably the best prepared and researched Kinks archive
release released to date.
I'm not going to spoil all the surprises, but I will say the alternate version
of Mr. Reporter is not the 1998 remix, but a 1969 alternate version."
Brgds
Russell Smith