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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
How Ray Davies made it through is anyone's guess. He fought constantly with his brother and bandmate Dave. He received not a penny of royalties throughout the Kinks' late-1960s heyday, due to a management dispute. He endured two divorces--the first of which saw him hospitalised in a suspected suicide attempt--and a painful break-up with Chrissie Hynde. Under terrible stress, he announced his retirement every six months from 1967 onwards. Yet somehow he held together one of the 60s' most stylish outfits, and released a string of hits that rank among the wittiest, most provocative and most socially aware songs ever written.
The first disc of the two-CD The Ultimate Collection begins with their third single and first No. 1, the insistent "You Really Got Me", then races through the glory years with the absurdly infectious likes of "Sunny Afternoon", "Waterloo Sunset", "Lola" and "Apeman". Dave's two hits are included, too, and the disc ends with "Come Dancing" and other selections from The Kinks' early-80s comeback. Disc Two includes songs that were hits for others ("David Watts" and "Stop Your Sobbing"), various B-sides and other rarities, including "God's Children", from the soundtrack of Percy, a movie about a fellow seeking the original owner of his recently transplanted penis. The Ultimate Collection is an excellent addition to the Kinks's cannon. --Dominic Wills
Product Description
2CD set. Unbeatable remastered 44-track compilation of original hits and rarities from 1964 to 1984!
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
60 of 62 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The Kinks' hits have been endlessly repackaged over the years and no doubt this collection will not be the last - but it is unlikely to be beaten. It contains (as they all do) the great sixties singles and the number and consistent brilliance of those singles is astounding from 'You Really Got Me' through 'Waterloo Sunset' (one of the greatest singles of all time) and 'Sunny Afternoon' to 'Days' and 'Lola' via less obvious gems such as 'Autumn Almanac', and the gorgeous 'Wonderboy' . Everyone will have special favourites. this collection also includes (as others do not) the perfect 'Come Dancing' from 1983.
The second cd collects album tracks, b-sides and non-hit singles and shows another dimension to the band. Listen to the sheer genius of 'Celluloid Heroes' and ask yourself why it flopped.
'Where Have All The Good Times Gone' (b side of 'Till The End Of The Day') will be better known to many through Bowie's cover version, and 'Stop You Sobbing' will be more familiar by the Pretenders - the originals here are excellent. 'I'm Not Like Everybody Else' (another b side) is almost a personal manifesto.
I could go on forever, there is so much here and all so good.
One quibble - why no 'Sitting In My Hotel'? One of the greatest of the band's album tracks. Grumble over.
The material on this album belongs in every good cd collection. I promise it will not disappoint.
The second cd collects album tracks, b-sides and non-hit singles and shows another dimension to the band. Listen to the sheer genius of 'Celluloid Heroes' and ask yourself why it flopped.
'Where Have All The Good Times Gone' (b side of 'Till The End Of The Day') will be better known to many through Bowie's cover version, and 'Stop You Sobbing' will be more familiar by the Pretenders - the originals here are excellent. 'I'm Not Like Everybody Else' (another b side) is almost a personal manifesto.
I could go on forever, there is so much here and all so good.
One quibble - why no 'Sitting In My Hotel'? One of the greatest of the band's album tracks. Grumble over.
The material on this album belongs in every good cd collection. I promise it will not disappoint.
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
So, is this double CD the ultimate collection of the brilliant Kinks? Yes, probably - well it's certainly the best Kinks compilation on the market with the only real fault being only one track featured from their acknowledged masterpiece The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society. Not really a problem though as the Village Green should be bought separately (and guess what, a 3 CD Special Edition has also been brought out by the same canny label, Sanctuary!), and there is plenty to enjoy in the Ultimate Collection.
The Ultimate Collection contains all the band's hits plus key B-sides and album tracks from their 60s heyday right through to the early 80s. This ranges from absolute classics such as Sunny Afternoon, Waterloo Sunset and Days through to under-rated gems such as the epic Shangri-La and touching God's Children which on their own justify this compilation being two CDs rather than a hits-only single disc.
There are a few stinkers, most notably the appalling Apeman and Plastic Man, though virtually all of the other material here is worthwhile with even the latter tracks sounding OK if rather dated with their 80s gloss.
With a good accompanying essay by David Wells, the Ultimate Collection by The Kinks pretty much is what it says on the tin. An excellent compilation by one of the key 60s bands and best acts ever. Buy it - but make sure you buy the Village Green Preservation Society as well...
The Ultimate Collection contains all the band's hits plus key B-sides and album tracks from their 60s heyday right through to the early 80s. This ranges from absolute classics such as Sunny Afternoon, Waterloo Sunset and Days through to under-rated gems such as the epic Shangri-La and touching God's Children which on their own justify this compilation being two CDs rather than a hits-only single disc.
There are a few stinkers, most notably the appalling Apeman and Plastic Man, though virtually all of the other material here is worthwhile with even the latter tracks sounding OK if rather dated with their 80s gloss.
With a good accompanying essay by David Wells, the Ultimate Collection by The Kinks pretty much is what it says on the tin. An excellent compilation by one of the key 60s bands and best acts ever. Buy it - but make sure you buy the Village Green Preservation Society as well...
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The first CD of this collection contains all of their UK hits in chronological order, from their first success (You really got me) in 1964 to their last (Don't forget to dance) in 1983. All the classic songs are here including You really got me, All day and all of the night, Tired of waiting for you, Dedicated follower of fashion, Well respected man, Sunny afternoon, Waterloo sunset, Autumn almanac, Days, Lola and Apeman. It also includes Dave's two solo UK hits - Death of a clown and Susannah's still alive (inserted in their correct places chronologically between the other Kinks hits).
Being presented in chronological order, this CD shows their progression from their musical roots in R+B to more of a mainstream pop group and continually changing their style thereafter. Nevertheless, their songs were always distinctive because of Ray's talent for making ordinary situations into extraordinary songs. My favorite Kinks song is Waterloo sunset, a huge UK hit but not an American hit. It is about romance at a railway station that I am familiar with, though I cannot possibly imagine what inspired Ray to write that song, but he was a genius.
The second CD is less instantly appealing, containing a mix of B-sides and rarities as well as songs that were hits for others although not for the Kinks, including David Watts (a minor UK hit for punk-rockers The Jam) and Stop your sobbing (a minor UK hit for the Pretenders). If you enjoy listening to more than just the hits, you will find plenty to interest you here.
The best tribute to the quality of the Kinks' songs lies in the diversity of the covers that have been recorded by singers in several genres of music. Apart from the aforementioned tracks by the Jam and the Pretenders, Kirsty MacColl (Days), the Stranglers (All day and all of the night), Petula Clark (Days - and a French version of Well respected man), Cathy Dennis (Waterloo sunset, Sunny afternoon), Green day (Tired of waiting for you), Jimmy Buffett (Sunny afternoon), Van Halen (You really got me) and Barb Jungr (Waterloo sunset) are among those who have covered Kinks songs.
Despite the brilliance of some of the covers, here you get the chance to hear the original versions of their classic songs, plus a selection of their other music.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not what I expected
I didn't really know the music of the Kinks well but loved "You Really Got Me", "All Day And All Night" and "Sunny Afternoon" and was hoping for a whole collection full of songs... Read more
Published 1 month ago by MonaLisaSmiles
The Kinks - The Ultimate Collection
Been looking to replace my Lp with a good comprehensive CD and this really fits the bill. Was a very good price and delivery was earlier than the given date. Good deal all round.
Published 3 months ago by Mr. Richard Bays
great cd
delivery was very quick.I bought this for my husband he keeps it in his car and plays it every day on his way to work,very very pleased with quick delivery and fabulous cd.
Published 7 months ago by chris
Good compilation
The best Kinks tracks are often the lesser known album tracks, B sides, etc, but when it come to 'hits' packages, this could be the best of them. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Bernard J. Ryan
kinks r good
this is a very good collection of the Kings music which gives an excellent picture of the popular music of the mid sixties and early seventies.
Published 7 months ago by Robert A. Storrar
Enough to spark an obsession
We were Kinks neophytes when we bought this and it has a great selection on it. All the hits and more. Led to many afternoons of wild dancing in the living room. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Bashful Badger
Kinks Ultimate Collection
Anyone buying this CD will know exactly what they are getting song wise brilliant writing and music....CD is in my car all the time and played often....Good value...
Published 8 months ago by Mr. Jeffrey W. Nunn
Great, But Not Ultimate
A great collection of Kinks material, but like all of their singles compilations miss out the RCA single from 1973 "Sitting In The Midday Sun". Read more
Published 8 months ago by J. L. Widdowson
kinks
A great album, u suddenly hear a song and realise u didn't know they sung it! Wasn't around 1st time s9myself were out but still enjoy thus great album.
Published 9 months ago by angela
The Kinks - The Ultimate Collection
This has everything most people would want from The Kinks - a good introductory collection of their best known songs. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Kev the Greenman
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