This is an examination of the life of Ray Davies, leader of The Kinks. From 1964 he has been one of the brightest, sharpest, wittiest and most popular of British musicians. Instead of a conventional narrative, Davies has set the book in the future as a confrontation between his aged self and a young journalist who is researching his life. The result is a caustic, witty and ultimately moving self-portrait of one of the most influential British rock musicians, a figure whose work with The Kinks has made him admired, copied and in some quarters, revered. It is also a picture of England from the fifties to the present day - and after.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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'We romp across the decade with flair: tales of power games with The Beatles, girls in lacquered hair... greedy deals in Denmark Street and immortal songs written from within in pits of despair' --Mojo
'X-Ray is that rarest of things: a rock star autobiography that is engaging, entertaining and well written, to boot' --Mail on Sunday
'Pop biographies rarely come more inventive than this' --The Times --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
'X-Ray is that rarest of things: a rock star autobiography that is engaging, entertaining and well written, to boot' --Mail on Sunday
'Pop biographies rarely come more inventive than this' --The Times --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
The New York Times
'"X-Ray" is ample evidence that Mr. Davies is still a first-class writer'
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Dr Rhythm
Format:Paperback
One would never expect Ray Davies to write a straightforward account of his life. After all, he has given us musical delights over the years which place subtlety ahead of the blatantly obvious and this approach continues in 'X-Ray'. Despite his manipulation of the autobiographical form, he is still candid and honest, although to what degree one can never be sure and that only adds to the enjoyment of this thoroughly gripping tome. I wish he would write a sequel, as this one ends in the early '70s and, despite what some may believe, The Kinks and Ray had much to offer well beyond that period. I would recommend anyone who reads this to follow it with Dave Davies' autobiography, which is more traditional in its style but heartfelt and equally essential. Between the two brothers' accounts the whole truth may be found...
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Rufus
Format:Paperback
I bought this of Amazon to read on my holidays in Corfu. I had a number of books to plough through on the beach, but this was top of the pile and I couldn't wait to get at it. To be honest, I didn't know what to expect. I'd read the reviews which clarified nothing and after reading the book I still don't understand what Ray Davies was trying to achieve.
It's so obviously auto-biographical but written about some-one else. Ray tries to shock in parts, but this becomes nothing more than saucy postcard stuff and typical of the whole plot. Uninteresting, dull, pointless - I was so relieved when the final page appeared.
I love the Kinks, and I have Ray's narrative album, Storyteller, which is excellent in parts - but sometimes an artist pushes out into the wrong direction. Ray is a great songwriter, one of the best ever, but an author he ain't. Sorry Ray, two stars..
It's so obviously auto-biographical but written about some-one else. Ray tries to shock in parts, but this becomes nothing more than saucy postcard stuff and typical of the whole plot. Uninteresting, dull, pointless - I was so relieved when the final page appeared.
I love the Kinks, and I have Ray's narrative album, Storyteller, which is excellent in parts - but sometimes an artist pushes out into the wrong direction. Ray is a great songwriter, one of the best ever, but an author he ain't. Sorry Ray, two stars..
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Tigs
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this book hoping to learn a little more about Ray Davies, I can't say that I learnt much. Ray Davies has an odd way of writing. He jumps from one point of view to another and at times I began to lose the will to try and keep up with him. To be fair I didn't finish the book, it was just too much of a chore. Why he chose to cloak himself in different persona I have no idea. It didn't work for me and from the reviews others thought the same. I really wanted to know mor about Ray but it was not to be.
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3.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting read, but I would've preferred a straight narrative
I originally bought 'X-Ray' in hardback when it was first published - I even saw Ray read extracts from it in a bookshop in Muswell Hill, a few hundred yards from where his family... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Og Oggilby
4.0 out of 5 stars
Class act
I read x-ray after reading Pete Townshends epic tedium. Being a fan of the Kinks I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that Ray Davies is an interesting writer, not just a... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Buttman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why I five star rated this Autobiography
I bought this book for my Husband and he has had his head stuck in it ever since, the comments he keeps saying about how well written this book is and how it reflects his own... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Irene Newton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Always intriguing
Ray Davies's decision to write an autobiography seems a peculiar one when it is almost immediately apparent that he just wants to confuse the issue. Which issue? Every issue. Read more
Published 16 months ago by secret squirrel
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pshychologically stimulating and factually interesting.
Ray Davies leader of the most influential group of the 20th century uses this autobiography to give the reader an insight into life in the `swinging 60s' and early 70s and outlines... Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2000
3.0 out of 5 stars
My review will consist of the way the book was arranged.
The book was intrigiuing with its invention of new literary devices. Being younger than most of the crowd following Ray Davies I found insightful the comments mentioned about... Read more
Published on 12 Sep 1999
3.0 out of 5 stars
My review will consist of the way the book was arranged.
The book was intrigiuing with its invention of new literary devices. Being younger than most of the crowd following Ray Davies I found insightful the comments mentioned about... Read more
Published on 12 Sep 1999
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