I saw the Kinks in concert in the early 80's when they were doing 'Bird Dog' by the Everly Bros. You can really see the Everly Bros influence in Picture Book, brothers singing harmony the way only brothers do. They coulda done that more, I think.
Proud to call these guys my favorite band. This song has been the comforting soundtrack of many sleepless nights, lost loves and years of hopelessness... You may feel like you're not going to make it, yet somehow life can always go on. Thank you for reminding me that, Ray. :)
What amazes me about this song is how humble is Ray Davies. After being kicked out and bared from the U S for 5 years, while the Stones, Beatles, Who, Led Z etc were pulling millions of $ out of there, Kinks were stuck at home. How much would that have cost them ? Wouldn't you want to hate US ? But no - no hatred, no animosity, Ray comes out and writes such a beautiful tribute to their greatest institution. A wonderful song and in my view, one of the most iconic songs of the Rock era.
I agree. I like the way he does more with the letter L than any other song I've heard of. The letter L is always part of the most beautiful alliteration.
Oh...to be 16 years-old again, but know what I know now!! LOL!!! The KINKS were the BOMB back in the day, and I still listen to them now that I'm an old man of 75!
The kinks were among the best with their intelligent and witty lyrics pioneering use of power chords, overall too notch song writing, superb musicianship, class and style . One of my greatest regrets concert-wise is not ever having seen them live.
Paul McCartney's most recent documentary, done by Rick Rubin, was on tv and Rick asked Paul something like, "What did you see that had a big impact on The Beatles?" Paul said, "The Kinks!" They were so young and they had a hit with "You Really Got Me" and they opened for The Beatles. They hid in the audience so that they could watch The Kinks. Pete Townshend said he only ever wanted to sound as good as the Kinks. David Bowie said he never heard a Kinks song he didn't like.
Such a long song that one verse, at least, is almost always left out. Some say it's because Mickey Rooney wasn't yet dead--but I think that would have been a great thing for Rooney to hear this song. I hope someone told him about it--maybe one of his many, many ex wives! Rooney's best line was "I recommend getting married in the morning so that if it doesn't work out you haven't wasted a whole day!"
Ray said he regrets turning down the famous singer who wanted to cover this song. Ray didn't want to let him change a lyric (I always thought it was probably the line about Valentino looking up ladies' dresses.) Most think it was Tony Bennett since he was on the same talk show with Ray once.
