Drummer reacts to "Sunny Afternoon" by The Kinks 

The Kinks were my brother's favorite band. He passed away in 1997. I miss him terribly. This is for you Johnny!🕊🕊🕊😎

My recently departed wife & I had Apeman as our wedding song. It was not played at our wedding. It was blasted on the stereo once we got back to our time-stopping compound as we danced like happy fools in our home. God Bless the Davies Brothers

Opening line "the taxman's taken all my dough" Beatles "Revolver" released Aug 1966, the first song is "Taxman" British income tax rates at the time were astronomical.

The Kinks are way to underrated these days. Their style flirted with punk and simply English 60s rock and their career peaked through into their big hit "Come Dancing" in the very early 80s. Their commentary on society in the lyrics is awesome.

"You Really Got Me ('64) put them on the map. "Lola" ('70) was a huge hit and a rather strange topic for the day. Saw them in '70 at a college gym with about 50 people in it. Saw them again in '72 with the Beach Boys, Doors & The Turtles. Also Ray & Dave as solos. Mick Avery was the Stones drummer before Charlie. Nicky also played with The Stones, Donovan Quicksillver and many others.

HIGHLY recommended Kinks hits: You Really Got Me, All Day and All of the Night, Tired of Waiting for You, A Rock N Roll Fantasy, Lola, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, Come Dancing, Waterloo Sunset.

Nicky Hopkins was the most brilliant pianist on ‘60s and ‘70s records for The Kinks, The Rolling Stones and The Who.

The Kinks actually knocked The Beatles off of the #1 hit list in England with "You Really Got Me". At a live concert in Bornmouth, UK the Kinks were the top billed band with the Beatles as the warm up band.

Prime choice. The Kinks have to be the most underrated GREAT bands of the 1960 and 70s. The Davies brothers were so talented at song writing. I bought a BEST OF THE KINKS CD once and the sucker was 18 songs long! And that wasn't even all of their best stuff! I recommend you try their song "SUPERMAN" someday.

The Kinks were one of the first, if not the first to use intentional distortion in their playing. Since a fuzz box hadn’t been invented yet, Dave Davies went out and bought a cheap amp, took it home and sliced up the speakers with a razor blade to get the sound in this song. This is their first hit. “You Really Got Me”. They were pioneers in modern hard rock. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-fTTsY-oz6Go.htmlsi=PXoAkU4VtxLZ10iM

I feel that Nicky Hopkins is the best session piano player. He played on all the greats- Beatles, Stones, Who, Jeff Beck. He started out in Quicksilver Messenger Service and sessioned with Jefferson Airplane.

As art-pop songsmiths, the Kinks weren’t as technically brilliant as the Beatles, but they had more ramshackle character and sensitivity. Their 1964 hit "You Really Got Me" set the template for the distorted hard rock guitar riff, and 1967’s “Waterloo Sunset” might be the most beautiful and haunting song to have come out of the whole British Invasion.

Ray Davies a terrific songwriter, he was churning out song after song after song at this time.

Kinks where the most underrated band go down there rabbit hole. They are my personal favorites.

Q: Beatles or Stones ? A: The Kinks !! There is a great 48 song double CD that spans their career & covers it pretty well, called The Essential Kinks. A very good overview of their output !! To me ? It was a true comfort in the late '70s & early '80s when The Kinks were still hitting the charts with things like Catch Me Now I'm Falling, Destroyer, Come Dancing, Do It Again & Living On a Thin Line. Truly life affirming for me back then..... 🚬😎👍

Check out the superior underheard B side of this single, ‘I Not Like Everybody Else.’ Just fantastic!!! Possibly the first punk song??? Then listen to the whole of Village Green Preservation Society.

Ray and Dave are indeed brothers. They have famously feuded with each other forever. They even recorded a song called "Hatred: A Duet." Dave is a great lead guitarist and provides the falsetto backing vocals.

1966 was the year the 60s took off--and it took off like a rocket. Nicky Hopkins also wrote the iconic piano riff in the Rolling Stone's "Gimme Shelter."

Thank you for playing songs of my teenage years back in the 1960's.

Nicky Hopkins appeared on several songs as studio musician f.e "She's a Rainbow" by The Rolling Stones what made that song a special one amidst the Stones' songs. The Kinks were special in several ways. 1. Their songs "You really got me" and "All day and all of zthe night" were punk about 10 years before punk. 2. Their lyrics had often topics that were more than pubertal problems("Lola", "Dead End Street"...). 3. They had a very wide musical range from that already mentioned hard songs to very soft songs like "Waterloo Sunset" and everything between.

'81 'Give the People What They Want' Rock and Roll

The Kinks were punk before anyone knew what punk was. They changed rock by inventing metal guitar. They're songs always told stories. You can delve into some great songs. Among my faves: Til The End Of The Day, Well Respected Man, I'm Not Like Everybody Else, Destroyer, Lola, Waterloo Sunset, Dedicated Follower Of Fashion, Celluloid Heros, Victoria, 20th Century Man

Thanks for this reaction. I'm an old guy who has been an avid KinKs fan since their beginning in the 60s. I played their song in bands that I had with my own brother. Then I played a bunch of more rocking stuff by them in the early 80s. Now today I still love to play Kinks tunes and be inspired by them and by Ray's songwriting. Check out "Around The Dial". It has a great high energy with some really cool variations of basic rock chord changes and textures. "A Rock And Roll Fantasy" is another great one. Keep it coming and I will continue to tune in.

About time you went down this rabbit hole. The only band that can rival the Beatles in lyrics during the 60s. Keep going on this band.

It's amazing that you understood the song before you were a third of the way through.

Never knew that was Nicky Hopkins on piano....total legend, and worked with the Stones a lot. Checkout Waterloo Sunset and Lola by The Kinks.

They had a twisted sense of humor in much of their music.

Their first "real" concept album was 1968's The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society.

Ray Davies is a great storyteller. So many fabulous songs. His tongue is usually firmly in his cheek. Shangri-la is epic, though some reactors don't 'get' it. More Kinks please. 👍👍

Yes defo do more Kinks!

This is my favorite Kinks song with "Lola" a close second.

Nicky Hopkins was rock's greatest session piano player.

Take a deep dive into The Kinks catalogue. They remain rock music's best kept secret.

Love the Kinks! I’m reading the book right now And on piano…Nicky Hopkins. He was the greatest session man around. You can hear him play on Stones classics and the Who among others. Great reaction. ✌️♥️🎶

Ducks On The Wall is a R&R classic from The Kinks.

Nicky Hopkins was one of rock music's greatest session players and also one of the best pianists in rock. The Kinks hit an unbelievably rich vein of form from 1966 to 1971, producing music at least the equal of their more celebrated contemporaries, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and The Who. You can pretty much choose any song from the following albums: FACE TO FACE, SOMETHING ELSE, THE VILLAGE GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY, ARTHUR, LOLA and MUSWELL HILLBILLIES. Yes please do continue with the FACE TO FACE album. It's a classic. And you will discover that having very catchy, upbeat music paired with dark lyrics is par for the course with The Kinks. Ray Davies is one of the greatest lyricists and indeed songwriters in rock history. The Kinks were a hugely innovative and influential band; hard rock, punk, britpop, concept albums all can be traced back to The Kinks. And while The Beatles were credited with introducing eastern influences into rock music with "Norwegian Wood", The Kinks actually predated that months earlier with the brilliant "See My Friends". "You Really Got Me", "Tired Of Waiting For You", "All Day And All Of The Night", "I Want You", "Set Me Free", "Well Respected Man", "I'm Not Like Everybody Else", "Till The End Of The Day", "Dedicated Follower Of Fashion", "Dead End Street", "Big Black Smoke", "Autumn Almanac", "Mr Pleasant", "This Is Where I Belong", "Waterloo Sunset", "Days", "Plastic Man". All these singles - with the exception of "You Really Got Me" and "Waterloo Sunset" were stand alone singles and not included on their corresponding albums. Check them out, they are brilliant.

Love this tune❤. I had just started my senior year in high school when this came out. I love their groove. Yes, you’re right about the undertone. Britain was taxing citizens so much that some musicians moved to America to keep much more if their hard earned dough.

Ray Davies is a genius at chronicaling ordinary life in wonderful songs and has been an inspiration to many who have followed. Dave Davies invented the 'fuzz' guitar sound by the simple expedient of slashing the speaker cone with a razor blade!

I was 15 in 1966 & LOVED this on 1st hearing. So pleased you like a variety of music, like myself. Maybe the Kinks "Dead End Street" next or for a more grungy sound "All day & all of the Night" or "You really got me"

Thanks. Haven't heard this in ages. Good memories.

The song: You Really Got Me...that's the kinks ! Van Halen had a go at it.

The filter on the mic, the piano and the vibe give me a sense of a 1920’s crooner. Right on about class disparity. Brits in the 60’s were highly taxed (see George Harrison’s “Taxman” off Revolver). Ray and Dave wrote some great songs, highly underrated, sadly, but integral to the development of and bridging pop and classic rock. Check out “Celluloid Heroes” and their iconic song, “Lola"

The Davis brother discovered Jimmy Hendrix and many more. They played a huge roll in the industry.

What’s crazier is I was 8 when this was released

When people ask me whether I prefer The Beatles or The Stones, I always say The Kinks. Check out Waterloo Sunset, the most beautiful song ever.

Nicky Hopkins was a great studio musician who played with all great bands of the day. Most notably The Rolling Stones.

They were Part of the British Invasion in 1964. Great songs. My favorite is Waterloo Sunset. 1966 I was 16 and got my driver's license. 😆

The Kinks were part of the British invasion, and to me my favorite next to the Beatles. They have some real rockers, but yet very intelligent, whimsical, sarcastic story tellers with beautifull melodies. Love her z voice and their rhythms. Try, their biggest hits " Lola " , " You really got me" " A rock and roll Fantasy" " Twentieth century man" "

This was Rave Davie's nod to The Lovin' Spoonful style.

Ray Davies is a great songwriter. In his autobiography he says one of his proudest moments was hearing 100000 people singing Sunny Afternoon at Wembley Stadium when Britain won the World Cup. He was 21. The Kinks were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the first year they were eligible and Ray Davies was eventually knighted by Queen Elizabeth for his contribution to modern music. The number of major artists who have covered Kinks songs is astounding.

Great Band! I believe it was one of the Ramones that called You Really Got Me the first punk song. Also I recommend Dead End Street for societal criticism.

Wish they stayed together longer and toured more.

Kinks 4 ever!

Strongly recommend you react to "When I Turn Off The Living Room Light." Kinks songs are always stories, like how you said "I can just see these guys performing in my head."

'Sunny Afternoon' has been a long-time fave of mine to perform. My recommendations for more Kinks: 'A Rock'n'Roll Fantasy', 'Come Dancing', 'Well-Respected Man', 'Dedicated Follower of Fashion', 'Destroyer', 'Waterloo Sunset'. Also check out Dave's solo cut 'Telepathy'.

Love this song. I was nine years old in 1966 and what a time to be a kid, so much great music back then and I had this single. I heard you mention sun glasses. Look on the back cover of The Beatles 1966 "Revolver" Lp and you'll see them wearing shades. After this that was the rage, Beatles glasses. Musicians were wearing them a lot and the fans had to have The Beatles glasses and I had a pair. Not only did they revolutionized Pop music in 6 short years but also pop culture like you wouldn't believe. Peace ❤

One of my favourite bands I keep overlooking. Well thought of though, British social commentary with inventive quirky lyrics. Thanks.

Hi...!!! IMHO, you have to dig up to "You Really Got Me" -1964. And what is it about? First punk song. First hard rock tune. First distorted guitar sound (deliberate). First power pop example. First garage music that went to N° 1 world wide. And the first use of a power chord riff to drive a song. C'mon... this starts everything! And what about another Kinks' gem: "All Day And All Of The Night"? -1964 (first proto-metal track). It must be said that the Kinks started almost everything... First raga rock (eastern drones) with "See My Friends" -1965, wich featured first use of controlled feedback and gay-suggested liricks. And Ray Davies did sociological poetry before no one. And The Kinks created the anglocentrism in pop culture. Then they presented the first conceptual video clip ("Dead End Street" -1966). First thematic LP: 'Face To Face' -1966. First conceptual album ('Village Green Preservation Society' -1968). First rock opera ('Arthur' -1969). They also introduced brit pop, indie rock and vaudeville pop. First ecological anthem with "Apeman", and first gender self-perception himn with the transvestim ode "Lola", both from 1970. They were the first rock band to mutate into a theatrical troupe (first half of the 70s). Almost forty years of career as a band. More than forty official albums. And Ray Davies, surely on the podium of all-time pop songwriters, is recognized by his peers as the quintessential London poet. 👋

Ray and Dave Ted part of the first British wave invasion Kid music. Nicky Hopkins also played on some Pink Floyd music and I believe The Rolling Stones as well! You won’t to try reacting to their songs Waterloo Sunrise, and their later hits called Superman H Celluloid Heroes!

Love the Kinks and this was a good start. It is my personal favorite of theirs

Other groups Dave Clark 5, Herman's Hermits, yardbirds, stones and pink floyd.

Look back at how quickly you went from a teenager to almost 30. Time flies by.

A ton of Kinks songs were about class disparity. Try Dead End Street (one of my fave Kinks tunes)

The late Nicky Hopkins was a session piano player who played with many big name bands. He appeared on many of the Rolling Stones’ albums.

You could spend weeks on this 'British Invasion' band

Always a favorite of mine. The music of the 60's always reflected what was going on at the time.

The Kinks are essential to understand the evolution of Rock music. I'm a hardcore fan, and they're an acquired taste at first but when they click, you're in forever. Their 60s sounds is unlike anything else, from hard rock to vaudeville, all wonderfully British. I like your choices! This is a classic and a top-5 favourite of mine but probably not the first someone would try of them (that would be You Really Got Me/Lola probably).

Remember the name 'Nicky Hopkins'. His playing style is just like what you heard, pure classic, and his piano is integrated part of so many good songs, by so many good bands. You could hire him and you'll now that he'll deliver much more than you paid for, :) .

The quintessential britisher british band. I'd expect you to start with "You Really Got Me", their early anthem, which planted the seeds of garage rock, punk rock and hard rock altogether! But Sunny Afternnon is an excellent choice to show off their melodic sense (and acerbic humor) - I've even sung this song on stage (I'm a guitarist, I almost NEVER sing). I've been lucky, I saw them live in 1980, a really great concert.

"Victoria" is another good Kinks song.

Thanks, L33 - this (another) great song by the Kinks... I think you would enjoy the "official" video.. it's pretty funny... the Kinks have so many fantastic songs.. I hope you get around to more of them.. ! Enjoy your reaction...

One of the original "British Invasion" Bands along with The Beatles and Stones and others in the early 1060s. Such a good Band. They stayed relevant into the late 1980s. Lots of great music from them. "Blazing on a Sunny Afternoon.," "You Really Got Me," "All Day and All of The Night" and so many more great songs.

6os and 70s, we didnt carry around phones. No tik tok. We met face to face. Lots of house partys and dance clubs. It was fun.

A protest about 70% tax rate in the UK. Many rich people relocated to Europe and Carribean to escape the taxes.

Cool song

The ideal place to start with The Kinks is with "You Really Got Me" where they altered the course of rock and roll -- then with that song's twin "All Day and All of the Night". Then you can skip around and most likely settle on "Lola", which was their surprise comeback song, and one of the, dare I say, kinkiest songs ever. But there are 2 or 3 dozen great Kinks songs. Ray Davies is one of the greats.

i love this song so much

Had much older siblings and so grew up with The Beatles and stuff at a very young age - damn, what an interesting thing that record player was. Almost destroyed it. Stones and Kinks I liked the most. Stones R&B, The KInks more like an early kind of - Brit-Pop? Don´t know. Loved their harmonies, compositions and Ray´s singing. Though I didn´t understand a word, their songs always seemed to have this bittersweet touch. "Waterloo Sunset" is a perfect and beautiful example.

The entire album is a winner for sure, my personal favorites are "Little Miss Queen of Darkness" and "Rosie Won't You Please Come Home" .

They were known for satirising various aspects of society. Like Well Respected Man, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, or Lola. You should check out The Bonzo Dog Do Dah Band - Urban Spaceman.

1967 Lazy Sunday (synced music video)by the Small Faces or Itchycoo Park (classic hits studio) every member of the rolling stones wanted steve mariot to join their band except mick jagger (fearing his position) said no way, jimmy page also wanted steve to join the new yardbirds but steve had just started his own new band project. jimmy page then chose robert plant but ask him if he could sound more like steve marriot 🤭 this is the origin of rock n roll's raspy vocal screams 😊😊 🎙

the 60's british beat vs america's rock n roll / then they merged 💥 Thunderclap Newman Something in the air 1969 The Count Five's Psychotic Reaction 1966 Blue Cheer - Summertime Blues 1968

The autobiographical doc “Imaginary Man” is an interesting look into Ray Davies’ world as an older guy. The single called that is also worth a listen, as well as that whole album he put out in his 60’s - “Workingman’s Cafe”.

The better song is the B-side of the single "I'm not like Everybody Else" One of Ray and Dave Davies' favorite songs.

As far as I know this was in response to George Harrisons "Taxman" as the tax in Britain at this time was 97% !!!!!

Watch the official video of the song. They performing the song their deep in the snow.⛄❄😂

You've probably heard "you really got me" in the form of a jingle. It's great, also Lola and Waterloo sunset.

Yes Lee keep going with it.

There are Sooooooo many great Kinks songs. You should try "Really Got Me", "Waterloo Sunset", "Dedicated Follower of Fashion", "Lola", "Dead End Street", "Apeman", live versions of: "Celluloid Heroes", and "Alcohol", "Muswell Hillbillies", "Jack the Idiot Dunce", and "Superman".

Try "Victoria" for the change in their music.

‘Waterloo Sunset’ was their epitome, apart from inspiring Paul Weller and others.

It's great if you choose this album that I don't even know. I heard Death Of A Clown 1967 often on the radio as a child. Of course I bought the brilliant Lola 1970/world hit, ... , a greatest hits album, the live album One For The Road 1980, the studio albums Low Budget + Give The People What They Want. The Kinks have so many different sides, loved them live!

Love the Kiinks, Saw them live twice. Try the albums Lola vs Powerman. Great songbook. influenced everyone.

The Kinks were BIG in Europe, But somehow banned from touring in the US in the 60s.

My favorite thing about the Kinks is that their only real “love song” was Lola - and we all know how that turned out. 😜

The taxman (Government) was and still is horrible in England, and many Rock and solo artists moved to the US back then for financial reasons. It's no better in the US these days. The Beatles song "Taxman" was a #1 Hit in both the UK and America. People hate to be overtaxed! I think that's one of the reasons we left Britain and fought the Revolutionary war. Grade school history. Thanks

Lee, You must listen to The Small Faces. An excellent 60s Band. Itchycoo Park, OR, Lazy Sunday. Keep Rocking. Ronnie SCOTLAND 😊

Another fine dip into the 60's, Lee. I know this is going WAY back for someone of your generation, and it's not all going to have the same appeal it does for us old-timers, so just look at music like this as the roots of *everything* that came after. The 70's musicians you've been listening to -- this is the stuff they were hot for as teenagers and when they were starting their musical careers. The Kinks started at the same time as The Who -- slightly behind The Beatles and the Stones. They earned an early reputation as trouble-makers with the song "You Really Got Me" (famously covered by Van Halen), but by the mid-60's Ray Davies began to emerge as an important voice for the British Everyman. The crowning highlight from this period is the song "Waterloo Sunset". Can't wait til you get to that one. Fun facts: The first Rickenbacker basses in Britain went to Paul McCartney, John Entwistle and Pete Quaife. Also, in the 1980's Ray Davies was one half of a rock celebrity power couple with The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde.

With a socialised health system there was a very high tax on rich people Musicians suddenly found that a lot of their earnings were taxed The Beatles wrote "Taxman" as part of this. The song you're listening to is the same theme, by the Kinks

Hey- you picked a good one to start with. I suggest next: Victoria". Maybe "Lola". But brace yourself. Remember "Lola" is from the 1960's. ANYTHING can happen.