Absolutely. Ray is by far the finest songsmith to come out of England. Jaggers/Richard aren't even close in terms of quantity of originality and quality. Likewise Lennon/McCartney. I would go head-to-head with any Stoner/Beatlebum in a Kinks vs. the pretender catalogue encounter.
@@LaughingStock_ I'm up for it! My team is The Beatles, yours is The Kinks - let's go (p.s. I absolutely love The Kinks, so I'm in a no lose contest here! But I think the more interesting stand off is who is the better songwriter/musician/performer: Ray Davies or Pete Townshend? - probably starting to get closer to comparing apples with apples) Anyway, regardless we can certainly agree that we have all been lucky to have experienced all of these amazing talents!
If there was ever a song from that era that deserved a choral treatment, Shangri-La was it. This was probably the most epic of Ray's 'everyman' songs, and it works very well here. Also, it is nice that Ray can participate in this kind of later-life validation of the work of his youth.
I saw the kinks live at Beatty park aquatic centre Western Australia with the bee gees and deep purple early 70s cost me three dollars The best night of my life including a lovely young women. Thanks for the memories!
'stairway' doesn't =mean= anything though... it's a great, trippy song, yeah, but - eventually, "great noise - signifies nothing", to shorten up some famous quote from somewherez else... "shangri-la" though... exemplifies =EVERYTHING= about post-industrial/post-depression era life (at least, for the western world... look around, at viddies from elsewheres around the world, and find out that there are people still living in pre-industrial times...) ;0 his sly grin at the beginning, talking about "hippies at his party"... ;) well, i don't think he was completely off-tune from where they were coming from; it was just too early a time to consciously make-amends about where-and-how we were all going, socially, politically, environmentally, economically... so, i feel this song tells us (without explicitly saying so ;) that there are parts of the world that still do not enjoy the modern benefits we do (and we should/could make that a priority), and also that we (in our post-industrial age) should protect and preserve our modern benefits, instead of letting them neglectfully being sod off by politicians on "whatever take" they're getting by letting those poorer than them have less quality in their basic utilities than they are getting, or can afford to get themselves. not everyone, EVERYWHERE, NOW gets to live out their "shangri-la". and, this dream slips ever farther away, in a millenium where EVERYONE SHOULD be reaching closer to it.
I prefer it to "Village Green" which I suppose makes me a heretic in Kinks circles. They are both wonderful of course, but I just think "Arthur" is better. Victoria, Yes Sir No Sir, Drivin', Australia, what's not to love? Dave's playing is superb on it as well. He's one of the great unsung guitar heroes in my opinion.
I bought “Arthur “ when it came out, a tremendous album. Was fortunate enough to see the Kinks in the ‘70s, I don’t remember the year but it was great.
No major British Invasion artist of the 1960s was more consistently English in manner and songwriting theme than these Kink blokes. While their more internationally successful peers were generally emulating American R&B artists or those scouser rockers up in the north the Kinks, under the helm of the brilliant but not always mutually amiable Davies lads, chartered a different course of innovative hard rock sound and bitting social commentary on the state of post-war England. As a Yank Anglophile who loves nearly all of the diverse sounds that emanated from the UK in the swinging sixties the Kinks will always hold a tender place in my heart for their boldly unique character. God Save The Kinks!
Now here you are in your paradise,this is your kingdom in a new life and is this your shangri-la!Put on your slippers and sit by the fire You reach the top and You Cany any Higher!
Where is your reward for working so hard over the decades, dearest dear Sir Raymond Douglas Davies M.B.E. (or whatever the title is?). you are such an outstanding person in each and every way
The Kinks are more reactionary and right wing than people realize. Their aversion to the mood of the times was not coming from a left wing perspective, but rather a traditional one.
The Crouch End Festival Chorus teaming up with Ray Davies is a true stroke of genius... workin back stage at Glas' n listening to them perform was simply sublime... Long live Ray n the VGPS
I like the choir. Ray liked using a harpsichord and horns. So many words as Mick Avory mentioned about Ray’s songs. Mick sang a number in the bar with the Kastoff Kinks. I wish there was more, but Ray gave us so much to enjoy.
Shangri-la is one of the very finest songs ever written, pure and simple. Some of the most insightful lyrics not to mention a very sophisticated and capitivating melody. For my taste, the studio version is far superior to this choral revision, but that's just my taste.
