"I can blow up your houses so you better beware" Owing to massive urban redevelopment for council housing and shopping centres, houses being blown up must actually have been a visible part of life at the time the song was written.
I think I have this on Kink Kronicles - amazing album, and this song predates the awesome Bang A Gong by 2 years. The Kinks could do anything - Ray Davies is an incredibly varied songwriter.
This is not off Arthur, at least not in any UK pressing. It was the B side of a minor hit from early 1969, Plastic Man. It is regarded as the template for T.Rex, which is pretty understandable. It is a track on the box set, Kink Box (or some such).
The voice Day Davies used here is pure Bolan. Marc was a recording artist six years before Get It On. So obviously The Kinks were listening to Tyrannosaurus Rex and hugely influenced by Bolan's unique singing voice.
Yeah...3 albums, 'Unicorn' was released the same year as this. It wasn't until Marc Bolan paired up with Mickey Finn, shortened the band name to T-Rex, and went electric that they had their first real hit with 'Ride A White Swan' from the 'T-Rex' album in 1970. Bolan was initially a Mod, had been since the mid '60's. He'd played with John's Children. He was influenced by everyone from Bob Dylan to Syd Barrett, I imagine that also included The Kinks. But who cares, they're all great.
It's a shame there is no stereo version. I tried to make a 'pseudo' (fake) stereo version and it didn't sound too hot. I finally gave up after a few attempts.
Ukraine 20/04/2022 You and me are free, From morning....... Till the end of the day. Ray Davies 21yrs old 26 November, 1965 Kink Kontroversy #05. Preservation #06. King Kong #07. Wall of Fire
Where did the video come from? Obv references to imperial Japan, U.S. and Britain; the couple being pursued and eventually nuked; and who is looking out from the submarine at 2:53??? Is that the band? And who's in the middle? Very trippy!
Marc was recording from 1965 onwards with this voice. First as a solo artist, then with Johns Chilldren in 1967 then as Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1968. Electric Warrior was Bolans sixth album.
