The Kinks entered the 80's as the only hip survivors of the original British Invasion. By this time Mick Jagger was prancing around like a drag queen and McCartney was doing Ebony and Ivory and the Who were doing "You Better You Bet". The Kinks still had attitude and sounded fresh. They were also the most covered of the British Invasion bands by the late-70's punk/new wave bands who referred to the others as "boring old farts". But love those bands as well!!
I have played guitar since the early 60's and the rock snobbery used to put out in that it was Jimmy Page who stepped in do the guitar work for Dave Davis during recording. This was absolute rubbish, Dave was always a very proficient guitarist before Page was, Dave is way better than Page, Page was back-up only when required, like for Townsend in. 'I Cant Explain' or Them's 'Baby Please Don't Go' Dave played on all Kinks recordings, he was a great innovator of different lead techniques, including that fragmented lead style of 'You Really Got Me' and All Day 'And All Of The Night'. On ' See My Friends' he produced a sitar sound by slackening off the strings to get that sitar twang, and many pop aficionados though it was a sitar. Dave started that sound one whole year before the Beatles.
Saw the Kinks at the Felt Forum NYC in 74 and they've been my favorite band ever since. Ray Dave and Mick make up one of the best bands and Ray is the greatest rock and roll songwriter of all timer.God save the Kinks
Dave Davies guitar in this song is just incredibly insane. I never realized how great of a guitar player he was until watching this live. Mick Avory is looking over at Dave smiling. He knows he’s in a total zone.
One of the most underrated bands ever! The Kinks are sooo much more than people give them credit for! They brothers Davis have volumes of work that is truly amazing!
