1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #110. The Kinks - The Village Green Preservation Society (1968)

The Kinks - The Village Green Preservation Society (1968)

Label – Pye
Producer – Ray Davies
Art Direction – John Prosser / Barrie Wertzell
Nationality – UK
Running Time – 38:46

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. The Village Green Preservation Society
2. Do You Remember Walter
3. Picture Book
4. Johnny Thunder
5. Last Of The Steam Powered Trains
6. Big Sky
7. Sitting By The Riverside
8. Animal Farm
9. Village Green
10. Starstruck
11. Phenominal Cat
12. All Of My Friends Were There
13. Wicked Annabella
14. Monica
15. People Take Pictures Of Each Other

The lp that followed up the Kink’s “Something Else” was “The Village Green Preservation Society” - a concept album – longing for the passing of old-fashioned English traditions. Ray Davies creates a series of stories, sketches, and characters about a picturesque England that never really was. This is a lovely album! I never really have given the Kinks much thought more than the big hit singles that they produced, but this album, the previously mentioned “Something Else” which was a great record, and "Face To Face" really have me thinking about taking another look at their recorded works and delving into them a bit more.
Originally conceived to be a two-record set with 20 tracks (but Pye Records rejected this plan) the 15 tracks take the listener into a lazy rhythms and sensibilities type feel, and although really there is a theme of loss and regret running through the record it feels like a hazy nice dream. The bluesy shuffle of "Last of the Steam-Powered Trains" is the closest the album comes to ‘real’ rock & roll but it is a great record even though the album is so calm. Their are endless layers of musical and lyrical innovation on “The Village Green Preservation Society” to hold your interest and make you want to play it again and again.
By the way – the track “Picture Book” was used in a series of HP commercials a few years ago, so that’s why that one sounded really familiar to me!! "Starstruck" was released as a single in the US and Europe, but it did not chart. The record remained out of print for years, but today this album is reported to be the best-selling non-compilation album in the Kinks' catalogue!! Ray Davies has referred to it as the "most successful flop of all time". It is HIGHLY recommended.



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