The Kinks - Lola versus Powerman and the Money-Go-Round, Part One

The Kinks' 1970 effort was the penultimate creation in a five-year, six-album burst that ranks just a notch below the great sustained rock & roll eruptions of Bob Dylan, the Beatles, the Stones, and Elvis Costello. Of course, the linchpin to this collection is "Lola," Ray Davies's irresistibly vivid account of the charms of a seductive transvestite. Its daring (for the time) subject matter aside, "Lola" stands as one of the great singles of all time. Add to the list the almost as infectious "Apeman," a slew of funny, shrewd, alienated-rock-star screeds ("Top of the Tops," "The Moneyground," "Powerman"), and a couple of memorable contributions from Ray's brother, Dave ("Strangers," "Rats"), and you have the Kinks at their raucous, righteous, quirky quintessence. --Steven Stolder Amazon.com essential recording

The whole nut

Although the Kinks made some good records and arguably, a few that flirted with greatness (Muswell Hillbillies, Preservation Act I, Sleepwalker) after this one, Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround Part I marks the last time all the elements came together with such potency. Like its predecessor, Arthur, it was a record rich in textual continuity, but smarter, more cynical and far more rocking. The former was about emigration and and the echoes of bygone Victorian life, the latter about the ups and downs of the popstar life, replete with the characteristic snarliness of early Kinks, "Top of the Pops," music hall madness, "The Moneygoround," and a pair of wonderful ballads, "Dave Davies' "Strangers," and Ray's "A Long Way from Home." Not to mention power-rocking guitars and whatever "Lola" is besides a bona fide mega-hit. Maybe they should have quit the high concept stuff while they were ahead, gone out on top, but Ray wanted to make musical theater and fight with Dave about it, apparently---in the end, that was just a phase, and the Kinks eventually returned to making pop records, some good, some bad, but none as great as this one.
September 30, 2008

Reconsidered Almost 40 Years Later

It was great to hear three songs from this album in the recent Wes Anderson movie, "Darjheeling Limited." The three songs ("This Time Tomorrow," Strangers," and "Powerman") sounded fabulous in the theatre and complemented the movie well. A couple of strange things, though. These songs were originally written as part of a concept album savaging the Music Biz. Anderson's movie had nothing to do with that subject, yet the songs neatly emphasized the movie's feel for spiritual awakening. The one song from the album that would have fit the movie best, "Still a Long Way from Home," wasn't even used in the film, though it's theme of brotherly contemplation and reconciliation would have fit the movie perfectly. What is really striking is that these three songs are among the least well-known on the album. "Lola," Apeman," and "Get Back in the Line" are all Kinks classics. "Moneygoround" was also a favorite of mine. "Top of the Pops" is very clever. So how good is this album? It's pretty amazing, actually.

One of the fun things about the Kinks around this time is that there is no continuity, musically, between their albums at all (just the voices, which are as familiar as a good friend's). Village Green sounds nothing like Arthur, which sounds nothing like Lola, which sounds nothing like Muswell Hillbillies. Part of this is changes in musical personnel. Village Green was the last Kinks album with Pete Quaife and the first in awhile not to feature Nicky Hopkins on keyboards. Ray's thumpy piano and mellotron stand out with a new, more urgent drumming from Mick Avory. Quaife's bass is strong as ever, though Dave's guitar is somewhat muted. Arthur is John Dalton's first album on bass, and he takes a backseat to my ears. Avory steps up even more (listen to the drumming on "Shangri La!"), and Dave's guitar shows signs of life. The mellotron is replaced by a strong brass section. With Lola, Dave's guitar is back full force, Avory's drumming hits its apex, and the crucial addition of John Gosling on keyboards integrates with the music better than any of his predecessors. This is an updated Kink's sound where they reap what they sowed when they invented power chords six years earlier. Their return to touring in the US with Arthur also obviously influenced their new hard sound. Of course, they chucked the whole thing for a country/blues/dixie sound in Muswell Hillbillies, but that's another story.

Lola was the Kinks most successful single and album in years, but it was met with mixed reviews, mostly because the concept of striking back at the Music Business seemed too bitter and shallow. I think this assessment needs to be reconsidered. The songs, individually, hold up outside of the confines of the concept, as "Darheeling Limited" proved. Another French movie also recently used "This Time Tomorrow" to tremendous effect in a dance scene that transformed the meaning of the song from a band touring to our common journey through life.

Individually, these songs serve up an honest assessment of Ray Davies' life at the time of its writing. He was emerging from legal hassles, personal struggles, and band personnel changes, and he served it up for us to share - he was determined to be free. Dave's two enigmatic songs stand to the side but also strangely fit the theme. "Strangers" was utterly unforgettable once heard as the background to the funeral scene in "Dharjeeling Limited."

The songs on this album still sound great. All in all, almost 40 years later, I think it is the Kinks' most successful album, from beginning to end. Rather than a bitter concept album, I think it is more a chronicle of life's journeys and all of the strange turns life can take, perhaps the strangest being becoming a rock and roll God and having it turn into a steady job. August 25, 2008

Top 5 Albums in the history of rock

I will simply say that this is one of the best albums of all time. As for songwriting ability this album is why Ray Davies is my favorite songwriter along with Bob Dylan. I have owned this album for so many years (now the cd). "Lola" is why, I think at least, the Kinks are perhaps the most underappreciated band of all time. July 8, 2008

Along with Who's Next, Best Album ever made

The Kinks "1965-1970" period is, in my opinion, matched only by the Stones 4 album stretch encompassing Let It Bleed through Exile On Main Street. And this specific album is matched only by Who's Next - there isn't a weak track on the entire album and brother Dave kicks in two stellar tracks with Strangers and Rats. Ray Davies is without peer when it comes to seeing the world as it really is and translating all of that grasping conceit into music. He takes the throwaway, the mundane, and skewers it without mercy. The world would be a far drearier place without him. Do yourself a favor, if you've never listened to the earlier Kinks, get this disc, give it repeated listenings, and you will love it, its that simple. June 9, 2008

The Kinks At their Best

Raymond Douglas Davies Is the most gifted singer / songwriters in the history of the planet. If you're not a KINKS fan(what's wrong with you?) then press GO .My Lord what a influence on my world. Village Green Preservation Society is my favorite though.Ray Davies Story Teller, a solo albuw Is A must Hear. God what a storyrteller it's a AAA+ GOD SAVE THE KINKS !! Just in case you're interested, NRBQ is awesome as well
Dave May 7, 2008

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