A Ray Of Sunshine

I have been humming "Sunny Afternoon", all week which is surprising, as its been hammering down with rain. Typical isn't it? when the first Test of the summer is looming large, this very Thursday.

On May 10, I saw the song's author, Ray Davies play The Royal Albert Hall, London. I have watched this musical legend play live seven times over the last decade, and he never gives a disappointing show.

If you wonder why your young correspondent, i,e not of the baby boomer generation, is such a fan, I got into The Kinks via listening to Blur, in the Britpop explosion of the 1990's. Blur were obviously big fans or big plagiarists, if you are less charitable than myself.

The Kinks front man and father of Brit-pop has to be seen live. Ray's stage show could go down as the ideal way to construct a concert. All the Kinks classics including the song that contains the very first heavy metal riff, "You Really Got Me" get an airing. Some rarer Kinks songs like 'Celluloid Heroes' add to the atmosphere for the hardcore fans. Due to the celebratory tone, Ray can even get away with adding some of his new solo songs, which are actually very good. There are also plenty of anecdotes about his Kinks heyday and much banter with the audience.

It is a great night out and shows why he should be regarded as Britain's greatest songwriter. What about Paul McCartney I hear you cry. 'Pullmycock off' more like, as Ray Davies affectionately refers to him in his autobiography, XRay. The Beatles are good, but a poor man's Kinks as every sensible britpopper should realise. Name one Beatles song that is better than "Waterloo Sunset" if you do not agree.

The version of Days, he played on Thursday was particularly memorable. He sings the first part without accompaniment and it is incredibly beautiful. Also played was '20th Century Man' a quite extraordinary track off one of my favourite albums 'The Muswell Hillbillies'.

This Kinks album from November 1971, is just ripe for rediscovery like their Village Green Preservation Society album was a few years ago. There are no hits on it, just some awesome unusual songs. Some of which sound more like Bob Dylan style folk music rather than the moddish pop sound they are known for. The Themes covered on it are different as well. Davies is in angry mood, writing about Alcoholism, The complicated nature of life, regeneration of post war London. A Scathing dislike of bureaucracy also comes across in the song 'Here Come the People in Gray'.

In typical quirky style, the mood is lightened with songs about Tea, and the joys of English Holidays. Years before Mr Albarn and Co, sung about similar such parochial matters on their rather good albums, Parklife and The Great Escape. Unlike Parklife, this CD is rarely seen in record shops, but you can buy it for a very reasonable price on Amazon.com.

One other thing about Ray Davies concerts, is their sheer length. No wonder, he always has an interval. Ray always plays over two hours and gives more than one encore. Good to see one artiste who does not treat his fans with contempt.

Sometimes, his gigs are cancelled due to recurrent ill health issues relating to getting shot, in New Orleans earlier this decade, but he always reschedules the gigs. That Sun headline still raises a smile, due its bad taste, 'You Really Shot Me'. Ray Davies of course, hates it.

Wouldn't it be good if the rumours turn out to be true, and that the Kinks reform next year. Current guitar bands like The Artic Monkies and Razorlight seem so very poor in comparison to Ray and Dave Davies. Where are today's songwriters to match such talent?