Saturday, July 18, 2009

The Kinks: "Days"

"Days" from 1968 is the last great single from the Kinks' "lost period" in America. In 1965 the band was effectively banned from performing in the US by the American Federation of Musicians.

Touring was much more important for rock artists forty years ago. Artists came to town, disc jockeys played their songs, and the bands reciprocated by professing their love for the radio station. Record labels subsidized concert tours because live performances moved units.

Only the Beatles could abandon the road and survive.

Ray Davies, the band's principal songwriter, singer, and resident genius, was at the top of his game with "Days," one of the most beautiful songs ever written.



Two years later, Davies struck back at unions with "Get Back in Line."

Related post:

The Kinks peform "Have a Cuppa Tea"

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