Sleepwalker (The Kinks album)

Sleepwalker
Studio album by The Kinks
Released 12 February 1977[1]
Recorded July 1, 1976 - December 20, 1976 at Konk Studios, London
Genre Rock
Length 40:10
Label Arista
Producer Ray Davies
The Kinks chronology
Schoolboys in Disgrace
(1975)
Sleepwalker
(1977)
Misfits
(1978)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [2]
Blender [3]
Robert Christgau (B-)[4]
Rolling Stone (favourable)[5]

Sleepwalker is a 1977 album by the English rock group, The Kinks. It marked a return to straight-ahead, self-contained rock songs after several years of concept albums. It is the first album in what critics usually call the "arena rock" phase of the group, in which more commercial and mainstream production techniques would be employed. The album also marks the last appearance of bassist John Dalton, who left the band during the recording sessions. Dalton plays bass on all songs on the album save for "Mr. Big Man," which bassist Andy Pyle played on.[6] The lineup of The Kinks would be trimmed downed significantly in 1977 following the album's release, as the brass section and backup singers were removed and the band returned to a standard rock band outfit.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Ray Davies

Side one
No. Title Length
1. "Life on the Road"   5:02
2. "Mr. Big Man"   3:49
3. "Sleepwalker"   4:04
4. "Brother"   5:28
Side two
No. Title Length
1. "Juke Box Music"   5:32
2. "Sleepless Night"   3:18
3. "Stormy Sky"   3:58
4. "Full Moon"   3:52
5. "Life Goes On"   5:03

Personnel

References

  1. ^ "Kinks - Sleepwalker". discogs.com. http://www.discogs.com/Kinks-Sleepwalker/release/387653. Retrieved May 9, 2011. 
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Kinks: Sleepwalker > Review" at Allmusic. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  3. ^ Blender review
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert. "The Kinks". RobertChristgau.com. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=1464. Retrieved November 12, 2011. 
  5. ^ Altman, Bill (April 21, 1977). "The Kinks: Sleepwalker". Rolling Stone (Straight Arrow) (RS 237). ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on November 30, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071130023021/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/thekinks/albums/album/174388/review/5946447/sleepwalker. 
  6. ^ "Kinks - Sleepwalker (2007 Japanese reissue CD)". Discogs.com. http://www.discogs.com/Kinks-Sleepwalker/release/2287663. Retrieved November 12, 2011.