Something Else by The Kinks

Something Else by The Kinks, often referred to as just Something Else, is the fifth UK studio album by The Kinks, released in September 1967. It marks the final involvement of American producer Shel Talmy in the Kinks' 1960s studio recordings; henceforth Ray Davies would produce recordings. Many of the recordings feature the keyboard work of Nicky Hopkins and the backing vocals of Ray's wife, Rasa. Two hit singles are included: "Waterloo Sunset" and "Death of a Clown". In 2003, the album was ranked #288 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.^[3]

Recording

As Ray Davies had assumed control over production after the departure of Shel Talmy, Something Else marked a change in the sound and production style of the Kinks. He felt unsure of his skill in mixing and recording their records and later commented, "I feel that I shouldn't have been allowed to produce Something Else. What went into an album required someone whose approach was a little bit more mundane".^[4]

Apart from "End of the Season", the album was recorded between the autumn of 1966 and the summer of 1967, when the Kinks had cut back on touring and had begun recording and stockpiling songs for Ray's as-yet poorly defined "village green" project. The song "Village Green" was recorded in November 1966 during the sessions for the album but was released on a French EP in 1967 and did not appear on a Kinks LP until the next release, The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society.

Composition

Ray's lyrics on the album deal with English-inspired subject matter, including the harpsichord-laden "Two Sisters", the lazy shuffle "End of the Season", and the sardonic "David Watts".

The album includes three songs composed by Dave Davies, including the hit single "Death of a Clown".

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[2]
Rolling Stone	(not rated)^[5]

The album sold poorly in the UK, in part because it competed with budget-priced compilation albums of early Kinks hits from 1964–1966; also, Pye Records had released "Waterloo Sunset", "Death of a Clown" and other songs before the album appeared. Something Else also sold poorly in the US upon release in January 1968 where the group was still the subject of a US ban on live and television performances.

James Pomeroy in a March 1968 review in Rolling Stone felt it was the best album the Kinks had made to that point, praising the "humor, cynicism, perception and irony" where he felt the band are at their best.^[6] He picked out "David Watts" and "Waterloo Sunset" as the best tracks, and also praised the three contributions of Dave Davies.^[6]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine in a retrospective review for Allmusic felt that the "nostalgic and sentimental" songwriting are key, and that part of "the album's power lies in its calm music, since it provides an elegant support for Davies' character portraits and vignettes".^[2]

In 2003, Something Else was ranked #288 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.^[3]

Track listing

All tracks written by Ray Davies, unless otherwise noted.

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"David Watts"		2:32
2.	"Death of a Clown"	Dave Davies, R. Davies	3:04
3.	"Two Sisters"		2:01
4.	"No Return"		2:03
5.	"Harry Rag"		2:16
6.	"Tin Soldier Man"		2:49
7.	"Situation Vacant"		3:16

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Love Me till the Sun Shines"	D. Davies	3:16
2.	"Lazy Old Sun"		2:48
3.	"Afternoon Tea"		3:27
4.	"Funny Face"	D. Davies	2:17
5.	"End of the Season"		2:57
6.	"Waterloo Sunset"		3:15

1998 and 2004 CD reissue bonus tracks
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
14.	"Act Nice and Gentle"		2:39
15.	"Autumn Almanac"		3:05
16.	"Susannah's Still Alive"	D. Davies	2:22
17.	"Wonderboy"		2:49
18.	"Polly"		2:51
19.	"Lincoln County"	D. Davies	3:12
20.	"There Is No Life Without Love"	D. Davies, R. Davies	2:01
21.	"Lazy Old Sun" (Unreleased alternate stereo take)		2:53

2011 Sanctuary Records deluxe edition Disc 1 bonus tracks
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
14.	"Act Nice and Gentle" (mono)		2:39
15.	"Mr. Pleasant" (mono)		3:00
16.	"Susannah's Still Alive" (mono)	D. Davies	2:21
17.	"Autumn Almanac" (mono)		3:09
18.	"Harry Rag" (alternative take)		2:13
19.	"David Watts" (Alternative take)		2:32
20.	"Afternoon Tea" (Canadian mono mix)		3:26
21.	"Sunny Afternoon" (recorded for the BBC)		2:52
22.	"Autumn Almanac" (recorded for the BBC)		3:05
23.	"Mr. Pleasant" (recorded for the BBC)		2:48
24.	"Susannah's Still Alive" (recorded for the BBC)	D. Davies	2:14
25.	"David Watts" (recorded for the BBC)		2:10
26.	"Love Me Till the Sun Shines" (recorded for the BBC, different from that released on the Picture Book boxset)	D. Davies	2:19
27.	"Death of a Clown" (recorded for the BBC)	D. Davies, R. Davies	2:54
28.	"Good Luck Charm" (recorded for the BBC)		1:20
29.	"Harry Rag" (recorded for the BBC)		2:25
30.	"Little Women" (backing track)		2:10

2011 Sanctuary Records deluxe edition Disc 2 bonus tracks
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
14.	"Susannah's Still Alive" (stereo)	D. Davies	2:21
15.	"Autumn Almanac" (stereo)		3:13
16.	"Sand on My Shoes" (stereo)		3:05
17.	"Afternoon Tea" (alternative version)		3:45
18.	"Mr. Pleasant" (alternative version)		3:22
19.	"Lazy Old Sun" (alternative vocal version)		3:15
20.	"Funny Face" (alternative stereo version)	D. Davies	2:42
21.	"Afternoon Tea" (German stereo version)		2:15
22.	"Tin Soldier Man" (alternative backing track)		3:06

Personnel

Ray Davies – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica, harp, harpsichord, organ, tuba, maracas
Dave Davies – lead guitar, 12 string guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals (on tracks 2, 8, 11)
Pete Quaife – bass guitar, backing vocals
Mick Avory – drums, percussion
Nicky Hopkins – keyboards, piano
Rasa Davies – backing vocals

References

↑ Dave DiMartino (15 April 2016). Music in the 20th Century (4 Vol Set). Routledge. p. 347. ISBN 978-1-317-46430-3.
1 2 3 Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Something Else by The Kinks - The Kinks | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
1 2 "288 | Something Else By the Kinks - The Kinks". Rolling Stone. Straight Arrow (Special Issue). November 2003. ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
↑ Something Else CD liner notes
↑ "Something Else By The Kinks". rollingstone.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
1 2 James Pomeroy (9 March 1968). "Something Else By The Kinks | Album Reviews &#124". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 October 2012.

External links

Something Else by The Kinks (Adobe Flash) at Radio3Net (streamed copy where licensed)
Something Else by The Kinks at Discogs (list of releases)
Dave Emlen's Unofficial Kinks Web Site - Covers Latest News Concerning the Kinks
The Golden Age of the Kinks - Discusses the Kinks' Most Artistically Fertile Period (1966-1972)

The Kinks
Ray Davies Dave Davies Mick Avory Pete Quaife John Dalton Gordon Edwards Ian Gibbons John Gosling Mark Haley Bob Henrit Andy Pyle Jim Rodford Nicky Hopkins Shel Talmy
Studio albums	Kinks Kinda Kinks The Kink Kontroversy Face to Face Something Else by The Kinks The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One Muswell Hillbillies Everybody's in Show-Biz Preservation Act 1 Preservation Act 2 Soap Opera Schoolboys in Disgrace Sleepwalker Misfits Low Budget Give the People What They Want State of Confusion Word of Mouth Think Visual UK Jive Phobia
Live albums	Live at Kelvin Hall One for the Road Live: The Road To the Bone
EPs	Kinksize Session Kwyet Kinks
Compilations	Kinks-Size Kinkdom Greatest Hits! Well Respected Kinks Sunny Afternoon The Kink Kronikles The Great Lost Kinks Album The Kinks Are Well Respected Men Lost & Found (1986–1989) The Ultimate Collection Picture Book
Unreleased projects	Four More Respected Gentlemen A Hole in the Sock of (Dave Davies)
Stage	Sunny Afternoon (musical)
Related articles	Discography Band members Konk The Kast Off Kinks Argent X-Ray Percy Do It Again Give the People What We Want: Songs of The Kinks
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