The Kinks: Ray Davies, Dave Davies (vocals, guitar); Pete Dalton (bass); Mick Avory (drums).

Additional personnel includes: Jimmy Page (12-string guitar); Perry Ford (piano); Jon Lord (Hammond B-3 organ); Bobby Graham (drums).

Recorded at Pye Studios, London, England in 1964. Originally released on Pye (18096). Includes original liner notes by Brian Sommerville and reissue liner notes by Peter Doggett.

Digitally remastered by Simon Heyworth.

Peter Dogget describes pop music careers in 1964 England like this: "[U]nless you were Cliff Richard or the Beatles you were likely to be forgotten within 12 months of your first hit." This album was initially intended as a way to cash in on the primal magic of "You Really Got Me" before the Kinks got too stale for the fickle youth. However, history would show that this tidy R&B combo had one of the most inventive and creative bandleaders in '60s and '70s rock & roll in Mr. Ray Davies.

This reissued, remastered version of the band's eponymous debut--complete with 12 bonus tracks, including the previously unreleased Davies composition "I Don't Need You Anymore"--may not hold up to the high level of The Kinks' groundbreaking work over the decade. But there are hints that Davies would become one of the most unusual and melodic songwriters of a generation. One listen to "Just Can't Go To Sleep" and it's clear the die was cast: Davies had a voice all his own. Dedicated fans will certainly enjoy THE KINKS, but this fine reissue would also be of interest to connoisseurs of young, white R&B on the order of the early Who and Rolling Stones.