Ray Davies

As far as I am personally concerned Ray Davies is the greatest songwriter that Blighty has ever produced, not only for his entire body of work but also for three or four of the greatest pop songs ever written and including ‘Waterloo Sunset’ which I unashamedly consider the finest pop song ever. But I am also fully aware that the production of some of the Kinks oeuvre, not to put too fine a point on it, sucked.
This series of collaborations includes all of the songs that I would want to see with Davies voice on them but really feel that while there are a few numbers that really benefit from the new version – ‘Celluloid Heroes’ has brought the best out of the overblown poodles that are John Bon Jovi & Ritchie Sambora and also brought the song to life far better than the original – there are also a few that leave me completely nonplussed as to why – ‘Better Things’ with Bruce Springsteen completely overbearing and overshadowing Davies.

A few of the collaborations are really effective ‘Days/This Time Tomorrow’ with Mumford & Sons is delicious and ‘You Really Got Me’ is imperious with Metallica providing the heaviosity although I think, on balance, I prefer the rawness of the original.
I can take or leave ‘Long Way From Home’ and ‘This Is Where I Belong’ is ok but neither of them really improve on the originals.

On the other hand ‘Lola’ is simply bloody wonderful, Paloma Faith is not someone that I would make an effort to see but she really works the track – brilliant!
‘Dead End Kids’ kicks some serious butt and ‘David Watts’ – why not a duet with Paul Weller? – is very fine, The 88 really delivering while ‘Dead End Kids’ gets a new feel and Amy Macdonald is a good choice to work with. ‘Tired Of Waiting’ has always been a favourite and the version with Gary Lightbody almost cooks but he just hasn’t quite got the pleading tone that Davies gives it but ‘All Day And All Of The Night/Destroyer’ is wonderful – all of the power of the original with a completely new take – Billy Corgan take a bow.

Which brings me to ‘Waterloo Sunset’ – I cannot make up my mind whether it is great or complete cark. The guitar and rhythm sound like ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’ and Jackson Browne has a good voice but it just doesn’t put a lump in my throat like the original but that might just be me.

One thing that comes over from this set is that there are more great songs in this collection than most artists could dream of and they stand the test of time. The collection of artists he has lined up for this is great but in the end it is the songs that stand out – England’s greatest by far.