The Kinks' second album was released in March 1965. The group had just had two huge single hits with the number one You Really Got Me and the follow-up All Day and All of the Night. The next single, Tired of Waiting for You, had been released two months earlier and was the group's second number one hit. This is included on the LP along with its b-side, the superb Come on Now.

The album shows an evolution on the Kinks sound although there are still strong hints of the R&B style of the debut. Naggin' Woman is a cover as is the Motown classic Dancing in the Street. Motown was starting to make an impact in the UK with the Beatles already having covered Please Mr Postman and You've Really Got a Hold On Me. Otherwise, the writing credits are all Ray Davies with brother Dave contributing to Got My Feet on the Ground. Ray Davies was starting to emerge as one of the greatest songwriters of the 1960s with a third massive hit and second number one single. Indeed, it could be argued that the emergence of Ray Davis as a songwriter makes this album a significant improvement on the debut. A 2CD deluxe edition contains songs released after Kinda Kinks and these show a major progression in the songwriting of Ray Davies.

The trademark Kinks sound had not yet quite emerged. Some tracks such as Don't Ever Change have more of a Merseybeat feel, indicating the influence that the Beatles and other Liverpool groups had had on the British music scene. However, Beatles aside, their impact was waning and groups like the Kinks, and later the Who, would have a stronger input to a British sound.

The band were initially disappointed with the album feeling that it had been rushed and recorded in two weeks. They had just returned from an Asian tour. Nevertheless, while the album may be patchy, it does fit well within the band's repertoire and is well worth a listen.

Pye NPL 18112

Original release: 5 March 1965

Highest UK chart position: 3

Essential Tracks