Monday 20 January 2014

Ray Davies Reviews Revolver


Paul McCartney was one of the most competitive people I've ever met. Lennon wasn't. He just thought everyone else was sh*t 

Ray Davies (The Kinks) in Revolver: How the Beatles Reimagined Rock 'n' Roll by Robert Rodriguez

As well as that gem, here's another I found via Rodriguez's book - Ray's review of Revolver for Disc and Music Echo Magazine in Aug '66


'Really, it's a load of RUBBISH'

Taxman - It sounds like a cross between the Who and Batman. It's a bit limited, but the Beatles get over this by the sexy double-tracking. It's surprising how sexy double-tracking makes a voice sound.

Eleanor Rigby - I bought a Haydn LP the other day and this sounds just like it. It's all sort of quartet stuff and it sounds like they're out to please music teachers in primary schools. I can imagine John saying: 'I'm going to write this for my old schoolmistress'.

I'm Only Sleeping - It's a most beautiful song, much prettier than 'Eleanor Rigby'. A jolly old thing, really, and definitely the best track on the album.

Love You Too - This sort of song I was doing two years ago--now I'm doing what the Beatles were doing two years ago. It's not a bad song--it's well performed which is always true of a Beatles track.

Yellow Submarine - This is a load of rubbish, really. I take the mickey out of myself on the piano and play stuff like this.

Good Day Sunshine - This'll be a giant. It doesn't force itself on you, but it stands out like I'm Only Sleeping. This is back to the real old Beatles. I just don't think the fans like the newer electronic stuff. The Beatles are supposed to be like the boy next door only better.

Got To Get You Into My Life - It just goes to prove that Britain's jazz musicians can't swing.

Tomorrow Never Knows - Listen to all those crazy sounds! It'll be popular in discotheques. I can imagine they had George Martin tied to a totem pole when they did this!

So, after listening to each track three or four times, the Ray Davies verdict: This is the first Beatles LP I've really listened to in it's entirety but I must say there are better songs on 'Rubber Soul'.

Go to KindaKinks.Net to read the whole review

6 comments:

  1. RUBBISH? RUBBISH?? He's dissing one of my all-time favorite albums (but I admit he makes some valid remarks).

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  2. Me too. But it's so snarky I thought it was funny! Bad Ray!!!

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  3. Wow, he really tears into them, doesn't he? But this is funny, honest, and kind of refreshing when you think of all the raving, over-laudatory reviews and analysis Beatles records have been given in subsequent years. Why was this published in August 1967, I wonder? That's a year late, and post-Sgt. Pepper.

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  4. good point - it's gotta be 66 right? I'll check...

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  5. Bless him. But, here's the thing, there was - and probably still is - only one contemporary British songwriter from 'back in the day' who could rubbish Macca like that. When you've written gems like Days, Waterloo Sunset and Sunny Afternoon it sort of gives you the right. And, yes, it's funny too.

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