In its time -- and it was in print for about 20 years -- this ten-song compilation was the way that most listeners discovered the Kinks for the first time. Along with The Live Kinks, it was the sole showcase for the band's early work in the United States for those same 20 years, and it did its... [+] Expand

In its time -- and it was in print for about 20 years -- this ten-song compilation was the way that most listeners discovered the Kinks for the first time. Along with The Live Kinks, it was the sole showcase for the band's early work in the United States for those same 20 years, and it did its job well as far as it went, opening with that rock & roll punch in the chest "You Really Got Me" and advancing from there. The group's early moves toward a more sophisticated sound are here, in "Something Better Beginning" and "Till the End of the Day," as well as the swinging London caricatures "Dedicated Follower of Fashion" and "A Well Respected Man," interspersed with their more R&B-flavored singles such as "Set Me Free" and "Who'll Be the Next in Line." The only flaw is that it cuts off before the full flowering of the group's work -- no "Sunny Afternoon" or "Dandy," which would have been logical here. The sound is decent, though the British imports were better in content, but this album's cover art, comprised of shots depicting the band performing on-stage -- the Kinks genuinely looked like an exciting group -- still earned it a place in many collections. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide [-] Collapse

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