Kinks frontman ray davies, who is bipolar, wrote the rock masterpiece that catapulted. But its real, and its a record as good as its premise is enticing. The kinks ray davies dave davies autographed signed album lp record bas coa. Shoehorning text and theme from his book into the songs, the record frequently stumbles upon its own literary ambitions, along. Davies other peoples lives tour commodore ballroom, vancouver, bc 2006. True enough, much of americana plays like a celebration of american myth. The album features contributions from members of american country rock band the jayhawks. Pop it in your diaries now, you dont want to miss this. May 04, 2017 davies, like any great artist, has branched out and tried something new, while utilizing some of his familiar building blocks along the way. Ray davies may have ushered in the british invasion alongside his brother dave.
He is the seventh of eight children born to workingclass parents, including six older sisters and younger brother dave davies ray s father, frederick davies b. Ray davies attends the signing of his autobiography americana. I wanna make my home where the buffalo roam in that great panorama my baby brother and me in the land of the free americana in my schoolboy world i always get the. To ray davies, america is still a land of opportunity the former kinks leader speaks with steve inskeep about americana, a musical distillation of his sometimes tumultuous life as. Ray davies will be instore and inconversation with bbc 6 musics matt everitt at rough trade east, in celebration of ray davies new album our country. Sep 01, 2015 unlike the clever gimmicks employed in ray s excellent first autobiographical book, xray, americana gives us a pure first person account, in amazingly comprehensive and honest detail, of davies experiences in america. Dec 01, 2015 ray davies attends the press night after party for farinelli and the king at smollenskys on sept. Since the kinks disbanded he has embarked on a solo career and continues to tour and record.
It is simply davies taking stock of his life through the prism of america. And thats also what ray davies is trying to do with americana, his brand. For an artist so quintessentially british, sir ray davies new and unexpected exploration of america both as a cultural flashpoint and an ideal sure has the feel of authenticity. Kinks frontman ray davies, who is bipolar, wrote the rock masterpiece that catapulted the band to the top. Listen free to ray davies americana americana, the deal and more. Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at. Ray davies americana sony music for kinks fans, 2017 is shaping up to being a pretty good year. Americana was written, conceived, and arranged, by davies, and coproduced with guy massey and john jackson.
Americana is an album by english rock musician ray davies, released by legacy recordings in april 2017. You can pick up both her new book along with her debut novel the list that changed my life in store on saturday 18th april. Signing witnessed and book obtained in person by the owner of the inkwell autograph gallery. Pressed on center, flat, and very minimal surface noise mostly just.
I am very happy to say that the thirdperson style that plagued the previous book is absent here. Ray davies is the most literary of british invaders writing about their lives and music. X ray is a more or less straightforward autobiography by ray davies, lead singer and songwriter for the kinks. Ray davies contact information name, email address, phone number. Tuesday, 1 october 20 ray davies book signing at waterstones piccadilly at 5. Ray davies first solo album in a decade, inspired by his journeys through america with the kinks 15 original songs featuring the jayhawks as his backing band includes digital download 88985387101s1. Mar 07, 2015 in xray davies states that the doctor had whispered to his mother that the child will not live past thirty. The kinks, the riff, the road, the story, which hit stores this past tuesday. In 1997, he published a book of short stories entitled waterloo sunset. A successful book signing is when you show up, your books are there, you have a place to sit, and you sell just one book. In americana, davies tries to make sense of his long lovehate relationship with the country that both inspires and frustrates him, and where he nearly lost his. Like its predecessor, the album was recorded at the legendary konk studios in london with guitarist bill shanley and the jayhawks once again serving as davies backing band.
The new book ray davies is subtitled the kinks, the road and the perfect riff. Kinks 1969 epic chimes with britains mood today, says singer ray davies. Americana act 2 by ray davies and tens of millions of other songs on all your devices with amazon music unlimited. All well and good, as the song americana is written from the perspective of a wistful schoolboy. May 08, 2017 americana, for me, is like the great big reset button that reminds the listener that ray davies has always been one of rocks most erudite and savvy practitioners, wise beyond his early years and lively past his latter ones. Principally played by ray davies and the jayhawks, the rowdiest chunks of americana echo the wild riffs that animated those fistpumping anthems. Defying the odds, his recent album americana provides an experience that is somehow uniquely true and universal. Unfortunately, that kind of usabynumbers approach permeates the whole album. On his first solo album in a decade, americana, ray davies explores his troubled relationship with the us next, hes writing a book about britain published.
Americana chronicles daviess life long fascination with the culture. His book, americana, the kinks, the riff, the road. Backed by altcountry stalwarts the jayhawks, and focused. A complicated life by johnny rogan is out this week. Sir raymond douglas davies, cbe is an english singer, songwriter and musician. First dave davies and russ davies his son released the great album, open road on march 31, 2017 and ray davies has now released his first album of. Born in muswell hill, london, england on june 21, 1944, ray davies is a rock musician who also happens to. Davies was born at 6 denmark terrace, fortis green, north london, england. Ray davies, 74, proved he hadnt lost his rock n roll edge when he stepped out in london on friday in a vibrant checked shirt and jeans. Book signing is the affixing of a signature to the title page or flyleaf of a book by its author.
Not all are available in the same country but can be obtained through imports and not all are available in every region. Americana is an album that shows true artistry and craftsmanship, something often missing in the world of modern music. The new book by one of rocks most complex, unpredictable yet totally gifted performers, is subtitled the kinks, the road and the perfect riff and documents ray davies s endless quest for solutions to the challenges that his personal and creative life pose for him. An album that, not surprisingly, is already climbing countryamericana charts internationally, this is vintage ray davies. The book is interspersed with lyrics and also includes photographs from davies s own collection and the kinks archive. Apr 10, 2017 americana is such a big story, davies said in a video interview promoting the new records release. Unlike the clever gimmicks employed in rays excellent first autobiographical book. Americana act ii is an album borne from davies vision of america how it shaped him and evolved through the years. Ray davies book signing at waterstones piccadilly at 5.
From his quintessentially english perspective, davies with candour, humour, and wit takes us on a very personal road trip through his life and storied career as a rock star, and reveals what music, fame and america really. Americana is a straightforward memoir, written without any literary gimmicks. Pete townshend wrote his own, but he says davies should be englands poet laureate. Ray davies booking agent, manager, and publicist contact info. May 02, 2018 the continuing story of the kinks cofounders journeys through america, as depicted in his 20 memoir americana and last years album of the same name, our country. New ray davies album americana out april 21 2017 page 2. Anyone who appreciates ray davies will enjoy this book. Find ray davies discography, albums and singles on allmusic. He liked to hang out in pubs and was considered a ladies man.
He was very gracious and unfortunately my book was stolen. Ray davies attends the signing of his autobiography. Then, as part of the british invasion, he toured the us with the kinks during one of the most tumultuous eras in. Sterling publishing kinks frontman ray davies will be visiting new york city during the coming week to promote his new memoir, americana. Ray davies signed book americana the kinks autograph jsa coa rock n roll hof. Ray davies published a memoir chronicling his lifelong affair with america in 20. Americana, act 2 carries an attractive, burnished sound, which is what makes davies lengthy digressions all the more maddening. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Mar 01, 2017 americana was written, conceived, and arranged, by davies, and coproduced with guy massey and john jackson. At the national concert hall on monday, davies will be giving a special talk in which he explores his. It follows his acclaimed 20 memoir of the same name, and uses the book as both source material and jumping off point.
Americana was recorded in london at konk studios, the legendary studio founded by the kinks in 1973. The last time ray davies sat down to write a memoir, he invented a fictitious narrator, had the poor kid chase down a cranky exrocker, and wrapped up the narrative around 1973. April 21, 2017 the legendary frontman of the kinks discusses his new solo album, americana, which deals in part with his relationship. Davies plays a little fast and loose with his facts, which is perhaps a detriment in an autobiography but suits the condensed nature of songwriting. Ray davies triumphs with americana rock music opinions. My baby brother and me in the land of the free americana in my schoolboy world i always get the girl on that great silver screen cause since i was a teen ya know i had this dream americana oh runnin high on inspiration taken from those wild west heroes full of expectations of the road on that windin trail to somewhere young and foolish though he did not care what dangers lay in store and. Joined here by us band the jayhawks, davies plans a further followup volume 2 release and a book release in coming months. To ray davies, america is still a land of opportunity npr. May 11, 2017 ray davies americana tops weekly music charts may 11, 2017 by sybil augustine and music department this week ray davies of the kinks is once again top of the pops with his new album americana, recorded with members of the jayhawks as his backing band. Thank you to sir raymond douglas davies for showing us how its done. C preregister now for the make change book tour with shaun king. As a boy in postwar england, legendary kinks singersongwriter ray davi. Ray davies says new album americana is coming soon, shares. Ray davies talks about working with bruce springsteen.
The album opens with the line, i wanna make my home, where the buffalo roam. Listen to ray davies new our country from americana sequel. Legendary kinks frontman ray davies was interviewed by tom dunne on thursday, in advance of his appearance at the dublin writers festival next week. Naturally, it was called americana, and thats also the title of this 2017 musical adaptation of the book. As a diehard kinks fan who has everything they recorded up till preservation or so, i found it a fascinating read, though hampered at times by a fictional framework story davies constructs around the myth of his character. Davies plays a little fast and loose with his facts, which is perhaps a detriment in an autobiography. We continue to follow government guidance regarding covid19 and as a result, we have taken the decision to postpone a number of our upcoming events. Ray davies signed book americana the kinks autograph jsa coa rock n. The kinks ray davies, 74, is a dedicated follower of.
For his backing band on americana davies chose the jayhawks an. So when it was announced that his new solo record would be called americana, it felt like something carved out of alternative history. We are celebrating the release of her new book the accidental love letter with a fabulous book signing. Return to public speaking printmobilefriendly version. At wh smith, our key priority at this time is the health and wellbeing of our employees and customers. Like davies 20 book of the same name, it explores his lifelong fascination with the music and culture of the united states, and his experiences of touring and living there. Overall, americana is a delightful release, full of signature ray davies sounds and strength. Its not a show or a performance of any kind and admittedly the talk part was brief, so the event itself is nearly a nonevent.
Its one of the most recognizable guitar riffs in rock n roll history and it was written by a bipolar musical genius from london, england. The album is an autobiographical work, chronicling the inextricable role america has. I had a photo of us but after quite a few moves it may not have survived. Come in and meet local bestselling author olivia beirne. Even today, davies, now 72, is defined largely by his homeland.
The acclaimed singersongwriter will make a few tv appearances and also will participate in a book signing event. Apr 19, 2017 the recently knighted sir ray davies, cofounder and principal songwriter for the kinks, is back with his first record in almost a decade. Ray davies americana tops weekly music charts wort 89. Davies voice is still in excellent voice and these are some of the best songs ive heard from this dude since the late sixties kinks era meaning really good. Ray davies as a boy in postwar england, legendary kinks singersongwriter ray davies fell in love with america its movies and music, its culture of freedom fed his imagination. Ray davies the kinks book signing photo galleries profile blazer celebrities jackets fashion.
Oct 01, 20 i was very disappointed by x ray and was hesitant to pick this one up. Apr 21, 2017 theres a brief moment during the spoken word track silent movie that encapsulates much of what ray davies is writing about on americana, his first collection of new songs since 2007 and. Americana act ii, the followup to the kinks frontmans 2017 lp americana. Ray davies americana is one of the greatest achievements in a stellar career leading the fabulous kinks, striking out as a solo artist, and developing countless interesting projects for film, stage, and publishing. Ray davies contact info booking agent, manager, publicist. The onstage conversation will be followed by an album signing with ray davies. Complementing these is a chapter of diary extracts from a us tour in. Met ray at a book signing for x ray and he also signed my kinks albums. May 16, 2017 the lyrics however, are where davies fumbles the ball. Davies wrote and arranged all the music on americana and coproduced the album with guy massey and john jackson with the jayhawks serving as davies backing band.
Book signings are events, usually at a bookstore or library, where an author sits and signs books for a period. Lead vocals, guitars, piano, backing vocals, percussion, spoken. Ray davies lines up promotional appearances for his new. A complicated life by johnny rogan by every record tells a story on march 7, 2015 9 kinks fans have been spoiled of late with a number of books about the band, particularly as for many years there was no definitive. Not that this terrain was wholly unfamiliar to the former kinks frontman. Petrides quote actually finished and you realise there are still three cds to go. Lead vocals, guitars, piano, backing vocals, percussion, spoken word, dropped beer glasses and broken tea cups. Ray davies has announced his new album our country. The kinks, the riff, the road at waterstones, piccadilly featu e3cknn from alamys library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors.