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The Kinks: The Ultimate Collection [Sanctuary] (2002/1964–1984)

2023.06.07

Overview

“The Ultimate Collection” is a compilation album by the Kinks, an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, in 1963 by brothers Ray Davies (lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, harmonica) and Dave Davies (lead guitar, backing and lead vocals).

It mainly consists of tracks released as singles. The songs were recorded in 1964–1984.

It contains 44 tracks. The total run time is 02:21:42.

It was released on Sanctuary Records as a double CD in 2002, and reached number 32 on the UK Albums Chart.

Track Listing

Disc One

1. You Really Got Me (Ray Davies, 2:13)

A song in the garage rock style, which was built around power chords and a guitar riff played by Dave Davies. It features a noisy guitar solo by Dave. It was released in 1964 as the third single. The song became the group’s breakthrough hit, reaching number 1 on the UK chart and number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was later included in their debut album “Kinks” (1964). The song heavily influenced later heavy metal and punk rock. A cover version by Van Halen peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978.

2. All Day and All of the Night (Ray Davies, 2:20)

A song based on power chords and a guitar riff, like “You Really Got Me”. It was released in 1964 as a single, and reached number 2 on the UK chart and number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The cover version by the Stranglers reached number 7 on the UK chart in 1987.

3. Tired of Waiting for You (Ray Davies, 2:30)

A melodramatic pop song. It was released in 1965 as a single, and reached number 1 on the UK chart and number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was later included in their second studio album “Kinda Kinks” (1965).

4. Ev’rybody’s Gonna Be Happy (Ray Davies, 2:14)

A rock tune with a light beat. It was released in 1965 as a single, and reached number 17 on the UK chart. It was included in the US version of “Kinda Kinks” (1965).

5. Set Me Free (Ray Davies, 2:10)

An introspective pop song based on R&B. It was released in 1965 as a single, and reached number 9 on the UK chart. It was included in the US version of “Kinda Kinks” (1965).

6. See My Friends (Ray Davies, 2:44)

A song in the raga rock style, incorporating drone-effect guitar like the Indian tambura. It was released in 1965 as a single, and reached number 10 on the UK chart.

7. Till the End of the Day (Ray Davies, 2:18)

A song centering on a power chord. It was released in 1965 as a single, and reached number 8 on the UK chart. It was later included in their third studio album “The Kink Kontroversy” (1965). A cover version by Big Star was included in the CD of their album “Third/Sister Lovers” (1978/1992).

8. Dedicated Follower of Fashion (Ray Davies, 3:05)

A music-hall style pop song that satirized the British fashion scene and mod culture. It was released in 1966 as a single, and reached number 4 on the UK chart.

9. Sunny Afternoon (Ray Davies, 3:31)

A music-hall style pop song featuring a melancholy melody. It was released in 1966 as a single, and reached number 1 on the UK chart and number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was included in their fourth studio album “Face to Face” (1966).

10. Dead End Street (Ray Davies, 3:20)

A music-hall style pop song dealing with the poverty of the lower classes of English society. It was released in 1966 as a single, and reached number 5 on the UK chart.

11. Waterloo Sunset (Ray Davies, 3:16)

A pop song with a beautiful melody. It was released in 1967 as a single, and reached number 2 on the UK chart. It was included in their fifth studio album “Something Else by the Kinks” (1967). It is one of the band’s best known and most acclaimed songs.

12. Death of a Clown (Dave Davies, Ray Davies, 3:01)

A chamber pop song co-written by Dave Davies with Ray Davies. It was released in 1967 as a single, and reached number 3 on the UK chart. It was included in the album “Something Else by the Kinks” (1967).

13. Autumn Almanac (Ray Davies, 3:10)

A melodic and pastoral pop song. It was released in 1967 as a single, and reached number 3 on the UK chart.

14. Susannah’s Still Alive (Dave Davies, 2:22)

A folky pop song written by Dave Davies. It was released in 1967 as a single, and reached number 20 on the UK chart.

15. Wonderboy (Ray Davies, 2:48)

A pop song in the soft rock style. It includes piano and bongos. It was released in 1968 as a single, and reached number 36 on the UK chart.

16. Days (Ray Davies, 2:52)

A lyrical and melancholic pop song. It was released in 1968 as a single, and reached number 12 on the UK chart. The song was covered by many artists, such as Petula Clark and Kirsty MacColl.

17. Plastic Man (Ray Davies, 3:00)

A light pop song like “Dedicated Follower of Fashion”. It was released in 1969 as a single, and reached number 31 on the UK chart. Bassist Pete Quaife left the band after recording this song, and John Dalton joined the band as a bassist.

18. Victoria (Ray Davies, 3:38)

A rock tune including horn section. The song was released as the opening track on the concept album “Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)” (1969). It was released in 1969 as a single, and reached number 33 on the UK chart. A cover version by the Fall reached number 35 on the UK chart in 1988.

19. Lola (Ray Davies, 4:05)

A rock tune including the elements of acoustic folk and hard rock. It was released in their eighth studio album “Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One” (1970). It was released in 1970 as a single, and reached number 2 on the UK chart and number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The Raincoats covered the song in their debut album (1979).

20. Apeman (Ray Davies, 3:50)

A song in the calypso style. It was released in the album “Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One”. It was released in 1970 as a single, and reached number 5 on the UK chart.

21. Supersonic Rocket Ship (Ray Davies, 3:30)

A song in the calypso style. It was released in 1972 as a single, and reached number 16 on the UK chart. It was included in their eleventh studio album “Everybody’s in Show-Biz” (1972).

22. Better Things (Ray Davies, 2:59)

A pop song in their revival period on Arista Records (from the late 1970s until the early 1980s). It was released in 1981 as a single, and reached number 46 on the UK chart. A slightly shorter version was included in their nineteenth studio album “Give the People What They Want” (1981).

23. Come Dancing (Ray Davies, 3:59)

A light pop song and their biggest hit song in their revival period on Arista Records. It was released in 1982 as a single, and reached number 12 on the UK chart and number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was included in their twentieth studio album “State of Confusion” (1983).

24. Don’t Forget to Dance (Ray Davies, 4:34)

A ballad in the soft rock style. It was released in 1983 as a single, and reached number 58 on the UK chart and number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was included in the album “State of Confusion”.

Disc Two

1. David Watts (Ray Davies, 2:29)

A rock tune included in the album “Something Else by the Kinks” (1967). A cover version by the Jam reached number 25 on the UK chart in 1978.

2. Stop Your Sobbing (Ray Davies, 2:06)

A pop song included in their debut album “Kinks” (1964). A cover version by the Pretenders reached number 34 on the UK chart in 1979.

3. Dandy (Ray Davies, 2:08)

A pop song included in the album “Face to Face” (1966). A cover version by Herman’s Hermits reached number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1966.

4. Mister Pleasant (Ray Davies, 3:00)

A music-hall style pop song featuring a trombone and ragtime-style piano. It was released as the A-side of a single in the US and Continental Europe. It was released in the UK as the B-side to “Autumn Almanac”.

5. I Gotta Move (Ray Davies, 2:24)

The B-side to the single “All Day and All of the Night” (1964).

6. Who’ll Be the Next in Line (Ray Davies, 2:00)

A rock tune released as the B-side to the single “Ev’rybody’s Gonna Be Happy” (1965) in the UK. It was released as an A-side single in the US, and reached number 34 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

7. I Need You (Ray Davies, 2:24)

A rock tune released as the B-side to the single “Set Me Free” (1965).

8. Where Have All the Good Times Gone (Ray Davies, 2:48)

A rock tune released as the B-side to the single “Till the End of the Day” (1965). It was included in the album “The Kink Kontroversy” (1965).

9. Sittin’ on My Sofa (Ray Davies, 3:03)

A rock tune released as the B-side to the single “Dedicated Follower of Fashion” (1966).

10. A Well Respected Man (Ray Davies, 2:38)

A catchy pop song in the folk rock style. It was released on the EP “Kwyet Kinks” (1965) in the UK. It was released as a single in the US and Continental Europe, and reached number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It is one of the band’s most popular and best known songs.

11. I’m Not Like Everybody Else (Ray Davies, 3:29)

A rock tune released as the B-side to the single “Sunny Afternoon” (1966). The lead vocal is sung by Dave Davies. The song has been covered by various artists, such as the Chocolate Watchband.

12. Love Me Till the Sun Shines (Dave Davies, 3:15)

A song in the blues rock style written by Dave Davies. It was released as the B-side to the single “Death of a Clown” (1967). It was included in the album “Something Else by the Kinks” (1967).

13. She’s Got Everything (Ray Davies, 3:08)

A song in the garage rock style. It was released as the B-side to the single “Days” (1968).

14. Starstruck (Ray Davies, 2:25)

A rock tune released in their sixth studio album “The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society” (1968). It features a Mellotron like a string section. It was released as a single in continental Europe and the US.

15. Shangri-La (Ray Davies, 5:18)

A rock tune included in the concept album “Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)” (1969). It was released as a single in 1969.

16. God’s Children (Ray Davies, 3:12)

A rock tune with a beautiful melody. It was released as a single in 1971. It was included in their soundtrack album (1971) for the 1971 British comedy film “Percy”.

17. Celluloid Heroes (Ray Davies, 6:20)

A song in the soft rock style. It was released in the album “Everybody’s in Show-Biz” (1972). It was released as a single in 1972.

18. (Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman (Ray Davies, 5:57)

The 12″ extended version of a disco-style song released as a single in 1978. The song was included in their eighteenth studio album “Low Budget” (1979).

19. Do It Again (Ray Davies, 6:20)

A song in the hard rock style included in their twenty-first studio album “Word of Mouth” (1984). It was released as a single in 1984.

20. Living on a Thin Line (Dave Davies, 4:16)

A lyrical song written by Dave Davies. It was included in the album “Word of Mouth” (1984). It was released as a single in 1985.

The Kinks – You Really Got Me (Official Audio)
The Kinks – Waterloo Sunset (Official Audio)
The Kinks – Lola (Official Video)