The Village Green Preservation Society

"The Village Green Preservation Society"
Single by the Kinks
from the album The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
B-side "Do You Remember Walter?"
Released November 1968
Recorded August 1968
Genre Folk rock
Length 2:49
Label Reprise
Songwriter(s) Ray Davies
Producer(s) Ray Davies
The Kinks US singles chronology
"Starstruck"
(1969)		 "The Village Green Preservation Society"
(1968)		 "Victoria"
(1969)

"The Village Green Preservation Society" is a single by the English rock group the Kinks. Written by Ray Davies, the song is a nostalgic reflection on cultural English "village green", country, and hamlet lifestyle, and references many different characteristics and features of it, such as Tudor houses and draught beer. At the same time, it speaks negatively of modern, industrial traits, such as office blocks and skyscrapers.

As the opening track of The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, it sets the theme for the majority of the rest of the album. It is also, according to AllMusic, the best-known track from the album.[1]

The song has been part of the Kinks' live setlist. The song inspired the band's slogan, "God Save the Kinks".[1]

Reception

"The Village Green Preservation Society" generally received positive reviews. Rolling Stone magazine praised the songs vocals and stated that "the tune, the rhythm, are more of a delight with each verse".[2] AllMusic's Stewart Mason felt that the song was "one of Davies' sweetest creations", but felt that it is overrated and not as successful lyrically as 1967's "Autumn Almanac".[1]

The song was the second single released in America from The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (the first being "Starstruck"), but it did not chart.

Album appearances

Studio albums

Live albums

  • The Kinks at the BBC
  • To the Bone
  • Live in London: 1973–1977

Compilation albums

Personnel

Cover versions

The song was covered by folk singer Kate Rusby and appears as a bonus track on the album Awkward Annie in 2007. This version was recorded as the theme for BBC TV sitcom Jam and Jerusalem.

Ray Davies himself recorded a version with the Crouch End Festival Chorus for the 2009 album The Kinks Choral Collection.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Stewart Mason. "The Village Green Preservation Society - The Kinks | Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-06-13.
  2. ↑ Paul Williams (1969-06-14). "Village Green Preservation Society | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2014-06-13.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "AllMusic review".
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.