Music Review: The Kinks Choral Collection

Wow. That's probably the best word to sum up Ray Davies' new disc, The Kinks Choral Collection. This album, which was released last year, literally came out of nowhere . . . and it's already shot to the top of my most-played list. Ray Davies? Yes, that Ray Davies, the leader of The Kinks, one of rock's seminal bands. With such songs such as You Really Got Me, All Day and All of the Night, Lola and Come Dancing, The Kinks rank right up there with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Who. Perhaps in a reflective mood at 65, Davies has taken a collection of awesome songs from The Kinks' catalog and given them new treatments with the backing of the full-on 65-member Crouch End Festival Chorus. Here, on this terrific and inspired CD, Davies has captured the glory that can be heard on one of The Rolling Stone's most famous songs: You Can't Always Get What You Want, which also featured the backing of a choir. Really, I can't say enough about The Kinks Choral Collection and the loving care that Davies has brought to these songs. They sound fresh, magnificent and moving. Here, you'll find brilliant treatments of some of The Kinks' classic melodies, such as You Really Got Me and All Day and All of the Night. But you'll also be treated to less famous tunes such as Working Man's Cafe, Celluloid Heroes and Village Green, all which feature Davies' still clear, beautiful voice and the backing chorus. This album is lovely and rocking at the same time. Fabulous!