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Ray Davies of the Kinks shares the musical milestones of his life in conversation with Matt Everitt. First broadcast in April 2011.

Ray Davies of the Kinks shares the musical milestones of his life in conversation with Matt Everitt.

Ray Davies is arguably one of the greatest songwriters that England has ever produced. His catalogue of songs helped define whole eras of British cultural life, and the legendary songs he recorded with the Kinks reflected, celebrated and critiqued the concept of Englishness in a way that no pop band had ever done before.

Ray discusses a childhood dominated by a love of Mississippi blues, the difficult relationship with his brother - Kinks guitarist Dave, and the infighting which caused the band to be banned from the US. This led to Ray focusing on the idea of Britishness and inspired some of his finest work.

Ray also discusses the writing of proto-rock anthem You Really Got Me, the controversial (at the time) cross dressing epic Lola and, quite possibly, one of the greatest pop songs ever written - Waterloo Sunset.

First broadcast in April 2011.

1 hour

Last on

Wed 11 Sep 2024 01:00

Music Played

  • The Kinks

    ALL DAY AND ALL OF THE NIGHT

    • THE VERY BEST OF....
    • POLYGRAM.
    • 537 554-2.
  • The Kinks

    TILL THE END OF THE DAY

    • THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION.
    • POLYGRAM TV.
    • 516-465-2.
  • Count Basie and His Orchestra

    ONE O' CLOCK JUMP

    • COUNT BASIE.
    • VERVE.
    • 831-364-2.
  • Big Bill Broonzy

    Hey Hey

    • Blues Breakers!.
    • MOJO.
    • NA.
  • Johnny and the Hurricanes

    RED RIVER ROCK

    • THE COLLECTION.
    • CASTLE.
    • CCSCD-182.
  • Ray Charles

    What'd I Say

    • Apollo Saturday Night.
    • Atco.
    • 8D-33-159.
  • Howlin’ Wolf

    SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING

    • THE CHESS STORY.
    • MCA.
    • 380-5962.
  • Duane Eddy

    PETER GUNN

    • THAT CLASSIC TWANG.
    • BEAR FAMILY.
    • BCD-15702.
  • The Kinks

    You Really Got Me

    • THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION.
    • CASTLE.
    • CTVCD-001.
  • The Hollywood Argyles

    ALLEY OOP

    • IMPOSSIBLE BUT TRUE: THE KIM FOWLEY STORY.
    • ACE.
    • CDCHD-888.
  • The Kinks

    See My Friends

    • The Kinks - The Definitive Collecti.
    • Polygram Tv.
    • 516 465-2.
  • The Kinks

    WATERLOO SUNSET

    • THE BEST OF THE KINKS.
    • SELECT.
    • NA-NA.
  • The Kinks

    Village Green Preservation Society

    • Kinks: The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society.
    • Castle.
    • CLACD-161.
  • The Kinks

    LOLA

    • THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION.
    • CASTLE COMMUNICATIONS.
    • CTVCD-001.
  • Ray Davies

    Quiet Life

    • Quiet Life.
    • Virgin.
    • Virgin ‎- VS 865.
  • Mumford & Sons & RAY DAVIES

    DAYS/THIS TIME TOMORROW

    • SEE MY FRIENDS.
    • UMTV.
    • UNKNOWN-001.
  • Metallica & Ray Davies

    YOU REALLY GOT ME

    • SEE MY FRIENDS.
    • UMTV.
    • UNKNOWN-001.
  • RAY DAVIES & PALOMA FAITH

    LOLA

    • SEE MY FRIENDS.
    • UNIVERSAL.
    • cd-275942.
  • Etta James

    AT LAST

    • THE CHESS STORY.
    • MCA.
    • 380-5962.
  • Ye

    Family Business

    • The College Dropout.
    • Roc-A-Fella Records.
  • The Kinks

    Set Me Free

    • Polygram TV.

Credits

Role Contributor
Producer Henry Real
Presenter Matt Everitt

Broadcasts

  • Sun 3 Apr 2011 12:00
  • Tue 27 Dec 2011 03:00
  • Sat 25 Nov 2017 04:00
  • Fri 13 Sep 2019 01:00
  • Mon 6 Apr 2020 04:00
  • Wed 11 Sep 2024 01:00

The first record I ever bought… by Noel Gallagher, Janelle Monae, Florence Welch, Thom Yorke, Elton John and many more

A selection of major artists reveal their first musical purchase.

Podcast