KINKS FANS?

[GA Russell]

Guy, I picked this up in 2012. It's enough for me, and may be sufficient for you.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0000276PD?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

[mjzee]

Hey guys,

I have a question. I've long loved the Kinks, but mostly listen to them via streaming. I was thinking of picking up the key material on CD.

Here's what I am interested in:

1) The core albums: Kinda Kinks or Kink Kontroversy through Lola (or Muswell Hilbillies)

2) Key singles / non-album tracks (including the classic early singles)

Here's what I am not interested in:

3) Alternate mixes, rough takes, etc

Are the 2 CD deluxe editions of the albums the best path to take? I realize they include a bunch of #3, but I can live with that in order to get #2.

While this 5-CD box, released late last year, seems to have some of what you're not looking for, it seems to have everything you are looking for:

[Guy Berger]

Hey guys,

I have a question. I've long loved the Kinks, but mostly listen to them via streaming. I was thinking of picking up the key material on CD.

Here's what I am interested in:

1) The core albums: Kinda Kinks or Kink Kontroversy through Lola (or Muswell Hilbillies)

2) Key singles / non-album tracks (including the classic early singles)

Here's what I am not interested in:

3) Alternate mixes, rough takes, etc

Are the 2 CD deluxe editions of the albums the best path to take? I realize they include a bunch of #3, but I can live with that in order to get #2.

While this 5-CD box, released late last year, seems to have some of what you're not looking for, it seems to have everything you are looking for:

Doesn't this (and The Best of the Kinks, to an even larger degree) omit some album tracks?

[mjzee]

Ah, you want all the tracks of the core albums; I misunderstood.

[Guy Berger]

Looks like the 2CD deluxe versions of the original albums may be the way to go!!

[ghost of miles]

Or the late 1990s Pye reissues, if those are still floating around. They are single CDs but filled out quite nicely with singles and outtakes.

[Teasing the Korean]

Hey guys,

I have a question. I've long loved the Kinks, but mostly listen to them via streaming. I was thinking of picking up the key material on CD.

Here's what I am interested in:

1) The core albums: Kinda Kinks or Kink Kontroversy through Lola (or Muswell Hilbillies)

2) Key singles / non-album tracks (including the classic early singles)

Here's what I am not interested in:

3) Alternate mixes, rough takes, etc

Are the 2 CD deluxe editions of the albums the best path to take? I realize they include a bunch of #3, but I can live with that in order to get #2.

If you want the core albums, definitely get the expanded editions. They contain mono and stereo, and also contain most of the oddball tracks that found their way onto Kronikles and Great Lost Kinks Album. I would start with Village Green, Face to Face and Something Else, and then work backward and forwards as you see fit.

Edited May 31, 2015 by Teasing the Korean

[Guy Berger]

Btw I ended up exploring the albums from the debut through Arthur, all on Spotify.  I was able to also explore a lot of the great non album tracks.

Personal taste but I’d rank in terms of quality:

Face to Face (4.5 stars)

Something Else (4.5 stars)

Village Green Preservation Society (4 stars)

Arthur (3.5 stars)

Kinda Kinks (3.5 stars, largely on the strength of the 1965 singles which are bonus tracks on the Spotify version)

Kink Kontroversy (3 stars)

Kinks (2 stars)