Easily the most intriguing record set to be released this week, The Kinks Choral Collection is, well, mostly what you’d think it would be: a huge choir (plus original Kinks guitarist/vocalist Ray Davies) singing some of the Kinks best songs. If your first response is to be rather skeptical, you’re certainly not alone. When I first heard of this record (on NPR’s All Songs Considered a few months back), I thought it had all the makings of a disaster. But then, I heard “Waterloo Sunset” and realized that, basically, you just can’t mess up a Kinks song.
The choral settings certainly add a different perspective of sorts to Davies’ songs, but surprisingly, that mostly turns out to be a good thing. Obviously, a lot of credit goes to the songs themselves - masterful compositions that lend themselves well to most any setting - but also credit Davies’ guts, for taking this project on in the first place, and throw a little credit the choir’s way as well, for their restrained, angelic refrains.
I mean, if you can listen to the choral version of “Days” (the album opener) and not feel a bit of a tingle, than there is quite possibly something wrong with your ears.
“Village Green” - Ray Davies and the Crouch End Festival Chorus
(Click this link to listen to the entire record right now)
