The Kinks — Are the Village Green Preservation Society

Despite a slow start (The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society was released the same day as the Beatles' White Album) this one has gone on to be something of a cult classic and has since become the Kinks' best-selling original record. It’s a nostalgic, pastoral masterpiece that is a far cry from the power-chord slashing band that set the world on its ears with proto-punk classics like You Really Got Me and All Day and All of the Night.

This pressing of Village Green Preservation Society sounds fantastic on 180-gram vinyl. It's a gorgeous, gorgeous record that pays loving homage to the 1950s England of Ray Davies’ childhood — full of old family albums, steam trains and stolen kisses. Here’s to “little shops, china cups, and virginity!”

Side 1:

1. The Village Green Presevation Society
2. Do You Remember Walter
3. Picture Book
4. Johnny Thunder
5. Last of the Steam-Powered Trains
6. Big Sky
7. Sitting By the Riverside

1. Animal Farm
2. Village Green
3. Starstruck
4. Phenomenal Cat
5. All of My Friends Were There
6. Wicked Annabella
7. Monica
8. People Take Pictures of Each Other

Rolling Stone has a great article about The Kinks' Village Green Preservation Society album at 50. Check it out here.