A 50th anniversary edition of the Kinks’ 1968 album The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society is on the way. It’s due out October 26 via BMG.
Somewhat overlooked upon its release in November 1968, The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society is now seen as one of the best British albums ever recorded. Created in difficult circumstances by a band who refused to follow fashion, it is an album of timeless, perfectly crafted songs about growing up and growing old, and the decline of national culture and traditional ways. Enduring and unsurpassed, with its wit, sadness, quiet anger, regret and charm, it is generally considered the high point of The Kinks’ outstanding career and Ray Davies’ masterpiece.
A calm, nostalgic album which feels like a sweet, hazy dream but with endless layers of musical and lyrical innovation, The Village Green Preservation Society’s defiantly British sensibilities became the foundation of generations of British guitar pop.
The Art Of The Album focuses specifically on high quality, bespoke packaged re-issues of seminal albums within the BMG catalogue. Each title will stay true to the original album release but will offer the best quality audio masters and high spec original artwork and packaging. Through extensive sleeve notes, interviews, photography and specially created online & press content each title will focus on “telling the story” of the album’s production, release and cultural impact. Additional materials include interviews, photography, and essays by the Who’s Pete Townshend and others. Below, check out the previously unreleased track “Time Song.”
The set is beautifully packaged in rigid card box with debossed cover, gold foil & metallic text, wrapped in special linen cloth finish with 174 audio tracks total, 3 previously unreleased tracks, and 55 previously unreleased versions.
Track Listings
Disc: 1
1. The Village Green Preservation Society (2018 Stereo Remaster)
2. Do You Remember Walter? (2018 Stereo Remaster)
3. Picture Book (2018 Stereo Remaster)
4. Johnny Thunder (2018 Stereo Remaster)
5. Last of the Steam-Powered Trains (2018 Stereo Remaster)
6. Big Sky (2018 Stereo Remaster)
7. Sitting By the Riverside (2018 Stereo Remaster)
Disc: 2
1. Animal Farm (2018 Stereo Remaster)
2. Village Green (2018 Stereo Remaster)
3. Starstruck (2018 Stereo Remaster)
4. Phenomenal Cat (2018 Stereo Remaster)
5. All of My Friends Were There (2018 Stereo Remaster)
6. Wicked Annabella (2018 Stereo Remaster)
7. Monica (2018 Stereo Remaster)
8. People Take Pictures of Each Other (2018 Stereo Remaster)
Disc: 3
1. The Village Green Preservation Society (2018 Mono Remaster)
2. Do You Remember Walter? (2018 Mono Remaster)
3. Picture Book (2018 Mono Remaster)
4. Johnny Thunder (2018 Mono Remaster)
5. Last of the Steam-Powered Trains (2018 Mono Remaster)
6. Big Sky (2018 Mono Remaster)
7. Sitting By the Riverside (2018 Mono Remaster)
Disc: 4
1. Animal Farm (2018 Mono Remaster)
2. Village Green (2018 Mono Remaster)
3. Starstruck (2018 Mono Remaster)
4. Phenomenal Cat (2018 Mono Remaster)
5. All of My Friends Were There (2018 Mono Remaster)
6. Wicked Annabella (2018 Mono Remaster)
7. Monica (2018 Mono Remaster)
8. People Take Pictures of Each Other (2018 Mono Remaster)
Disc: 5
1. The Village Green Preservation Society (Swedish Version; 2018 Stereo Remaster)
2. Do You Remember Walter? (Swedish Version; 2018 Stereo Remaster)
3. Picture Book (Swedish Version; 2018 Stereo Remaster)
4. Johnny Thunder (Swedish Version; 2018 Stereo Remaster)
5. Monica (Swedish Version; 2018 Stereo Remaster)
6. Days (Swedish Version; 2018 Stereo Remaster)
Disc: 6
1. Village Green (Swedish Version; 2018 Stereo Remaster)
2. Mr. Songbird (Swedish Version; 2018 Stereo Remaster)
3. Wicked Annabella (Swedish Version; 2018 Stereo Remaster)
4. Starstruck (Swedish Version; 2018 Stereo Remaster)
5. Phenomenal Cat (Swedish Version; 2018 Stereo Remaster)
6. People Take Pictures of Each Other (Swedish Version; 2018 Stereo Remaster)
Disc: 7
1. The Village Green Preservation Society (2018 Stereo Remaster)
2. Do You Remember Walter? (2018 Stereo Remaster)
3. Picture Book (2018 Stereo Remaster)
4. Johnny Thunder (2018 Stereo Remaster)
5. Last of the Steam-Powered Trains (2018 Stereo Remaster)
6. Big Sky (2018 Stereo Remaster)
7. Sitting By the Riverside (2018 Stereo Remaster)
8. Animal Farm (2018 Stereo Remaster)
9. Village Green (2018 Stereo Remaster)
10. Starstruck (2018 Stereo Remaster)
11. Phenomenal Cat (2018 Stereo Remaster)
12. All of My Friends Were There (2018 Stereo Remaster)
13. Wicked Annabella (2018 Stereo Remaster)
14. Monica (2018 Stereo Remaster)
15. People Take Pictures of Each Other (2018 Stereo Remaster)
16. Days (Stereo Mix) [2018 Remastered Version]
17. She’s Got Everything (Stereo Mix) [2018 Remaster]
18. Mr. Songbird (Stereo Mix) [2018 Remaster]
19. Wonderboy (Stereo Mix) [2018 Remastered Version]
20. Polly (Stereo Mix) [2018 Remastered Version]
21. Berkeley Mews (Stereo Mix) [2018 Remastered Version]
22. Rosemary Rose (Stereo Mix) [2018 Remastered Version]
23. Misty Water (Stereo Mix) [2018 Remastered Version]
24. Did You See His Name? (Stereo Mix) [2018 Remaster]
25. Do You Remember Walter? (European Stereo Mix Without Tambourine) [2018 Remastered Version]
26. Animal Farm (Alternate Stereo Mix) [2018 Remastered Version]
27. People Take Pictures of Each Other (European Stereo Mix With Big Band Coda) [2018 Remastered Version]
Disc: 8
1. The Village Green Preservation Society (2018 Mono Remaster)
2. Do You Remember Walter? (2018 Mono Remaster)
3. Picture Book (2018 Mono Remaster)
4. Johnny Thunder (2018 Mono Remaster)
5. Last of the Steam-Powered Trains (2018 Mono Remaster)
6. Big Sky (2018 Mono Remaster)
7. Sitting By the Riverside (2018 Mono Remaster)
8. Animal Farm (2018 Mono Remaster)
9. Village Green (2018 Mono Remaster)
10. Starstruck (2018 Mono Remaster)
11. Phenomenal Cat (2018 Mono Remaster)
12. All of My Friends Were There (2018 Mono Remaster)
13. Wicked Annabella (2018 Mono Remaster)
14. Monica (2018 Mono Remaster)
15. People Take Pictures of Each Other (2018 Mono Remaster)
16. Days (Mono Single Mix) [2018 Remastered Version]
17. She’s Got Everything (Single Mix) [2018 Mono Remaster]
18. Mr. Songbird (2018 Mono Remaster)
19. Wonderboy (Mono Single Mix) [2018 Remastered Version]
20. Polly (Single Mix) [2018 Mono Remaster]
21. Till Death Us Do Part (Mono Mix) [2018 Remastered Versio]
22. Berkeley Mews (Single Mix) [2018 Mono Remaster]
23. Village Green (Alternate Vocal) [2018 Mono Remaster]
24. Lavender Hill (Mono Mix) [2018 Remastered Version]
25. Rosemary Rose (Mono Mix) [2018 Remastered Version]
26. Pictures in the Sand (Mono Mix) [2018 Remastered Version]
27. Misty Water (Mono Mix) [2018 Remaster]
28. Did You See His Name? (2018 Mono Remaster)
29. Last of the Steam-Powered Trains (With Alternate Ending) [2018 – Remaster]
Disc: 9
1. The Village Green Preservation Society (Alternate Mix With Session Chat)
2. Do You Remember Walter? (Backing Track)
3. Picture Book (Alternate Mix With Session Chat)
4. Johnny Thunder (Alternate Mix With Session Chat) [2018 Stereo Remaster]
5. Last of the Steam-Powered Trains (Alternate Mix With Session Chat)
6. Big Sky (Alternate Mix With Session Chat)
7. Animal Farm (Takes 16 & 17 With Session Chat)
8. Village Green (Unissued Mix from Acetate)
9. Starstruck (Alternate Mix With Session Chat)
10. Phenomenal Cat (Alternate Mix With Session Chat) [2018 Stereo Remaster]
11. Monica (Alternate Mix With Session Chat)
12. People Take Pictures of Each Other (Alternate Mix With Session Chat)
13. Egg Stained Pyjamas (Backing Track)
14. Days (Alternate Mix With Session Chat)
15. She’s Got Everything (Alternate Mix With Session Chat)
16. Misty Water (Alternate Stereo Mix)
17. Mr. Songbird (Alternate Mix)
18. Pictures in the Sand (Backing Track – Stereo Mix)
19. Berkeley Mews (Alternate Mix With Session Chat)
20. Easy Come, There You Went (Backing Track) [Alternate Mix Stereo] [2018 Remaster]
21. Did You See His Name? (Alternate Mix With Session Chat)
22. Mick Avory’s Underpants (Backing Track – Mono Mix; 2018 Remastered Version)
23. Spotty Grotty Anna (Stereo Backing Track; 2018 Remastered Version)
24. Lavender Hill (Stereo Backing Track)
25. Village Green (Backing Track – Stereo Mix; 2018 Remastered Version)
Disc: 10
1. Interview: Ray talks about working (Recorded July 1968; 2018 Mono Remaster)
2. Days (Top Gear, Recorded 1st July 1968; 2018 Remastered Version)
3. Waterloo Sunset (Top Gear, Recorded 1st July 1968; 2018 Mono Remaster)
4. Interview: Ray Talks About Solo Records (Recorded July 1968; 2018 Mono Remaster)
5. Love Me Till the Sun Shines (Top Gear, Recorded 1 July 1968; 2018 Mono Remaster)
6. Monica (Top Gear, Recorded 1st July 1968; 2018 Mono Remaster)
7. Interview: Ray talks about Village Green (Recorded November 1968; 2018 Mono Remaster)
8. The Village Green Preservation Society (Saturday Club, Recorded 26th November 1968; 2018 Mono Remaster)
9. Animal Farm (Live at the BBC, Saturday Club, 26th November 1968) [2018 Mono Remaster]
10. Interview: Ray & Dave Talk About Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, (Saturday Club, Broadcast 18th January 1969; Mono)
11. Last of the Steam-Powered Trains (Live at Julie Felix Show, 7 January 1969) [Mono]
12. Picture Book (Live Vocals) [Julie Felix Show, Recorded 7 January 1969; Mono]
13. Do You Remember Walter? (BBC Mix) [Symonds On Sunday, Recorded 2 April 1968; 2018 Mono Remaster]
14. Medley: Dedicated Follower of Fashion / A Well Respected Man / Death of a Clown (TV Pre-Mix Of Uniquely Recorded Medley – Mono; Colour Me Pop, Recorded 22 July 1968)
15. Sunny Afternoon (TV Pre-Mix Minus Melodica; Colour Me Pop, Recorded 22 July 1968)
16. Picture Book (Live TV Pre-Mix) [Colour Me Pop, Recorded 22 July 1968]
17. Days (TV Pre-Mix) [TV Pre-Mix; Colour Me Pop, Recorded 22 July 1968]
18. Lazy Old Sun (TV Pre-Mix; Colour Me Pop, Recorded 22 July 1968)
19. Two Sisters (TV Pre-Mix; Colour Me Pop, Recorded 22 July 1968)
20. Monica (TV Pre-Mix) [TV Pre-Mix; Colour Me Pop, Recorded 22 July 1968]
21. Lincoln County (TV Pre-Mix Minus Strings Overdub; Colour Me Pop, Recorded 22 July 1968; 2018 Mono Remaster)
22. Where Did My Spring Go? (Where Was Spring?, Recorded 1969) [2018 Mono Remaster]
23. When I Turn Off the Living Room Light (Where Was Spring?, Recorded 1969) [2018 Mono Remaster]
Disc: 11
1. Home Demos Medley
2. Days (Acoustic Version)
3. Mr. Songbird (Alternate Mix; Stereo)
4. The Village Green Preservation Society (Alternate Mix; Stereo)
5. Johnny Thunder (Backing Track; Stereo Mix)
6. Big Sky (Alternate Mix) [Stereo]
7. Phenomenal Cat (Backing Track; 2018 Remastered Version)
8. Picture Book (Vocals and Guitar; Stereo Mix)
9. Animal Farm (Backing Track; Stereo Mix)
10. Time Song (Monitor Mix – Stereo)
11. The Village Green Preservation Society (Preservation Version – Stereo)
12. Medley: Picture Book / People Take Pictures Of Each Other (Preservation Version – Stereo)
13. Village Green Overture (Preservation Version) [Stereo]
14. Days (with The DR Symphony & The DR Vocal Ensemble) [Live] – Ray Davies
15. Village Green Suite: Ray Davies Spoken Intro
16. Village Green Suite: Village Green (with The DR Symphony & Vocal Ensemble) – Ray Davies
17. Village Green Suite: Picture Book (with The DR Symphony & The DR Vocal Ensemble) [Live] – Ray Davies
18. Village Green Suite: Big Sky (with The DR Symphony & Vocal Ensemble) – Ray Davies
19. Village Green Suite: Do You Remember Walter? (with The DR Symphony & Vocal Ensemble) – Ray Davies
20. Village Green Suite: Johnny Thunder (with The DR Symphony & Vocal Ensemble) – Ray Davies
21. Village Green Suite: The Village Green Preservation Society (with The DR Symphony & The DR Vocal Ensemble) [Live] – Ray Davies
22. The Way Love Used To Be (with The DR Symphony & Vocal Ensemble) – Ray Davies
Disc: 12
1. Days (Mono Single Mix) [2018 Remastered Version]
Disc: 13
1. Starstruck (2018 Mono Remaster)
Disc: 14
1. Starstruck (2018 Mono Remaster)
Disc: 15
1. Picture Book (2018 Mono Remaster)
Disc: 16
1. The Village Green Preservation Society (2018 Stereo Remaster)
Disc: 17
1. Do You Remember Walter? (2018 Stereo Remaster)