Released: 26th October 2018. The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society Super Deluxe
Beautifully packaged in rigid card box with debossed cover, gold foil & metallic text, wrapped in special linen cloth finish. Bespoke accessories holder. 2LP, 1LP, 5CDs, 3 x 7” Singles, Book, Memorabilia. 174 audio tracks total. 3 previously unreleased tracks, 55 previously unreleased versions.
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.
Contents:
LPs: Gatefold 2LP featuring original album new stereo remaster and new mono remaster. Original artwork faithfully reproduced in high resolution Continental (Swedish) original, 12 track version of the LP
CD1: 2018 Stereo Remaster (Andrew Sandoval, from original HD tape transfers) + bonus tracks including singles, B-sides & alternate mixes
CD2: 2018 Mono Remaster (Andrew Sandoval, from original HD tape transfers) + bonus tracks including singles, B-sides & alternate mixes
CD3: Village Green Sessions - including alternate versions mixes and backing tracks, many previously unreleased
CD4: Village Green At The BBC - TV performance track audio and band interviews, many previously unreleased
CD5: Preservation, Sessions, Live & Demos - including mid 70s recordings, previously unreleased home demos, Ray Davies live in Denmark 2010 and unreleased track ‘Time Song’
7” PICTURE SLEEVE SINGLES: Days / She’s Got Everything (1968). Starstruck / Picture Book (1968). The Village Green Preservation Society / Do You Remember Walter? (1969)
BOOK: Deluxe, beautifully produced, 52-page hardback photo book with extensive sleeve notes and new band interviews, essays from Pete Townshend and other writers, plus rare and unseen Kinks Village Green related photos and imagery
MEMORABILIA: Poster of Village Green LP inner gatefold; Empire Liverpool 1968 tour poster; glossy 10” x 8” photos from Hampstead Heath 1968 photoshoot; colour press photo with reproduced band signatures; Bournemouth 1968 gig ticket; PYE Records promo card; ‘Days’ sheet music