Kinks, The – Kinks

1964 debut album from one of the world’s greatest and most successful rock bands, featuring a mixture of popular R&B covers and the band’s own compositions. Features the US Top 10 (UK No.1) chart hit “You Really Got Me,” the group’s third single, written by Ray Davies and built around a heavy guitar riff played by Dave Davies. The distorted guitar power chords on the track are credited by many as having invented the heavy rock and punk sound, with the songs lyrics being described by Dave as “a love song for street kids.” “You Really Got Me” was the Kinks’ breakthrough hit, establishing them as one of the top British Invasion acts in the United States, and reaching number seven there later in the year. The album also includes rocking renditions of the R&B standards “Got Love If You Want It,” “Too Much Monkey Business,” “Cadillac” and “Stop Your Sobbing,” a later hit by The Pretenders.