A Hole in the Sock of (Dave Davies)
Encyclopedia
A Hole in the Sock of Dave Davies refers to an unreleased album of solo material by Dave Davies
, lead guitarist
and co-founder of British rock
band The Kinks
. Numerous names have been applied to it, including The Album That Never Was.
), entitled "Death of a Clown
". In the past, as a member of The Kinks, Dave Davies had only released his own compositions on B-sides and as part of larger LPs. The Kinks' record label sensed potential sales in a solo release from the overlooked Davies, and issued "Death of a Clown" as his debut. Although credited to Davies, it was technically a Kinks recording, as his backing band was, in fact, The Kinks.
Upon release, "Death of a Clown" unexpectedly rose to number two on the UK Singles Chart. Wanting to profit off the new buzz that was suddenly surrounding Davies, a solo LP was scheduled for release some time in 1968 or 1969.
A follow-up single, "Susannah's Still Alive
", was released in November 1967. However, it only reached number 20 on Melody Maker. The release of the solo album was held back, and it was decided to wait and see how another single would fare. As anticipation grew for the release of the new LP, fans nicknamed it A Hole in the Sock Of. The name was based on a remark Ray Davies had made to a reporter during an interview about the title of Dave's forthcoming solo album and was, although meant ironically, taken serious. The title was a send up possibly to the Beatles
ambitious "A Day in the Life
" or Traffic
's "Hole In My Shoe
".
"Lincoln County" was chosen as the next single but failed to chart. With subsequent singles meeting the same result, a combination of Davies' own disinterest in continuing and Pye's decision to stop killed off any hopes of an album.
In a 1999 interview, Davies stated that:
and Big Bill Broonzy
in addition to original material; ultimately, lack of both original material and interest delayed further work on an LP until the very end of 1968, when four new songs were recorded at Polydor Studios in London. Work was to have completed early in 1969, but was delayed at least partly when Dave Davies fractured a finger. Much of the unissued material seems to have been recorded in June 1969, just after completion of recordings for Arthur
(with John Dalton
, not Pete Quaife
, on bass). Two titles ("This Man He Weeps Tonight" and "Mindless Child of Motherhood"), both released as B-sides of Kinks singles were recorded as part of the Arthur sessions, but ultimately not included on that LP's final track selection.
Reprise files imply that Reprise received tapes of this album in July 1969 while it was still considered for release by the band. By September of that year the decision was made not to release the album. Throughout 1970, reports of a reworked version with new material were discussed; the possibility of issuing Dave's LP as the second half of a 2-LP set was raised, but by the close of that year all talk of the LP's release had ceased. Oddly, tapes of this LP were not officially logged into Reprise's official master tape log until 1972, as part of their contractual settlement after The Kinks moved to RCA. Short of the existence of this acetate in their vaults, there is no other indication that Reprise ever seriously considered this LP for release in its entirety. All songs were mixed (in the case of "Susannah's Still Alive", remixed) in stereo for this release. The track listing given here is per Doug Hinman.
Side 2
The first 13 tracks of Hidden Treasures
represent Dave's unreleased album based on the tapes that were submitted to Reprise in 1969.
Dave Davies
David Russell Gordon "Dave" Davies is an English rock musician best known for his role as lead guitarist and vocalist for the English rock band The Kinks....
, lead guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and co-founder of British rock
British rock
British rock describes a wide variety of forms of music made in the United Kingdom. Since around 1964, with the "British Invasion" of the United States spearheaded by The Beatles, British rock music has had a considerable impact on the development of American music and rock music across the...
band The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
. Numerous names have been applied to it, including The Album That Never Was.
Background
In July 1967, Dave Davies readied his first solo single, credited entirely under his name (although co-written by his brother and fellow Kinks member Ray DaviesRay Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
), entitled "Death of a Clown
Death of a Clown
"Death of a Clown" is a song by Dave Davies, member of British rock group The Kinks, released as his debut solo single in 1967. The song is co-written with his brother Ray Davies. Ray Davies' first wife, Rasa, sings the supporting female vocal during the song's chorus...
". In the past, as a member of The Kinks, Dave Davies had only released his own compositions on B-sides and as part of larger LPs. The Kinks' record label sensed potential sales in a solo release from the overlooked Davies, and issued "Death of a Clown" as his debut. Although credited to Davies, it was technically a Kinks recording, as his backing band was, in fact, The Kinks.
Upon release, "Death of a Clown" unexpectedly rose to number two on the UK Singles Chart. Wanting to profit off the new buzz that was suddenly surrounding Davies, a solo LP was scheduled for release some time in 1968 or 1969.
A follow-up single, "Susannah's Still Alive
Susannah's Still Alive
"Susannah's Still Alive" is a song by the British musician Dave Davies and his group The Kinks. It was one of the few Kinks songs that was written by Davies, the brother of lead songwriter Ray Davies. The single was credited solely to Dave Davies and featured all of The Kinks as his backing band...
", was released in November 1967. However, it only reached number 20 on Melody Maker. The release of the solo album was held back, and it was decided to wait and see how another single would fare. As anticipation grew for the release of the new LP, fans nicknamed it A Hole in the Sock Of. The name was based on a remark Ray Davies had made to a reporter during an interview about the title of Dave's forthcoming solo album and was, although meant ironically, taken serious. The title was a send up possibly to the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
ambitious "A Day in the Life
A Day in the Life
"A Day in the Life" is a song by The Beatles, the final track on the group's 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Credited to Lennon–McCartney, the song comprises distinct segments written independently by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with orchestral additions...
" or Traffic
Traffic (band)
Traffic were an English rock band whose members came from the West Midlands. The group formed in April 1967 by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason...
's "Hole In My Shoe
Hole In My Shoe
"Hole in My Shoe" is a song by Traffic which as a single release reached number 2 in the UK charts and number 22 in the German charts in 1967. Composed by guitarist Dave Mason, it was disliked by the other three members of the group, who felt that it did not represent the band's musical or lyrical...
".
"Lincoln County" was chosen as the next single but failed to chart. With subsequent singles meeting the same result, a combination of Davies' own disinterest in continuing and Pye's decision to stop killed off any hopes of an album.
In a 1999 interview, Davies stated that:
I was quite surprised when management and the record company wanted me to make an album. I thought it was quite daunting. There were a couple of tunes I liked - 'Suzannah's Still Alive,' 'Lincoln County' - but it had to feel right, and it didn't feel right. I did a few songs in a demo studio and I knocked out three or four songs, and one of them was 'Creeping Jean,' and I started to get very depressed about the whole idea. One of the last songs I recorded then was 'I'm Crying,' so you can tell what frame of mind I was in.
Recording and Tracks
Technically work began on the project after the unexpected success of "Death Of A Clown". Initially, proposed material included blues numbers by LeadbellyLeadbelly
Huddie William Ledbetter was an iconic American folk and blues musician, notable for his strong vocals, his virtuosity on the twelve-string guitar, and the songbook of folk standards he introduced....
and Big Bill Broonzy
Big Bill Broonzy
Big Bill Broonzy was a prolific American blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. His career began in the 1920s when he played country blues to mostly black audiences. Through the ‘30s and ‘40s he successfully navigated a transition in style to a more urban blues sound popular with white audiences...
in addition to original material; ultimately, lack of both original material and interest delayed further work on an LP until the very end of 1968, when four new songs were recorded at Polydor Studios in London. Work was to have completed early in 1969, but was delayed at least partly when Dave Davies fractured a finger. Much of the unissued material seems to have been recorded in June 1969, just after completion of recordings for Arthur
Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
Arthur is the seventh studio album by English rock band The Kinks, released in October 1969. Kinks frontman Ray Davies constructed the concept album as the soundtrack to a Granada Television play and developed the storyline with novelist Julian Mitchell; however, the television programme was...
(with John Dalton
John Dalton (musician)
John Dalton is a British bass guitar player, best known as a member of The Kinks' from 1969 to 1976, replacing original member Pete Quaife.- Biography :...
, not Pete Quaife
Pete Quaife
Peter Alexander Greenlaw "Pete" Quaife was an English musician, artist and author. He was a founding member and the original bass guitarist for The Kinks, from 1963 until 1969....
, on bass). Two titles ("This Man He Weeps Tonight" and "Mindless Child of Motherhood"), both released as B-sides of Kinks singles were recorded as part of the Arthur sessions, but ultimately not included on that LP's final track selection.
Reprise files imply that Reprise received tapes of this album in July 1969 while it was still considered for release by the band. By September of that year the decision was made not to release the album. Throughout 1970, reports of a reworked version with new material were discussed; the possibility of issuing Dave's LP as the second half of a 2-LP set was raised, but by the close of that year all talk of the LP's release had ceased. Oddly, tapes of this LP were not officially logged into Reprise's official master tape log until 1972, as part of their contractual settlement after The Kinks moved to RCA. Short of the existence of this acetate in their vaults, there is no other indication that Reprise ever seriously considered this LP for release in its entirety. All songs were mixed (in the case of "Susannah's Still Alive", remixed) in stereo for this release. The track listing given here is per Doug Hinman.
- Susannah's Still Alive (released as a single in 1967, remixed stereo version released on Kink Kronikles)
- There Is No Life Without Love (released as a b-side of Lincoln Country, mono version released on The Album That Never Was and bonus tracks for Something ElseSomething Else by the KinksSomething Else by The Kinks, often referred to as just Something Else, is the fifth UK studio album by English rock group The Kinks, released in September 1967. The album marks the final involvement of American producer Shel Talmy in The Kinks' 1960s studio recordings; henceforth Ray Davies would...
CD re-release) - This Man He Weeps Tonight (released as a b-side of Shangri-La, both mono and stereo version released on ArthurArthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)Arthur is the seventh studio album by English rock band The Kinks, released in October 1969. Kinks frontman Ray Davies constructed the concept album as the soundtrack to a Granada Television play and developed the storyline with novelist Julian Mitchell; however, the television programme was...
CD re-release) - Mindless Child Of Motherhood (released as a b-side of Drivin', both mono and stereo version released on Arthur CD re-release)
- Hold My Hand (released as a single in 1969, mono version released on The Album That Never Was) (stereo version released on 2011 "Arthur" deluxe edition)
- Do You Wish To Be A Man? (unreleased)
- Are You Ready? (unreleased)
- Creeping Jean (released as a b-side of Hold My Hand, stereo version released on the 2004 Deluxe Edition of Village Green Preservation Society)
- I'm Crying (unreleased)
- Lincoln County (released as a single in 1968, mono version released on The Album That Never Was and bonus tracks for Something Else CD re-release)
- Mr. Shoemaker's Daughter (stereo version released on Arthur CD re-release)
- Mr. Reporter (stereo version released on Face to FaceFace to Face (The Kinks album)Face to Face, released in 1966 on Pye Records in the United Kingdom and on Reprise Records in the United States, is the fourth UK studio album by The Kinks. A major artistic breakthrough for Kinks' songwriter Ray Davies, the LP represents the first full flowering of Davies' use of narrative,...
) - Groovy Movies (stereo version released on the 2004 Deluxe Edition of Village Green Preservation Society)
The Album That Never Was
Although the unreleased album is sometimes called The Album That Never Was, several other unreleased Kinks projects were called this over time. A compilation of Dave Davies' solo singles and B-sides was released under this title in 1987, and included "This Man He Weeps Tonight". In the version released in Japan, "Mr. Shoemakers Daughter" can also be found.Tracks (UK)
Side 1- Death of a ClownDeath of a Clown"Death of a Clown" is a song by Dave Davies, member of British rock group The Kinks, released as his debut solo single in 1967. The song is co-written with his brother Ray Davies. Ray Davies' first wife, Rasa, sings the supporting female vocal during the song's chorus...
- Love Me Till The Sun ShinesLove Me Till the Sun Shines"Love Me Till the Sun Shines" is a 1967 song by the British band, The Kinks.It was, unlike most of the band's songs, written by guitarist Dave Davies. It was originally released as the B-side to Dave Davies' debut single, "Death of a Clown" in August 1967...
- Susannah's Still AliveSusannah's Still Alive"Susannah's Still Alive" is a song by the British musician Dave Davies and his group The Kinks. It was one of the few Kinks songs that was written by Davies, the brother of lead songwriter Ray Davies. The single was credited solely to Dave Davies and featured all of The Kinks as his backing band...
- Funny Face
- Lincoln County
Side 2
- There Is No Life Without Love
- Hold My Hand
- Creeping Jean
- Mindless Child Of Motherhood
- This Man He Weeps Tonight
Tracks (Japan CD)
- Death of a Clown
- Love Me Till the Sun ShinesLove Me Till the Sun Shines"Love Me Till the Sun Shines" is a 1967 song by the British band, The Kinks.It was, unlike most of the band's songs, written by guitarist Dave Davies. It was originally released as the B-side to Dave Davies' debut single, "Death of a Clown" in August 1967...
- Suzannah's Still Alive
- Funny Face
- Lincoln County
- There Is No Life Without Love
- Hold My Hand
- Creeping Jean
- Mindless Child of Motherhood
- This Man He Weeps Tonight
- Come on Now
- Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight
- I Am Free
- What's in Store for Me
- I'm Not Like Everybody ElseI'm Not Like Everybody Else"I'm Not Like Everybody Else" is a song written by Ray Davies and first recorded by The Kinks in 1966.-History:Davies had written the song for The Animals, but it was turned down, so the Kinks released their own version with guitarist Dave Davies on lead vocals...
- Party Line
- You're Lookin' Fine
- Mr. Reporter
- Wicked AnnabellaWicked Annabella"Wicked Annabella" is a song by English rock band The Kinks, appearing on their 1968 album The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society....
- Mr. Shoemaker's Daughter
- Strangers
- RatsRats (Dave Davies song)"Rats" is a song written by Dave Davies and performed by The Kinks on their album Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One. It is the tenth song on the album, and has a duration of 2:40.- Overview :...
Hidden Treasures
- Susannah's Still Alive
- This Man He Weeps Tonight
- Mindless Child Of Motherhood
- Hold My Hand
- Do You Wish To Be A Man?
- Are You Ready?
- Creeping Jean
- Crying
- Lincoln County
- Mr. Shoemaker's Daughter
- Mr. Reporter
- Groovy Movies
- There Is No Life Without Love
- I Am Free
- Death Of A Clown (mono version)
- Love Me Till The Sun Shines (mono version)
- Susannah's Still Alive (mono version)
- Funny Face (mono version)
- Lincoln County (mono version)
- There's No Life Without Love (mono version)
- Hold My Hand (mono version)
- Creeping Jean (mono version)
- This Man He Weeps Tonight (mono version)
- Mindless Child Of Motherhood (mono version)
- Mr. Reporter (unreleased alt. mix)
- Hold My Hand (1968 stereo demo)
- Good Luck Charm (rare studio version)
The first 13 tracks of Hidden Treasures
Hidden Treasures
-Limited edition track listing:-Re-issue track listing:# The version of "Diadems" on Hidden Treasures differs from the Demon Knight soundtrack version , which has a longer intro, more prominent winds, and no electric guitars until the drums enter.-Personnel:Megadeth*Dave Mustaine - lead vocals,...
represent Dave's unreleased album based on the tapes that were submitted to Reprise in 1969.
See also
- The Great Lost Kinks AlbumThe Great Lost Kinks AlbumThe Great Lost Kinks Album is a 1973 LP of unreleased material issued by Reprise Records after The Kinks had moved to RCA. The tracks were recorded between 1966 and 1970 and master tapes were shipped to the US Reprise Label in the early 1970s to fulfill contractual obligations with that label...
- Four More Respected GentlemenFour More Respected GentlemenFour More Respected Gentlemen is an unreleased album by the British rock group The Kinks. Most of the songs were recorded in 1968, the year the album was assembled solely for the US market. This album would have been released in parallel with a Europe-only 12-song early version of The Kinks are...
- The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation SocietyThe Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation SocietyThe Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society is the sixth studio album by the English rock group The Kinks, released in November 1968. It was the last album by the original quartet, as bassist Pete Quaife left the group in early 1969...
Further reading
- Davies, Dave (1996) Kink ISBN 0-7868-6149-5
- Rogan, Johnny (1998) The Complete Guide to the Music of The Kinks ISBN 0-7119-6314-2
- Doug Hinman with Jason Brabazon (1994) You Really Got Me - An Illustrated World Discography of The Kinks, 1964-1993 ISBN 0-9641005-0-9 (softbound; ISBN 0-9641005-1-7 (hardbound)