Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One
Encyclopedia
Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part OneAlternatively titled Kinks Part One: Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround; commonly abbreviated to Lola Versus Powerman is the eighth studio album by British rock
band The Kinks
, recorded and released in 1970
. A concept album
, it is a satirical look at the various facets of the music industry, including song publishers, unions, the press
, accountant
s, business manager
s, and the road. Musically Lola Versus Powerman is varied, drawing on the genres of folk, hard rock
, and traditional British music hall
.
Although it appeared during a transitional period for The Kinks, Lola Versus Powerman was a success both critically and commercially for the group, charting in the Top 40 in America and helping restore them in the public eye, making Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround a "comeback" album. It contained two hit single
s: "Lola
", which reached the top 10 in the US and UK, and "Apeman
", which peaked at number five in the UK.
, who had refused permits for the group to perform in America since 1965. When this ban was lifted in 1969, the group's management quickly made plans for a North American tour, to help restore their standing in the US pop music scene However, members of the band fell ill, and their US tour was shuffled, as they managed to play only a few dates in America and Canada. A follow-up tour in 1970 met with similar results, with the group performing at only a select number of venues, with many dates canceled. The down time between the tours allowed Ray Davies
, lead singer
and songwriter
of the group, to carefully craft the band's next single, "Lola".
The Kinks returned to England to start work on their new LP in spring 1970. The group began using a different recording studio, Morgan Studios, in Willesden
, London
. Morgan was an independent studio, and the Kinks would continue recording their albums there until Preservation, when they switched to their newly purchased studio, Konk
. Recording began in late April/early May. Some of the first songs recorded were "Lola", the outtake "Good Good Life", "Powerman" and "Got to Be Free
". The sessions for "Lola" were especially long, and the recording continued into late May. Davies would recall later how he achieved the signature clangy sound at the beginning of the track:
The National Steel would play an integral part in many Kinks projects after that. In the 1972 song "Supersonic Rocket Ship
", Ray Davies would use the guitar to create a Caribbean
feel for the record. Davies would play it on numerous Top of The Pops
appearances, and it would be featured in several music videos the Kinks made in the future, including "Scattered" in 1992.
Keyboardist John Gosling
was added to the Kinks' lineup in May. He auditioned on the final backing master track for "Lola", and was hired soon after. He was initially taken on solely for their upcoming US tour, but his post evolved into a more permanent position soon after. Gosling would remain with the band until 1977, departing after the release of Sleepwalker
. Dubbing for "Lola" was finished in June. Recording for the LP was completed by October, and it was mixed throughout the remainder of the month. Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One was released on 27 November 1970.
" with the generic "cherry-cola" for the mono single release, as product placement
rules meant the BBC
(being a public service broadcaster
) would not have played it. Although the lyrics in the gatefold sleeve of the original LP use the "cherry-cola" line, the album actually contains the original stereo "Coca-Cola" version. A similar situation was encountered with the song "Apeman", concerning the line "the air pollution is a-foggin' up my eyes". "Fogging" was mistaken for "Fucking", and consequently Ray Davies had to re-record this line prior to its single release.
s interpretation of Lola Versus Powerman was Davies "taking a cheeky nibble" at the pop music business; they continued that "The music's pure Kinks simplicity—but it works."
The album received generally positive reviews in the US. Rolling Stone magazine commented that it was "the best Kinks album yet". Writing in his "Consumer Guide" column of The Village Voice
, Robert Christgau
commented that "Lola" had been an "astounding single," but gave Lola Versus Powerman a mixed review, saying that "the melodies are still there, but in this context they sound corny rather than plaintive." The single "Lola" received positive reviews, and, due to its success, an interview with Ray Davies by Jonathan Cott was featured as a cover story for Rolling Stone in November 1970.
of Allmusic gave the album a positive review, writing that "Davies never really delivers a cohesive story, but the record holds together because it's one of his strongest set of songs."
. "Lola" became The Kinks' biggest success since "Sunny Afternoon
" in 1966; the group would never again have another single reach this position in the UK. "Lola" was also successful in the US market, charting at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100
singles chart, staying on the charts for 14 weeks. It also peaked at #7 on the Record World
charts. Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One reached #35 on Billboard, and on the Record World charts it peaked at #22, making it their most successful album since the mid-60s.
, construct their own London Studio, which they named Konk
, and assume more creative and managerial control. The record also proved influential: Tom Petty
told Rolling Stone that he "especially liked" it, and cited the album as an influence on The Last DJ
, another album critical of the music industry.
Tracks from Lola Versus Powerman have been featured in multiple films across several languages. One of the most notable uses of songs from the album was when "This Time Tomorrow", "Strangers", and "Powerman" were featured in the 2007 Wes Anderson
film The Darjeeling Limited
; these tracks were later included on the accompanying soundtrack album
. In France, "This Time Tomorrow" appeared in the 2005 Philippe Garrel
film Les amants réguliers. "Apeman" has been featured in multiple films, including Mondovino
(2004) and Harold Ramis
' Club Paradise
(1986).
and the hit-making machine ("Top of the Pops"), accountant
s and business manager
s ("The Moneygoround") and the road ("This Time Tomorrow"). Musically, Lola Versus Powerman is varied, contrasting gentle ballads like "Get Back in Line" and "A Long Way From Home" against hard rock
songs like "Rats
" and "Powerman", with "Denmark Street" and "The Moneygoround" paying homage to the English music hall
tradition.
instead. Due to the fact that an official title to the follow-up album was never revealed, Hinman refers to the album as "Kinks, Part Two" and suggests that preliminary sessions may have occurred in late 1970/early 1971. It is unclear what songs would have appeared on this album, and it is unknown if any songs were even recorded, with the possible exception of some unreleased backing tracks. Almost certainly no songs were completed or mastered.
Side one
Side two
Castle/Sanctuary re-release bonus tracks
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...
, recorded and released in 1970
1970 in music
- Events :*January 3**Davy Jones announces he is leaving the Monkees**Former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett releases his first solo album The Madcap Laughs....
. A concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
, it is a satirical look at the various facets of the music industry, including song publishers, unions, the press
News media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
, accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
s, business manager
Business manager
In a general context, a business manager is a person who manages the work of others in order to run a business efficiently and make a large profit...
s, and the road. Musically Lola Versus Powerman is varied, drawing on the genres of folk, hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
, and traditional British music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
.
Although it appeared during a transitional period for The Kinks, Lola Versus Powerman was a success both critically and commercially for the group, charting in the Top 40 in America and helping restore them in the public eye, making Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround a "comeback" album. It contained two hit single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
s: "Lola
Lola (song)
"Lola" is a song written by Ray Davies and performed by The Kinks which details a romantic encounter between a young man and a transvestite he meets in a club in Soho, London....
", which reached the top 10 in the US and UK, and "Apeman
Apeman (song)
"Apeman" is a song by the British rock band The Kinks. It was written by Ray Davies and appears on the album Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One. It is 3:54 in length.-Themes:...
", which peaked at number five in the UK.
Background and recording
1970 proved to be a year of major transition for The Kinks. They had been subject to a ban from the American Federation of MusiciansAmerican Federation of Musicians
The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada is a labor union of professional musicians in the United States and Canada...
, who had refused permits for the group to perform in America since 1965. When this ban was lifted in 1969, the group's management quickly made plans for a North American tour, to help restore their standing in the US pop music scene However, members of the band fell ill, and their US tour was shuffled, as they managed to play only a few dates in America and Canada. A follow-up tour in 1970 met with similar results, with the group performing at only a select number of venues, with many dates canceled. The down time between the tours allowed Ray Davies
Ray 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...
, lead singer
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
of the group, to carefully craft the band's next single, "Lola".
The Kinks returned to England to start work on their new LP in spring 1970. The group began using a different recording studio, Morgan Studios, in Willesden
Willesden
Willesden is an area in North West London which forms part of the London Borough of Brent. It is situated 5 miles north west of Charing Cross...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Morgan was an independent studio, and the Kinks would continue recording their albums there until Preservation, when they switched to their newly purchased studio, Konk
Konk (recording)
Konk is the name of a recording studio and record label, established and managed by members of British Rock group The Kinks.- Konk Studios :In 1971, The Kinks left Pye Records for a five-album stint with RCA, who offered them a million-dollar advance...
. Recording began in late April/early May. Some of the first songs recorded were "Lola", the outtake "Good Good Life", "Powerman" and "Got to Be Free
Got to Be Free
"Got to Be Free" is a song written by Ray Davies and performed by British rock band The Kinks. It was released on their 1970 LP Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One, which included the Top 10 hit song "Lola". "Got to Be Free" plays a key role in the concept album, as the album...
". The sessions for "Lola" were especially long, and the recording continued into late May. Davies would recall later how he achieved the signature clangy sound at the beginning of the track:
The National Steel would play an integral part in many Kinks projects after that. In the 1972 song "Supersonic Rocket Ship
Supersonic Rocket Ship
Supersonic Rocket Ship is a single recorded by British rock band The Kinks, written by Ray Davies. It was released on May 5, 1972, in the UK, and in September of that year for its US release. 'Supersonic Rocket Ship' was also included as a track on the double LP Everybody's in Show-Biz, which was...
", Ray Davies would use the guitar to create a Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
feel for the record. Davies would play it on numerous Top of The Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
appearances, and it would be featured in several music videos the Kinks made in the future, including "Scattered" in 1992.
Keyboardist John Gosling
John Gosling
not to be confused with John Gostling John Gosling , is an English classically trained organist and pianist....
was added to the Kinks' lineup in May. He auditioned on the final backing master track for "Lola", and was hired soon after. He was initially taken on solely for their upcoming US tour, but his post evolved into a more permanent position soon after. Gosling would remain with the band until 1977, departing after the release of Sleepwalker
Sleepwalker (The Kinks album)
Sleepwalker is a 1977 album by the English rock group, The Kinks. It marked a return to straight-ahead, self-contained rock songs after several years of concept albums. It is the first album in what critics usually call the "arena rock" phase of the group, in which more commercial and mainstream...
. Dubbing for "Lola" was finished in June. Recording for the LP was completed by October, and it was mixed throughout the remainder of the month. Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One was released on 27 November 1970.
Controversies and dubbing
For "Lola", Ray Davies was forced to overdub the trademarked word "Coca-ColaCoca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
" with the generic "cherry-cola" for the mono single release, as product placement
Product placement
Product placement, or embedded marketing, is a form of advertisement, where branded goods or services are placed in a context usually devoid of ads, such as movies, music videos, the story line of television shows, or news programs. The product placement is often not disclosed at the time that the...
rules meant the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
(being a public service broadcaster
Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom the term "public service broadcasting" refers to broadcasting intended for the public benefit rather than for purely commercial concerns. The communications regulator Ofcom, requires that certain television and radio broadcasters fulfil certain requirements as part of their...
) would not have played it. Although the lyrics in the gatefold sleeve of the original LP use the "cherry-cola" line, the album actually contains the original stereo "Coca-Cola" version. A similar situation was encountered with the song "Apeman", concerning the line "the air pollution is a-foggin' up my eyes". "Fogging" was mistaken for "Fucking", and consequently Ray Davies had to re-record this line prior to its single release.
Critical response
Lola Versus Powerman was well-received throughout the British music press. A review in New Musical Express called "[Ray] Davies ... one of the finest writers in contemporary rock," and praised the record's British styles and originality. Melody MakerMelody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
s interpretation of Lola Versus Powerman was Davies "taking a cheeky nibble" at the pop music business; they continued that "The music's pure Kinks simplicity—but it works."
The album received generally positive reviews in the US. Rolling Stone magazine commented that it was "the best Kinks album yet". Writing in his "Consumer Guide" column of The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
, Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
commented that "Lola" had been an "astounding single," but gave Lola Versus Powerman a mixed review, saying that "the melodies are still there, but in this context they sound corny rather than plaintive." The single "Lola" received positive reviews, and, due to its success, an interview with Ray Davies by Jonathan Cott was featured as a cover story for Rolling Stone in November 1970.
Modern opinion
Modern critical opinion towards Lola Versus Powerman is generally positive but often mixed. Initially given a positive review by the magazine in 1971, Rolling Stone rated it 31/2 out of 5 stars in its 1992 printing—however, the fourth edition (published in 2004) ranked it at only 2 stars. George Starostin, writing for his Only Solitaire website, expressed a mixed opinion towards the album, summarising its content as "Some pseudo-melodic fully-conceptual filler and some ultra-fantastic semi-conceptual songs," and writing that, although it contained two "Kinks classics" in "Apeman" and "Lola", it was "really a huge disappointment after such a great record as Arthur [Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire]". Stephen Thomas ErlewineStephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine is a senior editor for Allmusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for Allmusic, as well as a freelance writer, occasionally contributing liner notes. He is also frontman and guitarist for the Ann Arbor-based band Who Dat?Erlewine is the nephew...
of Allmusic gave the album a positive review, writing that "Davies never really delivers a cohesive story, but the record holds together because it's one of his strongest set of songs."
Chart performance
Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One went virtually unnoticed by the record-buying public in the UK and failed to chart, despite the success of its lead single, "Lola", which topped the New Musical Express charts in the UK, and reached #2 on Melody MakerMelody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
. "Lola" became The Kinks' biggest success since "Sunny Afternoon
Sunny Afternoon
"Sunny Afternoon" is a song by The Kinks, written by chief songwriter Ray Davies. Like its contemporary "Taxman" by The Beatles, the song references the high levels of progressive tax taken by the British Labour government of Harold Wilson. The track later featured on the Face to Face album as well...
" in 1966; the group would never again have another single reach this position in the UK. "Lola" was also successful in the US market, charting at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
singles chart, staying on the charts for 14 weeks. It also peaked at #7 on the Record World
Record World
Record World magazine was one of the three main music industry trade publications in the United States, along with Billboard and Cash Box magazines. It was founded in 1946 under the name Music Vendor, but since 1964 changed it to Record World, under the ownership of Sid Parnes and Bob Austin, both...
charts. Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One reached #35 on Billboard, and on the Record World charts it peaked at #22, making it their most successful album since the mid-60s.
Aftermath and legacy
The success of the singles and album allowed The Kinks to negotiate a new contract with RCA RecordsRCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, construct their own London Studio, which they named Konk
Konk (recording)
Konk is the name of a recording studio and record label, established and managed by members of British Rock group The Kinks.- Konk Studios :In 1971, The Kinks left Pye Records for a five-album stint with RCA, who offered them a million-dollar advance...
, and assume more creative and managerial control. The record also proved influential: Tom Petty
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
told Rolling Stone that he "especially liked" it, and cited the album as an influence on The Last DJ
The Last DJ
The Last DJ is the eleventh studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The tracks "The Last DJ", "Money Becomes King", "Joe", and "Can't Stop the Sun" are attacks on the greediness of the music industry....
, another album critical of the music industry.
Tracks from Lola Versus Powerman have been featured in multiple films across several languages. One of the most notable uses of songs from the album was when "This Time Tomorrow", "Strangers", and "Powerman" were featured in the 2007 Wes Anderson
Wes Anderson
Wesley Wales Anderson is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer of features, short films and commercials....
film The Darjeeling Limited
The Darjeeling Limited
The Darjeeling Limited is a 2007 comedy-drama film directed by Wes Anderson, and starring Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman. It was written by Anderson, Schwartzman, and Roman Coppola...
; these tracks were later included on the accompanying soundtrack album
The Darjeeling Limited (soundtrack)
Original Soundtrack: The Darjeeling Limited is the soundtrack album for the Wes Anderson film, The Darjeeling Limited. The album features three songs by The Kinks, "Powerman", "Strangers" and "This Time Tomorrow", all from the 1970 album Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One, as well...
. In France, "This Time Tomorrow" appeared in the 2005 Philippe Garrel
Philippe Garrel
Philippe Garrel is a French director, cinematographer, screenwriter, editor and producer. His movies have won him awards at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and Venice Film Festival...
film Les amants réguliers. "Apeman" has been featured in multiple films, including Mondovino
Mondovino
Mondovino is a 2004 documentary film on the impact of globalization on the world's different wine regions written and directed by American film maker Jonathan Nossiter...
(2004) and Harold Ramis
Harold Ramis
Harold Allen Ramis is an American actor, director, and writer, specializing in comedy. His best-known film acting roles are as Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters and Russell Ziskey in Stripes , both of which he also co-wrote...
' Club Paradise
Club Paradise
Club Paradise is a 1986 American comedy film directed by Harold Ramis starring Robin Williams, Peter O'Toole, and Jimmy Cliff. The film reunites director/co-writer Ramis with most of his SCTV co-stars -- SCTV cast members Andrea Martin, Eugene Levy, Rick Moranis, Joe Flaherty, and Robin Duke play...
(1986).
Themes
The album is a satirical look at the various facets of the music industry, including song publishers ("Denmark Street"), unions ("Get Back in Line"), the pressNews media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
and the hit-making machine ("Top of the Pops"), accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
s and business manager
Business manager
In a general context, a business manager is a person who manages the work of others in order to run a business efficiently and make a large profit...
s ("The Moneygoround") and the road ("This Time Tomorrow"). Musically, Lola Versus Powerman is varied, contrasting gentle ballads like "Get Back in Line" and "A Long Way From Home" against hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
songs like "Rats
Rats (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 :...
" and "Powerman", with "Denmark Street" and "The Moneygoround" paying homage to the English music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
tradition.
Part two
Before the release of Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One the band discussed the possibility of it being released as a double album. According to Doug Hinman's book, The Kinks: All Day and All of the Night, a sequel album was planned for release sometime in 1971, but was ultimately scrapped and the band opted to record Muswell HillbilliesMuswell Hillbillies
Muswell Hillbillies is the ninth studio album by the English rock group The Kinks, released in November 1971. The album is named after the Muswell Hill area of North London, where band leader Ray Davies and guitarist Dave Davies grew up and the band formed in the early 1960s.The album centred on...
instead. Due to the fact that an official title to the follow-up album was never revealed, Hinman refers to the album as "Kinks, Part Two" and suggests that preliminary sessions may have occurred in late 1970/early 1971. It is unclear what songs would have appeared on this album, and it is unknown if any songs were even recorded, with the possible exception of some unreleased backing tracks. Almost certainly no songs were completed or mastered.
Album
| Chart (1970) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia | 24 |
| US | 35 |
Singles
All positions sourced to, except where noted.| Year | Single Title | Highest UK Chart Position | Highest US Chart Position | Highest Netherlands Chart Position | Highest Austria Chart Position | Highest Switzerland Chart Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | "Lola" | 2 | 9 | 1 | 4 | |
| 1970 | "Apeman" | 5 | 45 | 9 | 2 | 7 |
Track listing
All tracks written by Ray Davies except where noted.Side one
- "Introduction" – 0:41
- "The Contenders" – 2:02
- "Strangers" (Dave DaviesDave DaviesDavid 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....
) – 3:20 - "Denmark StreetDenmark StreetDenmark Street is a short narrow road in central London, notable for its connections with British popular music, and is known as the British Tin Pan Alley. The road connects Charing Cross Road at its western end with St Giles High Street at its eastern end. Denmark Street is in the London Borough...
" – 2:02 - "Get Back in Line" – 3:04
- "LolaLola (song)"Lola" is a song written by Ray Davies and performed by The Kinks which details a romantic encounter between a young man and a transvestite he meets in a club in Soho, London....
" – 4:01 - "Top of the Pops" – 3:40
- "The Moneygoround" – 1:47
Side two
- "This Time Tomorrow" – 3:22
- "A Long Way From Home" – 2:27
- "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 :...
" (Dave Davies) – 2:40 - "ApemanApeman (song)"Apeman" is a song by the British rock band The Kinks. It was written by Ray Davies and appears on the album Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One. It is 3:54 in length.-Themes:...
" – 3:52 - "Powerman" (Ray Davies/Dave Davies) – 4:18
- "Got to Be FreeGot to Be Free"Got to Be Free" is a song written by Ray Davies and performed by British rock band The Kinks. It was released on their 1970 LP Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One, which included the Top 10 hit song "Lola". "Got to Be Free" plays a key role in the concept album, as the album...
" – 3:01
Castle/Sanctuary re-release bonus tracks
- "Lola" (mono single mix) – 4:08
- "Apeman" (acoustic demo) – 3:41
- "Powerman" (acoustic demo) – 4:23
Personnel
- Mick AvoryMick AvoryMichael Charles "Mick" Avory is an English musician, best known as the longtime drummer and percussionist for the British rock band, The Kinks, joining them shortly after their formation in 1964 and remaining with them until 1984, when he left amid creative friction with guitarist Dave Davies...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - John DaltonJohn 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 :...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Dave DaviesDave DaviesDavid 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 guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, backing vocals, lead vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
on "Strangers" and "Rats", co-lead vocal on "Powerman" - Ray DaviesRay DaviesRay 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...
– lead vocals, guitar, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - John GoslingJohn Goslingnot to be confused with John Gostling John Gosling , is an English classically trained organist and pianist....
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...