Lola (live) - The Kinks

Around the time of John Lennon's death, the Kinks released a live version of their song 'Lola'. I remember this quite vividly, because a picture of the sleeve appeared in the printed version of the Dutch Top 40 and I always thought it was an image of a big cross. It seemed like quite a biblical sleeve. Of course, upon closer inspection - weeks later - I saw this was actually a live photograph of Ray Davies!

I didn't really like the song a lot back then, but as things go, you get to appreciate things decades later sometimes. And the added attraction of a colour vinyl edition - in this case, blue - also helped. And so I was glad to find a good copy, finally, after having failed to do so for a few years. The fact that the single arrived together with that Beatles one, really made my day.

My collection: 7" single no. 7464
Found: Discogs.com, received 21 November 2024
Tracks: 'Lola (live)' / 'Celluloid heroes'

How are you - The Kinks

'How are you' was released as the first single from the Kinks' 1986 album 'Think visual'. The title track from that album was an attack on the very MTV video culture the band seemed to be enjoying so much during the earlier part of the decade.

The song 'How are you' was a more innocent song. The single did not chart in any territory. I noticed the song during a showing of the music video on Dutch television. It stuck in my head, so I bought it a few years later.

My collection: 7" single no. 1185
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 3, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'How are you' / 'Killing time'

Don't forget to dance - The Kinks

'Don't forget to dance' is a beautiful ballad from the Kinks' 1983 album 'State of confusion'. The single followed 'Come dancing', which was one of the band's most successful singles in the United States. By comparison, this single did not do well.

In the UK, this single reached number 58, while in the Netherlands it did not chart. It was the first Kinks single I ever bought. The band has of course been active since the early Sixties, but most of their material just doesn't interest me much.

My collection: 7" single no. 497
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1984
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Don't forget to dance' / 'Young conservatives'