Kinks
Everybody´s in Showbiz - RCA 1972
Tracks: 1. Here Comes Yet Another Day / 2. Maximum Consumption / 3. Unreal Reality / 4. Hot Potatoes / 5. Sitting in My Hotel / 6. Motorway / 7. You Don't Know My Name / 8. Supersonic Rocket Ship / 9. Look a Little on the Sunny Side/ 10. Celluloid Heroes / 11. Top of the Pops / 12. Brainwashed / 13. Mr. Wonderful / 14. Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues / 15. Holiday / 16. Muswell Hillbilly / 17. Alcohol / 18. Banana Boat Song (Day-O) / 19. Skin and Bone / 20. Baby Face / 21. Lola / 22. Til the End of the Day* / 23 You're Looking Fine* / 24. Get Back in Line* / 25. Have a Cuppa Tea* / 26. Sunny Afternoon* / 27. Muswell Hillbilly* / 28. Brainwashed* / 29. Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues* / 30. Holiday* / 31. Alcohol* / 32. Complicated Life* / 33. She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina* / 34. Long Tall Shorty / 35. History (studio outtake)* / 36. Supersonic Rocket Ship (alt.)* / 37. Unreal Reality (alt.)* / 38. Sophisticated Lady (early version of "Money Talks")*
Comments:
I was never a big fan of live albums, and “Everybody’s in Showbiz” was for many years one of my least favorite Kinks albums. Half of it was actually new studio recordings, which showed the group in a trasitional period going towards the concept/rock opera period with albums like “Preservation” and “Soup Opera”. The album contains two of Ray Davies greatest songs, “Celluloid Heroes” and “Sitting in My Hotel” along with the catchy single “Supersonic Rocket Ship” as the highlights. Many of the other track were very much coloured by the brass section and musicaly tended towards music-hall.
This new Legacy Edition has CD 1 containing the original stereo album (studio and live tracks) and disc 2 containing bonus tracks including previously unreleased live tracks from the Carnegie Hall concerts, alternate mixes and studio outtakes. The outtake “History” is a great addition to the Kinks song catalogue. A fine finished song which thematically would have fitted “Preservation Act 1” perfectly alongside songs like “Where are they Now” and “One of the Survivors”. An intelligent song about a visit to the museum discussing the importance of history and people of the past. Also a typical catchy Ray Davies melody.
Original review:
This album was originally released a double studio/live set. If you don`t like trumpets of horns in general, this probably won`t be your favourite Kinks album. Around 1971-74 the horn section was more or less a permanent part of the Kinks line-up. Musically there is absolutely a lot to go for here. Especially the studio-half of the album has its outstanding moments. The classic "Celluloid Heroes", one Ray Davies` greatest compositions, does not need further presentation. "Sitting in My Hotel" is another great song; actually more or less a sequel to "All of my Friends Were There" from "The Village Green Preservation". The single "Supersonic Rocket Ship" is catchy and quite amusing.
A Kinks U.S. Tour video-documentary was in the plans early 1972, and several songs has a life-on-the-road theme in the lyrics. There is a degree of disillusion to the lyrics, and a few songs may appear a little uninspired. Musically most songs are not far from the sound and style of the previous album "Muswell Hillbillies", but apart from the 3-4 strongest songs, the album is generally slightly weaker.
Logically the documentary that never was, had to cover the Kinks` live act, which was quite different from early Kinks, and also from latter year Kinks. There obviously was a quite relaxed atmosphere, at times tending towards the sloppy, at the Kinks` live show in those days. Several jazzy standards were included in the show and Ray Davies seemed to enjoy the role of an entertained more than being a traditional rock-star. With the brass-section dominating most tracks, the album is very different to their next and highly successful live album "One For the Road". This live set is an interesting document and at times quite amusing, but for me the studio half is by far the most important. An uneven affair with a couple of really great moments.
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