Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround Part One
BMG, 2020
8/10
Listen to Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround Part One
50 years after it originally came out, this 8th album from The Kinks sees the reissue treatment in a variety of formats and configurations. Here, we’re looking at the double CD version, where the first disc offers a newly remastered version of the original with alternate versions included, and the second disc is entirely alternate versions and mixes.
A commercially successful and critically acclaimed album, the album leads with the country rock influenced “The Contenders”, before moving into the soft acoustic strumming of the bare “Strangers”. Closer to the middle, the reflective soft-rock of “Get Back In Line” illustrates The Kinks at their best, and “Lola”, a massive hit for the band, sounds better than ever here.
Deeper tracks like “This Time Tomorrow” and “A Long Way From Home” further solidify the album as a masterpiece with The Kinks’ brand of Americana holding up well across the decades, and “Got To Be Free” exits the original with banjo playfulness amid the bluegrass nods.
The alternate versions from Disc 1 bring us the Mono Single Remixes of “Lola”, “Apeman”, and “Rats”, as well as the Mono Mix of “Powerman” and the Alternate Version Stereo of “Apeman”, all of which are essential for the completist.
Disc 2 leads with the instrumental demo of “The Contenders”, which is somehow just as fun to listen to as the version we’re used to, and “The Good Life”, a previously unreleased tune, displays Ray Davies’ gritty pipes alongside rugged rock’n’roll swagger.
Of the live tracks, “Get Back In Line” is particularly expressive, and “A Long Way From Home” flows with much bare beauty. Some of the best selections from this portion reside near the end, including the Edit From The Long Distance Piano Player version of “Got To Be Free”, where they keys are particularly luminous.
If you’re a diehard fan, there’s no question you’ll need this release not only for the music, but the deluxe hardback book, new notes, rare photos and memorabilia. And if you’re unfamiliar with The Kinks, well, this wouldn’t be a bad place to start, as some of their best work is present.
Travels well with: Ray Davies- Our Country: Americana Act II; Dave Davies- Decade