Muswell Hillbillies/Everybody’s In Show-Biz- Everybody’s A Star
BMG, 2022
9/10
Listen to Muswell Hillbillies/Everybody’s In Show-Biz/Everybody’s A Star
The legendary outfit The Kinks are celebrating the 50 year anniversary of some of their classic work, as this double disc assembles the 1971 album Muswell Hillbillies and 1972’s Everybody’s In Show Biz- Everybody’s A Star into a package where both original albums are remastered and combined, bonus tracks of 4 new Ray Davies remixes are included, plus “hardback-book” packaging, and a booklet containing sleeve notes with new band quotes and rare photos, too.
Muswell Hillbillies gets the listen started with the acoustic guitar fueled melodies of “20th Century Man”, and it isn’t long until the soulful singing and warm piano of “Holiday” is present. Deeper into this portion the twang friendly and hazy “Complicated Life” makes a big impression, while the title track flows with timeless melodies and a thumping energy.
The bonus tracks include the 2022 mixes of “20th Century Man”, “Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues”, and “Traveling With My Band”, the latter being especially vibrant with its animated keys and vivid brass.
“Here Comes Yet Another Day” opens disc 2 with a busy, retro-rock appeal, and the more cautious “Sitting In My Hotel” pairs intimate piano with agile drumming in a way that only The Kinks can.
Moving into the live cuts from Carnegie Hall, “Holiday” has Ray Davies in fine form on vocals, and the festive, rockin’ “Baby Face” is full of vocal acrobatics and a wild demeanor that sure has aged well. The 2022 mix of “Celluloid Heroes” exits the listen, and recruits an inviting dreaminess that again cements just how influential The Kinks were and still are.
There’s many different combinations of formats for this release (Box Set, 2xLP, etc), and for fans of The Kinks, the bonus material and packaging are more than worth the price of admission.
Travels well with: The Kinks- Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround Part One; Dave Davies- Decade