The Kinks : NPR

Ray Davies: 'Myths Are An Important Part Of America'

Ray Davies' latest solo album is Americana. Steve Gullick/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

Steve Gullick/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

Ray Davies: 'Myths Are An Important Part Of America'

XPN

April 21, 2017 • The legendary frontman of The Kinks discusses his new solo album, Americana, which deals in part with his relationship, as a Brit, to the United States.

Ray Davies On World Cafe

26:28

Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/525109562/525113580" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Naive, Yet Revolutionary: Ray Davies On 50 Years Of The Kinks

The Kinks in 1970. Courtesy of Sanctuary Records hide caption

toggle caption

Courtesy of Sanctuary Records

Music Interviews

Naive, Yet Revolutionary: Ray Davies On 50 Years Of The Kinks

Fresh Air

November 26, 2014 • "I think if I had been an accomplished songwriter I wouldn't have written 'You Really Got Me,' " Davies tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross.

Naive, Yet Revolutionary: Ray Davies On 50 Years Of The Kinks

Listen · 45:49 45:49

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/366813240/366852338" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Ray Davies. Paul Bergen/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

Paul Bergen/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

Ray Davies On World Cafe

XPN

December 5, 2013 • The British rock legend visits the WXPN studio to discuss his new memoir, Americana: The Kinks, The Riff, The Road: The Story.

Ray Davies On World Cafe

21:18

Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/249082431/249074229" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

It's Your Favorite Song: Did You Get It From A Movie?

Promotional poster for the 1999 film Rushmore. Courtesy of the Touchstone Pictures hide caption

toggle caption

Courtesy of the Touchstone Pictures

All Songs Considered

It's Your Favorite Song: Did You Get It From A Movie?

February 25, 2013 • Watching movies is a great way to discover new music. So, fresh on the heels of the Oscars, we want to know about the songs you discovered in a film. This can be music written specifically for the film, or a song that appeared in the movie.

Ray Davies enlists Bruce Springsteen, Lucinda Williams and other artists to help perform his songs on the new album See My Friends. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

Ray Davies: That's What Friends Are For

May 27, 2011 • The legendary Kinks singer teams with Bruce Springsteen, Lucinda Williams, Metallica and others on the new See My Friends.

Ray Davies: That's What Friends Are For

Listen · 11:51 11:51

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/136656570/136765827" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

A Kink Kook Listens Again — This Time With A Critical Ear

The Kinks, from left to right clockwise: Pete Quaife, Dave Davies, Mick Avory and Ray Davies, front and center. Central Press/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Central Press/Getty Images

The Record

A Kink Kook Listens Again — This Time With A Critical Ear

April 25, 2011 • Before the sun set on "Waterloo," the Kinks were a singles band - the albums were another story.

We Asked For It: Songs You Wish Were On 'Glee'

You guys sure had a lot of song suggestions for Kurt. (We think he's awesome, too.) Matthias Clamer/Fox hide caption

toggle caption

Matthias Clamer/Fox

Music Lists

We Asked For It: Songs You Wish Were On 'Glee'

April 15, 2010 • We can already tell that the rest of Glee's first season is going to be fall-down ridiculous. Now that we've got some basic story lines, we're ready to pass some more song suggestions along to creator Ryan Murphy. We've highlighted some of the best user suggestions here.

Bob Boilen

Live in Concert

The Kinks Choral Concert

December 22, 2009 • For some diehard Kinks fans, the idea of mixing the band's classic songs with a full choir had little appeal. One of those fans, All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen, was dubious, before he heard the results on the latest CD from Kinks frontman Ray Davies, The Kinks Choral Collection. Boilen was part of a rapt audience at a Nov. 20 performance of the songs, recorded live in New York, by Ray Davies and the Dessoff Chamber Choir. Hear that show in its entirety here.

The Kinks Choral Concert

Listen

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/121757293/121636290" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

All Songs Considered

Fall Music Preview

September 21, 2009 • On this All Songs we spin some of the albums we're most looking forward to coming out this fall. Hear previews from The Flaming Lips, choral versions of classic Kinks songs, The Swell Season and more.

Fall Music Preview

Listen · 59:24 59:24

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/113027088/113027087" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

It's Time To Party: Summer Songs

Hammock Jams: Party In Your Backyard

June 17, 2009 • The next time you gather up close friends (or, better yet, load yourself into a hammock with a loved one while keeping a pitcher of iced tea within arm's reach), let these five songs set the tone. Each exudes some form of contentment, whether in the form of a well-placed string section or words that set a happy scene.

All Songs Considered

Guest DJ Ray Davies

March 27, 2008 • Ray Davies, former frontman for The Kinks, shares some of the songs that have inspired him over the years with All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen. Hear music from Ray Charles, Dizzy Gillespie, Chuck Berry and more, as well as selections from Ray Davies' latest solo album, Working Man's Cafe.

Guest DJ Ray Davies

Listen

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/89149374/89150083" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Music Interviews

The Kinks' Ray Davies: Opening a Solo Chapter

Fresh Air

April 3, 2006 • Lead singer and songwriter for The Kinks, Ray Davies started The Kinks in 1964 with his brother, Dave. They are said to be the pioneers of the rowdy garage band genre of rock music. Davies is now 61 and on tour for his first solo album, Other Peoples Lives.

The Kinks' Ray Davies: Opening a Solo Chapter

Listen

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5319800/5319690" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Music Interviews

Covering The Kinks

April 21, 2002 • A new album pays tribute to The Kinks with renditions of the band's songs by contemporary artists. Kinks frontman Ray Davies, along with album producer Jim Pitt, talks with host Lynn Neary about the album and about The Kinks' legacy on Weekend Edition Sunday.

Covering The Kinks

Audio will be available later today.

All Songs Considered

Wilco, Johnny Cash, Norah Jones

March 4, 2002 • The original man in black: Johnny Cash; alt-Country from Uncle Tupelo; the wait is over for new Wilco; Muswell Hillbilly and The Kinks, and more.

Wilco, Johnny Cash, Norah Jones

Audio for this story is unavailable.