The Kinks “You Really Got Me” 1964. Reprise Records. This early Kinks LP is a compilation of original single releases and cover songs. It includes cover tracks by rock-n-roll pioneers Chuck Berry (“Beautiful Delilah” and “Too Much Monkey Business”) and Bo Diddley (“Cadillac”) as well as American R&B composers like Don Covay (“Long Tall Shorty”) and Slim Harpo (“Got Love If You Want It”). The Kinks took their passion for American roots music and filtered it through their British lenses, adding in heavy doses of harmonica, garage lo-fi production and art school swagger to compose original selections like the hit “You Really Got Me” which established The Kinks as a top British Invasion band; it reached #1 in the UK and #7 in the US. Written by Ray Davies, “You Really Got Me” is often credited as an influence on later heavy metal and punk recordings with its prominently featured use of power chords. (Van Halen covered it in 1978, making it to #36 on the US charts.) (Dave Davies had this to say about Van Halen’s cover, “There’s the thing: good art isn’t always about having the comfiest technique. I shouldn’t encourage him, but I’m sure Eddie Van Halen played better when he was drunk.”)

One of the wonderful features of old vinyl records is the back cover writing, meant as promotional information on the band to an American consumer perhaps unfamiliar with the material. On the back of this record we learn, “Take four art students dressed like characters from Dickens whose musical appreciation ranges from Chuck Berry to Johann Sebastian Bach. Add long hair and vocal sounds reminiscent of Little Richard. Then mix in three guitars, a set of drums and a flair for rhythm-and-blues, and you have the Kinks.” And about Ray Davies, “He’s 20 years old and almost six feet tall. He composes, listens politely to what the others have to say about his compositions, and then insists that they record exactly what he wrote in the first place.” “Pete is 20…He’s the quiet one, from Devon and a Mod (sharp dresser)…He’s a fan of horseback riding.” “Mick is 19 and plays the drums…his main hobby is reading and listening to Beethoven.” Finally there is this on Dave Davies: Dave is 17, and Ray’s brother. He also sings and plays lead guitar. Although the youngest Kink, no girl passes unnoticed…Like his brother, he thinks sleeping is a great pastime.