Search - Ray Davies :: Collected

Nice but flawed

IJEFF | Milwaukee, WI USA | 03/14/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First off, this isn't really a Ray Davies solo career spanning compilation as it doesn't include anything from early solo efforts like "Return to Waterloo". It would have benefited from spanning his entire career including some obscurities like songs from movie soundtracks not previously included in any Davies release. These things would have made this CD a more compelling purchase.



So, what we have here is compilation that more or less spans 3 solo records (Storyteller, Other Peoples Lives and Working Mans Cafe) and mostly the latter two. It also includes a somewhat obscure excellent song from the same era, "Yours Truly Confused" recorded with the Jools Holland big band. This song does add significantly to this collection and is worth owning. It sounds nothing like anything else on the other CD releases that make up this compilation.



As for the bulk of this collection most come from 2 Davies CD's released just within the last few years. The good news is both are very good, but if you own those CD's you probably don't need this. For a newcommer, this collection would be a nice introduction to those CD's though you can probably buy both of those CD's for less money than this import collection.



The other problem presented here is incredibly some of the best songs from those 2 CD's don't appear on this collection! Two prime examples of these omissions are "Over My Head" from Other Peoples Lives and "Real World" from Working Man's cafe. That said there isn't necessarilly a bad or weak song on this collection, but I could probably find 2 songs to eliminate if it meant including the 2 great songs not included.



In conclusion, its difficult to see much purpose for this CD except for the Ray Davies fanatic such as myself. The music contained here is a solid 4 star quality and is a testament to how strong Davies songwriting chops still are. You won't be disappointed in it, but if you are really looking for a Davies solo compilation that covers his career post-Kinks, I'd suggest just buying Other Peoples Live and Working Mans Cafe.



Finally, before I forget, you can get "Yours Truly Confused" on Davies Thanksgiving Day EP CD that was released a few years ago and is readily available for less than $8 new and even less used. The added bonus of this EP is you get a strikingly different mix of the song "Thanksgiving Day" which I actually prefer. There is an irony here that a career as long and productive as Ray Davies would be reduced to a compilation of songs mostly released over a period of 2 years. Of course Ray gets the last laugh as few would dispute the quality of these songs.

"