Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Tom Robinson in Conversation with Ray Davies

Tom talks in depth to The Kinks frontman Ray Davies about his songwriting, revealing the stories behind many of the bands less known gems.

Ray Davies owes his status as one of pop's National Treasures to world famous Kinks hits such as You Really Got Me, Days, Waterloo Sunset, Lola and Sunny Afternoon.

But in this unusual two hour interview, fan and former protΓ©gΓ© Tom Robinson hears the fascinating backstory behind many less-known Davies gems suggested by listeners - which span a fifty year writing career from the 1960s to the present day.

A recurrent theme is The Culture Of B Sides - a subject close to Ray's heart. "Although they're notionally just a way of filling up space on a record", he says, "B sides are usually more revealing about an artist than the hard sell of the A Side. It's interesting what people do when their guard's down..."

The conversation is wide ranging - from the merits of demos to the pressures of success; from the family tragedy behind Ray's biggest American hit, to the day Alan Bennett refused to work with The Kinks because "it would give me indigestion".

And who knew the teenage Davies was launched on his songwriting career by jazz saxophonist Lol Coxhill in a Soho basement, with the words "you should do your own music... because you're no good at mine."

3 hours

Last on

Thu 12 Sep 2024 01:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 6 Music

More episodes

Previous

The Totally Wired World of The Fall

Next

In The Beginning - The Beatles in Hamburg

See all episodes from 6 Music Stories

Clip

Music Played

  • The Kinks

    You Really Got Me

    • The Journey - Part 1.
    • BMG.

  • The Kinks

    All Day And All Of The Night

    • Castle Communications.

  • The Kinks

    Tired Of Waiting For You

    • Polygram TV.

  • The Kinks

    Set Me Free

    • Polygram TV.

  • The Kinks

    A Well Respected Man

    • The Kinks - The Definitive Collection.
    • Polygram Tv.
    • 7.

  • The Kinks

    See My Friends

    • The Kinks - The Definitive Collection.
    • Polygram Tv.
    • 5.

  • The Kinks

    Till The End Of The Day

    • Castle.

  • The Kinks

    Days

    • Castle.

  • The Kinks

    Lola

    • Castle.

  • The Kinks

    Victoria

    • POLYGRAM TV.

  • The Kinks

    Apeman

    • The Kinks - The Definitive Collection.
    • Polygram Tv.

  • Ray Davies & Crouch End Festival Chorus

    Waterloo Sunset / Days - Glastonbury 2010

  • Little Richard

    Tutti Frutti

    • That's Rock'n'Roll (Various Artists).
    • EMI.

  • The Kinks

    Shangri-La

  • Best Boy Grip

    Sharks

    • white.

  • Dah Rhyl Gah Moor

    Right Swipe

    • white.

  • Orlando Seale and The Swell

    All Of The Dogs

    • white.

  • London Soundklash

    MAF Million Is Born (Clean Version)

    • white.

  • Fork and Knife

    Crystal Valley

    • white.

Broadcasts

  • Sat 28 Mar 2015 21:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 6 Music
  • Thu 12 Sep 2024 01:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 6 Music