Here’s how I know I’ve seen way too many concerts (or maybe it’s just that I’m getting old): I cannot recall how many times I’ve seen The Kinks. I mean, I’m pretty sure I saw them at least once in the early ’80s, when they were touring behind the excellent double-live album One For the Road (which was also one of the first concerts available on videocassette) and/or this 1981 album. But did I see them more than once? No clue. It’s totally possible I did and forgot all about it. That’s understandable; after all, Give the People What They Want wasn’t their most memorable effort. Granted, the title cut and Destroyer were pretty decent rockers. And Ray Davies’ ex Chrissie Hynde actually sings backup on several songs. Unfortunately, one of them is the creepy Art Lover, about a man who enjoys watching little girls play in the park. (“I’m not a flasher in a rain coat / I’m not a dirty old man / I’m not gonna snatch you from your mother / I’m an art lover / Come to daddy.” Yikes.) Admittedly, it’s written from the perspective of a guy who’s lost his daughter, but even so, it very definitely has not aged well. Speaking of aging, at least the band still looks pretty spry and youthful in this photo (though it was 40 years ago). And even if almost nobody would call Give the People What They Want their favourite Kinks album, the band were hardly at the end of the road: Two years later they put out State of Confusion, which contained the chart-toppers Come Dancing and Don’t Forget to Dance. But if I’m going to listen to Kinks music after the ’60s, I’ll take Sleepwalker, Misfits or Low Budget any day of the week, thanks. And hey, if this poster is what you want, email me. I’ll be happy to sell it to you. UPDATE: THIS POSTER HAS BEEN SOLD.
