The Kinks Release Deluxe Version Of ‘Lola’ Album Today

Out today (January 22nd) are the 50th anniversary editions of the Kinks' 1970 classic Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround, Part One — better known as Lola. The album is being issued domestically as a multi-format release, including a “Deluxe Box Set,” vinyl, Deluxe double-CD, single CD, and available across digital formats.

According to the press release, “Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround, Part One, is the eighth studio album by the Kinks, recorded and released in 1970. A concept album ahead of its time, it’s a satirical appraisal of the music industry, including song publishers, unions, the press, accountants, business managers, and life on the road. One of the all time classic Kinks albums.”

Upon its original release, Lola peaked at Number 35, with the title song hitting Number Nine, with the instant FM classic “Apeman,” peaking at Number Five in the UK.

Kinks leader Ray Davies looked back at the album, recalling, “The album is a celebration of artistic freedom (including my own) and the right for anyone to be gender free if one wishes. The secret is to be a good and trusting person and friend.”

Davies, who wrote such legendary Kinks classics as “You Really Got Me,” “Waterloo Sunset,” “Come Dancing,” “Lola,” “Sunny Afternoon,” “All Day And All Of The Night,” “Celluloid Heroes” and many more, insists that songwriting is just as mysterious to him today as it was when he started: “There are no rules to songwriting, and I'd like to think it gets easier because I know more, but the more one does, the more you realize how limitless it is, y'know? There's so many different ways of writing things. There are no hard-and-fast rules, and it doesn't get any easier. It does get a little trickier the more you know. You think you know what you're doing — actually, you don't know what you're doing.”

Guitarist Dave Davies told us throughout their career, the Kinks were always most proud of their musical diversity: “Y'know, you can do tracks with acoustic guitar, then you can have a heavy track and then you can have a novelty track. Kinks albums always consisted of a variety of feelings, songs and attitudes.”