Kinks "Face to Face" stereo LP (1966, Reprise) near-mint copy, steamboat label

$

50

Baron Elmo proudly presents a stunning vinyl copy of one of the touchstone albums of the Sixties, from pastoral Brit songsters THE KINKS: Face to Face, released in 1966 by Reprise. This copy is in stereo, with the three-color “steamboat” Reprise label. With this album, The Kinks progressed beyond their beat-group days and into their second, finest phase, where Ray Davies' songwriting achieved a maturity and elegance that still astonishes. (Face to Face was the first Kinks album to exclusively feature Ray's songs.) Despite the presence of the moderate hit “Sunny Afternoon” (the last successful Kinks single in the States until “Lola,” four years later), the LP stalled at #135 on the charts. Perhaps the album was simply too British for us Yanks. Luckily, the years have established the worth of Face to Face a thousand times over as a magnificent collection of songs that deserves to be ranked alongside such eternal classics as Rubber Soul, Aftermath, Forever Changes and The Who Sell Out. There are endless layers of musical and lyrical innovation on Face to Face, and its thoughtful sensibilities became the foundation of generations of British guitar pop. Bands like Squeeze and XTC, to name but two, drew heavily upon this period of the Kinks' history. It's an album no one should be without, and here we have a beautiful, near-mint copy to tickle the fancy of you serious collectors. This record was purchased new-and-in-the-shrinkwrap by Baron Elmo, and has been treated with tender loving care. Honestly, you'd have a hard time finding a copy in nicer shape.

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Track listing
Party Line     
Rosy Won't You Please Come Home     
Dandy     
Too Much On My Mind     
Session Man     
Rainy Day In June     
House In The Country     
Holiday In Waikiki     
Most Exclusive Residence For Sale     
Fancy     
Little Miss Queen Of Darkness     
You're Looking Fine     
Sunny Afternoon     
I'll Remember

*****

The Kink Kontroversy was a considerable leap forward in terms of quality, but it pales next to Face to Face, one of the finest collections of pop songs released during the '60s. Conceived as a loose concept album, Face to Face sees Ray Davies' fascination with English class and social structures flourish, as he creates a number of vivid character portraits. Davies' growth as a lyricist has coincided with the Kinks' musical growth. Face to Face is filled with wonderful moments, whether it's the mocking Hawaiian guitars of the rocker "Holiday in Waikiki," the droning Eastern touches of "Fancy," the music hall shuffle of "Dandy," or the lazily rolling "Sunny Afternoon." And that only scratches the surface of the riches of Face to Face, which offers other classics like "Rosy Won't You Please Come Home," "Party Line," "Too Much on My Mind," "Rainy Day in June," and "Most Exclusive Residence for Sale," making the record one of the most distinctive and accomplished albums of its time.
~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music