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The Kinks — A Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy
Album: Misfits
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 814









Released: 1978
Length: 4:58
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Hello you, hello me, hello people we used to be
Isn't it strange, we never changed
We've been through it all yet we're still the same
And I know it's a miracle, we still go, and for all we know
We might still have a way to go

Hello me, hello you, you say you want out
Want to start anew, throw in your hand
Break up the band, start a new life, be a new man
But for all we know, we might still have a way to go
Before you go, there's something you ought to know

There's a guy in my block, he lives for rock
He plays records day and night
And when he feels down, he puts some rock 'n' roll on
And it makes him feel alright
And when he feels the world is closing in
He turns his stereo way up high

He just spends his life, living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
He just spends his life, living on the edge of reality
He just spends his life, in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
He just spends his life, living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
He just spends his life, living on the edge of reality
He just spends his life, in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
He just spends his life, livingt in a rock 'n' roll fantasy

Look at me, look at you
You say you've got nothing left to prove
The King is dead, rock is done
You might be through but I've just begun
I don't know, I feel free and I won't let go
Before you go, there's something you ought to know

Dan is a fan and he lives for our music
It's the only thing that gets him by
He's watched us grow and he's seen all our shows
He's seen us low and he's seen us high
Oh, but you and me keep thinking
That the world's just passing us by

Dont' want to spend my life, living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy
Don't want to spend my life living on the edge of reality
Don't want to waste my life, hiding away anymore
Don't want to spend my life, living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy...
Comments (64)add comment
 Proclivities wrote:

This album was released long before that film was.  The original book cover had pen and ink drawings by Ralph Steadman; the film graphics had the distorted photo.  I've been unable to find out who either "distorted photo" designer was; I'll have to get back to you on that.
 
Proc - Thanks for your diligence in helping answer questions!  Too many things that I'm curious about to find answers (assuming I'm working, otherwise I'd have looked it up for us)  LLRP!!
One of the best bands not named the Beatles.  Timeless music.
This song brings back great memories - love how music can take you back so vividly when your memory ain't regularly so acute no mo!
 lizardking wrote:
I'm sure this has been stated already - and if I wasn't "working" right now I might read all the fun comments and confirm that for myself - that album cover looks like "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" to me.  A great book and even better film (with great music) that has stuck with me all these years. 

Anyone know about the album cover art on this one?

Long Live RP!!


 
This album was released long before that film was.  The original book cover had pen and ink drawings by Ralph Steadman; the film graphics had the distorted photo.  I've been unable to find out who either "distorted photo" designer was; I'll have to get back to you on that.
 LowPhreak wrote:

There's making a profit which is fine & dandy, and then there's when nothing else matters but profit...which ends up in a race to the bottom.

Look around you and ask yourself if that isn't what the U.S. has devolved into.
 
Speaking the truth, Low Phreak....sad and true....still...Long Live RP!!
"the King is dead"
released  about a year after Elvis died
Sorry but I just can't give the Kinks just a 7 so I gave it an 8. They are still awesome after all these years.

I'm sure this has been stated already - and if I wasn't "working" right now I might read all the fun comments and confirm that for myself - that album cover looks like "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" to me.  A great book and even better film (with great music) that has stuck with me all these years. 

Anyone know about the album cover art on this one?

Long Live RP!!


"It's all part, of my rock and roll fantasy ..."

Wait, what?!?!     Oh, sorry; wrong song.
{#Cowboy} great cut ! there are some many good tracks on this album
This was a standout album from a pretty good year for music.
 AndyJ wrote:
I have been listening to these guys for a very long time.

I have had the feeling for the last few decades that somewhere there is a vault with a few hundred hours of really good Kinks music that would have been set free except for the record companies and their consultants.
Maybe, maybe someday they will go "Indie" and launch a Kinks channel and download site... OK, maybe their kids will mine the vault. But by then tastes will have changed and us geezers will be gone...
Rock-On...and Thanks RP for the tastes and temptations of what coulda-mighta-shoulda been      

 
Well said.  I am a child of the sixties (teenager really).  Love the Kinks.
 Hannio wrote:


Yeah, it's a shame that radio stations have to be concerned with making a profit. If everybody worked for free, then they could play whatever they wanted.  How cool would that be?

 
There's making a profit which is fine & dandy, and then there's when nothing else matters but profit...which ends up in a race to the bottom.

Look around you and ask yourself if that isn't what the U.S. has devolved into.
One of the best!  :-)
 
 RadioDoc wrote:
Sad thing is...Bill is doing what he did in the 70's with old-school progressive radio except now, it's on the Internet.  There actually were commercial FM stations which sound like this 35 years ago.  
 
Proclivities wrote:

It is sad that that sort of radio has all but vanished.  It seemed to have been killed (at least partially) by moguls like Kal Rudman and Mike Joseph with their mandatory playlists.
 
I love access to the other minds out there, thanks folks  (Kinks, meh : /
 zoopmama wrote:
This song is pretty lame, but it's Ray Davies so I gotta love it anyway.

 
Haha same here! What the hell happened to his voice?! I give it a 6, but really because I can't see myself rating a Kinks' song any lower! 
Saw theme at LA Amphitheatre many moons ago when this was released. Was on vacation and had tickets at the last row. Some guy left during the warm act  - TOTO i thing. On his way out he came up the stairs and picked me to get his tickets. Ten rows from the stage dead center. Rock and roll fantasy
Um, this is godlike
Much respect  
 scubarojo wrote:
A wonderful melancholy tune about being in a band.  In a similar vein along with Celluloid Hero's and Waterloo Sunset.  Ray and Dave, songwriter and rave guitarist extraordinaire.  One of the most under rated groups of the pop/rock area....but not by me.  Thanks for playing any Kinks tune. 

 
{#Clap}
 Byronape wrote:

When I was in high school ('95 or 96 I think) I interned at crappy local adult contemporary radio station who had the sack to claim to be eclectic.  In hindsight, having the heavier alternative/grunge/rock play late at night while the more top 40 stuff was fodder for the day laboring cube jockeys is hardly eclectic. 

Anyway, the program director had to constantly battle the ownership to keep songs at no more than a 4 hour rotation.  I found out toward the end of the internship that a big part of the reason that the ownership wanted to play songs more often is that the labels that would send "payola" based on the frequency of some songs getting played.  If an artist has a new song and it's not blowing up the charts like the label hoped, they would basically bribe the stations to play the song more often in the hopes of driving up sales.  Many a shit song has gotten WAY more playtime than it should have because of this practice. 

This practice has set the stage for today's popular music.  It's easy to write, cheap to record (thanks to electronics and a few creative producers), and doesn't require any real talent on behalf of the "performers."

It was a fascinating experience that convinced me that I did not want to go into radio as a career.  For one, the main daytime DJ had a car that was worse then mine because he got paid crap, and for two I liked music too much to have it ruined by the cigar smoke inflated empty suits at the major record labels. 


 
WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD OF COMERCIAL RADIO....WHY DO YOU THINK RAP IS ALL YOU HEAR OUT IN THE AIRWAVES....
 Hannio wrote:


Yeah, it's a shame that radio stations have to be concerned with making a profit. If everybody worked for free, then they could play whatever they wanted.  How cool would that be?

 
Dude, there's a happy medium here. In fact, RP is it.
This song is pretty lame, but it's Ray Davies so I gotta love it anyway.
I have been listening to these guys for a very long time.

I have had the feeling for the last few decades that somewhere there is a vault with a few hundred hours of really good Kinks music that would have been set free except for the record companies and their consultants.


Maybe, maybe someday they will go "Indie" and launch a Kinks channel and download site... OK, maybe their kids will mine the vault. But by then tastes will have changed and us geezers will be gone...


Rock-On...and Thanks RP for the tastes and temptations of what coulda-mighta-shoulda been      
 scubarojo wrote:
A wonderful melancholy tune about being in a band.  In a similar vein along with Celluloid Hero's and Waterloo Sunset.  Ray and Dave, songwriter and rave guitarist extraordinaire.  One of the most under rated groups of the pop/rock area....but not by me.  Thanks for playing any Kinks tune. 

 
very well said.  great song.
 Byronape wrote:

When I was in high school ('95 or 96 I think) I interned at crappy local adult contemporary radio station who had the sack to claim to be eclectic.  In hindsight, having the heavier alternative/grunge/rock play late at night while the more top 40 stuff was fodder for the day laboring cube jockeys is hardly eclectic. 

Anyway, the program director had to constantly battle the ownership to keep songs at no more than a 4 hour rotation.  I found out toward the end of the internship that a big part of the reason that the ownership wanted to play songs more often is that the labels that would send "payola" based on the frequency of some songs getting played.  If an artist has a new song and it's not blowing up the charts like the label hoped, they would basically bribe the stations to play the song more often in the hopes of driving up sales.  Many a shit song has gotten WAY more playtime than it should have because of this practice. 

This practice has set the stage for today's popular music.  It's easy to write, cheap to record (thanks to electronics and a few creative producers), and doesn't require any real talent on behalf of the "performers."

It was a fascinating experience that convinced me that I did not want to go into radio as a career.  For one, the main daytime DJ had a car that was worse then mine because he got paid crap, and for two I liked music too much to have it ruined by the cigar smoke inflated empty suits at the major record labels. 

 

Yeah, it's a shame that radio stations have to be concerned with making a profit. If everybody worked for free, then they could play whatever they wanted.  How cool would that be?
But Ray, I have spent my life living in a Rock and Roll Fantasy. It's great.
One of my favorite Kinks songs. 
 linden wrote:

Agreed. This song is better than most of its kind, but it still has to keep company with big chunks of cheese like "We're an American Band," "Rock and Roll Band," and "Wanted: Dead or Alive."
 
I'm sorry, this song is not in the same league as those moronic tunes.
Bon Jovi indeed.

What I don't understand is, how come this is the only song off of this album played on R. Paradise?
And nothing off of Sleepwalker?
A wonderful melancholy tune about being in a band.  In a similar vein along with Celluloid Hero's and Waterloo Sunset.  Ray and Dave, songwriter and rave guitarist extraordinaire.  One of the most under rated groups of the pop/rock area....but not by me.  Thanks for playing any Kinks tune. 
 PA1749 wrote:
Sorry but I just don't care for bands singing songs about being in a band. It just really isn't that clever.
 
Agreed. This song is better than most of its kind, but it still has to keep company with big chunks of cheese like "We're an American Band," "Rock and Roll Band," and "Wanted: Dead or Alive."
Man the Kinks were great. This is such a good song. Not just music, but a real song that is sung.
 Proclivities wrote:

It is sad that that sort of radio has all but vanished.  It seemed to have been killed (at least partially) by moguls like Kal Rudman and Mike Joseph with their mandatory playlists.

 
When I was in high school ('95 or 96 I think) I interned at crappy local adult contemporary radio station who had the sack to claim to be eclectic.  In hindsight, having the heavier alternative/grunge/rock play late at night while the more top 40 stuff was fodder for the day laboring cube jockeys is hardly eclectic. 

Anyway, the program director had to constantly battle the ownership to keep songs at no more than a 4 hour rotation.  I found out toward the end of the internship that a big part of the reason that the ownership wanted to play songs more often is that the labels that would send "payola" based on the frequency of some songs getting played.  If an artist has a new song and it's not blowing up the charts like the label hoped, they would basically bribe the stations to play the song more often in the hopes of driving up sales.  Many a shit song has gotten WAY more playtime than it should have because of this practice. 

This practice has set the stage for today's popular music.  It's easy to write, cheap to record (thanks to electronics and a few creative producers), and doesn't require any real talent on behalf of the "performers."

It was a fascinating experience that convinced me that I did not want to go into radio as a career.  For one, the main daytime DJ had a car that was worse then mine because he got paid crap, and for two I liked music too much to have it ruined by the cigar smoke inflated empty suits at the major record labels. 

Rock and roll fantasy....not a bad choice.  {#Roflol}
Sorry but I just don't care for bands singing songs about being in a band. It just really isn't that clever.
 The_Enemy wrote:

Ah, CHOM... pleasant memories.

Aside from playing complete albums, CHOM was also a bilingual station for a number of years until Quebec's Language Police, via the CRTC, forced them to choose.

I remember listening to CHOM in high school. Not the best of times but great music.

 
I listened to CHUM FM in Toronto but when I moved to Ottawa I discovered CHOM. The whole bilingual nature of the station was amazing to me. Too bad they had to choose because, for an anglophone from southern Ontario, it was my first experience of our second language and opened the door for me to Quebecois culture/music

 RadioDoc wrote:
Sad thing is...Bill is doing what he did in the 70's with old-school progressive radio except now, it's on the Internet.  There actually were commercial FM stations which sound like this 35 years ago. 
 
It is sad that that sort of radio has all but vanished.  It seemed to have been killed (at least partially) by moguls like Kal Rudman and Mike Joseph with their mandatory playlists.

 youngers wrote:
This song is an example of why I pay for this station.
 
I agree...I love the kinks any time. thanks, RP...


Funny how times change. The Kinks were an awesome band and have somehow kind of been forgotten. Just listen to any so-called Classic Rock stations these days and see how long it takes you before you bump into a Kinks song. Thanks for the memories Bill G.!!!!!
This song is an example of why I pay for this station.
 westslope wrote:

Why sad?  CHOM-FM, Montreal was one of those early progressive FM rock-based stations.  It was excellent.  Superbe.   They all eventually went mainstream (or closed).  Guess the market wasn't there.

 
Ah, CHOM... pleasant memories.

Aside from playing complete albums, CHOM was also a bilingual station for a number of years until Quebec's Language Police, via the CRTC, forced them to choose.

I remember listening to CHOM in high school. Not the best of times but great music.

The Kinks. Two brothers who, most time, could just barely stand one another. Amazing stuff.

Sad thing RadioDoc?

Why sad?  CHOM-FM, Montreal was one of those early progressive FM rock-based stations.  It was excellent.  Superbe.   They all eventually went mainstream (or closed).  Guess the market wasn't there.

That said Radio Paradise is doing all kinds of original things.  Nothing sad about it at all.



 tnt_thomas wrote:
Not really fantasy now. But if some one had told me about RP 20 yrs ago, MAN, I would have doubted it completely! Toooo gooood to be truuuue!

Sad thing is...Bill is doing what he did in the 70's with old-school progressive radio except now, it's on the Internet.  There actually were commercial FM stations which sound like this 35 years ago. 

 musicdan wrote:

This could be the theme song for most of us who listen to RP
 
Not really fantasy now. But if some one had told me about RP 20 yrs ago, MAN, I would have doubted it completely! Toooo gooood to be truuuue!

Who else does this song?  Did the Kinks originally perform it?
This song is like an old friend. {#High-five}
A kinks song I really like! {#Surprised}
 HazzeSwede wrote:
Kinks,very very seldom,goes into one ear and out the other.
 
 
Sorry, it's late in the PM (really AM).....so it really does "grab" onto some gray matter and take residence.

 HazzeSwede wrote:
Kinks,very very seldom,goes into one ear and out the other.
 
 
It's too damn easy.....so I won't.

But...Ray?  What if I do want to live out my life in a rock 'n' roll fantasy?
 conglif wrote:
Always thought this sounded like it belonged at the end of the Ziggy Stardust album.

 
You're right, it would have fit in nicely.  Another fine example of the wide range of Davies' styles (and influence).

 lmic wrote:
Could be my theme-song now that I've discovered RP! {#Propeller}

There's a guy in my block, he lives for rock
 
This could be the theme song for most of us who listen to RP
 CoffeeJoe wrote:
Is this really the first comment for this song?!?!?
 
IT WAS, congrats! you wasted a good chance to leave a cool first post!!
:P weird song ... a bit to .. nevermind ...
Always thought this sounded like it belonged at the end of the Ziggy Stardust album.

Great album!

I've  uploaded "Permanent Waves", "Misfits", "Stormy Sky", "Life on the Road", "In a Foreign Land", "Life Goes On" ... you can guess what happened.


Kinks,very very seldom,goes into one ear and out the other.
 
Saw the Kinks at the LA Ampitheatre at the time of this album release. Fantastic live performance. Teased teh crowd with the starting guitar hook to you really got me all night. And then blew the door off.
Could be my theme-song now that I've discovered RP! {#Propeller}

There's a guy in my block, he lives for rock

 ajlept wrote:
My upload. Sorry I wasn't online to hear it's inaugural spin. Couldn't believe I was the first to upload it. Thanks Bill for the opportunity!

 
Nice add, ajlept! Awesome band that I think has been overlooked with the Beatles, Stones, Pink Floyd and Who taking all of the popular British spotlight. Kinks are very talented.

My upload. Sorry I wasn't online to hear it's inaugural spin. Couldn't believe I was the first to upload it. Thanks Bill for the opportunity!

Awesome stuff.  Saw Ray this summer doing an acoustic set.  It was great.  If you haven't purchased his solo albums you should.  He is a bit of brilliant. 

This is a great song...
Is this really the first comment for this song?!?!?