Released 19 May 1978 Length 40:29 Artist The Kinks Producer Ray Davies Genre Rock music | Studio Konk Studios, London Misfits
(1978) Low Budget
(1979) Release date 17 May 1978 Label Arista Records | |
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Recorded July 1977 - January 1978 Similar The Kinks albums, Rock music albums | ||
Misfits is the sixteenth studio album by the English rock group The Kinks, released in 1978. Following the minor success of Sleepwalker in the United States, Misfits featured a more rock-oriented style than many other Kinks records of the 1970s. Despite internal conflicts within the band, leading to both bassist Andy Pyle and pianist John Gosling quitting the band, the album made the Top 40 in America. The album also contained the minor hit single "A Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy", as well as less successful releases "Live Life" and "Black Messiah".
Contents
Misfits
Background
Misfits was the second album the band recorded for Arista Records, the record company the band switched to from RCA Records in 1976. Although the band had spent a good portion of the 1970s releasing concept albums, their previous album, Sleepwalker, signaled a shift toward more rock based material. In addition, the album began the band's commercial comeback in the US, the album reaching #21 and its title track peaking at #48. However, after the recording of Sleepwalker, longtime bassist John Dalton quit the band, being replaced by Andy Pyle. The personnel shifts, however, would continue into the recording of Misfits, where Pyle and the band's pianist, John Gosling, both left the band.
Recording
Many of the album's songs, such as "Hay Fever", "In a Foreign Land", and "Black Messiah", were leftovers from the band's previous 1977 album, Sleepwalker. "In a Foreign Land", specifically, was in the planned running order until late in recording, being replaced with the late addition "Mr. Big Man".
The album was recorded at Konk Studios in London following the band's tumultuous 1977 tour. Due to conflicts between Ray Davies and Pyle, the latter began contemplating leaving the band. Gosling, also wanting to leave the band since Dalton's resignation, began to work with Pyle over plans to form another band. However, when Ray Davies, caught wind of the project he began to intervene. Gosling remembered, "We [me and Pyle] rehearsed and held auditions at the Bridge House pub in Canning Town. It was exhilarating, like starting over. But Ray somehow found out and started giving me a hard time during my last overdub sessions for Misfits." Eventually, both members departed. In addition, founding drummer Mick Avory also considering leaving, became a less active participant, leaving Dave Davies's friend Nick Trevisick to drum on four songs and session drummer Clem Cattini to drum on "Live Life". However, Avory stayed with the band until 1984. Zaine Griff and Ron Lawrence took over on bass for some songs.
Release and reception
Although it was unable to chart in Britain, Misfits reached #40 in America. The debut single from the album, "A Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy", was also a minor hit in the US, reaching #30. Follow-up singles "Live Life" and "Black Messiah" (the latter a British-only release), however, failed to make an impact.
Track listing
All tracks written by Ray Davies, except as noted.
On the UK version of the LP, a longer version of "Live Life" (4:47) switches places with "Black Messiah". Remastered CD releases have the UK LP track order and include a shorter "Live Life" as a bonus track (different than the US version). Arista released a ten track CD (Arista 260 173) that reproduces the original, non-UK LP version.
Musicians and production
The Kinks
Other musicians
Production
Songs
1Misfits4:44
2Hay Fever3:23
3Live Life3:13