The Kinks celebrate 50 years of ‘… Are The Village Green Preservation Society’

The Kinks

The Kinks are to release a 50th anniversary edition of The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society via BMG on 26th October.

The set includes previously unreleased tracks and versions, including ‘Time Song’ – unreleased at the time but played at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in January 1973, celebrating Britain’s entry into the Common Market.

Ray Davies mixed the track earlier this year and it is included on the new box set and deluxe 2CD. The single version will also be available as a limited edition 7” single exclusively with pre-orders of the box set via The Kinks Music Glue official store, and as a digital download single.

The deluxe box set includes extensive sleeve notes, interviews, photography and specially created online & press content “telling the story” of the album’s production, release and cultural impact. Also included are two essays on the album written by Pete Townshend and renowned journalist Kate Mossman.

On 4th October, an exhibition at London’s Proud Central Gallery titled ‘The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society’ will run until November 18th displaying a selection of rare collector’s items including specially commissioned artworks by members of the band and vintage memorabilia, together with a collection of photographs documenting this period in the band’s history.

Kinks Village Green Preservation Society packshot

Format details:

SUPER DELUXE BOX SET
(In special packaging with debossed box cover, foil & metallic text and linen cloth finish. Bespoke accessories holder. 174 audio tracks total)

LPs (180 gram heavyweight vinyl):
– Gatefold 2LP featuring original album new stereo remaster and new mono remaster. Original artwork faithfully reproduced in high resolution
– Continental (Swedish) original 12 track version of the LP

CD1:
2018 Stereo Remaster, from the original HD tape transfers + bonus tracks of singles, B sides and original album related tracks

CD2:
2018 Mono Remaster, from the original HD tape transfers + bonus tracks of singles, B sides and original album related tracks

CD3:
Village Green Sessions – Including alternate versions, mixes and backing tracks, many previously unreleased

CD4:
Village Green At The BBC – TV performance track audio and band interviews, many previously unreleased

CD5:
Preservation, Sessions, Live & Demos – including mid 70s recordings, previously unreleased home demos, Ray Davies live in Denmark 2010 and unreleased track ‘Time Song’.

CD booklet includes notes by Ray Davies on the home demos and comprehensive track source and mastering notes from world renowned mastering engineer Andrew Sandoval

7” singles (reproduced original picture sleeves):
Days / She’s Got Everything (1968)
Starstruck / Picture Book (1968)
The Village Green Preservation Society / Do You Remember Walter? (1969)

Book:
Deluxe, 52-page hardback photo book with extensive sleeve notes and new band interviews, essays by Pete Townshend and other writers, plus rare and unseen Kinks Village Green related photos and imagery

Memorabilia:
Reproduced original memorabilia: Poster of Village Green LP inner gatefold; Empire Liverpool 1968 tour poster; glossy 10” x 8” photos from Hampstead Heath 1968 photoshoot; colour press photo with reproduced band signatures; Bournemouth 1968 gig ticket; PYE Records promo card; ‘Days’ sheet music

1LP: ART OF THE ALBUM
2018 Stereo Remaster of original album, from original tape high definition transfers. 180 gram heavyweight vinyl. Original gatefold artwork replicated. Insert with notes and band photos

1CD: ART OF THE ALBUM
2018 Stereo Remaster of original album, from original tape high definition transfers. Booklet with notes, band quotes and Village Green era photos Insert with notes, band quotes and Village Green era photos.

2CD DELUXE: ART OF THE ALBUM
Original album 2018 stereo and mono remasters plus bonus tracks of singles, B sides, alternate versions, mixes and other original album related tracks. Contains previously unreleased track versions and unreleased new single ‘Time Song’. Hardback book packaging with linen finish, 20-page booklet with extensive notes, band quotes and rare Village Green era imagery. 49 tracks total

DIGITAL DELUXE
Original album 2018 stereo remaster plus key bonus tracks from the box set, including singles, B sides, alternate and unreleased versions, mixes and other original album related tracks. Contains previously unreleased new single ‘Time Song’. 60 tracks total

Cover image © Barrie Wentzell

About Douglas Baptie (208 Articles)
Editor at Words & Guitars. Lives in Carlisle, far away from 'that London'.
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