The Thoughts - All Night Stand (1966)

This band began in 1966 as the backing group behind the London artist known as Tiffany. While together, Tiffany and the Thoughts released two singles for Paralphone Records, “I Know” and “Find Out What’s Happening.” In late ’66, the band broke off on their own, signing with the independent label Planet Records. They kept their name and released their first single, heard below in September 1966. Although the band was reviewed favorably by critics, their record sales were only moderate. When the band broke up soon after, it was band member Peter Beckett who would go on to the most success. After being turned down a spot in Badfinger, Beckett would find success in a later band, Player, which had the soft rock hit song “Baby Come Back” in 1977.

This song was written by Ray Davies of The Kinks, who had been asked to write a song based on All Night Stand, which was a book by Thom Keyes. The song was written by Davies when a movie was in the works to be created, based on Keyes book, about an up and coming British beat band, loosely fashioned after The Beatles. There’s a good demo of Ray Davies performing this song if you search YouTube for it. As far as this band, they recorded two versions of the song. The first version, released in the UK, was a bit slower in tempo in comparison to their second version, a faster tempo released in the US. The version heard below is the upbeat US release.



The Thoughts - All Night Stand (1966)

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Lyrics:

All night stand
Been around, seen a thousand places
All night stand
Seen a good, half a million faces

Because I live this life
And I made it for myself
If you scandalize my name
Then you scandalize yourself

Because I'm not to blame
For the things that I've been doing
You all say that I'm bad
And I'll only end in ruin

All night stand
With a different girl each night
All night stand
With two hundred miles to ride

But, I won't give it up
As long as I can make the bread
When I do, I shall stop
Close my eyes and go to bed

And forget all the schnides
Of all people on my back
Once I'm free from these chains
I ain't never looking back

All night stand
Been around, seen a thousand faces, yeah
All night stand
Seen a good, half a million places, yeah

All night stand
I can't get these people off my back
All night stand
I said, “Ten percent for this and that”

All night stand
Trippin’ club and sweatin’ hard
All night stand
Where we’re goin’ and what we got
All night stand
All night stand
All night stand
All night stand
All night stand
All night stand
All night stand
All night stand

The Kinks - Father Christmas (1977)

In 1965, The Kinks were touring Australia and New Zealand with Manfred Mann and The Honeycombs. At one particular show at The Capitol Theater in Cardiff, Wales on May 19th, Dave Davies was apparently upset about the way Mick Avory was drumming to “You Really Got Me.” In his anger, Davies decided to kick over Avory’s drum set in front of the audience. Now equally angry, Avory picked up his set’s high hat and clubbed Davies over the head, knocking him completely unconscious. Thinking he had just killed his bandmate, Avory fled the scene. Meanwhile, Davies was taken to the nearby hospital, Cardiff Royal Infirmary, and received sixteen stitches to his head. Later on, in an effort to avoid serious punishment, Avory told the local police that the entire event was part of a new act during their concerts in which the members had pre-planned to throw their instruments at one another. Needless to say, events like this led to The Kinks being banned from touring in the United States for four years, late 1965-1969, greatly reducing their exposure during the British Invasion.

As they consistently put out albums until the early ‘90s, it’s no wonder that The Kinks have a very large library of music. This song, coming out in time for the holidays, was first released as a single featuring the B-Side “Prince of the Punks.” It was written and produced by Ray Davies and released on the Arista label on November 25th, 1977.



The Kinks - Father Christmas (1977)

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Lyrics:

When I was small, I believed in Santa Claus
Though I knew it was my dad
And I would hang up my stocking at Christmas
Open my presents and I'd be glad

But the last time I played Father Christmas
I stood outside a department store
A gang of kids came over and mugged me
And knocked my reindeer to the floor

They said,
“Father Christmas, give us some money
Don't mess around with those silly toys
Well beat you up if you don't hand it over
We want your bread, so don't make us annoyed
Give all the toys to the little rich boys”

“Don't give my brother a Steve Austin outfit
Don't give my sister a cuddly toy
We don't want a jigsaw or Monopoly money
We only want the real McCoy”

“Father Christmas, give us some money
Well beat you up if you make us annoyed
Father Christmas, give us some money
Don't mess around with those silly toys”

“But give my daddy a job ‘cause he needs one
He’s got lots of mouths to feed
But if you’ve got one, I'll have a machine gun
So I can scare all the kids down the street”

“Father Christmas, give us some money
We got no time for your silly toys
Well beat you up if you don't hand it over
We want your bread, so don't make us annoyed
Give all the toys to the little rich boys”

Have yourself a merry, merry Christmas
Have yourself a good time
But remember the kids who got nothin’
While you're drinkin’ down your wine

“Father Christmas, give us some money
We got no time for your silly toys
Father Christmas, please hand it over
We’ll beat you up, so don’t make us annoyed”

“Father Christmas, give us some money
Don’t mess around with those silly toys
Well beat you up if you don't hand it over
We want your bread, so don't make us annoyed
Give all the toys to the little rich boys”

The Kinks - Victoria (1969)

Formed in 1962 by brothers still in school, Ray and Dave Davies, this group was initially called the Ray Davies Quartet. Their classmate (and future star), Rod Stewart, was their lead singer for a very brief period of time in early ’62. The group went through more name changes (The Pete Quaife Band, The Bo-Weevils, The Ramrods, and The Ravens) before finally settling on their final name. They went on to release huge hit songs such as “You Really Got Me,” “All Day and All of The Night,” “Lola,” “Waterloo Sunset,” “Supersonic Rocket Ship,” and many, many more.

This song is the opening track on the group’s 1969 concept album, Arthur (or The Decline and Fall of the British Empire). The album told the story of a character named Arthur and his family, who leave London for a new life in Australia. The characters in the album were based on the Davies’ sister, Rose, and her husband, Arthur Anning.



The Kinks - Victoria (1969)

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Lyrics:

Long ago life was clean
Sex was bad; called obscene
And the rich were so mean
Stately homes for the Lords
Croquet lawns, village greens
Victoria was my queen

Victoria, Victoria
Victoria, Victoria

I was born, lucky me
In a land that I love
Though I’m poor, I am free
When I grow I shall fight
For this land I shall die
Let the sun never set

Victoria, Victoria
Victoria, Victoria

Victoria, Victoria
Victoria, Victoria

Land of hope and glory, uh
Land of my Victoria
Land of hope and glory, uh
Land of my Victoria
Victoria
Victoria

Victoria, Victoria
Victoria, Victoria

Canada to India
Australia to Cornwall
Singapore to Hong Kong
From the West to the East
From the rich to the poor
Victoria loved them all

Victoria, Victoria
Victoria, Victoria

Victoria, Victoria
Victoria