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Rating: Ray Davies is one of the greatest minstrels that rock'n'roll can boast of, dedicated to a rock-blues writing in his early career that then transformed into an excellent storyteller through his concept albums, where the classic bass-drums-guitar formula is gradually enriched by a second guitar (this time acoustic), a brass section, and occasionally the use of the piano. Analyzing the figure of the musician, we are faced with an apparent contradiction: on one hand, the strong conservatism that characterizes the core of his works, and on the other hand, the progressivism that these same works bring with them, whether it's one of the first (if not the very first) hard rock riffs in history with the famous "You Really Got Me" or the innovation brought with the creation of the first concept album alongside the triumphant "Tommy" by the Who.
The Kinks' concepts are strongly anchored in reality, often centered on the old society and bygone times. With the brilliance that characterized the previous "Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society" and "Arthur," the leader of the English band conceived in 1970 an album centered on the sad reality of show business, which our band (already on the scene for seven years) had already had the chance to confront.
The album focuses on the figure of a boy who leaves home to seek fortune in the world of music: he soon discovers that the road is difficult and full of pitfalls, the record companies hire him only to throw him into the hands of greedy managers while not believing in his potential, just to test the chances of his music's success, only to declare themselves friends and discoverers of talents at the time of success. There is a great turnover of money behind his music, that profits even those who do not know his melodies. In fact, the one who enjoys his success least is the musician himself. "Powerman" is the emblematic figure of this world, the record executive, a man without scruples or principles willing to do anything to achieve the god of money. But success, just like the development of civilization, doesn't coincide with happiness; man doesn't realize he isn't different from animals living in a cage, closed in his short-sightedness and progress, and the protagonist frees himself from everything that is suffocating him to embrace his freedom once more.
Driven by the single "Lola" (which tells of an encounter with a transvestite, and is replayed in an alternate instrumental version in the subsequent "Percy"), the work alternates sweet ballads ("Get Back In Line", "Denmark Street", "A Long Way From Home") with almost hard rock episodes like "Top Of The Pops", "Rats", and "Powerman", and offers a song that seems taken from the "Arthur" sessions, "This Time Tomorrow" which seems to echo "Young And Innocent Days". Among the episodes not mentioned, "The Contenders" opens the dances with a soft arpeggio before turning into a rapid rock'n'roll, "Strangers" this time written by Dave Davies, the cabaret-like "The Moneygoround", the amusing "Apeman", and the concluding "Got To Be Free", which reprises the acoustic motif of the album's beginning, thus giving it a cyclical sense of completeness.
Slightly inferior to its predecessor "Arthur," "Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround Part One" proves to be another gem in the Kinks' discography, which becomes even more precious if listened to while taking a look at the lyrics, and along with the subsequent "Muswell Hillbillies," it will be the highest point reached by the London band in the 70's.
Enjoy listening.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Strangers (03:23)
Where are you going I don't mind
I've killed my world and I've killed my time
So where do I go what do I see
I see many people coming after me
So where are you going to I don't mind
If I live too long I'm afraid I'll die
So I will follow you wherever you go
If your offered hand is still open to me
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one
So you've been where I've just come
From the land that brings losers on
So we will share this road we walk
And mind our mouths and beware our talk
'Till peace we find tell you what I'll do
All the things I own I will share with you
If I feel tomorrow like I feel today
We'll take what we want and give the rest away
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one
Holy man and holy priest
This love of life makes me weak at my knees
And when we get there make your play
'Cos soon I feel you're gonna carry us away
In a promised lie you made us believe
For many men there is so much grief
And my mind is proud but it aches with rage
And if I live too long I'm afraid I'll die
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one
05 Lola (04:02)
I met her in a club down in old Soho where you
Drink champagne and it tastes just like cherry-Cola C-O-L-A cola
She walked up to me and she asked me to dance
I asked her her name and in a dark brown voice she said
Lola L-O-L-A Lola
Lo lo lo lo Lo - la
Well I'm not the world's most physical guy
But when she sqeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine
Oh my Lola la-la-la-la Lola
Well I'm not dumb but I can't understand
Why she walked like a woman but talked like a man
Oh my Lola la-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola
Well, we drank champagne and danced all night
Under electric candle light
She picked me up and sat me on her knee
And said "Dear boy won't you come home with me?"
Well, I'm not the world's most passionate guy,
But when I looked in her eyes, well I almost fell for my
Lola Lo lo lo lo Lo - la Lo lo lo lo Lo - la
Lola Lo lo lo lo Lo - la Lo lo lo lo Lo - la
I pushed her away
I walked to the door
I fell to the floor
I got down on my knees
Then I looked at her and she at me
Well that's the way that I want it to stay
And I always want it to be that way for my Lola
La-la-la-la Lola
Girls will be boys and boys will be girls
It's a mixed up muddled up shook up world except for Lola
La-la-la-la Lola
Well I left home just a week before
And I'd never ever kissed a woman before
But Lola smiled and took me by the hand
And said "Dear boy, I'm gonna make you a man"
Well I'm not the world's most masculine man
But I know what I am in the bed, I'm a man
And so is Lola
La-la-la-la
Lola la-la-la-la Lola
Lola la-la-la-la
Lola la-la-la-la Lola
06 Top of the Pops (03:38)
I've just come in at Number 25
I'm oh so happy, so glad to be alive
And everybody says it's going to get to the top
Life is so easy when your record's hot.
Go tell my mamma and my sister too
To press my trousers and polish my shoes
I might even end up a rock-and-roll god
It might turn into a steady job.
And my agent said to me:
"Son, I always told you so".
Now my record's number 11 on the BBC
But number seven on the N.M.E.
Not the Melody Maker want to interview me
And ask my view on politics and theories on religion.
Now my record's up to number 3
And a woman recognized me and started to scream
This all seems like a crazy dream
I've been invited to a dinner with a prominent queen
And now I've got friends that I never knew I had before.
It's strange how people want you when you record's high
'Cos when it drops down they just pass you by
Now my agent just called me and said it me:
"Son your record's just got to Number One".
07 The Moneygoround (01:45)
Robert owes half to Grenville
Who in turn gave half to Larry
Who adored my instrumentals
And so he gave half to a foreign publisher
She took half the money that was earned in some far distant land
Gave back half to Larry and I end up with half of goodness knows what
Oh can somebody explain why things go on this way
I thought they were my friends I can't believe it's me, I can't believe that I'm so green
Eyes down round and round let's all sit and watch the moneygoround
Everyone take a little bit here and a little bit there
Do they all deserve money from a song that they've never heard
They don't know the tune and they don't know the words
But they don't give a damn
There's no end to it I'm in a pit and I'm stuck in it
The money goes round and around and around
And it comes out here when they've all taken their share
I went to see a solicitor and my story was heard and the writs were served
On the verge of a nervous breakdown I decided to fight right to the end
But if I ever get my money I'll be too old and grey to spend it
Oh, but life goes on and on and no one ever wins
And time goes quickly by just like the moneygoround
I only hope that I'll survive
10 Rats (02:41)
I was lost just wandering round downtown
Many people pushing me around
Hate spreads just like infection
Those rats jumping on and off my back
Fat black rats holding me down
I see rats in every direction
No time to catch your breath
Crazy people lost their heads
Masses trampling on my feet, inconsiderate in their heat
Those rats breeding angriness and spite
Never have done anything right for people like you and me
Walk over all the people you can't see
If they die there's more bread for me
Like snakes crawling through the grass
No time to catch your breath
Crazy people lost their heads
Masses trampling on my feet, inconsiderate in their heat
Those rats breeding angriness and spite
Never have done anything right for people like you and me
See that face man look at me, he's much too selfish to see
Once he was warm and was kind
Now all he has got is a pinstripe mind
See that face man look at me, he's much too selfish to see
Once he was warm and was kind
Now all he has got is a pinstripe mind
11 Apeman (03:53)
I think I'm sophisticated
'cos I'm living my life a good homo sapiens.
But all around me ev'rybody's multiplying
And they're walking round like flies man:
So I'm no better than the animals
Sitting in the cages in the zoo man
'cos compared to the flowers and the birds
And the trees
I am an APEMAN.
I think I'm so educated and I'm so civilised
'cos strict vegetarian. And with the over population
And inflation and starvation crazy politicans.
I don't feel safe in this world
No more don't want to die in a nuclear war.
I want to sail away to a distant shore
And make like an APEMAN.
I'm an APEMAN
I'm an APE
APE MAN
Oh
I'm an APE MAN.
I'm a king-kong man
I'm a voodoo man
Oh
I'm a APE MAN.
'cos compared to the sun that sits in the sky
Compared to the clouds as they roll by
Compared to the bugs and the spiders and flies
I am an APE MAN. La
la
la
la...
In man's evolution he has created
The cities and the motor traffic rumble
But give me half a chance and I'd be taking off my
Clothes and living in the jungle.
Cos the only time that I feel at ease
Swinging up and down in a coconut tree.
Oh
what alife of luxury to be like an APE MAN.
I'm an APE MAN
I'm an APE
APE MAN
Oh
I'm an APE MAN.
I'm a king-kong man
I'm a voodoo man
Oh
I'm a Ape MAN.
I look out of the window
but I can't see the sky
'cos air polution is a fogging up my eyes
I want to get out of this city alive
And make like an APE MAN.
Come and love me
be my APE MAN girl
And we'll be so happy in my APE MAN world.
I'm an APE MAN
I'm an APE
APE MAN
Oh
I'm an APE MAN.
I'm a king-kong man
I'm a voodoo man
Oh
I'm a APE MAN.
I'll be your Tarzan
you'll be my Jane
I'll keep you warm and you'll keep me sane
We'll sit in the trees and eat bananas
All day just like an APE MAN.
12 Powerman (04:18)
I know a man, he's a powerful man
He's got the people in his power
In the palm of his hand.
He started at the bottom and he worked his way up
Now he's never going to stop
Until he reaches the top.
It's the same old story, it's the same old dream,
It's power man, power man, and all that it can bring.
If you want your money, you better stand in the line
'Cos you'll only end up picking up nickels and dimes.
You call him names and he sits and grins
'Cos everybody else is just a sucker to him.
And he's got my money, but I've got my faith
And powerman, powerman, I'll never be your slave.
It's the same old story, it's the same old game
It's power man, power man, driving me insane
People tried to conquer the world Napoleon and Genghis Khan
Hitler tried and Mussolini too
Powerman don't need to fight, powerman don't need no guns
Powerman got money on his side
Well I'm not rich and I'm not free
But I've got my girl and she got me
He's got my money and my publishing rights
But I've got my girl and I'm alright
And she got me going, and she keeps me sane
But powerman, powerman, got money on the brain
It's the same old story it's the same old game
Powerman, powerman driving me insane
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