More of The Kinks
- A very strong copy of this ’60s classic, one of the few to every make it to the site – they’re hard to find!
- Both sides earned Double Plus (A++) grades, putting this pressing far ahead of the pack
- It’s taken us ages to find this album with anything approaching smooth, full-bodied, musical sound
- 5 big stars on Allmusic: “The Kink Kontroversy was a considerable leap forward in terms of quality, but it pales next to Face to Face, one of the finest collections of pop songs released during the ’60s.
Side two has four or five bubbles that make 4 or 5 light thumps under the music.
We’ve played plenty of copies of Face To Face over the years and most of them have left us cold. Let’s face it — The Kinks weren’t the most well-recorded band, so only the very best pressings of their albums can deliver sound that is both correct and audiophile-friendly. Not every album needs to be a hi-fi spectacular and that’s not what Kinks albums are about, but as audiophiles we can’t help but hope for copies that will bring the music to life without too many sonic limitations.
Most pressings are too thin, too grainy, and too gritty on the vocals. We’re willing to make some sonic sacrifices for music this good, but we can’t abide sound that leaves us wondering if the record on our table was previously played by someone with a bad needle. Of course, after hearing that same sound on so many copies, we recognized that the grit and grain were cut right on to the records.
Face To Face will never be a demo disc, but at least with our Hot Stampers is can finally sound mostly right. If you’re a Kinks fan, I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s been worth the wait.
Side One
Party Line
Rosy Won’t You Please Come Home
Dandy
Too Much On My Mind
Session Man
Rainy Day In June
House In The Country
Side Two
Holiday In Waikiki
Most Exclusive Residence For Sale
Fancy
Little Miss Queen Of Darkness
You’re Looking Fine
Sunny Afternoon
I’ll Remember
AMG Rave Review
The Kink Kontroversy was a considerable leap forward in terms of quality, but it pales next to Face to Face, one of the finest collections of pop songs released during the ’60s. Conceived as a loose concept album, Face to Face sees Ray Davies’ fascination with English class and social structures flourish, as he creates a number of vivid character portraits. Davies’ growth as a lyricist coincided with the Kinks’ musical growth. Face to Face is filled with wonderful moments, whether it’s the mocking Hawaiian guitars of the rocker “Holiday in Waikiki,” the droning Eastern touches of “Fancy,” the music hall shuffle of “Dandy,” or the lazily rolling “Sunny Afternoon.” And that only scratches the surface of the riches of Face to Face, which offers other classics like “Rosy Won’t You Please Come Home,” “Party Line,” “Too Much on My Mind,” “Rainy Day in June,” and “Most Exclusive Residence for Sale,” making the record one of the most distinctive and accomplished albums of its time.