Television in any month produces few memorable programmes. Christmas schedules succumb to the populist,and therefore it was a real delight to see the programme "Imaginary Man" charting the life and musical career of Ray Davies.
Davies was in many ways the English songwriter of the 60s. While Lennon/McCartney and Jagger/Richards developed world reputations, Ray Davies belonged to London. The early Kinks hits were the first 45s I bought. As I listened to him explaining how he wrote "You really got me" I remembered vividly how I took my pocket money to Hurleys in Balham High Road, listened to the disc in a booth and handed over my 6 shillings and 4 pence.
The Kinks singles on Pye have ,when compared to many sixties songs, stood the test of time, many such as Dead End Street and Waterloo Sunset seem timeless. Others were the backdrop to my teenage years. Davies has never strayed far from his North London roots and it is as a London songwriter that he should be cherished.
A fantastic songwriter and an excellent programme.
Key Quotes
"Anyone who believes that exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist."
(Kenneth Boulding)
"Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. "
(Raymond Chandler)
"Live simply so that others can simply live." (unknown)
"I cannot live without books" (Thomas Jefferson)
"Sport is war without the shooting" (George Orwell)
"New York is a great city to live in if you can afford to get out of it" (William Rossa Cole)
The secret of a happy ending is knowing when to roll the credits (Patterson Hood)
(Kenneth Boulding)
"Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. "
(Raymond Chandler)
"Live simply so that others can simply live." (unknown)
"I cannot live without books" (Thomas Jefferson)
"Sport is war without the shooting" (George Orwell)
"New York is a great city to live in if you can afford to get out of it" (William Rossa Cole)
The secret of a happy ending is knowing when to roll the credits (Patterson Hood)
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