The Village Green Preservation Society

Ray Davies wrote what many consider to be the finest Kinks album, and it turned out to be the last to feature all the original members of the band. “Last of the Steam Powered Trains” (with its bluesy harmonica), “Big Sky” (with its muscular drumming from Mick Avory), and “Wicked Annabella” (featuring Dave Davies on lead vocals) are the album's toughest-sounding songs, while the title track, “Sitting by the Riverside,” “All of My Friends Were There," and most others yield a lighthearted sound that largely adheres to the concept of an imaginary England several decades or even centuries ago when people lived in what's described as a simpler time. This nostalgic longing brings about a sweetness that’s further enhanced by the outsiders whom Davies writes of with great affection. This edition features the entire album in its original mono with several tracks offered in stereo mixes, along with “Days” and “Mr. Songbird,” which appeared on an early 12-track European pressing of the album.