50th Anniversary Edition of The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society Announced

On October 26, BMG will be releasing a definitive version of the album many consider to be The Kinks’ singular masterpiece, The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society, which celebrates its 50th anniversary on November 20th.

The new version of the album, which will be made available in a variety of formats, features a gorgeous, previously unreleased track entitled “Time Song” that was mixed earlier this year by Ray Davies himself. Though it was never included on an official release, The Kinks did perform the song during their January 1973 concert at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in celebration of Great Britain’s acceptance into the Common Market.

“When we played a concert at Drury Lane in ’73 to “celebrate” us about to join what was called The Common Market, I decided to use the song as a warning that time was running out for the old British Empire,” Davies explains in the press release announcing the Village Green reissue. “This song was recorded a few weeks later but never made the final cut on the Preservation Act I album. Oddly enough, the song seems quite poignant and appropriate to release at this time in British history, and like Europe itself the track is a rough mix which still has to be finessed.”

In addition to “Time Song”, the super deluxe edition of The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society is presented in the form of a 5-CD box containing both the mono and stereo versions of the LP along with three bonus discs loaded with rare b-sides, alternate mixes, backing tracks, demos, home recordings and even the previously unreleased soundtrack to the Village Green at the BBC television special in addition to a heavyweight vinyl copy of the album and literal cornucopia of memorabilia. Complete details of all versions of the upcoming 50th anniversary edition can be found below.

“I think The Village Green Preservation Society is about the ending of a time personally for me in my life,” Davies said in a prepared statement. “In my imaginary village. It’s the end of our innocence, our youth. Some people are quite old but in the Village Green, you’re never allowed to grow up. I feel the project itself as part of a life cycle.”

THE KINKS ARE THE VILLAGE GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY 50TH ANNIVERSARY RELEASES:

SUPER DELUXE BOX SET (In special packaging with debossed box cover, foil & metallic text and linen cloth finish. Bespoke accessories holder. 174 audio tracks total)

LPs (180 gram heavyweight vinyl):

– Gatefold 2LP featuring original album new stereo remaster and new mono remaster. Original artwork faithfully reproduced in high resolution
– Continental (Swedish) original 12 track version of the LP

CD1: 2018 Stereo Remaster, from the original HD tape transfers + bonus tracks of singles, B sides and original album related tracks

CD2: 2018 Mono Remaster, from the original HD tape transfers + bonus tracks of singles, B sides and original album related tracks

CD3: Village Green Sessions – Including alternate versions, mixes and backing tracks, many previously unreleased

CD4: Village Green At The BBC – TV performance track audio and band interviews, many previously unreleased

CD5: Preservation, Sessions, Live & Demos – including mid 70s recordings, previously unreleased home demos, Ray Davies live in Denmark 2010 and unreleased track ‘Time Song’.

CD booklet includes notes by Ray Davies on the home demos and comprehensive track source and mastering notes from world renowned mastering engineer Andrew Sandoval

7″ singles (reproduced original picture sleeves):

–       Days / She’s Got Everything (1968)

–       Starstruck / Picture Book (1968)

–       The Village Green Preservation Society / Do You Remember Walter? (1969)

Book:
Deluxe, beautifully produced, 52-page hardback photo book with extensive sleeve notes and new band interviews, essays by Pete Townshend and other writers, plus rare and unseen Kinks Village Green related photos and imageryMemorabilia:
Reproduced original memorabilia: Poster of Village Green LP inner gatefold; Empire Liverpool 1968 tour poster; glossy 10″ x 8″ photos from Hampstead Heath 1968 photoshoot; colour press photo with reproduced band signatures; Bournemouth 1968 gig ticket; PYE Records promo card; ‘Days’ sheet music

1LP: ART OF THE ALBUM
2018 Stereo Remaster of original album, from original tape high definition transfers.180 gram heavyweight vinyl. Original gatefold artwork replicated. Insert with notes and band photos

1CD: ART OF THE ALBUM
2018 Stereo Remaster of original album, from original tape high definition transfers. Booklet with notes, band quotes and Village Green era photos Insert with notes, band quotes and Village Green era photos.

2CD DELUXE: ART OF THE ALBUM
Original album 2018 stereo and mono remasters plus bonus tracks of singles, B sides, alternate versions, mixes and other original album related tracks. Contains previously unreleased track versions and unreleased new single ‘Time Song’. Hardback book packaging with linen finish, 20-page booklet with extensive notes, band quotes and rare Village Green era imagery. 49 tracks total

DIGITAL DELUXE
Original album 2018 stereo remaster plus key bonus tracks from the box set, includingsingles, B sides, alternate and unreleased versions, mixes and other original album related tracks. Contains previously unreleased new single ‘Time Song’. 60 tracks total

DIGITAL
Original 15 track stereo album as: Standard Digital, MFIT & HD. Remastered from HD original tape transfers.