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threemonkeysI don't know what you lot think, but I'm not a big fan of the celebrity remake album. You know, when a well known but faded singer/songwriter collaborates with bunch of other well known musicians to do covers of the first songwriters works. They always seem like a desperate attempt to cash in on reflected glory and remembered greatness. Musically, they usually aren't up to much either. A cover version of a hit by a well known musician is still just a cover version. It is rare that any cover will recapture the greatness of the original when that original is a cherished memory.
But now I find out that Ray Davies of Kinks fame has put such an album together called See My Friends. This isn't the first time either - in '09 he put out a Choral album. I couldn't even face the prospect of that previous one, but this one I bit the bullet and acquired it. For the most part, it is as expected - underwhelming pointless covers. There are two or three high spots for me - the peculiar choice of Paloma Faith to cover Lola - it almost works. Dead End Street with Amy MacDonald is also worth a mention. But the highlight is the late great Alex Chilton doing 'Til the End of the Day. Worth it just to hear Chilton singing a song that he could have written himself and in fact first recorded by him on the final Big Star album Third/Sister Lovers.
But the reason I'm writing this isn't to promote the album, but instead to point you at the BBC documentary which is done in association with the making of this album. It is called Ray Davies - Imaginary Man. It does have some pretentious OTT filmmaker tricks in it, but they don't detract from the fundamental story of Davies and his career. It shows a man ground down by the music industry and life generally. But it also shows that through all the hard times and the allure of the great times he has retained his integrity and kept connected to his roots. It isn't a happy tale, yet it is populated with great music that just might bring you some happiness in memory. If you admire the music then I recommend that you watch this documentary.
But now I find out that Ray Davies of Kinks fame has put such an album together called See My Friends. This isn't the first time either - in '09 he put out a Choral album. I couldn't even face the prospect of that previous one, but this one I bit the bullet and acquired it. For the most part, it is as expected - underwhelming pointless covers. There are two or three high spots for me - the peculiar choice of Paloma Faith to cover Lola - it almost works. Dead End Street with Amy MacDonald is also worth a mention. But the highlight is the late great Alex Chilton doing 'Til the End of the Day. Worth it just to hear Chilton singing a song that he could have written himself and in fact first recorded by him on the final Big Star album Third/Sister Lovers.
But the reason I'm writing this isn't to promote the album, but instead to point you at the BBC documentary which is done in association with the making of this album. It is called Ray Davies - Imaginary Man. It does have some pretentious OTT filmmaker tricks in it, but they don't detract from the fundamental story of Davies and his career. It shows a man ground down by the music industry and life generally. But it also shows that through all the hard times and the allure of the great times he has retained his integrity and kept connected to his roots. It isn't a happy tale, yet it is populated with great music that just might bring you some happiness in memory. If you admire the music then I recommend that you watch this documentary.