The Kinks - The Mono Collection

*The Kinks 2LP hits package was digitally sourced

The Kinks - The Mono Collection deluxe vinyl box of classic mono recordings, 10 discs from 1964-1969 all on 180-gram heavyweight vinyl. The Mono Collection packages the first eight albums in glorious mono, including Live At Kelvin Hall.

The set also includes the bonus double LP compilation, The Kinks (aka The Black Album) PLUS a lavish hardcover 48-page book including never-before-seen photos and new interviews with Ray Davies, Dave Davies and Mick Avory.

Brash, loud, quirky and reflective — those are just some of the adjectives applied to The Kinks. Hailed as one of the great British singles bands of the 1960s, the superlative run of albums they released during those years chart a fascinating career trajectory — from young, white London boys emulating black Chicago R&B on their debut through to ambitious thematic works such as "The Village Green Preservation Society" and "Arthur" that anticipated Ray Davies' ambitions in film and theatre.

Throughout the 1970s and beyond, these classic recordings were mainly available in stereo — sometimes rechanneled stereo that blunted their dynamism. This state of affairs overlooked a key thing — the albums were originally conceived with Mono in mind. Unlike America, until the late 1960s, stereo was considered something of a novelty in Britain. For the leading players in the British beat boom, all efforts were directed at perfecting recordings made to be heard on radiograms, Dansettes and tinny transistor speakers. "I wanted the tracks to sound how we would play them live," Ray says of the Kinks' early recordings. "I wrote lots of songs for a particular sound and production."

Features:
• Deluxe limited edition 10LP box set
• 180-gram vinyl
• Mono
• 48-page hardcover book
• Never-before-seen photos
• New interviews