The Kinks - Sleepwalker

The Kinks — Sleepwalker (2024 Remaster)

180-gram reissue of the classic 1977 album

Remastered from the original 1/4-inch production master tapes

Sleepwalker is the 16th studio album by The Kinks and the first to be released under a new deal with the Arista label after their departure from RCA. Recording for the album began during the long, hot summer of 1976 at the band's Konk Studio in London. Released in February the following year, the album marked a significant shift for the band, as it moved away from the theatrical and conceptual work that had characterized their early output in the early 1970s.

Sleepwalker signalled a return to a more conventional, mainstream rock 'n' roll sound, with a contemporary polished production and a focus on accessible melodic rock. The new approach was well-received and marked a commercial resurgence for the band, especially in the United States, where the album reached No. 21 on The Billboard 200 chart. Critics praised the straightforward rock sound and Ray Davies's signature songwriting, wit and observational style. The singles and key tracks, "Sleepwalker," "Juke Box Music" and "Life On The Road," reflect and explore themes of escapism, identity, the music industry and life on tour.