New Ray Davies LP on the way

Ray Davies. Photo: Steve Gullick

The Kinks songwriter prepares to release ‘Americana’, a 15-track collection of originals inspired by his memoir of the same name

Following his recent knighthood, The Kinks frontman and songwriter Sir Ray Davies has announced the forthcoming release of Americana, his first new album in over nine years. Coming out on 21 April via Legacy Recordings – a division of Sony Music Entertainment – the 15-track collection of originals follows Davies’ 2013 memoir of the same name, using the book as both source material and creative catalyst.

Americana was written, conceived and arranged by Davies, and co-produced with Guy Massey and John Jackson. Enlisting The Jayhawks as backing band, the album was recorded in London at Konk, the studio founded by The Kinks in 1973. The record is an autobiographical work, chronicling the inextricable role America has played in Davies’ life. From his earliest days touring the US with the Kinks and subsequent blacklisting by the American Musicians Union, to his years playing stadiums and eventually staying in New York and New Orleans for a time, America has served as both muse and tempest to Davies.

The songs on Americana dig into the rich American musical tapestry, through the lens of Davies’ own wholly unique American experience. The music swerves from the open-road manifesto of The Great Highway, to a delicate duet with The Jayhawks’ Karen Grotberg on Message From The Road, to Poetry, which offers a vital reminder of Davies’ ability to spin small detail into penetrating truth.

Americana tracklisting:

1. Americana
2. The Deal
3. Poetry
4. Message From The Road
5. A Place In Your Heart
6. The Mystery Room
7. Silent Movie
8. Rock ‘N’ Roll Cowboys
9. Change For Change
10. The Man Upstairs
11. I’ve Heard That Beat Before
12. A Long Drive Home To Tarzana
13. The Great Highway
14. The Invaders
15. Wings Of Fantasy

The album also features a number of short spoken-word passages from Davies’ memoir, with a second volume planned for released later in 2017. Highlight Poetry is streaming now via NPR Music and Americana will be available digitally, on CD and vinyl. For pre-order, visit raydavies.lnk.to/Americana

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