Arguably the finest and most expansive Kinks collection on the market! The first disc of this double-disc begins with their third single and first No. 1, the insistent 'You Really Got Me', then races through the glory years with the absurdly infectious likes of 'Sunny Afternoon', 'Waterloo Sunset', 'Lola' and 'Apeman'. Dave's two hits are included, too, and the disc ends with 'Come Dancing' and other selections from The Kinks' early-80s comeback. Disc Two includes songs that were hits for others ('David Watts' and 'Stop Your Sobbing'), various B-sides and other rarities, including 'God's Children', from the soundtrack of Percy, a movie about a fellow seeking the original owner of his recently transplanted penis. The Ultimate Collection is an excellent addition to the Kinks's cannon. 44 tracks in all spread over two discs. Sanctuary. 2007

2008-07-26 -- 5/5:: ultimate decade (60s)
i was in junior high school when the british invaded, listening to
this album brought back a lot of memories, i give this 5 stars
if you like the kinks, you will love this cd

2008-05-06 -- 5/5:: No Compiliation Has It All - There Is Always More - But Still Great
This is a must have for any serious Kink collector. There is no need to repeat the other reviews which list in detail all of the great tracks. For those negative reviews, face facts. No greatest hits or compilation has it all, or even covers all time periods. Probably a record company conspiracy to make you buy more music. Any band with a lot of decent output is going to have songs over decades. If your into a band, you simple have two choices. Buy all the albums, or start with an excellent compilation like this, and then start filling in the gaps with either individual albums or songs. If you don't want to shell out, that's why the invented iTunes and now Amazon mp3 downloads.

2008-03-11 -- 4/5:: ?
Why does this set not include Village Green Preservation Society?.......I think some other songs are missing too.......?

2008-02-13 -- 4/5:: I had no idea
I had no idea of how good they were before Ray and boys took themselves real serious. There's a lot of great 60's britpop songs as well as their later hits that most are already familiar with.

2008-01-10 -- 5/5:: I'm a Well Respected Seer About Town-Reviewing the Best Things So Conserva-tively.......
After days and days of thoughts swimming around in my Seer mind (and winding up on these very pages!), I was finally able to retire for a well-earned nights rest. Half-way through the night, all these visions appeared to me - row houses, Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, King Kong, Queen Victoria, Superman, a big fat Mama, and electric candlelight. Just another case of REM sleep. This continued into the early morning when I heard a tapping at my chamber door. I was very relieved to find out that it was not the Raven, but Marshy, my voluptuous Guide.

"Wake up Metamorpho, wake up!", she cooed into my ear. "Oh, go away", I said, "don't you have a photo-shoot or something"? "Oh Morphy", she said very breathy like Marilyn all the while strategically batting her eyes. "Get up! Take me to Barnaby Street. I need to go shopping and, besides, I need a strong, handsome Seer to protect me from the evil world". Well people, I, of course, fell into her manipulative trap. I do have some ego after all. (!). The fact that she didn't mention age really was a plus. But, I couldn't help thinking that, at this point, I needed protection more than she did. I am certain that any guy out there would not miss a chance to throw your beloved Seer into the Thames to have a chance with her. I am not new to irrational attacks. You do all remember that maniac leprechaun last St. Patrick's Day, don't you? And if not you risk me sending you back to Elementary Seer school to repeat my course. So, we set out for a day of shopping. By this point you're wondering what all this is about. I am too. But, I think I know.

It was all leading towards reviewing "The Kinks Ultimate Collection". All the clues are there, but weariness sometimes sabotages me. So, o.k. what we have here is one of the pinnacle bands to come from the British Invasion of the 60's. And believe me, there were many groups at that time going for the gold. The Kinks stand out for a number of reasons. They evolved their music from sheer creative pop sensibility instead of a blues base. After establishing a rock sound that morphed into more melodic popcraft, their topics widened into succinct observations of personalities (i.e; "A Well Respected Man", "Dandy", "Plastic Man" "David Watts", etc. etc.). They cleverly exposed all of them with their all too human foibles.

They also spoke for the common English population and what their dreams were and their challenges (i.e; "Dead End Street", "God's Children", "Living On a Thin Line"). Ray Davies, the principle song crafter, had the chemeleon ability to be an English subject during the Victorian Age ("Victoria"), a rich man facing bankruptcy ("Sunny Afternoon") and an aspiring movie star ("Celluloid Heroes"). Of course, in this fine proffering you will find many more examples of how his mindset moves from character to character and vision to vision. Amazingly delightful.

And what of this collection? We have here a pretty considerable cross-section of their career. If I were an alien just arriving on this planet and I asked " Kinks? What is this Kinks. Explain me to" (interpreted through an electronic device that still needs bugs worked out), this would be a fine point to begin teaching the extra-terrestial. That said, of course a rabid fan would scoff at the notion. Again, the Kinks catalogue is so vast that there is bound to be some that should be here. But, you only have the time limit of 2 discs, so be kind people. It is supreme and hits on many fine and high points.

You will be thrilled at the diversity of pop sounds! You will marvel at the dare devil attempts at wit! You will be awed by the pop hooks! You will walk the tightrope of 60's (70's and 80's) rock music while people with granny glasses, polyester disco suits, and Madonna records watch you from below. Yes. You are at a circus. You mean you didn't know? ;)

I would be remiss if I didn't mention one of my favorite tunes. It is "I'm Not Like Everybody Else". And, I'm not. If I was, you would have tuned this review out long ago. Face it.

In closing, well, this is a great collection-highly recommended if you liked them from the beginning, which I certainly have. As you may have guessed by now, I was thrown into the Thames by some burly guy who wanted Marshy. But the joke was on him. When he tried to kiss her she disappeared. Well, she's a spirit guide, what did you expect? I am sure she'll eventually wind up at my castle to store her clothes. Five rooms worth people....and still counting!

they call me mellow fellow --quite rightly! ----your drying Metamorpho