Entry #5: Mr. Reporter by The Kinks [Dave Davies version]

Track: “Mr. Reporter”
Artist: The Kinks/Dave Davies
Year: 1969
Album: Hidden Treaures [2011]

Songs that rip apart those higher up in the food chain are not uncommon by any extent. From the music companies to the upper classes, bands and singer/songwriters often attack these areas, but none more so than The Kinks. In 1966 Ray Davies wrote and recorded a track, almost in demo form, for their album “Face To Face”, titled “Mr. Reporter”. The track remained unissued for many years due to the scathing lyrics ripping apart the journalists and press at the time, who arguably helped the band rise to stardom in 1964. Ray’s vocal on this version also doesn’t feel quite so solid, and the track was shelved until 1969, when Dave, Ray’s brother and bandmate, took on a re-recording of the track for his unreleased [until 2011] solo LP. It is in this version I would argue that the track really comes alive.

“Hey Mr. Reporter, how ‘bout talking, about yourself – Do you like what you’re doing, or is it that you can’t do nuthin’ else?” scowls Dave in the opening lines of the track, with what are probably the nicest lines in the whole song. Dave’s vocal has that distasteful twang to it that really adds to the bite all the way through the track, only making the already angry track furious from start to finish. Instrumentally at this point the track also keeps it simple, with an acoustic guitar bed leaving little fleshed out, though this doesn’t last for long. Once the drums kick in with the rest of the band, the track is off on a deceptively playful bounce. You could play this track in the background and, with the exception of the vocal delivery, be completely oblivious to its intent. “Don’t you twist my words around… I’ll kill you, I won’t let you, distort my simple sound”. Here Dave rips right into the heart of the matter – the press are renound to this day for playing with people’s words to make the say what they want them to say, and here there is no holding back in retaliation. I don’t think a death threat ever is a soft way of looking at anything.

“The reason I am stupid is 'cause I read you everyday…”  

I don’t think any more words are needed here. This is one of the most upright and frank songs with no attempt to hide intent or anger I have ever heard, wrapped in a package you can’t help but love the sound of. And that’s exactly what I want at times.

- Freddie