lola versus powerman and the moneygoround, part one

The Kinks had the comeback their record company desperately wanted while at the same time exposing the greed and corruption of that same record company and a seedy little system that exploits musicians while it hates their music. "Everyone take a little bit here and a little bit there. Do they all deserve money from a song that they've never heard? They don't know the tune and they don't know the words."

The Kinks seemed to be on the decline when the sensational and scandalous 'Lola' became their first top ten hit in five years (three in the U.K.). The song about a transvestite ties into the theme of the album where you cannot trust the people around you and the claustrophobia of the rat race is for suckers and slaves. Old Soho was a far cry from the Village Green. The success of 'Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One' came just as their record contracts expired and bought them some bargaining power with which they negotiated a new record deal and an advance that allowed them to build their own recording studio.







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'Lola' went to number nine in the US; four in Australia; two in Canada, Germany, and the UK; and number one in the Netherlands and New Zealand.

"Well I'm not dumb, but I can't understand

why she walked like a woman and talked like a man."

'Ape Man' swung to number forty-five in the US; nineteen in Canada; nine in the Netherlands; eight in Germany; and number five in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.

"In man's evolution he has created the city and the motor traffic rumble,

but give me half a chance and I'd be taking off my clothes and living in the jungle."

'Strangers'

"We'll take what we want and give the rest away."

'Get Back In Line'

"Those union men have such a hold on me."

'Got To Be Free'

"I ain’t nobody’s slave."

'Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One'
full album:



All tracks written by Ray Davies except where noted.

Side one
1. "The Contenders"   2:42
2. "Strangers" (Dave Davies) 3:20
3. "Denmark Street"   2:02
4. "Get Back in Line"   3:04
5. "Lola"   4:01
6. "Top of the Pops"   3:40
7. "The Moneygoround"   1:47
Side two
8. "This Time Tomorrow"   3:22
9. "A Long Way from Home"   2:27
10. "Rats" (Dave Davies) 2:40
11. "Apeman"   3:52
12. "Powerman"   4:18
13. "Got to Be Free"   3:01