I, The Victim (4:33) (rough mix from the upcoming project called Ripper )
Vietnam Cowboys (demo) (2:52)
The Voodoo Walk (demo) (4:25)
Track Listings (1) - Disc #2
Americana A Work In Progress DVD. Filmed and directed by Ray Davies.
Working Mans Cafe a new studio album by legendary musician and Rock n Roll Hall of Fame member Ray Davies (founder, singer, songwriter of The Kinks), features 12 new songs written by Davies, and co-produced with Grammy... more »4; Award winning producer/engineer Ray Kennedy (Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle) and 4 bonus tracks. Recorded in Nashville, Working Mans Café is Davies second solo album, following his solo debut Other Peoples Lives, released in 2006.
The deluxe CD/DVD contains a limited edition DVD entitled Ray Davies Americana A Work In Progress. Filmed and directed by Ray himself, it features footage from the fall 2001 Storyteller Tour. Ray narrates over the post-9/11 landscape of airports, freeways, hotels, soundchecks and performances, with songs from Working Man s Café as the soundtrack. It all culminates in New Orleans, the city that inspired many of the songs on the new album. The film is a fascinating glimpse into life on the road with one of rock n roll s most legendary artists. It is filmed and directed by Ray Davies.
Working Mans Café, focuses on the plight of the worker, the every day man around the world. It is Davies American record (many of the songs were written and all produced in the US) describing the changes he s seen in this country since he first started visiting in the 60s. In a recent four star Mojo Magazine review Davies is described as having a tourist s blend of enchantment and bafflement when writing about the United States« less
Working Mans Cafe a new studio album by legendary musician and Rock n Roll Hall of Fame member Ray Davies (founder, singer, songwriter of The Kinks), features 12 new songs written by Davies, and co-produced with Grammy® Award winning producer/engineer Ray Kennedy (Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle) and 4 bonus tracks. Recorded in Nashville, Working Mans Café is Davies second solo album, following his solo debut Other Peoples Lives, released in 2006.
The deluxe CD/DVD contains a limited edition DVD entitled Ray Davies Americana A Work In Progress. Filmed and directed by Ray himself, it features footage from the fall 2001 Storyteller Tour. Ray narrates over the post-9/11 landscape of airports, freeways, hotels, soundchecks and performances, with songs from Working Man s Café as the soundtrack. It all culminates in New Orleans, the city that inspired many of the songs on the new album. The film is a fascinating glimpse into life on the road with one of rock n roll s most legendary artists. It is filmed and directed by Ray Davies.
Working Mans Café, focuses on the plight of the worker, the every day man around the world. It is Davies American record (many of the songs were written and all produced in the US) describing the changes he s seen in this country since he first started visiting in the 60s. In a recent four star Mojo Magazine review Davies is described as having a tourist s blend of enchantment and bafflement when writing about the United States
"I wanna pray but don't know what to"....Ray Davies
Richardson | Sunny California USA | 02/26/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is what all of us KINKS fans and Ray Davies admirers have been waiting for...a true Masterpiece and it IS! This sounds great the first time through...cool grooves, nice rockin tunes and the unmistakably beautifully unique voice of Ray Davies! The good news is that the second third and fourth listens reveal more with each and that is the mark of a great record! Lyrics start to emerge and familiarity breeds appreciation not boredom.
The version with DVD is highly recommended..its only 20 minutes but all of it precious to fans ....and not much more mula..
GOD SAVE THE KINKS..and Raymond Douglas Davies!
If you are a fan...do not hesitate ...if you felt his last (only) solo effort was middling...join the crowd...this is GREAT!"
Ray's return to form in a terrific solo album
Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 03/01/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ray returns in top form on his fourth solo album (his first being "Return to Waterloo" even though it involved members of the Kinks). This isn't just his best solo album but holds its own with some of his best work with The Kinks. It's a pity it's NOT a Kinks album but I doubt that Dave and Ray will resolve their differences any time soon. Either way, Ray has come up with an album that is compelling in its subject matter with witty, insightful lyrics and melodies that match the quality of his best compositions of the past.
The CD/DVD comboversion is only worthwhile for the additional rocking track "I, The Victim" which doesn't appear on the CD available by itself. The DVD is interesting but its more like a glorified home movie of Ray's 2001 tour of the United States. Its interesting primarily for its glimpses of America post-9/11. It's also most interesting for the snippets we see of Ray working on his songs or performing from the tour to support X-Ray (his book).
I actually liked most of "Other People's Lives" but found "Working Man's Cafe" to be more consistent with no tracks that I would consider weak. In addition to the album and the bonus track "Angola" (which is really about Ray being shot in New Orleans during a purse snatching)we also get two demos and with the CD/DVD combo set the rough mix of "I The Victim" (it's on the CD as a bonus track) which, I assume, is from a forthcoming project. Highly recommended."
A Fine View of the many Ray Davies!
Dano | New Jersey USA | 02/28/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This latest CLASSIC by the greatest songwriter EVER hits the spot in all the right ways. Much better than the last one although next to everything else released that year it is a classic! If you love the later great underrated Kinks recordings like "Sleepwalker" you'll love this too. Ray Davies certainly is not running out of ideas after all these years and that is a wonderful thing to behold. There's instant classics on here in the mold of other great works of beauty (think Long Distance)ie.(The Real World and Imaginary Man), great songs that rock like hell(Hymn for a New Age)and storytelling like only Ray Davies can do, "Working Man's Cafe" and "Morphine Song". You better get this special edition while you can because the bonus tracks are incredible too. I,The Victim and Angola rocks the best of all! I haven't watched the free DVD yet but I am looking forward to it. Long live Ray Davies-for the world truly needs but certainly doesn't deserve him!"
You Really Got Me, again
James Harrison | Melbourne, Australia | 03/08/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Kinks songwriter and main vocalist has released his strongest of only 4 solo albums following his recovery from being shot in New orleans several years ago, whilst living in that city.This has an influence on the recording,as does living in the U.S.,and it is a much more intense,intersting and vital record than any solo efforts by his '60's peers i.e Jagger, McCartney and Townsend.
Whilst not a Kinks album it is a modern album that reflects modern times and issues such as globalisation, peace and a yearning for those simpler times of the Kinks 1960's.
Of corse the best test, this album gets better each time it is played.
The additional DVD in this issues is similar to recent dvd's of Steve Earl and Wilco, a sought of home recording, behind the scenes glimpse of the artist.