The Kinks - Sitting By The Riverside

[mstyuro]

this record didn't even chart when it was released in the us., now it's concidered a masrerpiece which it is. maybe it didn't help that it was reliesed the same day as the white album.

[er1975us]

@mstyuro and electric ladyland also

[TheHeartmindsoul]

I listened to this song for the first time today and that back ground tune made me think of Federico Fellini's "8 1/2" -maybe it is an old Italian melody,very similar to a phrase of Nino Rota's theme song for that film.Or maybe it is English in origin?

[BeholdAndSee93]

why are you guys arguing down there? we should all be friends anyone who enjoys this song is cool in my book

[68beano]

ahh don't want to get to syrup on you young guns of the wireless

[shinybald36]

i'm suprized you can read.

[shinybald36]

wish people, who write on here, would share there knowledge of the kinks instead of comparing them to other bands. It's so lame, it's like to bore's comparing cock sizes!

[pmfont]

@shinybald36

Okay, then impart your knowledge of the Kinks to us all. Personally, I prefer reading about bands from creditable sources.

[renotsecniv]

Oh how I admire the man who wrote this song. Ray you are the undisputed BEST EVER!

[octface]

meet the cool beatles

[Frownland81]

Whenever I listen to this song, I always picture a sepia toned photo of an 1890s family, complete with a parasol carrying and corset wearing wife and a top hatted husband, enjoying a picnic in the English countryside.

[PHYZOE]

Just so cool. Somebody give me a cheeseburger!

[LIBERTINEPARANOIC]

i insist....they are better than the rolling stones

[deaconbluesful]

@LIBERTINEPARANOIC Both are the best in their own game. You can't compare an elephant and a rhinoceros.

[TheMrdmo]

@LIBERTINEPARANOIC Brian Jones was the best part of the Stones. The rest of them will never amount to anything The Kinks have done....but they are still trying to! lol

[deaconbluesful]

@TheMrdmo So you can compare Sticky Fingers or Some Girls or Tatoo You to any Kinks album? I don't think so. Stones are Rock n roll, that's a fact. The Kinks are more into Pop, orchestrations and lyrics. They did some rock but at the beggining, but then they did their own thing.

[douglasj53]

@TheMrdmo That's quite a statement to make but I know what you mean!

[zackertack]

dave really looks like that one actor in this shot..can not remember the name of it..something with sandra bullock where two highschool kids kill someone to commit the perfect murder...help me out here hah ... maybe im just tanked :)

[zackertack]

@zackertack or is that ray..bahh idk either way..the one in the front

[renotsecniv]

This song is so romantic. I just love it.

[bkirk918]

It's certainly a rip off of the Beatles. But the writing, musicianship and singing are not even close. I like the Kinks, but...come on let's be realistic, this is pretty lightweight stuff.

[lazoking]

@bkirk918 lets be realistic your deaf

[bkirk918]

@lazoking

I don't understand your comment. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with what I wrote. I think you're responding to the wrong person.

[Rawego]

beatles suck kinks suck long live the Zogbies! :))

[2velux8]

wonderful

[Dandyincursive]

I love The Beatles and I love The Kinks and I refuse to take a side!

[bond465]

why do all you kinks fans have to defend your right to like them more than the beatles. no one cares and the beatles are obviously 5x better no question.

play pepper vs. village green

or rubber soul, revolver, help, abbey road, white album....like give it up.

The beatles worst album is better than the kinks best.

[chase14]

@bond465 I've listen to most of the Beatles. I guess it's a matter of personal taste, but after listening to everything the Kinks did in the 60's, I would say they are better because they were better rock musicians; short but sweet guitar solos, the whole band does harmonies well, backup vocals, key changes, better drummer and bassist. Overall more rockin songwriting. On why people compare the Kinks to the Beatles; The Kinks = underrated. The Beatles = very overrated.

[TheResidentSociopath]

@chase14 You might like The Kinks better than The Beatles but you'd have to be out of your bloody mind to think that Pete Quaife was a better bassist than Paul frickin' McCartney. In fact, you're crazy to think that The Kinks were, in any way, better musicians than The Beatles. Ringo's drumming, albeit not exactly the best rock has to offer, is far more inspired and original than Mick Avory's. And George Harrison would rip Dave Davies a new one. Ray and John's playing is a wash.

[chase14]

@TheResidentSociopath is a typical Beatles fan. I suppose you think Paul McCartney invented electricity too?McCartney is a joke compared to Brian Wilson or Pete Quaife. Listen to Everbody's Gonna' Be Happy by the Kinks. That bassline smokes anything McCartney ever did, period. The Kinks weren't just a shitty rip off of American R&B or the Everly Brothers like the Beatles were. Not to mention it was the Kinks who brought the East Indian sound into rock with See My Friends NOT the Beatles.

[TheResidentSociopath]

@chase14 "Paul McCartney is a joke compared to Brian Wilson and Pete Quaife"? Are you out of your mind? It's one thing to slight McCartney's playing in comparison to greats like Jamerson, Wooten, and Manring but Brian Wilson? Brian's basslines were quite inspired but they're nothing compared to Something, A Day in the Life, or I Want You. And go look at any respectable list of music's greatest bassists. You sure as hell won't find Pete Quaife on there. Gimme' a break!

[chase14]

@TheResidentSociopath McCartney is a joke. Compare McCartney to John Entwhistle. Entwhistle had a better voice, sang better falsetto and his basslines were actually original. McCartney was anything but original. He was basically an English twat trying to copy American R&B and doing a shit job of it. Pete Quaife was rock solid and always in the pocket, something McCartney never understood because his ego wouldn't let him. McCartney is the most overrated douchbag of all time. Kinks rule!

[ResidentSociopath]

@chase14 John Entwistle had a better voice? That settles... you're out of your fuckin mind. Sure Entwistle was better on the four string; no debate from me. But McCartney had an enormous vocal range (3 octaves and 7 notes). He could keep his voice as light as a feather (Mother Nature's Son) and scream to high hell (Helter Skelter). Entwistle's vocals, however, are on par with Ringo's. The long and short of it... you're an idiot.

[chase14]

Why don't you Beatles fans fuck right off? The Beatles were a bunch of drugged up queers singing about marshmellow overcoats while the Kinks sang about real life. Dead End Streets, Sunny Afternoons, etc. The Beatles make me want to vomit. McCartney is such a loser. It's a shame it wasn't McCartney gunned down by some psychopath but I think Mark David Chapman is a hero. Good for him! He got rid off the worst singer on the planet.

[TheResidentSociopath]

@chase14 Real original! Wishing death upon a fucking musician that you've never met? Got anything better to do with your time? Perhaps you could just do the world a favor and go lie down in traffic. One less worthless douche taking up space and using valuable air. The Kinks AND The Beatles are two of the greatest bands of all time. The fact that you can't see that is your loss. But I guess it makes you feel special, when your opinion contradicts most every intelligent person on the planet.

[DoGeeseSeeGod24]

Why do so many people feel the need to compare the Kinks to the Beatles?

[saguaroboy]

@DoGeeseSeeGod24 BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH SO AWESOME.

[MrLexielover]

What a tremendous Kinks track with a bit of psychedelia.

[ACERAMGAD]

Terrrrrrr)) Terrific!

[krankiekat]

facebook com/pages/Ray-Davies

[krankiekat]

Come on over to the Ray davies facebook page...!

[ACERAMGAD]

This is just absolutely perfect! PERFECTO! BRAVO!!!!!!! MY VERY FAVORITE SONG OF LIFE OR IN LIFE,OR WHILE I'M HERE! BUT WHERE WOULD I GO IF NOT HERE? I AIN'T LEAVING AS LONG AS THIS SONG IS HERE! DO YOU HEAR ME!?

[ACERAMGAD]

It only gets better every time one listens))))))

[68beano]

finding turtles is so cool when you see them an they see you back in the water they go bye bye turtle sea yaa

[TheSeabass87]

this song has a carnival/italian feel to it

[GlassPike]

I love how it's ok to be posh and british and effeminate when the kinks are on. I don't know what I'd do without them.

[renotsecniv]

@GlassPike I know what you mean. I'd be a different person if there were no such band as the Kinks. They have enchanced my life. I like a lot of bands, love a few, but The Kinks are in a class of thier own.

[tschiibii]

@renotsecniv absolutely right!

[ACERAMGAD]

@GlassPike

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT THE BRITS EITHER))) THE MUSIC INTELLIGENCE OF A BRITISH MIND IS AMAZING TO ME! MAYBE IT IS ALL THE CLOUDS AND RAIN THAT MAKES SUCH ROYAL MINDS BUILD SUCH LAVISH DREAMS FOR ALL!?? CHEERS ALWAYS!

[BerkeleyMews7]

One of my most favorite Kinks songs. This song is in the movie The Savages. I agree both Dave and Ray are geniuses. God Save the KinKs!

[krankiekat]

This album may not have been a hit in 1968 but in 2010 it is now considered one of the greatest works of music of all time; God save the KinKs!

[ACERAMGAD]

@krankiekat

HERE HERE! HEAR HEAR!~)))CHEERY CHERRY CHEERS))))))AAAAAAAAHHH!

[PineappleToothpaste]

Ray Davies, what a genius.

Even his Willy Wonka hairstyle is fantastic.♥

[MrSirMrSirMr]

That's Dave (at least, it is in the photo above), Ray's the one waving. But yeah, a fantastic genius. They both are, really. A Pete Quaife likes apples.

[jenzeppelin]

@PineappleToothpaste Your username sounds like something Willy Wonka would make, and, Ray might sing about.

[ACERAMGAD]

A cool Sunday afternoon, a lil drink and My favorite song!)))

[JasonBonitati]

This was recorded during the Kinks greatest period. Fuck, I love this song!!!

[ACERAMGAD]

The best song in the world1

[ACERAMGAD]

perfect!

[boscoruby]

The dissonance reminds me of "A Day in the Life" from Sgt. Pepper.

[Rawego]

@boscoruby you've got to be kidding :)) comparing this to a day in a life is like saying that sugar is the same as an 8 layer cake :))

[jenzeppelin]

it's impossible not to feel content and relaxed while listening to this song.

[pmfont]

this is on par with what beatles were outputting around this time

[jenzeppelin]

above par, i'd say

[PHAEDRIDER]

@pmfont surpassed .



[thesparrow5674]

@PHAEDRIDER

By a mile. At least.

[TeenSheep]

@pmfont THE KINKS ARE IN ANOTHER LEVEL, I LOVE THE BEATLES BUT THIS GUYS ROCK BETTER

[ForbiddenVegetable]

@pmfont Not really.

[ForbiddenVegetable]

@pmfont I agree. I don't know why you removed it.

[ZZJoCa]

Very clever recording. Love the tune.

[hollowmenrule]

i love it, see, no book, no long winded stories....

[LEFWWFC]

I think you're all being far too generous with your comments regarding this song.

[famlaya]

yeh , its just good

[2BluesMan2]

Very good singing!

[whizbang47]

"Milkwood. " Yes, I can hear that. What a great band.

[deepintoblues]

This song made me happy just now.

[krankiekat]

the kinks will always be my all time favorite band...and Ray Davies does write the best songs you know. god save the Kinks...

[rainriders]

Marc Bolan might have liked this song a lot, but Pete Quife did not.

[patterson903]

why not?

[rainriders]

Pete left the group to concentrate on his private life and then he came back to rejoin the Davies prior to "Village Green" Album.

After the release of this album and a few other singles, Pete determinded to part from the Kinks forever. Pete clearly stated that he could not take any more craziness that Ray imposed on other members.

[rainriders]

"Sitting by the riverside" was one of the examples that drove Pete to quit playing in the band.

Pretty insane lyrics (got even worse in the sequel song "Sitting in the mid-day sun") and insane arrangement (the ending instrumental part is completely out of the norm, it was not a creative digress, just an insanity done in a slovenly attempt to resemble "I am the walrus.")

But please don't get me wrong. I personally think the song is brilliant.

[patterson903]

do you know if pete played on the "where did my spring go?" recordings?

and "Sitting in the mid-day sun" was a single?

[rainriders]

"Sitting in the mid-day sun" was released as single in both UK and US with different B-side song. I don't know if Pete Quife played on "where did my spring go", because I never listened to that song. I'll probably be able to tell if the bass was played by Quife or Dalton if I get to listen to it.

[kwakky]

Listen. you've been grappling with davies' pathos, ethos, and id since you fucking heard "you really got me". i don't blame you. but in your heart, what pisses you off the most about "Sitting by the Riverside" is that it, like all other Kinks songs, speaks so bluntly and directly to man's essence. If I wasn't an overly proud man I'd feel the same.

[rainriders]

> what pisses you off the most about "Sitting by the Riverside" is that it, like all other Kinks songs, speaks so bluntly and directly to man's essence.

No, I did not think so, my friend. Like in many other songs written in the late 60's, Ray lied again in this song about how he really feels. Ray wrote "Don't ever change" after he learned he was in the era where he could not tell anyone not to change. He wrote "David Watts" when he knew such a lad never existed in the whole country.

[rainriders]

He had kept lying, lying, lying until someone eventually turned to him and said " Get a real life, fag! I'm dazed! (Pete Quife)".

The album "Village Green" was made in response to the Beachboy's "Pet Sounds", possibly the first Surreal album in the rock history (though Ray stated he had been influenced by Dylan Thomas' "milkwood" poem. ) RD intended to negate the reality by doing this album, not to express his true thoughts on whatever. (In Townshend's words, "completely out of date")

[rainriders]

Pete did not contribute nothing to both songs, so he should stfu.

I read RD was feeling very proud of the fact that John Lennon liked "wonderboy" and he requested the song over and over again at the club he frequented. In another interview, RD recalls that John said to him in person "Lad, lend us some ideas"

[astromavri]

So after saying this is just an attemp to resemble Walrus (which I think is nonsense) and that this is insane you think is brilliant , Why? just because it reminds you of the beatles, C'mon!

And what does this song have to do with Quaife's leaving?

This is the first time I hear such weird theories and I don't agree at all.

Sorry.

[rainriders]

walrus<< I was referring to the last 12 bars in which Ray improvises on keyboard arbitrarily going up in scale to imitate the schzophrenic progression that John Lennon experimented in "I am the Walrus".

Quife's leaving< Like I said months earlier, Quife was forced to choose between "quit the band" or "end up in a booby hatch." in those days. I guess a song like this was driving him dazed.

[franklindelanobluth0]

terrific song! when i hear it it conjures up an image of a circus. anyone else have this?

[taxmonkey123]

God save the Kinks!

[jayfey77]

i recomment the book kink by dave davies to all of you.great book to read.i was lucky enough to meet ray davies he signed by arthur cd cover for me.i wonder how much it is worth now hehe.

[nicolasonnn]

thanks i m french and i don't always heard the good words!

[mollysandberg]

That song "Sitting By The Riverside" has a very relaxing keyboard sound, (especially in the middle-eight section), I was wondering what it was. To me it either sounds like either an Electric Organ, or an Accordian.?

[jfkdlsls]

nice!

[Duenderelojero]

the lyrics is terrific.

[allivegp]

Just sitting down by the riverside,

Spreading my arms to the open wide.

Now I am free and the worlds at my feet.

I can close my eyes.

Oh love, keep me warm, keep me satisfied.

Please keep me calm, keep me pacified.

Now Im content and my life is complete.

Oh, golly gee, it is heaven to be

Like a willow tree.

Spend my time just drinking wine while looking at the view.

[nicolasonnn]

i've wrote this song a long time ago

[nicolasonnn]

doudoudoudoudoudoudoudoudoudou­duoduoduodudodudodudodudodudod­udodudodudodudoduoduoduoduodud­odudddoudodudodudodudodudoddud­odudodudodudodudodudodudoudoud­oudoudoduddddou