The KINKS "Low Budget" LP New Still Sealed. 1st Issue
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August 21, 2020
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August 14, 2020
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AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine [-]
Low Budget doesn't have a narrative like Preservation or Soap Opera, but Ray Davies cleverly designed the album as a sly satire of the recession and oil crisis that gripped America in the late '70s -- thereby satisfying his need to be a wry social commentator while giving American audiences a hook to identify with. It was a clever move that worked; not only did Low Budget become their highest-charting American album (not counting the 1966 Greatest Hits compilation), but it was also a fine set of arena rock, one of the better mainstream hard rock albums of its time. And it certainly was of its time -- so much so that many of the concerns and production techniques have dated quite a bit in the decades since its initial release. Nevertheless, that gives the album a certain charm, since it now plays like a time capsule, a snapshot of what hard rock sounded like at the close of the '70s. Perhaps not so coincidentally, Davies' songwriting fluctuates throughout the album, since it's dictated as much by commercial as artistic concerns, but the moments when he manages to balance the two impulses -- as on the disco-fueled "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman," the vaudevillian "Low Budget," "A Gallon of Gas," the roaring "Attitude" (possibly their best hard rocker of the era, by the way), and "Catch Me Now I'm Falling," where Davies takes on the persona of America itself -- are irresistible. Low Budget may not have the depth of, say, Arthur or Village Green, but it's a terrifically entertaining testament to their skills as a professional rock band and Davies' savvy as a commercial songwriter.
The Kinks – Low Budget
Label:
Arista – AB 4240
Format:
Vinyl, LP, Album, Santa Maria Pressing
Country:
US
Released:
Jul 1979
Genre:
Rock
Style:
Pop Rock
Tracklist
A1Attitude3:47
A2Catch Me Now I'm Falling3:53
A3Pressure2:45
A4National Health4:02
A5(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman3:35
B1Low Budget3:46
B2In A Space3:43
B3Little Bit Of Emotion4:50
B4A Gallon Of Gas2:41
B5Misery2:57
B6Moving Pictures3:33
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Arista Records, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Arista Records, Inc.
Mastered At – Masterdisk
Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Santa Maria
Manufactured By – Arista Records, Inc.
Record Company – Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.
Recorded At – Power Station
Recorded At – Blue Rock Studio
Mixed At – Konk Studios
Published By – Davray Music Ltd.
Credits
Art Direction – Donn Davenport, Ron Kellum
Bass, Backing Vocals – Jim Rodford
Design Concept – Ray Davies
Drums – Mick Avory
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Dave Davies
Keyboards, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Vocals – Ray Davies
Mastered By [Masterdisk] – RL*
Photography – Garry Gross
Producer – Ray Davies
Saxophone – Nick Newall
Written-By – Ray Davies
Notes
Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Santa Maria pressing per "\S" (S1 in Variant 2) etch in runouts
First-issue cover WITHOUT song listing on back.
Issued with 2-page folded insert.
GOLDMINE GRADING
MINT ---- It should appear to be perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, labels or writing, tears or splits. Mint means perfect.
NEAR MINT ---- Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly.
VERY GOOD PLUS ---- The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.
VERY GOOD ---- Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc.
GOOD ---- Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork.
POOR ---- Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.
