KINKS "Low Budget" LP NEW, Still Sealed.1979 ARISTA

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Start Date: August 18, 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, 

Country:

US

Released:

Jul 1979

Genre:

Rock

Style:

Pop Rock

Tracklist

A1Attitude3:47

A2Catch Me Now I'm Falling5:56

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.

Manufactured By – Arista Records, Inc.

Phonographic Copyright (p) – Arista Records, Inc.

Copyright (c) – Arista Records, Inc.

Mastered At – Sterling Sound

Copyright (c) – Davray Music Ltd.

Recorded At – Power Station

Recorded At – Blue Rock Studio

Mixed At – Konk Studios

Mastered At – Masterdisk

Recorded At – Konk Studios

Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Santa Maria

Credits

Art Direction – Donn Davenport, Ron Kellum

Bass, Backing Vocals – Jim Rodford

Drums – Mick Avory

Engineer – John Rollo

Guitar, Backing Vocals – Dave Davies

Mastered By [Masterdisk] – RL*

Mastered By [Sterling Sound] – Jack Skinner

Photography By – Garry Gross

Producer, Composed By, Concept By [Cover], Keyboards, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Vocals – Ray Davies

Saxophone – Nick Newall


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.