The Kinks: A profile

THE ORIGIN of The Kinks is nearly shrouded in antiquity – 1964, to be exact. There weren't many 'rock' groups around yet; just the Stones and the Beatles, with a few others like the Byrds, Them, the Who and the Yardbirds, waiting in the wings. Like most of the others, they started with American rock and roll standards, but 'Long Tall Sally', their initial release, bombed badly and immediately after their first album the Kinks began keeping to original material except for periodic revivals of 'Louie Louie'.