Classic British invasion rockers the Kinks have announced another 50th Anniversary Reissue of, this time, one of the band’s most beloved records, The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society from 1968 via BMG on October 26.
The record will be re-released as a special five-CD box set, even including a variety of previously unreleased tracks from the era, such as the lead single from the reissue “Time Song.”
“I think The Village Green Preservation Society is about the ending of a time personally for me in my life,” Ray Davies said in a press release. “In my imaginary village. It’s the end of our innocence, our youth. Some people are quite old but in the Village Green, you’re never allowed to grow up. I feel the project itself as part of a life cycle.”
This new Super Deluxe Edition will reportedly contain both stereo and mono remasters of every song from the original HD tape transfers, in addition to singles and non-album B-sides, as well as other various bonus tracks, across the first two discs of the box set. The third CD will be a collection of original sessions with alternate versions, mixes and backing tracks.
The fourth disc will contain performances and interviews from the BBC from back in the day. The last CD will include demos and recordings originating fromt he Kinks’ mid-’70s Preservation concept albums. Across all five CDs, there are 174 tracks, three of which have never been released.
The stereo and mono remasters will also be available on 180-gram vinyl, as well a 12-track version of the LP that came out in Sweden. The record’s three 7″ singles — “Days” / “She’s Got Everything,” “Starstruck” / “Picture Book” and “The Village Green Preservation Society” / “Do You Remember Walter?” — are included with reproductions of their original artwork. A 52-page book contains liner notes, interviews, rare photographs and several essays, including one by Pete Townshend and another by journalist Kate Mossman.
You can pre-order the box, as well as the vinyl and one- and two-CD distillations of the record here. The first 1,000 orders will come with a 7″ single of “Time Song” / “Village Green” (Alternate Mix).
Check out “Time Song” below, along with the box set cover.
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