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Best The Kinks Albums: Top 20 Ranked

The Kinks Cover

๐ŸŽง Artist Spotlight

The Kinks

Dive deep into the essential discography of The Kinks. Explore the defining studio albums that shaped their legendary career.

โšก Key Highlights of Article

  • Comprehensive catalog ranking and acoustic evaluation across The Kinks’s definitive studio discography.
  • Cornerstone masterworks highlighted include The Kinks – The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, The Kinks – Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire), The Kinks – Something Else by The Kinks.
  • Deep dive into studio innovations, recording milestones, and personnel shifts.
  • Comparative pressing guide distinguishing original analog masterings from contemporary heavyweight reissues.
Curated Spotify PlaylistExpand Player โ–พ
๐Ÿ“‹ Vinyl Guide (20 Albums)Jump List โŒƒ
#1
The Kinks โ€” The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
Jump โ†’
#2
The Kinks โ€” Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
Jump โ†’
#3
The Kinks โ€” Something Else by The Kinks
Jump โ†’
#4
The Kinks โ€” Face to Face
Jump โ†’
#5
The Kinks โ€” Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One
Jump โ†’
#6
The Kinks โ€” Muswell Hillbillies
Jump โ†’
#7
The Kinks โ€” Everybody’s in Show-Biz
Jump โ†’
#8
The Kinks โ€” The Kink Kontroversy
Jump โ†’
#9
The Kinks โ€” Low Budget
Jump โ†’
#10
The Kinks โ€” Sleepwalker
Jump โ†’
#11
The Kinks โ€” Misfits
Jump โ†’
#12
The Kinks โ€” Kinda Kinks
Jump โ†’
#13
The Kinks โ€” Give the People What They Want
Jump โ†’
#14
The Kinks โ€” Schoolboys in Disgrace
Jump โ†’
#15
The Kinks โ€” Kinks
Jump โ†’
#16
The Kinks โ€” State of Confusion
Jump โ†’
#17
The Kinks โ€” Preservation Act 1
Jump โ†’
#18
The Kinks โ€” Soap Opera
Jump โ†’
#19
The Kinks โ€” Percy
Jump โ†’
#20
The Kinks โ€” Preservation Act 2
Jump โ†’

The Kinks are quite possibly the most underrated giants of the British Invasion. While their peers were focused on blues covers, Ray and Dave Davies were busy perfecting the art of the perfect three-minute pop song and the cynical, sharp-witted character study. Their discography is a winding path of absolute brilliance that rewards every deep dive.

Essential The Kinks Albums Ranked

#1 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society

Label: Pye • Released: 1968

The Kinks โ€” The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society

Label: Pye • Released: 1968

This is the undisputed masterpiece of the Kinks’ catalog and one of the greatest albums ever recorded. It perfectly captures a melancholic, fading sense of English nostalgia through timeless songwriting and beautiful arrangements.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ The Village Green Preservation Society (Stereo Mix)
โ™ซ Picture Book (Stereo Mix)
โ™ซ Do You Remember Walter? (Stereo Mix)
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Look for early Pye pressings if you can, but the recent deluxe reissues sound fantastic and are much easier to track down.
#2 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)

Label: Pye • Released: 1969

The Kinks โ€” Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)

Label: Pye • Released: 1969

A grand conceptual follow-up that displays Ray Davies at his most ambitious and emotionally resonant. The storytelling here is sharp, biting, and quintessentially British.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Victoria (Mono)
โ™ซ Shangri-La (Mono)
โ™ซ Yes Sir, No Sir (Mono)
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: The original UK gatefold pressings are highly sought after by collectors for their artwork quality.
#3 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” Something Else by The Kinks

Label: Pye • Released: 1967

The Kinks โ€” Something Else by The Kinks

Label: Pye • Released: 1967

This record bridges the gap between their garage roots and their later conceptual phase. It features some of their most poignant melodies and mature lyrical themes.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Waterloo Sunset
โ™ซ Death of a Clown
โ™ซ David Watts
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Mono pressings are often preferred by audiophiles for the punchy, direct sound of the production.
#4 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” Face to Face

Label: Pye • Released: 1966

The Kinks โ€” Face to Face

Label: Pye • Released: 1966

Often cited as the band’s first true classic, this album showed a massive leap forward in songwriting craft. It effectively invented the Kinks’ signature style of observational, social-commentary pop.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Sunny Afternoon
โ™ซ Dandy
โ™ซ Rosy Won’t You Please Come Home
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Condition is everything here; finding a clean copy of the original Pye release is a rewarding challenge.
#5 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One

Label: Pye • Released: 1970

The Kinks โ€” Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One

Label: Pye • Released: 1970

A brilliant, cynical look at the music industry that remains incredibly relevant today. It sounds huge, punchy, and features some of the band’s most recognizable guitar riffs.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Lola
โ™ซ Apeman
โ™ซ Top of the Pops
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: The original vinyl includes a great booklet that is often missing; keep an eye out for complete copies.
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#6 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” Muswell Hillbillies

Label: RCA • Released: 1971

The Kinks โ€” Muswell Hillbillies

Label: RCA • Released: 1971

This record marks the start of the band’s rootsy, Americana-influenced era. Itโ€™s a warm, character-driven masterpiece that feels like a classic working-class narrative.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ 20th Century Man (2022 Remaster)
โ™ซ Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues (2022 Remaster)
โ™ซ Muswell Hillbilly (2022 Remaster)
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: The RCA pressings are generally more accessible than their Pye counterparts and offer great clarity.
#7 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” Everybody’s in Show-Biz

Label: RCA • Released: 1972

The Kinks โ€” Everybody’s in Show-Biz

Label: RCA • Released: 1972

A double album split between studio tracks and live recordings, capturing the band at their theatrical best. It perfectly encapsulates the exhaustion and absurdity of life on the road.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Celluloid Heroes (2022 Remaster)
โ™ซ Supersonic Rocket Ship (2022 Remaster)
โ™ซ Here Comes Yet Another Day (2022 Remaster)
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: The gatefold packaging on the original double LP is iconic and feels great in the hands.
#8 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” The Kink Kontroversy

Label: Pye • Released: 1965

The Kinks โ€” The Kink Kontroversy

Label: Pye • Released: 1965

This is where the band started to find their distinct voice beyond the beat-group sound. It’s grittier and more urgent than their earlier work.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Till the End of the Day
โ™ซ Milk Cow Blues
โ™ซ Where Have All the Good Times Gone
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Early UK pressings offer a raw energy that later digital remasters often clean up too much.
#9 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” Low Budget

Label: Arista • Released: 1979

The Kinks โ€” Low Budget

Label: Arista • Released: 1979

The Kinks’ successful pivot to 70s stadium rock was never more focused than it was here. It’s a high-energy, riff-heavy record that defined their late-career resurgence.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ (Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman
โ™ซ Catch Me Now I’m Falling
โ™ซ Low Budget
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Arista pressings are plentiful, making this an easy and affordable find in most used bins.
#10 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” Sleepwalker

Label: Arista • Released: 1977

The Kinks โ€” Sleepwalker

Label: Arista • Released: 1977

An underrated gem that kicked off their Arista era with confidence. It features polished production and a sound that fits perfectly with the late-70s rock radio landscape.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Sleepwalker (2024 Remaster)
โ™ซ Life on the Road (2024 Remaster)
โ™ซ Brother (2024 Remaster)
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Keep an eye out for the original Arista pressings which usually have decent dynamic range.
#11 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” Misfits

Label: Arista • Released: 1978

The Kinks โ€” Misfits

Label: Arista • Released: 1978

A moody, reflective record that fits right in between their more aggressive rockers. It features some of Ray Davies’ most vulnerable songwriting.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Misfits
โ™ซ A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy
โ™ซ Black Messiah
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Clean covers for this one can be tough to find due to the matte finish.
#12 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” Kinda Kinks

Label: Pye • Released: 1965

The Kinks โ€” Kinda Kinks

Label: Pye • Released: 1965

A scrappy, energetic follow-up to their debut that captures the raw intensity of the early British Invasion. It’s essential for fans of their garage-rock roots.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Tired of Waiting for You
โ™ซ Nothin’ In the World Can Stop Me Worryin’ ‘Bout That Girl
โ™ซ Set Me Free
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: The mono pressings on this are essential for getting that authentic, punchy mid-60s sound.
#13 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” Give the People What They Want

Label: Arista • Released: 1981

The Kinks โ€” Give the People What They Want

Label: Arista • Released: 1981

Another strong outing in their 80s arena-rock phase, balancing radio-ready hooks with sharp social commentary. It was a massive success that solidified their later-career relevance.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Better Things
โ™ซ Destroyer
โ™ซ Around the Dial
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: The vinyl pressings from this era are usually very consistent and easy to find.
#14 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” Schoolboys in Disgrace

Label: RCA • Released: 1975

The Kinks โ€” Schoolboys in Disgrace

Label: RCA • Released: 1975

A concept album that feels like a bridge between their theatrical period and their later rock focus. It’s quirky, fun, and very much a product of its time.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Schooldays
โ™ซ Jack the Idiot Dunce
โ™ซ The Hard Way
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Look for the original lyric sheet insert, as it adds a lot to the experience.
#15 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” Kinks

Label: Pye • Released: 1964

The Kinks โ€” Kinks

Label: Pye • Released: 1964

Their debut album is a snapshot of a band finding their footing, but it features one of the most important riffs in rock history. It’s raw, slightly chaotic, and undeniably charming.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ You Really Got Me (Mono Version With Reverb)
โ™ซ Stop Your Sobbing (Stereo Mix)
โ™ซ I’ve Been Driving on Bald Mountain (Stereo Mix)
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Early UK mono pressings of this are the holy grail for Kinks collectors.
#16 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” State of Confusion

Label: Arista • Released: 1983

The Kinks โ€” State of Confusion

Label: Arista • Released: 1983

Contains the massive hit ‘Come Dancing’, which helped introduce the band to a whole new generation. Itโ€™s slick, 80s-polished, but still has that classic Davies spirit.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Come Dancing
โ™ซ State of Confusion
โ™ซ Definite Maybe
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: You can find this in dollar bins everywhere, making it a great budget-friendly pickup.
#17 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” Preservation Act 1

Label: RCA • Released: 1973

The Kinks โ€” Preservation Act 1

Label: RCA • Released: 1973

The start of their most experimental and divisive era. While itโ€™s not for everyone, the ambition and character development here are fascinating.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Morning Song
โ™ซ One of the Survivors
โ™ซ Cricket
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: The gatefold packaging on these concept albums is always a highlight of 70s vinyl design.
#18 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” Soap Opera

Label: RCA • Released: 1975

The Kinks โ€” Soap Opera

Label: RCA • Released: 1975

A meta-theatrical concept album that leans heavily into the band’s dramatic sensibilities. It’s a bit odd, but it captures the unique creative space Ray Davies was inhabiting.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Everybody’s a Star (Starmaker)
โ™ซ Ordinary People
โ™ซ You Can’t Stop the Music
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: The original vinyl comes with some great liner notes that help explain the story.
#19 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” Percy

Label: Pye • Released: 1971

The Kinks โ€” Percy

Label: Pye • Released: 1971

A film soundtrack that serves as a bit of a curiosity in their discography. Itโ€™s light and melodic, though it lacks the cohesive punch of their major studio albums.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ God’s Children
โ™ซ The Way Love Used to Be
โ™ซ Moments
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: This is often overlooked, so you might find it for a bargain price.
#20 Essential Pick

The Kinks โ€” Preservation Act 2

Label: RCA • Released: 1974

The Kinks โ€” Preservation Act 2

Label: RCA • Released: 1974

This sprawling double album is the climax of their theatrical phase. It’s dense and complex, certainly a challenge for casual listeners, but vital for true devotees.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ He’s Evil
โ™ซ Money Talks
โ™ซ Announcement 1
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: The vinyl quality for this ambitious release is surprisingly solid.
๐Ÿ“ฉ

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โ“ Frequently Asked Questions (Rock)

Q: What is considered The Kinks’ best album of all time?

The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (1968) is widely regarded as their masterpiece, celebrated as one of the greatest concept albums in rock history for its bittersweet nostalgia on English pastoral life. Ray Davies’ peerless songwriting shines brightest here, perfectly capturing a vanished era.

Q: Which Kinks albums are essential for vinyl collectors?

Essential vinyl acquisitions include Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire), Face to Face, and Something Else by The Kinks, all prized for their intricate storytelling and proto-punk guitar textures. Original pressings on Pye or Reprise command high prices among audiophiles today.

Q: How did The Kinks evolve from a garage rock band to a sophisticated lyrical powerhouse?

Fueled by the US touring ban in 1965, Ray Davies turned inward, shifting away from aggressive power-chords like You Really Got Me toward acutely observed, character-driven social commentary. Albums like Lola Versus Powerman and Muswell Hillbillies solidified their legacy as sharp-witted musical satirists.

Q: Are later Kinks records like Low Budget and Sleepwalker worth exploring?

Absolutely, as these late-70s arena rock records proved the band’s remarkable resilience and commercial resurgence. They showcase Dave Davies’ roaring guitar work and Ray’s enduring knack for hooks in a much heavier, stadium-ready format.

Vinyl Crate-Digging & Buying Guide

Collecting Kinks vinyl is a rewarding journey through several distinct eras of rock history. Start with the Pye-era classics like ‘Village Green’ or ‘Something Else’ if you love that 60s British sound, as original mono pressings offer a definitive listening experience. For those who enjoy the arena-rock era, the Arista pressings from the late 70s and 80s are widely available, affordable, and sound surprisingly punchy on a decent stereo system. Always check for inner sleeves and inserts, especially on the concept albums, as they often contain key narrative pieces that complete the listening experience. Don’t be afraid of well-loved copies; Kinks records are meant to be played and enjoyed, not just kept as museum pieces.

Final Thoughts

The Kinks aren’t just a band; they are an essential part of the DNA of rock and roll. Whether you’re spinning the proto-punk energy of their early hits or the thoughtful, melancholic beauty of their late-60s masterpieces, there is always something new to uncover in their grooves. Go grab a copy of ‘Village Green’, drop the needle, and lose yourself in the genius of Ray and Dave Davies.

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