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"A Well Respected Man" is a song by the British band
the Kinks The Kinks were an English rock band formed in London in 1963 by brothers Ray Davies, Ray and Dave Davies, and Pete Quaife. They are regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s. The band emerged during the height of British ...
, written by the group's
lead singer The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...
and
rhythm guitarist In music performances, rhythm guitar is a guitar technique and role that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with other instruments from the rhythm section (e.g., drum kit, bass ...
Ray Davies Sir Raymond Douglas Davies ( ; born 21 June 1944) is an English musician. He was the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and primary songwriter for the Rock music, rock band the Kinks, which he led, with his younger brother Dave Davies, Dave pro ...
, and originally released in the United Kingdom on the EP '' Kwyet Kinks'' in September 1965. It was also released as a single in the US and Continental Europe. Written as a satire on the British upper class, the song was inspired by Ray Davies's interest in
music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was most popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850, through the World War I, Great War. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as Varie ...
and scorn for wealthy tourists he encountered on a 1965 vacation. The song served as an important step for the band in pivoting from raucous rock and roll to Anglocentric character studies. The song has since become one of the Kinks' most successful and best remembered, with critics singling out the song for its influence and lyrical wit.


Background

Ray Davies composed the song based on a negative experience at a luxury resort in 1965. After a disappointing American tour, Ray was sent by Kinks managers Grenville Collins and Robert Wace to a resort in
Torquay Torquay ( ) is a seaside town in Devon, England, part of the unitary authority area of Torbay. It lies south of the county town of Exeter and east-north-east of Plymouth, on the north of Tor Bay, adjoining the neighbouring town of Paignt ...
, where upper-class guests, who knew of his musical career, tried to coax him into joining them for a golf game. Ray recalled: The encounter prompted Ray to "use words more, and say things" with his songwriting. He described it as "the first time eactually stood back from what ewas", a marked departure from the "boy-girl teenage angst" that had motivated his earlier songwriting. "A Well Respected Man" was then written as a reflection of this experience, while also utilizing the mannerisms of the upper-class Collins and Wace. The song also includes the word "fag", interpreted by Americans as a reference to homosexuality. However, Davies later said that this was not intended:


Music and lyrics

Musically, it marked the beginning of an expansion in the Kinks' inspirations, drawing much from British
music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was most popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850, through the World War I, Great War. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as Varie ...
traditions (a style which was to feature prominently on later 1960s songs such as " Dedicated Follower of Fashion" and " Mister Pleasant"). Ray commented on the influence of music hall on the song, "For years and years, I denied it. ... I think that's because music hall is, in rock and roll terms, quite an uncool thing to be associated with. ... Whereas the blues is. But music hall was undeniably an important influence". Ray cited
George Formby George Formby, (born George Hoy Booth; 26 May 1904 – 6 March 1961), was an English actor, singer-songwriter and comedian who became known to a worldwide audience through his films of the 1930s and 1940s. On stage, screen and record he ...
as an influence, while
Dave Davies David Russell Gordon Davies ( '; born 3 February 1947) is an English guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the English rock band the Kinks, led by his older brother (and principal writer and singer) ...
commented, "I don't think Ray would have written 'Well Respected Man' without Robert
ace An ace is a playing card, die or domino with a single pip. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol (a heart, diamond, spade, or a club) located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the ...
showing him
Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time (magazine), Time'' called "a sense of personal style, a combination of c ...
". Ray also sings the song in his pronounced British accent; he commented, "While lots of bands sang in American accents, we were singing in London accents". The song was a more laboured track than previous Kinks tracks, with
Pete Quaife Peter Alexander Greenlaw Quaife (born Kinnes; 31 December 1943 – 23 June 2010) was an English musician, artist and author. He was a founding member and the original bassist for the Kinks, from 1963 until 1969. He also sang backing vocals on s ...
commenting, "I remember trying to stay awake making 'Well Respected Man'. It was so boring. I had no input whatsoever". Lyrically, the song is notable as being the first of Ray Davies' compositions to overtly address the theme of British class consciousness. Indeed, the song offers a
satirical Satire is a genre of the visual arts, visual, literature, literary, and performing arts, usually in the form of fiction and less frequently Nonfiction, non-fiction, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ...
commentary on the entrenched mores and conventions of the English upper and
middle class The middle class refers to a class of people in the middle of a social hierarchy, often defined by occupation, income, education, or social status. The term has historically been associated with modernity, capitalism and political debate. C ...
es, while hinting at the frustration and casual hypocrisy that underlie this fastidiously maintained veneer of respectability.


Release

Pye refused to release "A Well Respected Man" as a single in the UK because the record company wanted a song more similar to the band's raunchier previous hits. As a compromise, the song was released on the EP '' Kwyet Kinks'', which turned into a surprise hit by reaching number one on the EP charts. Ray considered releasing more EPs in the satirical vein of "A Well Respected Man" following the success, but ultimately decided not to given the other commitments the band had. On the back of the success of ''Kwyet Kinks'' in the UK,
Reprise Records Reprise Records is an American record label founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operates through Warner Records, one of its flagship labels. Artists currently signed to Reprise Records include Green Day, En ...
, the band's American label, released as the song as a single in the United States during October of that same year. It reached number 13. It was also released on the album '' Kinkdom'' in the United States. Following the success of "Dedicated Follower of Fashion", "A Well Respected Man" was also released as a single in mainland Europe in March 1966 (although pressed in the UK, it was an export-only issue). The song has also appeared in the band's live setlist, where the band would occasionally lead the crowd in a sing-along of the song's chorus. During the 1970s, the song was sometimes performed in a medley with " Death of a Clown" and "
Sunny Afternoon "Sunny Afternoon" is a song by the Kinks, written by Ray Davies and released as a single in June 1966. The track was included on the '' Face to Face'' album released in late October, and served as the title track for a 1967 compilation album. L ...
".


Critical reception

''
Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', is an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...
'' described it as a "very catchy folkish number with a message lyric." ''
Record World ''Record World'' magazine was one of three major weekly music industry trade magazines in the United States, with ''Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 as ''Music Vendor''. In 1964, it was changed to ''Record World'' under the ...
'' described it as a "jaunty and yet bitter song about conformity" that is one of the Kinks' best songs. Retrospective writers have been similarly effusive in their praise of the song, with many naming it one of the band's best and most influential songs. '' GQ'' stated of the song, "You can feel the venom and how undeniably accurate it is in portraying a certain type of man that is still on the same train every time in 2020". ''
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
'' wrote, "It was the first of many acutely observed character studies, and offered hints of the music hall influence that would permeate Ray’s future work". "A Well Respected Man" remains one of the band's most popular and best known songs. It is one of four Kinks songs included on
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), also simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum and hall of fame located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States, on the shore of Lake Erie. The museum documents the history of rock music and th ...
's list of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll along with "
You Really Got Me "You Really Got Me" is a song by the English rock band the Kinks, written by frontman Ray Davies and released as their third single in 1964. The song, originally performed in a more blues-oriented style, was inspired by artists such as Lead B ...
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Waterloo Sunset "Waterloo Sunset" is a song by English Rock music, rock band the Kinks. It was released as a single on 5 May1967 and featured on the album ''Something Else by the Kinks'' later that year. Written and produced by Kinks frontman Ray Davies, "Wat ...
," and "
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".


Personnel

According to band researcher Doug Hinman: *
Ray Davies Sir Raymond Douglas Davies ( ; born 21 June 1944) is an English musician. He was the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and primary songwriter for the Rock music, rock band the Kinks, which he led, with his younger brother Dave Davies, Dave pro ...
lead vocals, acoustic guitar *
Dave Davies David Russell Gordon Davies ( '; born 3 February 1947) is an English guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the English rock band the Kinks, led by his older brother (and principal writer and singer) ...
electric guitar, backing vocals *
Pete Quaife Peter Alexander Greenlaw Quaife (born Kinnes; 31 December 1943 – 23 June 2010) was an English musician, artist and author. He was a founding member and the original bassist for the Kinks, from 1963 until 1969. He also sang backing vocals on s ...
bass *
Mick Avory Michael Charles Avory (born 15 February 1944) is an English musician, best known as the longtime drummer and percussionist for the English rock band the Kinks. He joined them shortly after their formation in 1964 and remained with them until 1984 ...
drums


Charts


References


Sources

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Well Respected Man, A 1965 singles The Kinks songs Song recordings produced by Shel Talmy Songs written by Ray Davies Pye Records singles Reprise Records singles Satirical songs 1965 songs Number-one singles in Sweden