Kinks Weeks – Sitting In The Midday Sun …cincinnatibabyhead.wordpress.com

Today we have CB from https://cincinnatibabyhead.wordpress.com/ who is posting his Kinks song. Go visit his site for some cool music and movies. I’ve been influenced by all of you bloggers. You opened my eyes and ears to new music and styles. CB has been one of those influences by getting me out of my former comfort zone and enjoying new/old music that I wouldn’t have heard otherwise… Take it away CB…

Six Kinks songs popped into my head right away when Max ran this idea by me. I stuck a pin in this one.

One of those everyman songs Ray sings. The song’s character (From Preservations Act I) observing the world as he sees it. He’s happy and that makes the listener happy.  Kind of a Sunny Afternoon vibe. Ray did like certain themes and summer/sunshine was one of them. This song has been in regular rotation in my head for a long time. It just puts me in a good mood and reminds me to chill out.

“I’ve got no home

I’ve got no money

But who needs a job when it’s sunny”

I just love the lyrics and the music that goes with it. Sets the mood. CB wants to be the character in this song. Just watching the world go by.

Lets live in the moment with the Kinks and celebrate one of life’s pleasures. Soaking up some rays and taking it easy. I’m in. No one does it better than the Kinks.

So sing along

“So I’m just sitting in the midday sun

Just soaking up that currant bun

With no particular purpose or reason

Sitting in the midday sun”

Note: My son (Big Earl) was over for a visit. I told him I was taking part in a discussion on Kinks songs. I asked him if he had a couple favorites and without hesitation he said “Waterloo Sunset and “Till The End Of The Day” The Kinks are still reaching new ears.

Note 2: For years I thought “currant Bun” has something to do with the sun. I finally found out it does “The Sun” a tabloid in England. There you go Max, I did some homework for you.

Note 3: I’m a big fan of the Kinks concept albums Soap Opera, Preservations Acts I and II, Schoolboys In Disgrace. Not well received commercially but they were full of really good stuff.

Note 4: I’ve enjoyed opening these takes everyday and seeing what all you good people have to say on the Kinks. I was not disappointed. Great stuff. Max is a beauty.

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

49 thoughts on “Kinks Weeks – Sitting In The Midday Sun …cincinnatibabyhead.wordpress.com”

  2. Rhyming slang is another language. I knew what an actual currant bun was, but not the meaning here. There are a few glossaries out there, including this one from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/jun/09/guide-to-cockney-rhyming-slang and this one from Rice University: https://www.ruf.rice.edu/~kemmer/Words04/usage/slang_cockney.html. Some of them get complicated, with intermediate steps to the rhyme. Much more complex than the “mono syl lang” my brother spoke around 1960.

    This song reminds me of “Waterloo Sunset” – a song about the simple pleasures of life and the beauty all around us. A far cry from the garage rock of 1964 Kinks.

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    1. When watching films from the Isles I miss half of what’s said. I love a lot of the cinema from over there.
      I watched a clip of Ray and choir sing Waterloo/Days. He dedicated it to Pete Quaif. It was beautiful. Ray got hit by some real emotion.

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    1. You could say that glyn. You mentioned the concept thing yesterday and it reminded me of how much time I put into listening to those albums. There are some gems on this album. A few of those English themed ones that even worked for a trouble maker from Canada. Maybe a Commonwealth thing?

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  8. I better practice at making comments again. This one satisfies two sides of me…it’s a Kinks song through and through plus it’s so likeable. It does have a cool atmosphere to it…it covers their sixties sound perfectly but with a seventies style…feel good music…a song you can forget your bad day by.

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    1. It really is…their earlier music with a dash of Lovin Spoonful…
      Good idea! The Who!
      No, it is interesting seeing these different takes…I have really enjoyed this.

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      3. You hit a sweet spot with me. I really couldnt pick a favorite Kinks tune. All the songs that were chosen bring up emotions and I’m moved in some way. What music is abut for me. I was reading a take a while ago and it referred to a lyric from ‘Sweet Lady Genevieve” Man did it hit the spot. Put me in a good mood all day.

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      4. Yea…I thought I had a favorite song by them…but that went by the wayside with this marathon because I’ve found more plus the one I’m doing tomorrow….which I will urge people to listen to the live version of it.

        They do make you feel good…especially todays song…I need to move that album to the one I listen to next.

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      6. You are right…it is right up my alley. That doesn’t surprise me about the Mod and Rockers…The Kinks and Who were so English…much more than their two more famous peers…. and I love that part about both of them. I just read an article of Pete praising Dave Davies as one of the most under rated guitarist…and of course Ray as a songwriter.

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      7. Those two bands avoided the celebrity thing and were to me more grounded with their pasts and where they came from. Working class and it resonated with me. Plus they were romantics. I agree with Pete 100%.
        Since you started this I found a couple clips of Dave listening to a couple street buskers. It proves my point about still being grounded. Plus one of Ray singing live and dedicating it to Quailf. Real cool stuff.

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      8. Oh I saw the clip dedicated to Quailf. Those two bands are connected no doubt. Both were concept heavy bands…and yes….about the working class.
        Tomorrow…I’ll have the most English song you could possibly hear….tea should be served with every listen.

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  10. A song that I like very much, especially the line, “When I see the people shouting at each other, I’d rather be an out of work bum”. I’m a fan of Soap Opera too. The concept is kind of kooky, but it has two of my favorite songs, “Underneath the Neon Sign” and “A Face In the Crowd”.

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    1. What an output they had. Listening to those songs you mentioned afresh is just more confirmation on why I like the Kinks so much. Ray acting out on that album. I was with him for the ride. His brain must have been a squirrel cage at the time. All those ideas that he brought to life. “Kooky” yes but something more at the same time.

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      2. “Kooky” works. I found that album ‘Fawlty Towers’ like. Pretty sure Ray had acting aspirations. And you’re right about the songs. That’s the hook. I had an aunt with “ducks on the wall” No bullshit. Good stuff M.Y. You are a Kinks Kid.

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      3. Thank you. It took me a lot of years of building my collection little by little and making discoveries. Nine-tenths of my favorite Kinks songs are the deeper tracks, but it’s the same way with all the artists I like.

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      4. Couldnt agree with you more. ‘Hot Potatoes’ was neck and neck with ‘Midday Sun’. Had a friend who caught them doing ‘Schoolboys’ Live. Man was I jealous. Maybe one day we’ll meet and have a Kinks love fest over a beverage, Get Mick Avory to join us and give us some tales.

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  11. A great wee song about being a man of leisure. Nice peaceful and wistful, and isn’t that how you feel, drowsing in a nice patch of sun, no work whistle to send you scurrying off to some shi- dead end job in some dark back street factory?

    Big ups to Big Earl too, CB. Two fine choices.

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      1. My sons are both into music, but their music is so different from mine, even though I’ve picked up some pretty good tunes from each of them (and maybe they have from me also.)

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      2. It’s a 2 way street Lisa. I have picked up lots of good music from them. Cool thing is they will come to me with an older song and say “CB do you know this one?” And I say “Of course I do, I’m your dad”

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  12. Whether it’s sitting on the dock of the bay, sitting watching the wheels go round and round, or sitting by the side of the river underneath the pale blue sky, chillin’ is a good thing. All too easily, we can get caught up in stuff life throws at us every day. Relaxing is necessary to keep our sanity, so I’m with you, CB, and the proposition of this song – yet another one by The Kinks that was new to me!

    Your son has great taste. “Waterloo Sunset” and “Till The End Of The Day” are two of my longtime favorites by The Kinks – oops, did I just imply I have great taste? 🙂

    “Big Earl” is a cool nick name – sounds like a blues dude!

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    1. Music has a great way of changing or effecting our mood. This song does it for me (Plus the ones you alluded to). I try to stay away from the madness. Ray is good that way.
      Earl likes his tunes. Has turned me onto some good music. Cool how they pick up their own stuff. I think he has a pretty good ear for similar stuff to myself. Like you Christian. Go soak up some “currant bun”.

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  13. I can see where Jimmy Buffett may have picked up some pointers from. That’s a swell song, CB. First time hearing it. It’s what retirement feels like for me. Every time I feel pressure to go back to work, I think about how much I enjoy sitting in the sun 🙂 I feel your affection for this song in your writing.

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