I’ve always thought Dave Davies deserved more credit than he usually gets. Ray Davies was a songwriting genius, but Dave’s guitar playing helped define The Kinks just as much. That raw, distorted sound changed rock music forever. On top of that, Dave could write songs that stood on their own, and this song is one of the best examples. It’s melodic, heartfelt, and has that unmistakable Kinks sound. If you’ve only heard Dave through his guitar work, this is a great place to discover the songwriter.
When most people think of The Kinks, they naturally think of Ray Davies. He wrote most of the band’s classic songs and became one of rock’s greatest storytellers. But without Dave Davies, The Kinks wouldn’t have sounded like The Kinks. His slashing guitar on You Really Got Me helped invent hard rock, and his playing gave Ray’s songs an edge that few bands could match. Every now and then, Dave stepped into the spotlight himself, and this one proved he had plenty to say as a songwriter.
Released in 1967 as Dave’s second solo single, it arrived during one of the most creative periods in The Kinks’ career. Ray was writing songs that painted pictures of English life, while Dave leaned toward a more personal, emotional style. This was written by Dave himself and produced by Shel Talmy, the song features the familiar Kinks lineup. Although credited as a solo record, it feels like a close cousin to the band’s recordings from that era.
The song tells the story of someone looking back on a relationship with a mix of regret and hope. Dave’s vocals have a vulnerability that suits the lyrics perfectly, while his ringing guitar work reminds you that he was far more than just the band’s lead guitarist. The melody has that unmistakable late-1960s British feel, balancing catchy hooks with just enough melancholy to make it linger after the song ends.
This wasn’t a major hit everywhere, but it performed well in parts of Europe and has become one of Dave Davies’ signature solo recordings. Looking back, it’s easy to hear that he wasn’t simply Ray’s younger brother. He was an important creative force in The Kinks, both as a guitarist and as a songwriter. Songs like this show another side of his talent and remind us that sometimes the second voice in a great band has a story worth hearing too.
Susannah’s Still Alive
Old Susannah’s bedraggled
But she still wears a lanyard ’round her neck
She’s got a picture on the table
Of a man who’s young and able
Oh, Susannah’s gonna cry
Oh, Susannah’s still alive
Whiskey or a gin, that’s alright
There’s nothing in her bed at night
She sleeps with the covers down
Hoping somebody jumps in
Doesn’t matter what she does
She knows that she can’t win
Oh, Susannah’s still alive
She’s got a dog with one eye
That always cries when he gets some sleep
She’s waiting for a soldier to come home
But you cry and never die
Oh, Susannah’s gonna cry
Oh, Susannah’s still alive
Whiskey or a gin, that’s alright
There’s nothing in her bed at night
She sleeps with the covers down
Hoping somebody gets in
Doesn’t matter what she does
She knows that she can’t win
Oh, Susannah’s still alive
Oh, Susannah’s gonna cry
Oh, Susannah’s still alive
Oh, Susannah’s still alive
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Way cool! 😎
New one to me, Max.
interesting! Both versions sounded live and kind of lo-fi to me, but maybe that’s just my phone. He definitely has talent, doesn’t sound TOO different than his brother singing, to me, and can play guitar really well from crunchy rock to some pieces with finesse. This one doesn’t grab me really but it has a real ‘pub rock’ feel to it before that was a thing. Good obscure find.
There are so many to pick from…his guitar playing and songwriting gets overlooked at times because of his brother.
I saw some made the comparison to CCR and the Brothers Fogerty which is fair, but I think in this case Dave Davies probably had more talent and more reason to feel slighted than Tom Fogerty. But there was no denying RAy was the master-songwriter and singer in the Kinks. I think it’s been 11 years or so since they said they had reconciled and were getting new stuff together, so as you comment elsewhere, I don’t think that’s going to happen.
I compare it to John Entwistle…REALLY good songwriter Dave…but how do you compete with Pete Townshend? No I don’t think they will get together…in 2019 is when they were talking again.
Nice!
I agree with your Take Max. He was a big part of the sound and also brought a mischievous element to the band. Always looked and felt like he was having fun and up to something
That is a great way to describe him… if things got boring… just get him and Mick into a room. Things will liven up. I love his tone and guitar playing…. And he is a really good songwriter as well.
Yes he should be mentioned more when talking about rock guitarists. He served the song and very rarely took long solos.
When he did…they were special especially live.
Yup
I love his early songs. There is a collection of them called Hidden Treasures, which is excellent. There’s an exclusive Kinks radio station online that I listen to quite often, and they have recorded talking bits between the songs sometimes, and one was Dave saying about how Ray can write a song about anything, but he has to feel something emotionally. Excellent choice today.
Yea I get where Dave is coming from on that part. He isn’t a journalist like his brother is… I’ll have to find that Hidden Treasures…that sounds great. He is a good songwriter that just so happens to be the brother of a great one. Like Entwistle was a good songwriter but in a band with a great one.
Good comparison with Entwistle.
Perhaps not surprisingly, when thinking of the Kinks and Dave Davies, the one song that always comes to my mind first is “Death of a Clown,” which in my book is among the group’s best. I didn’t know/recall “Susannah’s Still Alive.” It does sound great and further illustrates Dave should have gotten more credit than he did.
No doubt Ray Davies was an outstanding songwriter, but he also was very dominant! His verbal and physical fights with his brother were notorious. While by now I think it’s safe to assume we won’t see a Kinks reunion, at least it appears the two feuding brothers have reestablished some dialogue and perhaps finally put behind all the bad blood between them.
They were getting togther a few years ago a lot…then suddenly you don’t hear anything anymore. I sure wish they would. I would love to hear some new Kinks!
He has some really good songs.
At least it appears the Davies brothers are talking to each other again – unlike John Fogerty who sadly never made up with his brother Tom Fogerty, and once Tom passed, it obviously was too late.
Yea that is true…with the Davies they fought…and yes sometimes hateful…but nothing like the Fogerty Brothers…that got personal.
Another great track. I can hear Bowie in there…love it.
I didn’t even know he made a solo effort. Yes, it sounds decidedly 60s British!
Check out Death of a Clown…he had a hit with that one.
Dave was often in the shadow of his more famous brother….at least I thought so.
I have compared Dave with John Entwistle…a very good songwriter but how do you compete against Pete Townshend? I think Dave ran into the same thing.
I think you’re right
Yep, the big one of his was ‘Tears Of A Clown’ which I really took to, but I’d heard this too. My bro bought the single. Maybe I literally heard it on the flip side? This is pretty good, I hadn’t heard it for ages.
Good point about the lesser sung members of a group often having a dollop of real talent too.
Death of a Clown? Or did he cover that one as well? Yea it’s just hard to compete against brilliance of Ray…although Dave does his thing and makes it all complete
Sorry, mental gli gli gli glitch there! ‘Death Of A Clown!’
I wasn’t trying to rub it in either…I thought you just typed it wrong but…something hit me…wonder if he covered that song?
Yes he certainly took a back seat to his brother. But if I recall from your piece on the brothers relationship, he wasn’t shy about talking with his fists! I don’t think I’ve heard this song. It a pretty decent song but I think it lacks the crispness Rays songs.
His catalog is pretty good…this is not the best song he did….some of his seventies – current music is really good.
I’ve probably said it here before, but it bears repeating. I think the Kinks inspired more kids to start bands than the Beatles did. The Beatles sounded too perfect. The rawness of the Kinks made us think, “Yeah, I could do that.”
I could see that…becasue of the garage band sound…but you know who I think could have inspired countless bands? The Monkees…the reason is they were on primetime for two years…and they made it look like fun. I was in the second generation to find them and I will admit…they made me want to be in a band.
This one is great, I don’t think i ever connected it to Dave, just sounds like a great Kinks song. I like the restless arrangement.