"Face to Face" is the fourth studio album by the English rock band the Kinks, released on October 28, 1966. This album marked a shift away from the hard-driving beat music that had brought the group international fame in 1964, leaning instead into baroque pop and music hall influences. It is the first Kinks album featuring entirely Ray Davies compositions and is often regarded as one of rock's first concept albums. Davies' songwriting during this period became increasingly observational and satirical, addressing themes of English culture, social class, and the music industry.
Despite featuring the hit single "Sunny Afternoon," the album initially received lukewarm reviews in both the UK and US, charting at No. 12 and No. 135, respectively. However, Face to Face later gained retrospective acclaim, recognized as a pivotal record of the psychedelic era and a significant milestone in the Kinks' development. The album was included in Robert Christgau's "Basic Record Library" and in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
The background of the album is marked by Ray Davies experiencing a nervous breakdown just before major recording sessions. He began introducing a softer style of songwriting the previous year with tracks like "A Well Respected Man" and "Dedicated Follower of Fashion." The success of "Sunny Afternoon" in July 1966 demonstrated to Davies and the band's managers that this new style could yield commercial success, influencing their work for the following five years. This period from 1966 to 1971 is often referred to as Davies' and the Kinks' "golden age."
Rock historians consider Face to Face one of the earliest rock/pop concept albums, with a loose theme of social observation. Initially, Davies planned to connect the songs through sound effects, but due to pressure from Pye Records, he reverted to a more traditional album format. Some sound effects remain in tracks like "Party Line," "Holiday in Waikiki," and "Rainy Day in June."
The recording sessions included tracks such as "I'll Remember," which was recorded in October 1965, and two others, "This Is Where I Belong" and "She's Got Everything," which were released later as B-sides. During the recording sessions, Pete Quaife temporarily left the band due to a car crash, with John Dalton stepping in. The release of the album faced delays due to contractual issues, and there were also disputes over the final cover art, which Davies later deemed inappropriate.
Two songs from Face to Face, although written by Ray Davies, had been recorded by other British bands before its release. The Pretty Things had a minor hit with "A House in the Country," while Herman's Hermits achieved significant success with their version of "Dandy." The Rockin' Vickers also released a version of "Dandy" as a single. Despite the sleeve notes on their compilation, "Little Rosy" was not written by Ray Davies.
