"Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One", commonly abbreviated to Lola Versus Powerman, or simply Lola, is the eighth studio album by the English rock band The Kinks, released on 27 November 1970. A concept album, it offers a satirical critique of the music industry, exploring themes such as song publishers, unions, the press, accountants, business managers, and the challenges of life on the road. The album marked a significant change for the band, as it saw the addition of keyboardist John Gosling, making them a five-piece band.
The album was released during a transitional period for the Kinks. Despite this, Lola Versus Powerman was a commercial and critical success, helping to restore the band’s prominence. The album charted in the Top 40 in America and contained two major hit singles: "Lola," which reached the top 10 in both the US and UK, and "Apeman," which peaked at number five in the UK.
In 2020, a 50th Anniversary edition of the album was released by Sanctuary Records, which included 36 extra tracks, including B-sides, outtakes, new mixes, and alternate versions.
Musically, Lola Versus Powerman is diverse, described by Stephen Thomas Erlewine as "a wildly unfocused but nonetheless dazzling tour de force," containing some of Ray Davies's strongest songwriting. However, a second part to the album, despite the title, was never released.
The Kinks had been banned from performing in America by the American Federation of Musicians since 1965, but the ban was lifted in 1969. The band embarked on a North American tour, but illness among members caused several dates to be canceled, and the tour was ultimately limited. During this downtime, lead singer and songwriter Ray Davies worked on developing the Kinks' next single, "Lola."
The band returned to England in the spring of 1970 to begin work on the album. They recorded at Morgan Studios in London, a change from their previous studios. Some of the first songs recorded were "Lola," the outtake "The Good Life," "Powerman," and "Got to Be Free." The recording of "Lola" took several weeks, with Davies using a combination of a Martin guitar and a National Steel resonator guitar to create the track’s distinctive sound.
In May 1970, keyboardist John Gosling was added to the band's lineup. He initially joined to play on their upcoming US tour but soon became a permanent member. Gosling contributed to the final recording of "Lola" and other tracks on the album. The band's recording sessions were completed by October 1970, and the album was released later that month.
For the single version of "Lola," Ray Davies altered the line "Coca-Cola" to "cherry cola" for the mono release due to BBC restrictions on product placement. The original "Coca-Cola" line remained on the stereo album version. Similarly, for "Apeman," Davies had to re-record a line to avoid confusion, as "fogging" was mistakenly heard as "fucking" by some listeners.
The album offers a satirical look at various aspects of the music industry. The song "Denmark Street" addresses the world of song publishing, "Get Back in Line" critiques unions, and "Top of the Pops" mocks the music press and the machine behind creating hit records. "The Moneygoround" tackles accountants and business managers, while "This Time Tomorrow" reflects on the band's life on the road.
Musically, Lola Versus Powerman is diverse. It contrasts softer ballads like "Get Back in Line" and "A Long Way from Home" with harder rock songs like "Rats" and "Powerman." Some tracks, such as "Denmark Street" and "The Moneygoround," also pay homage to the traditional English music hall style.
