Album Information:

About The Kinks:

The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, London, in 1964 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies, who were the band's primary songwriters. The band's original lineup also included Mick Avory on drums and Pete Quaife on bass.

The Kinks rose to popularity in the mid-1960s with hits such as 'You Really Got Me,' 'All Day and All of the Night,' and 'Tired of Waiting for You.' These and other early Kinks songs helped to establish the band as one of the key players in the British Invasion.

Throughout the 1960s, The Kinks continued to release successful albums and singles, including 'Waterloo Sunset,' 'Sunny Afternoon,' and 'Lola.' The band's music was known for its catchy hooks, raw energy, and witty lyrics that often critiqued British society.

In the 1970s, The Kinks experimented with different musical styles, including rock opera and country rock. The band also faced several lineup changes during this time, with Dave Davies leaving the band briefly in the early 1970s before returning in 1978.

Despite these challenges, The Kinks continued to release critically acclaimed albums in the 1970s and 1980s, including Muswell Hillbillies, Preservation Act 1 and 2, and Give the People What They Want.

The Kinks officially disbanded in 1996, but their music remains influential and continues to be celebrated by fans and musicians alike. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and in later years, both Ray and Dave Davies continued to perform and record music as solo artists.

About the album Low Budget:

Low Budget is the seventeenth studio album by English rock band The Kinks, released in 1979. The album deftly blends rock, pop, and punk influences in a way that reflects the band's strengths while still pushing their sound forward.

The album's title track, 'Low Budget,' immediately sets the tone for the rest of the record. A driving rock-and-roll number with catchy, sing-along lyrics that tackle the struggles of working-class life, it's an anthem for the band's perennially overlooked blue-collar fans. 'Pressure' follows with a similar punk energy, but with a more political bent, tackling issues like media manipulation and government corruption.

'National Health' taps into a ska-inflected groove to comment on the then-current British political and social climate while remaining upbeat and danceable. Meanwhile, 'Misery' and 'A Gallon of Gas' embrace the dark side of modern living, the former a moody exploration of personal pain and the latter a sardonic look at the effects of an oil crisis on the world.

But it's not all bleakness and anger on Low Budget; the album contains a few moments of lighter fare, too. 'Living on a Thin Line' is both a catchy pop song and a poignant meditation on mortality, while 'Moving Pictures' marries the rock-and-roll swagger of the opener with a slice-of-life lyrical approach that observes people going about their day-to-day lives.

Overall, Low Budget is a finely crafted album that manages to be both musically cohesive and thematically varied at once. It's a reflection of The Kinks' qualities as a band that could straddle genres with ease, while still producing music that was both thoughtful and entertaining.

Members:

The Kinks were an English rock band that formed in London in 1964. The band's original lineup consisted of four members. Here are their biographies:

1. Ray Davies - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Songwriter
Ray Davies was born on June 21, 1944, in Fortis Green, London. He was the primary songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist for The Kinks. Before founding The Kinks, Davies attended art school, where he studied and became interested in film. He formed the band with his brother, Dave, and two friends, Mick Avory and Peter Quaife. Davies wrote many of the band's biggest hits, including 'You Really Got Me,' 'Tired of Waiting for You,' and 'Waterloo Sunset.' In addition to his success with The Kinks, Davies has had a successful solo career as a singer, songwriter, and composer.

2. Dave Davies - Lead Guitar, Vocals
Dave Davies was born on February 3, 1947, in London. He is the younger brother of Ray Davies and was the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for The Kinks. Dave was known for his innovative guitar playing, which was influential in influencing the development of heavy metal music. He wrote some of the band's hit songs, including 'Strangers' and 'Living on a Thin Line.' Dave also had a successful solo career releasing multiple albums and collaborating with other musicians.

3. Pete Quaife - Bass Guitar
Pete Quaife was born on December 31, 1943, in Tavistock, Devon. He was the original bass player for The Kinks, playing on the band's first six studio albums before leaving in 1969. Quaife was known for his melodic bass lines and his laid-back personality, which contrasted with the more outspoken personalities of Ray and Dave Davies. After leaving The Kinks, Quaife pursued various business ventures and played in other bands before his death in 2010.

4. Mick Avory - Drums
Mick Avory was born on February 15, 1944, in Hampton, Middlesex. He was the drummer for The Kinks from their inception until their breakup in 1996, making him the band's longest-serving member. Avory's drumming style was known for its straightforwardness and precision, providing a steady beat for the band's songs. He is known for his collaboration with Ray Davies, co-writing some of the band's hit songs, such as 'Days.' After The Kinks, Avory continued to play music and has worked on various projects over the years.

Track List for Low Budget:

1. 'Attitude' - 3:47 - This track starts the album with a punchy, upbeat rock sound, featuring electric guitar riffs and a catchy chorus.

2. 'Catch Me Now I'm Falling' - 5:57 - The longest track on the album, 'Catch Me Now I'm Falling' has a more somber tone than the first track. The lyrics tell the story of a man who feels left behind by society.

3. 'Pressure' - 2:28 - A fast-paced, energetic song with layered vocal harmonies and a prominent bass line. The lyrics touch on the stress and pressure of modern life.

4. 'National Health' - 4:03 - A slower, more melodic song with a prominent piano and acoustic guitar. The lyrics critique the state of Britain's national health system.

5. '(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman' - 5:58 - One of the band's most well-known songs, '(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman' features a driving beat and catchy chorus. The lyrics detail the desire to escape and fly away.

6. 'Low Budget' - 3:52 - The title track of the album, 'Low Budget' has a more country-rock feel than some of the other songs on the album. The lyrics tell the story of a man trying to make ends meet.

7. 'In a Space' - 3:45 - A more experimental track, 'In a Space' features a lot of synthesizer and distorted guitar. The lyrics touch on alienation and isolation.

8. 'Little Bit of Emotion' - 4:55 - A slower ballad with a prominent piano and string section. The lyrics explore the struggles of finding love and emotional connection.

9. 'A Gallon of Gas' - 3:47 - A funky, upbeat track that critiques the dependence on oil and the impact it has on the world.

10. 'Misery' - 2:58 - A short and sweet track with simple instrumentation and lyrics that express feelings of misery and sadness.

11. 'Moving Pictures' - 3:43 - The final track on the album, 'Moving Pictures' has a more mellow sound with acoustic guitars and harmonies. The lyrics touch on the power of movies and their ability to transport us to different worlds.

Discography for The Kinks:

Here is a complete discography for the artist The Kinks in chronological order:

Albums:
1. Kinks (1964)
2. Kinda Kinks (1965)
3. The Kink Kontroversy (1965)
4. Face to Face (1966)
5. Something Else by The Kinks (1967)
6. The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (1968)
7. Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) (1969)
8. Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One (1970)
9. Percy (1971)
10. Muswell Hillbillies (1971)
11. Everybody's in Show-Biz (1972)
12. Preservation Act 1 (1973)
13. Preservation Act 2 (1974)
14. Soap Opera (1975)
15. Schoolboys in Disgrace (1975)
16. Sleepwalker (1977)
17. Misfits (1978)
18. Low Budget (1979)
19. One for the Road (1980)
20. Give the People What They Want (1981)
21. State of Confusion (1983)
22. Word of Mouth (1984)
23. Think Visual (1986)
24. UK Jive (1989)
25. Phobia (1993)

Singles:
1. 'Long Tall Sally'/'I Took My Baby Home' (1964)
2. 'You Still Want Me'/'You Do Something to Me' (1964)
3. 'You Really Got Me'/'It's All Right' (1964)
4. 'All Day and All of the Night'/'I Gotta Move' (1964)
5. 'Tired of Waiting for You'/'Come On Now' (1965)
6. 'Everybody's Gonna Be Happy'/'Who'll Be the Next in Line' (1965)
7. 'Set Me Free'/'I Need You' (1965)
8. 'See My Friends'/'Never Met a Girl Like You Before' (1965)
9. 'A Well Respected Man'/'Such a Shame' (1965)
10. 'Till the End of the Day'/'Where Have All the Good Times Gone' (1965)
11. 'Dedicated Follower of Fashion'/'Sittin' on My Sofa' (1966)
12. 'Sunny Afternoon'/'I'm Not Like Everybody Else' (1966)
13. 'Dead End Street'/'Big Black Smoke' (1966)
14. 'Waterloo Sunset'/'Act Nice and Gentle' (1967)
15. 'Autumn Almanac'/'Mister Pleasant' (1967)
16. 'Wonderboy'/'Polly' (1968)
17. 'Days'/'She's Got Everything' (1968)
18. 'Starstruck'/'Picture Book' (1968)
19. 'Victoria'/'Mr. Churchill Says' (1969)
20. 'Lola'/'Berkeley Mews' (1970)
21. 'Apeman'/'Rats' (1970)
22. 'God's Children'/'The Way Love Used to Be' (1971)
23. '20th Century Man'/'Skin and Bone' (1971)
24. 'Supersonic Rocket Ship'/'The Light's On' (1972)
25. 'Celluloid Heroes'/'Hot Potatoes' (1972)
26. 'Where Have All the Good Times Gone'/'All Day and All of the Night' (1973)
27. 'Sitting in My Hotel'/'Hotel Blues' (1973)
28. 'One of the Survivors'/'Cricket' (1974)
29. 'Mirror of Love'/'He's Evil' (1974)
30. 'You Can't Stop the Music'/'Everybody's a Star (Starmaker)' (1976)
31. '(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman'/'Low Budget' (1979)
32. 'Better Things'/'Massive Reductions' (1981)
33. 'Come Dancing'/'Noise' (1983)
34. 'Don't Forget to Dance'/'Young Conservatives' (1983)
35. 'Do It Again'/'Word of Mouth' (1984)
36. 'Living on a Thin Line'/'Sold Me Out' (1985)
37. 'Lost and Found'/'The Road' (1986)
38. 'How Are You'/'Bright Lights' (1986)
39. 'The Road'/'Artificial Light' (1988)
40. 'UK Jive'/'Only a Dream' (1989)
41. 'Scattered'/'Hatred (A Duet)' (1993)
42. 'To the Bone'/'Animal' (1994)

Other releases:
1. Kinksize Session (EP) (1964)
2. Kwyet Kinks (EP) (1965)
3. Dedicated Kinks (EP) (1966)
4. The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (German release) (1968)
5. Four More Respected Gentlemen (1969)
6. Percy (soundtrack) (1971)
7. The Great Lost Kinks Album (1973)
8. The Kinks' Greatest Hits! (1976)
9. Come Dancing with The Kinks: The Best of the Kinks 1977-1986 (1986)
10. The Ultimate Collection (2002)
11. Picture Book (6-disc box set) (2008)