It’s been a banner year for the Kinks.  Under the supervision of reissue producer (and Monkees guru!) Andrew Sandoval, Sanctuary and Universal U.K. have rolled out an impressive series of Deluxe Editions bringing together mono and stereo album versions, single and EP tracks and related ephemera from the Kinks’ Pye Records heyday.  Now, that campaign has gotten a bit bigger in scope, with the announcement of The Kinks in Mono.  This new box set, due in the U.K. on November 29,  follows in the footsteps of similar packages for The Beatles and Bob Dylan, and includes the band’s first seven LPs in seven individual digipaks.   But that’s not all.  An eighth disc compiles the Kinks’ original mono EPs and the ninth and tenth discs are devoted to “Mono Kollectables” rounding up the remaining mono material including unique international single versions.

The Kinks in Mono, appropriately enough, kicks off with 1964’s self-titled Kinks.  “You Really Got Me” heralded the electric birth of these British Invasion rockers, while “Stop Your Sobbing” was just one other instant classic on the set.  Like many albums of the time, Kinks combined familiar R&B covers by the likes of Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley with the band’s original material, primarily the work of one Raymond Douglas Davies.  That original voice became even more distinct with the albums that followed.  The box set continues with further excursions through R&B, pop, rock and finally Davies’ innovative concept albums: Kinda Kinks and The Kink Kontroversy (both 1965), Face To Face (1966), Something Else (1967), The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (1968), and Arthur, or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire (1969).

What’s new to this set?  Hit the jump!

As each of the albums has already been expanded by Sanctuary in 2-CD editions (3 CDs for Village Green) including the original mono mixes and numerous bonus tracks, the main attraction may be the discs of bonus material.   The two discs of “Mono Kollectables” promise international single mixes from outside of the United Kingdom, including tracks from 1970’s Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One, otherwise not represented in the box.  Purists may be pleased, too, at having the individual 1964-1969 mono albums in their original configurations.   Each of the ten CDs is housed in a digipak, encased in a rigid “Dansette” box to hold the digipaks and the 32-page accompanying book.  The book has been designed in the style of a traditional British pop “annual.”   All tracks have, of course, been remastered for the recent campaign, and those masterings have been used here.  Producer Sandoval has confirmed, however, that Village Green (definitively remastered and expanded some years ago) will feature a new mono remastering created expressly for this box set.

For certain, this is going to be a kinksized fall.  The Kinks in Mono joins Dave Davies’  Hidden Treasures, a.k.a. The Lost Album, which is due on October 31 in the United Kingdom, one month earlier than the box set.  Containing more true rarities, it can be considered an appetizer for the box and the evenutal next round of deluxe reissues!

Are you sold on this mono set for your enjoyment all through the day and all of the night?  U.S. and U.K. pre-order links follow, as well as the full track listing!  You’ll be able to own The Kinks in Mono on November 29!

The Kinks, The Kinks in Mono (Sanctuary/Universal, 2011 – U.S./U.K.)

CD 1: Kinks (Pye NPL-18096, 1964)

1. Beautiful Delilah
2. So Mystifying
3. Just Can’t Go To Sleep
4. Long Tall Shorty
5. I Took My Baby Home
6. I’m A Lover Not A Fighter
7. You Really Got Me
8. Cadillac
9. Bald Headed Woman
10. Revenge
11. Too Much Monkey Business
12. I’ve Been Driving On Bald Mountain
13. Stop Your Sobbing
14. Got Love If You Want It

CD 2: Kinda Kinks (Pye NPL-18112, 1965)

1. Look For Me Baby
2. Got My Feet On The Ground
3. Nothin’ In The World Can Stop Me Worryin’ ‘Bout That Girl
4. Naggin’ Woman
5. I Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight
6. Tired Of Waiting For You
7. Dancing In The Street
8. Don’t Ever Change
9. Come On Now
10. So Long
11. You Shouldn’t Be Sad
12. Something Better Beginning

CD 3: The Kink Kontroversy (Pye NPL-18131, 1965)

1. Milk Cow Blues
2. Ring The Bells
3. Gotta Get The First Plane Home
4. When I See That Girl Of Mine
5. I Am Free
6. Till The End Of The Day
7. The World Keeps Going Round
8. I’m On An Island
9. Where Have All The Good Times Gone
10. It’s Too Late
11. What’s In Store For Me
12. You Can’t Win

CD 4: Face to Face (Pye NPL-18149, 1966)

1. Party Line
2. Rosie Won’t You Please Come Home
3. Dandy
4. Too Much On My Mind
5. Session Man
6. Rainy Day In June
7. A House In The Country
8. Holiday In Waikiki
9. Most Exclusive Residence For Sale
10. Fancy
11. Little Miss Queen Of Darkness
12. You’re Looking Fine
13. Sunny Afternoon
14. I’ll Remember

CD 5: Something Else by the Kinks (Pye NPL-18193, 1967)

1. David Watts
2. Death Of A Clown
3. Two Sisters
4. No Return
5. Harry Rag
6. Tin Soldier Man
7. Situation Vacant
8. Love Me Till The Sun Shines
9. Lazy Old Sun
10. Afternoon Tea
11. Funny Face
12. End Of The Season
13. Waterloo Sunset

Disc 6: The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society (Pye NPL-18233, 1968)

1. The Village Green Preservation Society
2. Do You Remember Walter Mono
3. Picture Book
4. Johnny Thunder
5. Last Of The Steam Powered Trains
6. Big Sky
7. Sitting By The Riverside
8. Animal Farm
9. Village Green
10. Starstruck
11. Phenomenal Cat
12. All Of My Friends Were There
13. Wicked Annabella
14. Monica
15. People Take Pictures Of Each Other

CD 7: Arthur, or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire (Pye NPL-18317, 1969)

1. Victoria
2. Yes Sir, No Sir
3. Some Mother’s Son
4. Drivin’
5. Brainwashed
6. Australia
7. Shangri-La
8. Mr. Churchill Says
9. She’s Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina
10. Young And Innocent Days
11. Nothing To Say
12. Arthur

CD 8: The EPs (Kinksize Session – Pye NEP 24200, 1964, Kinksize Hits– Pye NEP 24203, 1964, Kwyet Kinks – Pye NEP 24221, 1965, Dedicated Kinks – Pye NEP 24258, 1966)

1. Louie Louie
2. I Gotta Go Now
3. Things Are Getting Better
4. I’ve Got That Feeling
5. You Really Got Me
6. It’s Alright
7. All Day And All Of The Night
8. I Gotta Move
9. Wait Till The Summer Comes Along
10. Such A Shame
11. A Well Respected Man
12. Don’t You Fret
13. Dedicated Follower Of Fashion
14. Till The End Of The Day
15. See My Friends
16. Set Me Free

CD 9: Mono Kollectables, Disc One

1. Long Tall Sally
2. You Still Want Me
3. You Do Something To Me
4. Beautiful Delilah (Alternate Mono Mix)
5. I’m A Lover Not A Fighter (Alternate Mono Mix)
6. Bald Headed Woman (US Mono Mix)
7. Ev’rybody’s Gonna Be Happy
8. Who’ll Be The Next In Line
9. I Need You
10. Never Met A Girl Like You Before
11. Sittin’ On My Sofa
12. I’m Not Like Everybody Else
13. Dead End Street
14. Big Black Smoke
15. Act Nice And Gentle
16. Autumn Almanac

CD 10: Mono Kollectables, Disc Two

1. Afternoon Tea (Canadian Mono Mix)
2. Susannah’s Still Alive
3. Wonderboy
4. Polly
5. Lincoln County
6. There’s No Life Without Love
7. Days
8. She’s Got Everything
9. Hold My Hand
10. Creeping Jean
11. Plastic Man
12. King Kong
13. Mindless Child Of Motherhood
14. This Man He Weeps Tonight
15. Australia (Australian Single Version)
16. Lola
17. Berkeley Mews
18. Apeman
19. Rats
20. Apeman (European Single Version)

The origin of each “Kollectable” track hasn’t been released yet.  We have included currently available information above.