Buy used:

$22.00

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE delivery Friday, June 7 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 18 hrs 37 mins

Select delivery location

Used: Like New | Details

Sold by Wild West General Store

Fulfilled by Amazon

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Other sellers on Amazon

New & Used (11) from $12.68 + $3.99 shipping

Follow the author

Ray Davies

Follow

Americana: The Kinks, the Riff, the Road: The Story Paperback – September 1, 2015

by Ray Davies (Author)

4.4 312 ratings

See all formats and editions

Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. Try again.

As a boy in post-War England, legendary Kinks' singer/songwriter Ray Davies was fascinated by America—ts movies and music, its culture of freedom, fed his imagination. Then, as part of the British Invasion, he toured the US with the Kinks during one of the most tumultuous eras in recent history—until the Kinks were banned from performing there from 1965-69. Many tours and trips later, he experienced a transformative event in New Orleans when he was shot during a botched robbery. From his quintessentially English perspective as songwriter for the Kinks, Davies explores in Americana his feelings—love, confusion, and fascination—toward the country that both inspires and frustrates him. With candor, humor, and wit, he takes us on a very personal road trip through his life and storied career as a rock writer-performer, and reveals what music, fame, and America really mean to him. Some of the most fascinating characters in recent pop culture make appearances, from the famous to the perhaps even-more-interesting behind-the-scenes players. The book also includes a photographic insert with many images from Davies's own collection.

Print length

320 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Union Square & Co.
Publication date

September 1, 2015
Dimensions

7.5 x 1.25 x 10.5 inches
ISBN-10

1454915528
ISBN-13

978-1454915522
See all details

Dave Davies
261
Paperback
48 offers from $7.09
Ray Davies
185
Hardcover
25 offers from $3.97
Ray Davies
476
Audio CD
45 offers from $3.49
Johnny Rogan
229
Paperback
27 offers from $16.51
Dave Davies
83
Hardcover
15 offers from $20.79
Ray Davies
66
Audio CD
15 offers from $14.81

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Kinks frontman published X-Ray, his 'unauthorized autobiography,' in 1994, long before his peers started telling their own tales of decadence and recovery. Americana is alternately a sequel and parallel companion piece to X-Ray, chronicling his later years and his lifelong relationship with the country and culture that inspired him. . . . Davies is candid and honest about his personal and creative struggles. . . . [He writes] 'the immovable "You" is always there, whether you like it or not.'” —The New York Times

About the Author

Iconic rock singer-songwriter Ray Davies inspired generations of musicians—from the Who, the Clash, and the Ramones to Black Sabbath—as lead singer and songwriter of the Kinks. The band's string of international hits include “You Really Got Me,” “All Day and All of the Night,” “Till the End of the Day,” “Come Dancing,” and of course, “Lola.” In 1990, the Kinks were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Davies has also acted, directed, and produced shows for theater and television. Since the Kinks disbanded he has embarked on a solo career and continues to tour and record. Davies was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2004, and in 2012, his performance of the Kinks song “Waterloo Sunset” was a highlight of the closing ceremony of the London Olympics. On his most recent album, See My Friends (2011), he collaborated with such artists as Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, and Jon Bon Jovi. Davies was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June 2014, and his Kinks-themed stage musical, Sunny Afternoon, is now playing on the West End in London and crowned best new musical at the Olivier Awards in April 2015. It also won Oliviers for best actor and best supporting actor in the musical category, and Ray Davies received a special outstanding achievement award for the Sunny Afternoon score.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Union Square & Co.; Reprint edition (September 1, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1454915528
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1454915522
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.5 x 1.25 x 10.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,314,995 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5,082 in Rock Band Biographies
- #17,469 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies

Customer Reviews:
4.4 312 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Ray Davies

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5

312 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

goodtimesroll

Superb Memoir From A Great Artist

Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2013

Verified Purchase

Ray Davies' Americana is one of the greatest achievements in a stellar career leading the fabulous Kinks, striking out as a solo artist, and developing countless interesting projects for film, stage, and publishing.

Unlike the clever gimmicks employed in Ray's excellent first autobiographical book, XRay, Americana gives us a pure first person account, in amazingly comprehensive and honest detail, of Davies' experiences in America. There is rich detail about his life after the millennium in New Orleans, leading up to the shooting incident and recovery, with lots of information about that crime that has never before been disclosed. This recent history is told on a parallel track with the amazing history of the Kinks in America, beginning with their ill-fated 1965 tour and the subsequent ban that kept them out of the States until 1969.

The detailed anecdotes of how the Kinks gradually re-introduced themselves to America and eventually became one of the few hugely successful touring bands from the British Invasion period in the States during the 1970's and 1980's is fascinating, and filled with many priceless anecdotes about interactions with American music business giants like Bill Graham and Clive Davis. But Ray's loving memories of lesser-known figures who played roles in the Kinks' saga are perhaps the most touching. There is no mean-spirited score-settling material in this book...no fuel for the infamous feud between Ray and Dave, or invective toward anyone else.

Ray's writing here is characteristically sharp, incisive, and beautiful. As I got closer to the end of the book I found myself slowing down, because I did not want the book to end. Americana is indispensable to any fan of Ray Davies and the Kinks, and will make a surprisingly good read even to the uninitiated. Spectacular.

37 people found this helpful

Helpful

Antonella Francesca

honest and sweet, like the man.

Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2024

Verified Purchase

Very nice book by Ray Davies, and an honest portrayal of his relationship with his brother and look at his mind as he dealt with touring and difficult traumatic events of his life.

Helpful

Arthur W. Turfa

Excellent Memoir That Does Not Hide Anything

Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2023

Verified Purchase

I have long admired Sir Ray and the Kinks and even saw them live. This memoir is very well-written, which one would expect from such an accomplished songwriter. It had a lot of sadness in it, as Ray does not cover anything up. The band has had an interesting fascination/association with the USA, and that comes across more clearly here. I was also interested in his observations on the UK political scene.

Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2016

Verified Purchase

This is quite a candid book from one who generally protects his privacy. While you still don't totally get under the covers with him you do get a sense of him more than in his other work. He comes across as someone who is solitary yet liked by many. A hard working musician artist who writes very well in song and in prose.

There is a number of levels with this well written book. Perhaps the most important is his shooting incident where he talks about the trauma he underwent. He does not overdo it but you sense that most of what he feels is unwritten. It however conveys an important message about people who are victims of crime including the lack of justice he received. The courts would not tell him well in advance when to appear in court which resulted in the offender's charges being dismissed when he was not able to attend the trail when given only days notice to appear. Also the concerns the medical profession had about medical insurance. You see that medicine is a business after all.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is much better than X Ray and far more revealing of the man and the tough music world. This is a book to keep and re read again.

15 people found this helpful

Helpful

Timothy Hallinan

Disappointing memoir by a rock genius.

Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2018

Verified Purchase

There are times -- for example, the period following Davies' shooting in New Orleans -- where this is a dream book, but most of it is in such bad, cloudy focus that it's hard to feel compelled to read more than a few pages at a time. And I say that as someone who thinks Ray Davies was one of the most compelling and indispensable talents in all of rock and roll, a chameleon songwriter of literally unmatched scope. I read it all, sometimes (as in the part I singled out above) avidly, but often scanning pages in 10-15 seconds and moving on. I never actually read the end, which is a book sin I almost never commit. He get five stars from me for everything else he's ever done and three for this book/

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

David Terralavoro

Buy this book

Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2014

Verified Purchase

I waited for this book to come out - posting a note on my refrigerator! Back in 1997 I read X-Ray and was left in a state of confusion - Ray signed it at the Bardavon in Pough, NY that year. So here we have "Americana" allegedly taking over where "X Ray" left off - according to some reviews, chatting etc. I Read "Americana" and was just amazed at the wonderful life Davies has. What threw me off or what i disliked was when the author jumps around alot - I am reading about the sixties then we fast forward to the 90s then this continues a few times. Don't get me wrong I like this book I buy all Ray Solo discs (the ones with extra songs mind you). But after all is is Ray's book he can do what he wants. I used to love rereading his interviews in print and listening to his audio tapes interviews. We learn alot in this book that we wouldnt hear elsewhere. What astonished me was when Mr Davies was shot in New Orleans a telling of the events is told here. Some of the people didnt know who they were helping! I can say that this book was worth the wait (for that matter worth the Weight in Gold) GOD SAVE THE KINKS

15 people found this helpful

Helpful

Tom Sayers

An interesting read

Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2022

Verified Purchase

Having read close to 100 bios in the last 4-5 years, I wanted to read this account of the Kink's history but did not realize it was centered on he band's experiences in America as a series of flashbacks while recovering from a gunshot wound while in New Orleans. There are some back-story references to the England years, and sibling clashes with his brother, but it was not what I had expected. Still, an interesting read overall focused on his time in the USA decades ago.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

Hugh Crawford

interesante memoria

Reviewed in Spain on September 15, 2021

Verified Purchase

Ray Davies es muy graphico en partes de esta memoria, y hay detalles revoladoras. Interesante pero solo para "fans" de Ray Davies y los Kinks

Translate review to English

The Gospel

Now this is more like it!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2017

Verified Purchase

After the cobblers that was X-Ray, this is a PROPER autobiography! My only gripes were that it starts circa 1969 (not 1964), and that it spent a little too long on the shooting incident, but other than that, it's brilliant! So many interesting snippets and background to songs. Amazing to hear about all the necessary meetings and contracts behind the scenes. As much as I value Dave Davies' contributions to the Kinks, he is so wrong to think it was/is "his" band. Ray is the one who (besides writing 99% of all the music) kept the Kinks alive year after year re management, record labels, etc. To be blunt, Ray Davies IS the Kinks, end of! I've always been angry that the Kinks have never had the same respect given to the Beatles and the Stones. Even as I type this, TV is chirping about the passing of Bruce Forsyth, like he was the most important man ever in the entertainment world. Well no actually, RD has done much more with his life. An indisputable genius versus a big-headed hoofer? No contest!

8 people found this helpful

Prog Is Not Dead

TOO CLINICAL

Reviewed in Australia on November 30, 2020

Verified Purchase

RAY DAVIES is a superb lyricist, bordering on excellent but one thing is abundantly clear throughout this narrative, he is not an author.
AMERICANA is not without wit and insight however it is ironic that these occur mainly when he relates the terrible mugging and shooting incident on the streets of New Orleans and the subsequent hospitalisation and the dramas which ensued. The visits of doctors and specialists also provide a great deal of humour and in the retelling Davies is at his very best.
The vast majority of this book deals with recording, touring, recording company turmoil and inter-band strife but not quite with the candour the blurb would have one belief.
Ray Davies displays a surprising naivity when he touches on the machinations of the big record companies and is less than open regarding the story of the Kinks four year American ban. It is difficult to accept he did not get to the crux of the matter. Equally is the fractured relationship with his brother Dave which is often dealt with in a very whimsical way as if displaying a certain amount of denial.
There are copious smatterings of his lyrics that often run for more than a page and can become more that a little irritating BUT some may, rightfully, argue that they are important and deserve inclusion.
The book is mostly enjoyable but could and should have been a thoroughly enjoyable read and perhaps only die-hard fans will fully appreciate it.

troels klausen

Good old Ray

Reviewed in France on March 31, 2017

Verified Purchase

Très intéressant de connaître les coulisses de la musique, de connaître le processus derrière la créativité d'un compositeur, d'un parolier hors pair.
Monsieur Davies est cert fier de sa carrière, mais il la raconte avec beaucoup d'humour et de FEELING.

Je recommande vraiment ce livre !

One person found this helpful

Translate review to English

Joe Wilson

a truly inside look at the genius of Ray Davies.

Reviewed in Canada on February 5, 2014

Verified Purchase

As a life-long fan of the Kinks, the most underrated band in rock history, and of the genius, Ray Davies, I found this book to be frank, intimate, revealing and totally authentic.

3 people found this helpful

See more reviews

Image Unavailable

Follow the author

Americana: The Kinks, the Riff, the Road: The Story Paperback – September 1, 2015

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Editorial Reviews

Review

About the Author

Product details

Videos

About the author

Ray Davies

Customer reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries