"Lola" by The Kinks

Song#:  0313
Date:  08/30/1980
Debut:  88
Peak:  81
Weeks:  6
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  This single is not to be confused with the #9 hit in 1970 that The Kinks had. This is a live version of the song from their album "One For the Road." At the time, the studio version of "Lola" had been the last Top 10 hit in both the US and the group's native UK. Although the 60s saw this highly influential British Invasion group recording some of the most critically acclaimed albums of the time, the 70s found the group in a major decline and the 80s didn't start off well either. But a slight resurgence would come about in a couple of years and get them back on the map for a while.

ReduxReview:  I've mentioned before that I don't care too much for live recordings. It is just rare that the feeling of being there translates to a recording and a lot of the time there is nothing in the live version that takes the song(s) to a different level or adds to them. And this falls in that category for me. It's a classic song, but there is nothing here to make me wish I was in the audience or make me want to listen to it again. All I wanted to do was go back and hear the original. Maybe that is a good point about live records - they make you want to go back and get the originals playing again.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:   In the original opening line lyrics for "Lola," it was recorded with the words "Coca-Cola." The BBC refused to air the song because of their product placement policy. So Ray Davies quickly went into the studio and replace the line using "cherry cola." Both versions of the song can still be found.

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