Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1965
A Well Respected Man
Buy A Well Respected Man now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
"'A Well Respected Man'" is a song by the British band the Kinks, written by the group's lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ray Davies, and originally released in the United Kingdom on the EP 'Kwyet Kinks' in September 1965. The song was released on the album 'Kinkdom' in the United States. It was also released as a single in the US and Continental Europe.
"A Well Respected Man" remains one of the band's most popular and best known songs. It is one of four Kinks songs included on The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll along with "You Really Got Me," "Waterloo Sunset," and "Lola".
Background
Davies composed the song based on a negative experience with upper class guests at a luxury resort where he was staying in 1965. He crafted the song to mock what he perceived as their condescension and self-satisfaction.
'Pye' refused to release "A Well Respected Man" as a single in the UK because the record company wanted a song more similar to the band's raunchier previous hits. It was released as a single in the United States during October of that same year and reached No. 13. Following the success of "Dedicated Follower of Fashion", "A Well Respected Man" was also released as a single in mainland Europe in March 1966 (although pressed in the UK, it was an export-only issue).
The song also includes the word "fag", interpreted by Americans as a reference to homosexuality. However, Davies later said that this was not intended:
'Cash Box' described it as a "very catchy folkish number with a message lyric."
Music and lyrics
Musically, it marked the beginning of an expansion in the Kinks' inspirations, drawing much from British Music Hall traditions (a style which was to feature prominently on later 1960s songs such as "Dedicated Follower of Fashion" and "Mister Pleasant"). Lyrically, the song is notable as being the first of Ray Davies' compositions to overtly address the theme of British class consciousness. Indeed, the song offers a satirical commentary on the entrenched mores and conventions of the English upper and middle classes, while hinting at the frustration and casual hypocrisy that underlie this fastidiously maintained veneer of "respectability".
In popular culture
* Petula Clark recorded a French version, "Un Jeune Homme Bien", which was released on the French EP 'Il Faut Revenir' in 1965 and in 1966 on the album 'Petula Clark' ('Petula 66' in Canada). This version was also recorded in 1966 by Canadian singer Rene Martel.
* The song was featured in the 2007 film 'Juno' and in the 2010 film 'Love & Other Drugs' featuring Anne Hathaway.
* The song can be heard during the end credits of the 2004 film 'The Life and Death of Peter Sellers', in the 'Criminal Minds' episode, "Normal", in the 'Supernatural' episode, "It's A Terrible Life" and in the 'Homicide: Life on the Street' episode, "Colors".
*The song is used as the theme tune to the Sky Atlantic sitcom 'Mr. Sloane' and is featured prominently throughout the series.
*The song is used in the pilot of Mr. Mercedes as a background song to the main protagonist, Brendan Gleeson awakening and getting dressed.
Personnel
According to band researcher Doug Hinman:
*Ray Davieslead vocals, acoustic guitar
*Dave Daviesbacking vocal, electric guitar
*Pete Quaifebass
*Mick Avorydrums
Charts
References
Sources
*
Category:1965 singles
Category:The Kinks songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Shel Talmy
Category:Songs written by Ray Davies
Category:Pye Records singles
Category:Reprise Records singles
Category:Satirical songs
Category:1965 songs
Category:Number-one singles in Sweden
Buy A Well Respected Man now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1965