10 Overlooked Masterpiece Songs By Legendary Rock Bands
5. Big Sky - The Kinks
Who doesn't admire The Kinks?
England's finest purveyors of psyche-tinged, dreamy pop-rock, who manage to sound both parochial and progressive, put together a much-underrated masterpiece of an album in 1968s splendidly-titled We Are The Village Green Preservation Society. This was their sixth and last to feature the original quartet of Ray Davies, Dave Davies, Pete Quaife and Mick Avory.
There are no big hits on the album (Ray Davies famously labelled the record "the most successful flop ever") but there is a wealth of quirky, and quite brilliant material. Big Sky stands among the best on the record.
Its lyrics are as ambiguous as there are entertaining, and though writer Ray Davies has talked about the moment of inspiration which set the track in motion (looking out from the Carlton Hotel in Cannes as the sun came up) he has never explained exactly who or what the 'big sky' represents.
None of which prevents the enjoyment to be had from listening to this classic Kinks' delight. With subtle changes of pace, wholly engaging melodic hooks and a sing-a-long feel, this is a sure fire winner.