AIN’T THAT PECUNIARY

The Kinks

Lola Versus The Powerman And The Moneygoround

★★★★

(PYE, 1970)

It’s tempting to see Ray’s ’70s concepts as rum distractions, but here the theme (capitalism is a dehumanising racket) gives the band energy, with strong songs bedded in earthy Americana. Dave’s Strangers could almost be The Band; Lola itself would be in most people’s Ray Top 5; Top Of The Pops is rockin’ satire. You could say it shut the door on the ’60s if Davies hadn’t been trying to do precisely that since 1965.