Enjoy this episode with music on MixCloud at: https://www.mixcloud.com/veteranrockers/veteran-rockers-ep-8-the-kinks-part-1-1964-1970/. Part 1 of 3 of The Kinks covers the early part of their career from 1964-1970. Ray and Dave Davies, brothers, founded the Kinks, who were from Muswell Hill in North London. With pal Peter Quaife on bass, they played a mix of rock and roll and R&B in their early lineup, which they called The Ravens. Shel Talmy, a record producer, heard a self-made demo tape and helped the band sign a 1964 contract with Pye Records. The group changed their name to The Kinks and signed Mick Avory as their drummer.

You Really Got Me, the group's third hit, shot to the top of the UK charts, marking the beginning of music history with the iconic lineup. The song, which Ray wrote in their parents' front room and was inspired by Dave's aggressive, extravagant guitar sound, has subsequently been credited with influencing heavy metal, punk, garage rock, and even The Who, among other genres. After the huge hit, the Kinks put together an album quickly, which was quickly followed by another Top 10 single, All Day and All Of the Night.