X-Ray: The Unauthorized Autobiography
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The shocking and edgy memoirs of Ray Davies, a dedicated enemy of fashion and the lead singer of The Kinks, is the must-read rock book of the year. Subversively brilliant, this one-of-a-kind rock autobiography, ingeniously styled as a biography, is written by a nameless, faceless writer hired by an Orwellian entity called "the Corporation" to capture the essence of Ray Davies, lead singer and song writer of The Kinks and one of the greatest rock and rollers of all time. "R.D." tells the story of his life - or does he? Tales of London and the rock scene of the swinging Sixties evolve in a labrynthine and thoroughly engrossing fashion as the Kinks frontman reveals his life and times to the young writer, often seemingly passing his stories directly into the writer's consciousness. Carnaby street, "Top of the Pops," The Cavern Club, the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, the Who and other fixtures of the times fade in and out of this compelling narrative. Part autobiography, part social history, part psychological thriller, this elusive and daring book exposes rock stardom as the heaven, hell, and purgatory it is. Library Journal In this unique "unauthorized autobiography," Kinks singer and songwriter Davies casts himself as an eccentric old man some 20 years hence who is asked to tell his life story to a young interviewer working for a world-ruling conglomerate called "The Corporation." Eventually, the Orwellian subplot is overshadowed by Davies's very personal account of his band's many rises and falls. Like his songs, Davies's book is alternately poignant, funny, and bawdy-and his penchant for shocking his "interviewer" with tales of rock star excess leaves the reader never quite sure what to take as fact. Though the band is still active, some will be disappointed that Davies only takes the Kinks's story through 1973. The novel aspect is too thin to interest speculative fiction readers, but X-Ray is indispensable for Kinks fans and recommended for anyone interested in 1960s pop music. Recommended for subject collections.-Lloyd Jansen, Stockton-San Joaquin Cty. P.L., Cal.
