THE KINKS - THE VILLAGE GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY

Released: November 22, 1968

Album: The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society

"The Village Green Preservation Society" is a song from the 1968 album "The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society." Written and sung by Ray Davies, the song nostalgically reflects on preserving British traditions and values. It serves as the album's opening track, setting the stage for its themes, and has been described by Davies as the LP's "national anthem."

Ray Davies was inspired to write it after hearing someone comment that the Kinks had been preserving "nice things from the past." The song was written and recorded in August 1968 as the band's sessions for their next album were coming to a close. Initially dissatisfied with the working title "Village Green" for the album, Ray intended "The Village Green Preservation Society" to be the new title track. Musically, the song combines pop and rock elements with influences from English music hall, reflecting Ray's ongoing fascination with the genre. 

Ray Davies includes references to various fictional characters from his childhood in the song such as Old Mother Riley and Mrs. Mopp. These characters evoke nostalgic memories for Davies, reflecting a time when he enjoyed listening to radio programs like "Round The Horne" on the BBC Light Programme. In an interview with Q magazine, Davies explained that these characters were ones he admired as a child or that his family could relate to. 

Ray Davies clarified that the inspiration behind "The Village Green Preservation Society" and the album's depiction of small English town innocence was not derived from the Kinks' performances in rustic Devon, as some critics speculated. Instead, Davies explained to The Independent on June 19, 2009, that the album's themes were rooted in his own childhood memories growing up in London. North London, particularly his neighborhood of Fortis Green, served as his "village green" equivalent, with places like Waterlow Park and its lake playing significant roles in his upbringing. Davies reminisced about singing in the choir at St James's Primary School until the age of ten, after which he intentionally trained himself to sing out of tune to fit in with a group called the Crooners. His singing teacher, Mrs. Lewis, humorously remarked, "Never mind, Davies - I hear crooners are making a lot of money these days."