2023 Fellow Stephen Holland has been exploring the legacy of pop, rock and folk music on his new podcast series ‘The Kinks Theatrical Years’.

The series, which is available now on Spotify, has previously investigated the rise and fall of controversial record producer and convicted murderer Phil Spector, the brief but intense religious awakening of iconic folk singer Bob Dylan, as well as a mammoth 31-part series analysing the life and work of David Bowie.

Now, in celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the first theatrical album by legendary 1960s beat rock group The Kinks, Sligo journalist Stephen has created ‘The Kinks Theatrical Years’, a multi-part series looking at the way that showmanship, narrative, and theatricality have played an integral part in the music of the chart-topping group.

Known primarily for hit singles such as ‘You Really Got Me’, ‘Waterloo Sunset’, and ‘Lola’ many may not be aware that from 1973 to 1976 The Kinks released a string of concept albums, including the dystopian-totalitarian nightmare epic that is Preservation Act 1 and 2, an exploration on the trials and tribulations of stardom in Soap Opera, or the nostalgia infused reminiscence found on Schoolboys in Disgrace.

While these records failed commercially at the time of their release, their legacy has only grown over the years, with many stating that lead songwriter and Kinks frontman Ray Davies was ahead of his time when it came to pushing the boundaries of what a pop song could accomplish.

All eight episodes of Sound Thinking’s ‘The Kinks Theatrical Years’ are available to stream now on Spotify.