A Well Respected Man

"A Well Respected Man" is a song by the British band The Kinks, written by the group's lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ray Davies, and originally released on the U.K. EP Kwyet Kinks in September 1965 (see 1965 in music). It was released as a single in the U.S. during October of that same year and reached #13. "A Well Respected Man" remains one of the band's most popular and best known songs.

Musically, it marked the beginning of an expansion in The Kinks' inspirations, drawing much from British Music Hall traditions (a style which was to feature prominently on later 1960s songs such as "Dedicated Follower of Fashion" and "Mister Pleasant"). Lyrically, the song is notable as being the first of Ray Davies' compositions to overtly address the theme of British class consciousness. Indeed, the song offers a satirical commentary on the entrenched mores and conventions of the English upper and middle classes, while hinting at the frustration and casual hypocrisy that underlies this fastidiously maintained veneer of "respectability".

Davies composed the song based on a negative experience with upper class guests at a luxury resort where he was staying in 1965. He crafted the song to mock what he perceived as their condescension and self-satisfaction.

Following the success of "Dedicated Follower of Fashion", "A Well Respected Man" was also released as a single in mainland Europe in March 1966 (although pressed in the U.K., it was an export-only issue).

It was one of three Kinks songs included on The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll along with "You Really Got Me" and "Lola".

In popular culture

• The song was featured in the 2007 film Juno and in the 2010 film Love and Other Drugs featuring Anne Hathaway.
• The song can be heard during the end credits of the 2004 film The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, in the Criminal Minds episode, "Normal", in the Supernatural episode, "It's A Terrible Life" and in the Homicide: Life on the Street episode, "Colors".
• It was also used in the small British play A Well Respected Man, written and starring Rachel Sodah, Nicola Sewell and Benjamin Feist of Staines, England.

References

External links

• Official Ray Davies Web Site
• The Official Ray Davies Forum - "The Old Grey Board"
• The Official Ray Davies Forum on YouTube

This 1960s song-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e