During the early 1960s groups still tended to build albums around one or possibly two hit singles with either songs from the live act or "filler" added. Frequently, the other songs included were standards and not written by the group. The Beatles first album is a case in point as is the Who's My Generation and the Kinks' debut. However, what these three albums have in common is the fact that they marked the beginning of a shift away from the standards towards more group compositions. Each of the groups had highly talented songwriters and this helped to change the direction of popular music. Like the Beatles and the Who, the Kinks were "aided" by session musicians and this release features contributions from the likes of Jimmy Page and Jon Lord.

The "hit" contained on this album is a true classic. You Really Got Me was the Kinks' first hit single and their first number 1 in the UK. This track defined a new rock style with its fuzz guitar and catchy lyrics. Just Can't Go To Sleep sounds like Ray Davies does Lennon/McCartney. The other stand-out Davies song is Stop Your Sobbing, later covered by the Pretenders.

There are a number of standards included such as Long Tall Shorty and Chuck Berry's Too Much Monkey Business, and Slim Harpo's Got Love If You Want It. These may be more indicative of what the Kinks' live act was like at the time. 

The CD re-release contains a number of other tracks including the first single, the band's cover of Little Richard's Long Tall Sally, and the second single You Still Want Me. Both of these releases failed to chart. 

Note that this album was released in 1965 in the USA as You Really Got Me reaching number 29. 

Essential Tracks:

• You Really Got Me
• Stop Your Sobbing
• Got Love If You Want It

Track Listing:

1. Beautiful Delilah
2. So Mystifying
3. Just Can't Go To Sleep
4. Long Tall Shorty
5. I Took My Baby Home
6. I'm a Lover Not a Fighter
7. You Really Got Me
8. Cadillac
9. Bald Headed Woman
10. Revenge
11. Too Much Monkey Business
12. I've Been Driving on a Bald Mountain
13. Stop Your Sobbing
14. Got Love If You Want It

Additional tracks on CD

1. Long Tall Sally
2. You Still Want Me
3. You Do Something To Me
4. I Gotta Go Now
5. I've Got That Feeling
6. Louie Louie
7. Things Are Getting Better
8. It's Alright