What Was the Last US Top 40 Hit by The Kinks?

Over 20 years of chart success represent an impressive feat by any standards. The Kinks managed to pull that off, even in the US, where their music didn’t always translate as well. Their first hit in America appeared all the way back in 1964. Fast-forward to 1983, and The Kinks released the last of their Top 40 singles in the US. The song might not be one that casual fans remember. But it displayed that the songwriting excellence of Ray Davies was as strong as ever.

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Early Kinks

With the one-two punch of “You Really Got Me” and “All Day And All Of The Night”, The Kinks introduced themselves to America and the rest of the world in 1964. The ferocity of Dave Davies’ guitar attack stunned and thrilled audiences everywhere. Not long after that, the band started showing off their versatility.

In Ray Davies, The Kinks boasted a songwriter who detailed the ups and downs of everyday life like few others. Cool slices of life like “Tired Of Waiting” and “A Well-Respected Man” put his songwriting front and center. It looked like The Kinks would be a force on the American charts for the rest of the 60s.

A pair of circumstances changed that forecast. First, The Kinks were banned from touring in America over controversies with union workers during their first visit to the country. On top of that, Ray Davies began writing albums that focused on British people and history. Many brilliant songs appeared on these albums, but they didn’t make much impact stateside.

‘Confusion’ Reigns

The Kinks found their footing in America again in 1970 with the Top 10 smash “Lola”. But even as they once again returned to playing live in the US, and started again releasing more rock-oriented music after years of exploring concept albums and more antiquated musical styles, they struggled to do much business with their singles. After “Lola,” just one single hit the Top 40 for The Kinks in the US for the rest of the 70s.

On their 1983 album State Of Confusion, the band included a nostalgic ballad called “Don’t Forget To Dance”. The song spoke words of encouragement to a woman whose life had fallen on hard times. Ray Davies’ narrator invites her out to the dance floor to forget her troubles. “And when they ask me how you dance,” he sings. “I’ll say that you dance real close.”

Execs at Arista Records heard a hit single in “Don’t Forget To Dance”. They wanted it to be released to introduce State Of Confusion. But Ray Davies believed he had an even bigger hit on the record. He wanted “Come Dancing”, a song inspired by his sister’s experiences going to dance halls in the 50s.

“Dance” Party

Ray Davies won out over the record company. Good thing too. “Come Dancing” hit the Top 10 in the US, and it gave The Kinks their biggest single in the UK in a dozen years as well. On top of that, it ensured that whatever song followed it would get increased attention.

That song turned out to be “Don’t Forget To Dance”. Who knows how the restrained, Beach Boys-flavored track might have done had it been released first? When it did arrive, it dented the US chart at no. 29.

“Don’t Forget To Dance” turned out to be the last Top 40 charter in the US for The Kinks. They did come very close with “Do It Again”, an upbeat rocker in 1984 that stalled out at no. 41. Instead, they had to settle for a 20-year stretch of single success, a run to be envied no matter how you slice it.

Photo by Howard Barlow/Redferns