The Kinks Record Labels

Pye Records

The bands demo 'Long Tall Sally' reached Shel Talmy (American record producer under ye Records). In 1964, Shel Talmy helped the band get a contact with Pye Records. 'Long Tall Sally' was released in February 1964, but failed to chart. In addition their second single 'You Still Want Me; also flopped.
However, their third single 'You Really Got Me' was a more dynamic and nosier solo from Dave Davies reached number one within a month. The groups fourth single 'All Day & All of the Night', released in 1964 rose to number two and in America it reached number seven. During this time the band also produced two full length albums.

                                         RCA Records

The bands contract with Pye Records expired in 1971, leaving The Kinks free to sign a new record contract. By the end of 1971 the band had signed a five album deal with RCA Records, in which they gained a million dollar advance. The Muswell Hillbillies, released in 1971 (first album with RCA) marked a return to the nostalgia of The Kinks in the late 60's albums, but with more music hall influences.

Arista Records

In 1976 The Kinks left RCA and signed with Arista Records. On this label the band refashioned themselves as a hard rock band. Sleepwalker, The Kinks first album for Arista became a major hit in the US. The bands next album, Give the People What They Want, released in 1981, peaked at number 15 and went gold.

 

MCA Records

 In 1986, the band signed with MCA Records in the US, London in the UK. In 1986 their first album Think Visual was released. The Road was released in 1987, which spent a brief time on the charts. Two years later the band released their last studio record for MCA.

Columbia Records

The bands contract with MCA expired in 1991 and later in the year the band signed with Columbia Records and released an EP called 'Did Ya' which did not chart. In 1994 the band was dropped, leaving the group to release the live To the Bone on an independent label in the UK.