So Mystifying

The song revolves around a guitar riff played by the band's lead guitarist Dave Davies and feature "Beatle-like" harmonies. As a result of this, it doesn't feature significant American phrasing. The song is the first original composition on the album, following "Beautiful Delilah" written by Chuck Berry. It is also the first song where the listener is introduced to Ray Davies's lead vocals, as his brother Dave sings lead on "Beautiful Delilah". The song was recorded in late August 1964 at Pye Studios number 2 in London together with almost all other tracks from the album. The session was produced by American producer Shel Talmy. "So Mystifying" feature a similar chord sequence and tempo with "It's All Over Now" by the Rolling Stones, a song which had reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart in July 1964, shortly before the majority of Kinks had been recorded. It has been suggested by many websites that guitarist Jimmy Page (later of the Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin fame) played on "So Mystifying" along with all other tracks on Kinks. However, this claim has never been proven and has been refuted multiple times. Page did however play on other tracks from the album, including "I'm a Lover Not a Fighter" and "I've Been Driving on Bald Mountain". Session drummer Bobby Graham played on the recording due to drummer Mick Avory being demoted by Talmy because he considered Avory "too inexperienced." Avory played tambourine on the recording as a compensation. Personnel The Kinks • Ray Davies – lead vocals, rhythm guitar • Dave Davies – lead guitar, backing vocals • Pete Quaife – bass guitar, backing vocals • Mick Avory – tambourine Other personnel • Bobby Graham – drums • Shel Talmy – producer == Hep Stars version ==

Swedish rock group Hep Stars recorded "So Mystifying" in September 1965, intended for single release. The single marked a return to the band briefly recording covers for their singles, following their first self-penned composition "No Response" which had been written by keyboardist Benny Andersson. The song had been a part of the Hep Stars repertoire during the late summer when they performed in Folkparks across Sweden. It, just like "No Response", had gotten positive feedback from the audience which led the band to record the track. In September of that year, the group entered Europafilm Studios in Solna, Stockholm to record the song. Bassist Lennart Hegland was substituted on bass by Lennart Fernholm, the band's tour manager, something that he'd done for all the Hep Stars recordings since "Bald Headed Woman" was recorded. Hegland appears on the recording, singing backing vocals. Hep Stars were fans of the Kinks, with "So Mystifying" being the second Kinks song they recorded, the first being "Bald Headed Woman". Olga Records released "So Mystifying" as a single in September 1965, shortly after it was recorded. It succeeded "No Response" only by a few weeks. The song entered Kvällstoppen on 12 October 1965 at a position of number 19. The following week, the single had reached the top-5 for the first time at a position of number 5. Although this was a chart success, it was their lowest charting single since "A Tribute to Buddy Holly" charted in April. The B-Side was "Young and Beautiful", which was written by Aaron Schroeder and Abner Silver. It had previously appeared on their debut album We and Our Cadillac. Although the studio recording of the song never was included on a studio album, a live version was recorded on 7–8 August, which was later included on their only live album Hep Stars on Stage. Personnel Hep Stars • Svenne Hedlund – lead vocals • Janne Frisk – guitar, backing vocals • Christer Pettersson – drums, tambourine, backing vocals • Benny Andersson – electric organ, backing vocals • Lennart Hegland – backing vocals Other personnel • Lennart Fernhom – bass guitar • Gert Palmcrantz – producer Chart positions ==References==