Dedicated Follower Of Fashion by The Kinks

Album: The Kink Kontroversy (1966)

Charted: 4 36

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Songfacts®:

This Ray Davies composition can be interpreted either as a tribute to Carnaby Street and its ethos, or a gentle send-up of the contemporary British fashion scene. Recorded February 2, 1966, and running 3:05, it was released on the Pye label in the UK on February 25 backed by "Sittin' On My Sofa," and on Reprise in the United States on April 27. The band's 10^th UK single, it was produced by Shel Talmy.

According to the online discography compiled by Kinks fan Dave Emlen, it was re-released in the US in August/September the following year, still on Reprise but backed by "Who'll Be The Next In Line."

"Dedicated Follower Of Fashion" is one of the band's best-known songs, and has been included on a number of albums.
Although Carnaby Street dates to the 17^th century, like the Kings Road, Chelsea, it will be linked forever to the fashion explosion that happened particularly in Britain during the so-called Swinging '60s.
In spite of its chart success, not everyone in the Davies camp was enamored with the song. After Kinks bass player Peter Quaife died in June 2010, his obituary in the London Independent quoted him on it thus: "an incredibly boring song to play, and I had to play it night after night." >>>
Suggestion credit:
Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 3
According to a 2011 NME interview with Ray Davies, despite its fey overtones, the song is actually a scathing attack on a fop who made fun of the singer's trousers.
Producer Shel Talmy helped frame The Kinks' raucous guitar sound, and also had a great ear for a hit song. In a Songfacts interview with Talmy, he said: "Ray Davies was one of the more prolific songwriters I have ever worked with. He could literally write a dozen songs overnight if he felt the mood. We used to get together about once a month or once every week or two and go through the stuff he had. I would pick out the ones that I thought were real far along, and the ones that were not so far along, and the ones that would probably never be far along. 'Dedicated Follower Of Fashion' was one that stood out immediately."

Comments: 6

Gill from New ZealandSir Ray Davies should have had more acclaim for his amazing song writing lyrics...he would have been great in theatre
Rudi Kolb from Zurich / SwitzerlandDave Davies said: Ray has write this song about me, because I was a dedicated follower of fashion.
Marty from Cleveland, OhI love this song. I knew from the first time I heard it that Davies was making fun of supercilious, self-absorbed twits.

This song was featured for quite a while at one of the exhibits an the Rock Hall here.
Aiken Nutz from Tahlequah OkWhat a strange song for the Kinks. In '66 I lived & went to school in Joplin, Mo. Still love this song even tho' it's odd. Catchy tune!
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn May 15th 1966, "Dedicated Follower of Fashion" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #80; four weeks later on June 12th, 1966 it would peak at #36 {for 1 week}, the following week it fell to #44 and that was its 6th and final week on the Top 100...
And on February 14th, 1966 it reached #4 {for 1 week} on Canada's Toronto 'CHUM' Singles chart...
Between 1964 and 1984 the quartet had twenty-four Top 100 records; five made the Top 10, their two biggest hits both peaked at #6, "Tired of Waiting for You" {for 2 weeks in 1965} and "Come Dancing" {for 2 weeks in 1983}.
Bubblesk from Memphis, TnThis Kinks' hit was really popular when I was a freshman in '66 at Univ. of Kansas & I recall the local radio stations had it rated in the upper Top Ten. So I was surprised to see here that Billboard had it ranked #36. Can't agree with that! But ya know, back then Billboard was so different from what it is nowadays. When this song hit the airwaves, I though it was bizarre compared to other Kinks' hits. Then, I learned to love it because it was so funny and just darned fun. Me & my friends would hit some of the K.U. campus bars & taverns on & off campus and get the jukeboxes to play this song. It wasn't easy to dance to, just to listen to, and laugh and have a great time. Yes---I still love this song.

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