Supersonic Rocket Ship
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"Supersonic Rocket Ship" | ||||
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Single by The Kinks | ||||
from the album Everybody's in Show-Biz | ||||
B-side | "You Don't Know My Name" (Dave Davies) | |||
Released | September 1972 (USA), 5 May 1972 (UK) | |||
Recorded | Recorded March 1972 at Morgan Studios, Willesden, London | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:32 | |||
Label | RCA RCA 2211 (UK), 74-0807 (USA) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ray Davies | |||
Producer(s) | Ray Davies | |||
The Kinks singles chronology | ||||
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"Supersonic Rocket Ship" is a
Synopsis
In the song, the singer talks about his "supersonic rocket ship", which contains a kind of paradise or refuge from all the troubles in the world, where "nobody has to be hip", "nobody's gonna travel second class", and "there'll be equality, and no suppression of minorities". It fits in the groove of other Ray Davies songs like "Apeman", that express a desire to go back to a simpler life or escape from all life's woes to a better world (a desert island, the rocket ship, etc.)
Dave Davies commented on the song, "I have a special love for that track because it's got a great optimism about it. It's also got a lot of sarcasm. It's a lovely blend of [both], plus reality and dysfunction – but also hope."[2]
Music critic Johnny Rogan interprets the song as Ray Davies' "attack on rock star hipness," since his fantasy rocket ship will "serve as a refuge for misfits and other suppressed minorities."[3]
Instrumentation
The song has strong Caribbean undertones (another similarity to "Apeman"), perhaps influenced by the popularity of
Single release
It was released as a single in the UK in May 1972, and September in the US. It was a hit in the UK, climbing to #16 on
Promo video
A promotional film was made for the single, featuring John Gosling attempting to become airborne dressed in angel wings and flight goggles, intercut with stock footage.
In popular culture
The song was featured in the "Screw the Moon" season 1 finale episode of The Last Man on Earth.
The song was featured in the 2019 film
Personnel
- lead vocals
- backing vocals
- John Dalton – bass guitar
- drums, percussion
- John Gosling – keyboards
- Mike Cotton – trumpet
- John Beecham – trombone, tuba
References
- ISBN 978-1-4930-6460-1.
- ^ Miller, Joshua M. (27 February 2023). "Dave Davies shares his 14 favorite tracks from across the Kinks' two classic early '70s records". Guitar World. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ ISBN 0-7119-6314-2.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 30 September 1972. p. 16. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 30 September 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ Roeper, Richard (30 April 2019). "'Avengers: Endgame': 22 little moments that added up to greatness". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 1 May 2019.