Prince Of The Punks

Album: One for the Road (1977)
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Songfacts®:

  • On the face of it, this Ray Davies composition is a novelty song; in reality it is a vicious swipe at Tom Robinson. Not that this sentiment was unrequited because Robinson retaliated with "Don't Take No For An Answer" attacking Davies, although it has to be said it is nowhere near as spiteful as this one.

    Davies produced the debut and only Café Society album when he signed the band to his Konk label; it enjoyed no commercial success. Robinson left Café Society to form his own band which had instant but ephemeral success. "Prince Of The Punks" suggests Robinson - who is of course not named in the song - can't handle modern jazz, puts on a working class accent, and "tried to be gay, but it didn't pay." Well, yes, it did, although Robinson would eventually marry a woman, start a family and live happily ever after.
  • "Prince Of The Punks" was released as the B-side of the 1977 Christmas single "Father Christmas." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

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