The Village Green
Formerly called Baldwin Hills Village, The Village Green was designed by Reginald D. Johnson, with Robert Alexander (Neutra's partner shortly thereafter), Merrill and Wilson, with Clarence Stein (consulting architect). It is recognized worldwide as a pivotal and progressive experiment in multiple-family housing and has been lauded as "one of a handful of projects that stands out as a fundamental advance in both planning and architecture." It is the only garden apartment complex in California designated as a National Historic Landmark, the highest level of recognition bestowed by the National Park Service. Prestigious honors notwithstanding, the success of this experiment in multi-family housing still resonates today among its residents and admirers, who enjoy its spacious, light-filled units and park-like grounds. They regularly hold concerts on the green and outdoor movies in this "oasis of pedestrian calm."
photo by Julius Shulman, circa 1950
The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
is the sixth studio album by the Kinks, released in November 1968. It was the last album by the original quartet (Ray Davies, Dave Davies, Pete Quaife, Mick Avory), as bassist Quaife left the group in early 1969. A collection of vignettes of English life, Village Green was assembled from songs written and recorded over the previous two years.
We are the Village Green Preservation Society
God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety
We are the Desperate Dan Appreciation Society
God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties
Preserving the old ways from being abused
Protecting the new ways, for me and for you
What more can we do?
We are the Draught Beer Preservation Society
God save Mrs. Mopp and good old Mother Riley
We are the Custard Pie Appreciation Consortium
God save the George Cross, and all those who were awarded them
Ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh
We are the Sherlock Holmes English-speaking Vernacular
God save Fu Manchu, Moriarty and Dracula
We are the Office Block Persecution Affinity
God save little shops, china cups, and virginity
We are the Skyscraper Condemnation Affiliates
God save Tudor houses, antique tables, and billiards
Preserving the old ways from being abused
Protecting the new ways, for me and for you
What more can we do?
We are the Village Green Preservation Society
God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety
We are the Desperate Dan Appreciation Society
God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties
We are the Village Green Preservation Society
God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety
We are the Desperate Dan Appreciation Society
God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety
God save the Village Green!
God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety
We are the Desperate Dan Appreciation Society
God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties
Preserving the old ways from being abused
Protecting the new ways, for me and for you
What more can we do?
We are the Draught Beer Preservation Society
God save Mrs. Mopp and good old Mother Riley
We are the Custard Pie Appreciation Consortium
God save the George Cross, and all those who were awarded them
Ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh
We are the Sherlock Holmes English-speaking Vernacular
God save Fu Manchu, Moriarty and Dracula
We are the Office Block Persecution Affinity
God save little shops, china cups, and virginity
We are the Skyscraper Condemnation Affiliates
God save Tudor houses, antique tables, and billiards
Preserving the old ways from being abused
Protecting the new ways, for me and for you
What more can we do?
We are the Village Green Preservation Society
God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety
We are the Desperate Dan Appreciation Society
God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties
We are the Village Green Preservation Society
God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety
We are the Desperate Dan Appreciation Society
God save Donald Duck, vaudeville and variety
God save the Village Green!
The story of Linda and Billy
Linda and Billy met at the Resident Bar in downtown Los Angeles, at KINKS KONSPIRACY, an evening that featured a roster of LA bands playing The Kinks songbook, as part of a 75th birthday tribute to frontman Ray Davies. The draw for Billy was the chance to hear live versions of music by one of his favorite bands ever, over a couple of beers with (best man) Drew.
For Linda, this would be the second Kinks tribute she attended organized by her friend Jay Souza (of Patrolled By Radar) with different LA bands interpreting their songs. Linda was hoping to record some of the performances, in service to her broader mission: to get The Kinks (i.e. Ray Davies) to agree to have their fans forward their nomination for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. After all, the Kinks embodied the very essence of Hollywood with their classic "Celluloid Heroes".
To Linda, the absence of The Kinks on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is an injustice! And so she set out to document the evening.
As she was with equipment -- chargers and battery packs and microphones, she hovered towards the back of the room to be in close proximity to an outlet, close to where Billy and Drew were planted. The three of them soon struck up a conversation and Billy found Linda easy to chat with. Linda found Billy to be kind when he offered to watch over her things as she ventured to the front to record performances up close. They exchanged a bit of information about themselves, film festivals, Frog Town, The LA River, Linda living in Venice and Billy living in the Village Green. Did she know of the Village Green? Linda knew of it based on its architectural chops, but now accompanied by The Kinks songs, a different significance emerged.
At the end of the evening Billy walked Linda to her Lyft and gave her his card.
A few days later Linda emailed Billy.
And the rest is now.
For Linda, this would be the second Kinks tribute she attended organized by her friend Jay Souza (of Patrolled By Radar) with different LA bands interpreting their songs. Linda was hoping to record some of the performances, in service to her broader mission: to get The Kinks (i.e. Ray Davies) to agree to have their fans forward their nomination for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. After all, the Kinks embodied the very essence of Hollywood with their classic "Celluloid Heroes".
To Linda, the absence of The Kinks on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is an injustice! And so she set out to document the evening.
As she was with equipment -- chargers and battery packs and microphones, she hovered towards the back of the room to be in close proximity to an outlet, close to where Billy and Drew were planted. The three of them soon struck up a conversation and Billy found Linda easy to chat with. Linda found Billy to be kind when he offered to watch over her things as she ventured to the front to record performances up close. They exchanged a bit of information about themselves, film festivals, Frog Town, The LA River, Linda living in Venice and Billy living in the Village Green. Did she know of the Village Green? Linda knew of it based on its architectural chops, but now accompanied by The Kinks songs, a different significance emerged.
At the end of the evening Billy walked Linda to her Lyft and gave her his card.
A few days later Linda emailed Billy.
And the rest is now.
