"David Watts" | ||||
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Single by The Kinks | ||||
from the album Something Else by the Kinks | ||||
A-side | "Autumn Almanac" (US/Europe) | |||
Released | 15 September 1967 | |||
Format | 7" single | |||
Recorded | Feb–Mar 1967 at Pye Studios (No. 2), London | |||
Label | Reprise 0647 (US) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ray Davies | |||
Producer(s) | Ray Davies | |||
The Kinks singles chronology | ||||
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"David Watts" | ||||
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Single by The Jam | ||||
from the album All Mod Cons | ||||
B-side | "A" Bomb in Wardour Street | |||
Released | 18 August 1978 | |||
Genre | Mod revival, punk rock | |||
Label | Polydor | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ray Davies | |||
Producer(s) | Vic Smith & Chris Parry | |||
The Jam singles chronology | ||||
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"David Watts" is a song written by Ray Davies that originally appeared on the Kinks's 1967 album Something Else by the Kinks. It was also the American and Continental Europe B-side to "Autumn Almanac". It has been included on several compilation albums, including The Kink Kronikles (1972).
It is about the singer's great admiration of fellow schoolboy David Watts, who appears to have a "charmed life." There is an undercurrent of either deep envy or, as AllMusic put it, "a schoolboy crush." It is also, as Jon Savage has written, one of Ray Davies' "sharpest homoerotic songs". As Ray Davies has confirmed in The Kinks: The Official Biography by Savage, "David Watts is a real person. He was a concert promoter in Rutland". Ray goes on to relate how the real Watts was gay and demonstrated an obvious romantic interest in brother Dave. In this light, lines like "he is so gay and fancy free"; and "all the girls in the neighbourhood try to go out with David Watts....but can't succeed.." provide a second level of interpretation based on this ironic in-joke.
The song was later covered by The Jam, who released it on 18 August 1978 as the first single from their third studio album, All Mod Cons. The Jam version, which reached No. 25 in the UK Singles Chart, featured bassist Bruce Foxton on vocals rather than Paul Weller, as it was not in the right key for the Jam frontman. It was backed by "'A' Bomb in Wardour Street", also from All Mod Cons.