So Mystifying

"So Mystifying" begins with a guitar riff that grabs you from the very first second. This isn't just any song: it's the first time Ray Davies takes the lead vocals on a Kinks album, and he does so with a style that blends the raw energy of rhythm and blues with that playful touch that would later define the band. The riff, written by Dave Davies, has a weight reminiscent of the Beatles’ early hits, but without falling into American formulas. The song has no grandiose choruses or over-the-top arrangements; its strength lies in the hypnotic repetition of that pattern and in the way Ray sings, as if he were whispering a secret.

They recorded it in late August 1964 at Pye Studios in London, along with the rest of the songs for their debut album. Producer Shel Talmy—who was also behind the success of “You Really Got Me”—gave them free rein, but with one curious detail: drummer Mick Avory was relegated to playing only the tambourine because the producer considered him “too inexperienced.” In his place came Bobby Graham, a session musician who had already worked with names like Jimmy Page (though he only played on other tracks on the album, not this one). The song shares its structure and tempo with “It’s All Over Now” by the Rolling Stones, which had reached number 1 in the UK in July of that same year. It was no coincidence: The Kinks were searching for their own sound, and this track was their first original composition on the album, following their cover of Chuck Berry’s “Beautiful Delilah.”

Two years later, in September 1965, the Swedish band Hep Stars revived the song and recorded it as a single. They were already performing it live during their tours of Swedish Folkparks, where the audience received it enthusiastically. In the studio, bassist Lennart Hegland was replaced by Lennart Fernholm—the band’s manager—though Hegland ended up providing backing vocals. The single was released in October and climbed to No. 5 on the Swedish charts, though it only stayed in the top 10 for two weeks. For the Hep Stars, who had just released their first original song, “No Response,” it was a stylish return to cover songs, but this time with a result that brought them greater visibility.