Celluloid Heroes - Release and Reception

Release and Reception

The track was released as the second single from the album. In the UK, the single features the full album version which runs to over six minutes, but the US single used a more radio-friendly edit which is almost two minutes shorter. Although their previous single had been a top 20 hit on the UK singles chart, "Celluloid Heroes" failed to chart. Although not a hit single, the track received consistent airplay on AOR radio stations in the US through the 1970s and into the 1980s. Airplay in recent years has been scarce with classic rock stations often favoring only the bands' top 40 hits; yet it is the song of choice to play when these stations mark the passing of a Hollywood star. This, and Internet radio's "deep cuts" stations ensure its future play.

"Celluloid Heroes" is a firm favorite among Kinks aficionados, and is regarded, lyrically and melodically, as one of Davies' most mature and moving works. The song is one of the few where the talent of John Gosling (on Hammond organ) is put at the front as a key element of the song. "Celluloid Heroes" demonstrates a sensitive, emotional side to Davies' writing not often seen by those only familiar with The Kinks' generally jauntier, carefree singles output. At the time of its release, the song was one of the longest for the band, peaking at 6 minutes, while most of Davies' songs had rarely surpassed 4 minutes. The song was a standard in their concert play lists until they disbanded in 1996; appearing on the band's live album One for the Road (1980), it features a lengthy instrumental intro, a rare occurrence in the Kinks commercial canon. The song continues to be featured in Ray Davies' solo shows, and was chosen to be re-recorded for the 2009 album The Kinks Choral Collection. The song was also the title track of a 1976 collection featuring material originally released while recording for the RCA label, The Kinks' Greatest: Celluloid Heroes.