See My Friends
"See My Friends" (sometimes titled "See My Friend") is a song by the English rock band the Kinks, written by the group's singer and guitarist, Ray Davies. Released in July 1965, it reached number 10 on the Record Retailer chart. The song incorporates a drone-effect played on guitar, evoking a sound reminiscent of the Indian tambura.
| "See My Friends" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Danish picture sleeve | ||||
| Single by the Kinks | ||||
| B-side | "Never Met a Girl Like You Before" | |||
| Released | 30 July 1965 | |||
| Recorded | 3 May 1965 | |||
| Studio | Pye, London | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:44 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | Ray Davies | |||
| Producer(s) | Shel Talmy | |||
| The Kinks UK singles chronology | ||||
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| The Kinks US singles chronology | ||||
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"See My Friends" is one of the key early works in the style known as raga rock. Music historian Jonathan Bellman sees it as the first Western rock song to integrate Indian raga sounds, citing its release four months ahead of the Beatles' "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)", which includes a sitar part. However, Davies biographer Johnny Rogan comments that a preceding single release ("Heart Full of Soul" by the Yardbirds) was "pre-empting Davies's innovative use of Indian music".