"How Are You" is the seventh track on the album, ''

Think Visual ''Think Visual'' is the twenty-second studio album by the English rock band the Kinks, released in 1986. It peaked at #81 on the ''Billboard'' chart. According to Ray Davies, the album was originally going to be a concept album where his "spiv ...

'', released by

The Kinks The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, north London, in 1963 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies. They are regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s. The band emerged during the height of British rhythm ...

in 1986. It was written by

Ray Davies Sir Raymond Douglas Davies ( ; born 21 June 1944) is an English musician. He was the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter for the rock band the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother Dave on lead guitar and backing voca ...

Recording

The initial demo of "How Are You" was recorded in January 1986 at

Konk Studios Konk is the name of a recording studio and record label,

. Ray Davies liked his vocals on the demo so much that he transferred the vocals from the demo to Konk Studios' 24-track machine. He then worked on the instrumental to center around the demo's vocal.

Lyrics and music

In "How Are You", the singer reminisces with an old friend he has run into. "It's been a while, I haven't seen you for at least a year or more, or is it less? I can't be sure," the singer says. He then asks, "How are you?" The singer continues to question his friend, asking "Are you still dreaming and making big plans? How are the nights are they still lonely? Are you still struggling the way that I am?" However, the meeting begins to turn sour, with the singer saying, "I know you're making all the same mistakes", but then adds, "Still no offence, no more hard feelings left on silly sentiment. No harm was ever felt or ever meant." He then realizes that he has to leave, as he's "gotta thousand little things I better do. Ah, but it was really good to talk to you. Be on my way, I'm bound to see you on the street again someday, and when I do I'll say How are you?" The reuniting theme of "How Are You" is also apparent in its follow-up single, "Lost and Found". "How Are You", like most Kinks tracks, is sung by

. The track also, like many others on ''

'', makes use of synthesizers.

Release and reception

"How Are You" was first released in November 1986 on the ''

'' LP. However, one month later, "How Are You" was released as the debut U.K. single from said album, backed with "Killing Time". It was a moderate success, peaking at #86 on the U.K. Singles Chart. This would be the last time that a Kinks single charted in Britain. Although the

Dave Davies David Russell Gordon Davies (born 3 February 1947) is an English guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the English rock band the Kinks, which also featured his elder brother Ray Davies. He was ind ...

-penned "Rock 'n' Roll Cities" was chosen to be the lead ''

'' single in America, "How Are You" was eventually released as its follow-up, this time backed with "Working at the Factory". In the U.S., AOR disc jockeys flipped the single over and played "Working At The Factory" as though it was the second single. It reached #16 on Billboard's

Album Rock Tracks Mainstream Rock is a music chart in ''Billboard'' magazine that ranks the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations in the United States, a category that combines the formats of active rock and heritage rock. The chart was launched in Ma ...

chart. On his review of ''

'', David Wild of ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

'' wrote, "the melancholy "How Are You" is another of Ray's well-crafted songs of love and loss." The track also appeared on the compilation album, ''

Picture Book A picture book combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children. With the narrative told primarily through text, they are distinct from comics, which do so primarily through sequential images. The images ...

''.

Music video

Like many other Kinks singles of the 1980s, a promotional video for "How Are You" was filmed, featuring

. Unusually, the video "How Are You" (as well as those for the two other singles from ''

'') was not directed by Julien Temple, who had directed all of their music videos since " Predictable".

References

{{authority control The Kinks songs 1986 singles Songs written by Ray Davies Song recordings produced by Ray Davies 1986 songs MCA Records singles