History of You Really Got Me in Timeline

"You Really Got Me" is a breakthrough hit song by the English rock band, The Kinks, released in 1964. Written by Ray Davies, it established the band as a leading British Invasion act in the United States. The song is notable for its innovative use of power chords and distortion, which profoundly influenced rock musicians, especially those in heavy metal and punk rock. It is considered a highly influential song in rock music history.

March 1964: Ray Davies writes "You Really Got Me"

In March 1964, Ray Davies wrote "You Really Got Me" on the piano at his home. The initial version was stylistically different from the final product, being lighter and more jazz-oriented.

August 1964: "You Really Got Me" released in the UK

On August 4, 1964, "You Really Got Me" was released as The Kinks' third single in the UK, backed with "It's All Right", quickly appearing on local charts and eventually topping the British charts.

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September 1964: "You Really Got Me" released in the US

In September 1964, following its UK success, "You Really Got Me" was rush-released in the US, reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 after an initial delay.

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1964: Ray Davies plays early version to photographer Allan Ballard

During the spring of 1964, Ray Davies played an early version of "You Really Got Me" on the piano to rock photographer Allan Ballard during a photo shoot.

1964: The Kinks release "You Really Got Me"

In 1964, The Kinks released "You Really Got Me" as their third single, marking their breakthrough hit and establishing them as a top British Invasion act. The song's innovative use of power chords and distortion significantly influenced later rock musicians.

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1964: "You Really Got Me" appears on Kinks album

In 1964, the song "You Really Got Me" appeared on the Kinks' debut album, with the American release of the album renamed You Really Got Me. Plans for international versions in French, German, Spanish, and Japanese were proposed but did not happen. The single B-side, "It's All Right", was included on the UK EP Kinksize Hits.

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1965: "It's All Right" included on Kinkdom album in the US

In 1965, the single B-side "It's All Right" was included on the Kinks' third album Kinkdom in the US.

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1967: Live version of "You Really Got Me" released on Live at Kelvin Hall

In 1967, a live version of "You Really Got Me" recorded at Kelvin Hall in Glasgow, Scotland, was released on Live at Kelvin Hall.

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1977: The Kinks perform medley on Saturday Night Live

In 1977, The Kinks performed a four-song medley of "You Really Got Me", "All Day and All of the Night", "A Well Respected Man", and "Lola" on Saturday Night Live.

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1978: Van Halen covers "You Really Got Me"

In 1978, Van Halen covered "You Really Got Me" on their debut album. It was released as their first single, peaking at No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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1980: Live version of "You Really Got Me" released on One for the Road

In 1980, a live version of "You Really Got Me" was released on the band's live album, One for the Road.

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1981: "Destroyer" featured in medley with "You Really Got Me" on The Don Lane Show

In 1982, a live performance on The Don Lane Show featured "You Really Got Me" in a medley with the band's 1981 song, "Destroyer".

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1982: The Kinks perform medley on The Don Lane Show

In 1982, a live performance on The Don Lane Show featured "You Really Got Me" in a medley with the band's 1981 song, "Destroyer".

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1984: Dave Davies enjoys playing "You Really Got Me" live

In 1984, Dave Davies claimed that, even after twenty years of performing "You Really Got Me", the track was "still fun to play live".

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1986: Live version of "You Really Got Me" included on Come Dancing with the Kinks: The Best of the Kinks 1977–1986 compilation album

In 1986, a live version of "You Really Got Me" was included on the compilation album Come Dancing with the Kinks: The Best of the Kinks 1977–1986.

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November 1991: Davies brothers perform live with the Smithereens

In November 1991, the Davies brothers performed a live version of "You Really Got Me" in Boston, Massachusetts with the Smithereens, which later appeared on the latter band's 1995 compilation album Attack of the Smithereens.

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1994: Performance at Mann Music Center appears on To the Bone

In 1994, a performance of "You Really Got Me" at the Mann Music Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, appeared on the Kinks' album To the Bone.

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1995: Live performance appears on Attack of the Smithereens

In 1995, the live version of "You Really Got Me", performed by the Davies brothers with the Smithereens, appeared on the Smithereens' compilation album Attack of the Smithereens.

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1998: Ray Davies discusses blues influences

In 1998, Ray Davies said he wrote "You Really Got Me" as a tribute to blues musicians such as Lead Belly and Big Bill Broonzy, while Dave cited Gerry Mulligan as an inspiration. Dave also mentioned Jimmy Giuffre's "The Train and the River" as a source of inspiration.

1998: "It's All Right" included on CD reissue of Kinks' debut album.

In 1998, the single B-side "It's All Right" was included on the CD reissue of the group's debut album.

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1998: Ray Davies discusses the guitar solo

In his 1998 autobiographical release The Storyteller, Ray Davies confirms that his brother Dave played the guitar solo and it was preceded by some bantering between the two.

1999: "You Really Got Me" inducted into Grammy Hall of Fame

In 1999, "You Really Got Me" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

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March 2005: "You Really Got Me" placed in Q magazine's list

In March 2005, Q magazine placed "You Really Got Me" at number nine in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.

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2009: "You Really Got Me" named 57th Greatest Hard Rock Song by VH1

In 2009, "You Really Got Me" was named the 57th Greatest Hard Rock Song by VH1.

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November 2014: Larry Page denies playing on "You Really Got Me"

In November 2014, Larry Page confirmed that he did not play on "You Really Got Me" during a SiriusXM Town Hall series interview, despite playing on other Kinks' records.

2014: Dave Davies claims sole creation of guitar distortion sound

In 2014, Dave Davies claimed that he alone created the guitar distortion sound for "You Really Got Me" by cutting the speaker cone of his Elpico amplifier, disputing Ray Davies' participation.

December 2015: Ray Davies joins Dave onstage, sparking reunion rumors

In December 2015, Ray Davies joined Dave onstage at one of his concerts to perform "You Really Got Me". The event marked the first time the brothers performed on stage together in nearly 20 years, sparking rumours of a Kinks reunion.

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2023: Mick Avory confirms Dave Davies played the guitar solo

In 2023, Drummer Mick Avory confirmed in an interview with AllMusic that the guitar solo on "You Really Got Me" was played by Dave Davies and not Jimmy Page.