After the Kinks failed to renew their American distribution contract with Reprise, the label assembled this compilation without input from the band.

Instead, Reprise invited rock journalist and noted Kinks fan John Mendelsohn to compile this package, ignoring the band's early trademark hits already appearing on The Kinks Greatest Hits!.

Five tracks made their US debut in any format here – "Berkeley Mews", "Willesden Green", "This Is Where I Belong", "Did You See His Name?"

"King Kong" would make its US single debut Reprise 1094 two months after the release of this double album.

It became an important milestone in the Kinks' career by introducing highlights of the band's England-centered 1966-1970 period to American audiences.