Kinks lead singer Ray Davies wrote this as an homage to the oft-overlooked session musician who's "not paid to think, just play." It was partly inspired by English pianist Nicky Hopkins, who played alongside The Who, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. Hopkins played the harpsichord part at the beginning of this track.
While the Royal Albert Hall is indeed a noted venue in London, England, the line, "He will never forget at all the day he played at Albert Hall," was actually inspired by French horn player Albert Hall, who played on the original version of The Kinks' "Dead End Street."
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