'Sleepwalker' is the 16th studio album by the Kinks and the first to be released under a new agreement with the Arista label following their departure from RCA.
The recording of the album began during the famous long and hot summer of 1976 at the no less famous KONK studio in London.
Released in February of the following year, the album marks an important change for the band, as it moves away from the theatrical and conceptual work that had characterized their output in the early 1970s.
Sleepwalker marked a return to a more conventional and traditional rock and roll sound, with a refined contemporary production and an emphasis on accessible melodic rock. The new approach was well received and marked a commercial revival for the band, particularly in the United States, where the album reached number 21 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Critics praised the straightforward rock sound and the characteristic writing style, wit, and observation of Ray Davies. The key singles and tracks, Sleepwalker, Juke Box Music, and Life on the Road, reflect and explore themes of escape, identity, the music industry, and life on tour.
"Sleepwalker" has recently been remastered from all the original ¼ inch tapes.