“All Day and All of the Night” is a 1964 song by the English rock band the Kinks. Released as a single, it reached No. 2 on the Record Retailer chart in the UK and No. 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1965. The song was featured on the Kinksize Hits EP in the UK and the Kinks’ second American album, Kinks-Size (1965).
Similar to their earlier hit “You Really Got Me,” the song is built around a power chord riff, sharing similarities in beat, structure, background vocals, progressions, and guitar solos. Dave Davies, the guitarist, credited “All Day and All of the Night” as the song where he “found his voice.” The guitar sound and raw delivery were distinctive, and Dave Davies highlighted his preference for the Peavey amplifiers over Marshalls during the mid-’70s.
Billboard described the song as a “potent entry,” praising its raw and gutsy delivery, maintaining a raunchy guitar sound. Cash Box also commended it as a “raunchy-rock’er” that would appeal to teenagers, drawing parallels to “You Really Got Me.”
Controversies arose due to perceived similarities between “All Day and All of the Night” and the Doors’ 1968 song, “Hello, I Love You.” Ray Davies, the Kinks’ lead singer, mentioned the publisher’s desire to sue, though he opted against it. Dave Davies expressed irritation over the issue, even incorporating a piece of “Hello, I Love You” into his performances. The Doors’ guitarist, Robby Krieger, denied the allegations, asserting that while the vibe of their song was inspired by Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love,” no musical structure was stolen from Ray Davies. UK courts ruled in favor of Davies, and he receives royalties for the song.
