Lost in The Supermarket: The Kinks, "A Well Respected Man"

(Welcome to Lost in the Supermarket, an occasional blog recurring feature in which we discuss unexpected songs we've heard in unexpected places. This doesn't just have to be your local Schucks or Dierbergs, either; any weird pairing you've heard is fair game for the feature. Email the scenario to me, with the phrase Lost in the Supermarket in the subject heading, and you just might see it here.)

Date(s):  Monday, February 16 and Saturday, February 21

Where:  Walgreens, McKnight Road at Delmar Boulevard, University City

What:  The Kinks, "A Well Respected Man"

Why is this weird?  Well, how often does one hear the same song on two successive trips to the same pharmacy - especially a song one likes?  "A Well Respected Man" was one of the Kinks' bigger American hits, topping out at #13 on the Billboard charts, but it's hardly obvious comfort music for Walgreens shoppers.  The first time, on a quest for half-price Valentine's Day candy, was pleasant enough; I've been digging into the Kinks' catalog via the Picture Book box set lately, and actually found myself humming it in line.  But five days later, the same song came on while I was waiting at the photo counter - at about the same time of day, no less.  Certainly adds a fresh perspective to Ray Davies' lyrical portrait of a man whose "world is built round punctuality."