Newly remastered from the original tapes, Sleepwalker is the 16th studio album by The Kinks and the first under a new deal with Arista Records, following their departure from RCA Records. Recording for the album began during the long hot summer of 1976 at the band's KONK Studio in London. Released in February 1977, the album marked a significant shift for the band, as it moved away from the conceptual work that had characterized their early `70s output toward a return to a more conventional, mainstream rock n' roll sound with contemporary, polished production and a focus on accessible melodic rock. The new approach marked a commercial resurgence for the band, especially in the US, where the album reached #21 on the Billboard 200. Critics praised the straightforward rock sound and Ray Davies's signature songwriting, wit and observational style.