Arthur Or the Decline & Fall.. [Import]

arthur or the decline & fall.. [import]

Track Listings

1. Victoria

2. Yes Sir, No Sir

3. Some Mother's Son

4. Drivin'

5. Brainwashed

6. Australia

7. Shangri-La

8. Mr. Churchill Says

9. She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina

10. Young and Innocent Days

11. Nothing to Say

12. Arthur

13. Plastic Man [Castle Edition Only]

14. King Kong [Castle Edition Only]

15. Drivin' [Castle Edition Only]

16. Mindless Child of Motherhood [Castle Edition Only]

17. This Man He Weeps Tonight [Castle Edition Only]

18. Plastic Man [Castle Edition Only]

19. Mindless Child of Motherhood [Castle Edition Only]

20. This Man He Weeps Tonight [Castle Edition Only]

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Full title, 'Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire'. UK reissue of 1969 album, fully remastered from the original tapes. Packaged in an authentic reproduction of the original (Dutch issue) artwork with all inserts & packaging within a minia

Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire),The Kinks,British Invasion,England,Pop/Rock,Rock & Roll,Rock/Pop

Arthur Or the Decline & Fall.. [Import]

Average customer rating:

A thrilling song-cycle
The Kinks' Krowning Achievement
God Bless Ray Davies
One of the best from the best!
is there a 6 star rating?

Arthur - Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire
The Kinks
Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000002KON
Release Date: 1990-05-02

Tracks:

Victoria
Yes Sir, No Sir
Some Mother's Son
Drivin'
Brainwashed
Australia
Shangri-la
Mr. Churchill Says
She Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina
Young & Innocent Days
Nothing To Say
Arthur

Amazon.com essential recording

Written as the score for a never-aired BBC television drama, Arthur is the story of late-'60s English working-class exhaustion. Perhaps not the most attention-grabbing subject for a rock album, but in Ray Davies's hands it's rich in texture and stylistic possibility. From the rousing ode to Britain's glorious past ("Victoria") to its less-than-glamorous present (that being the late '60s), Davies portrays a life of cautiously reduced expectations. Arthur once dreamed of owning his own business but has settled for a car and an indoor bathroom ("Shangri-La"). One of his sons spends his time complaining about the system ("Brainwashed"), the other dreams of moving to a new land of opportunity ("Australia"), and when they get together for Sunday dinner there's simply "Nothing to Say." The Kinks at their mighty and surprisingly tender best. --Percy Keegan

Customer Reviews:

A thrilling song-cycle.......2006-12-19

Ray Davies and the Kinks (with John Dalton on bass) sound like a tight unit. You can even hear Dave shout with glee while rocking out on "Victoria". Every song, be it rocker or wistful ballad, is a winner. The songs never stray far from the album's subject making this recording a cohesive and very thrilling song-cycle.

The Kinks' Krowning Achievement.......2006-10-09

The Kinks' Arthur, or: the Decline and Fall of the British Empire was the best possible way for this quintessential British Invasion band to end its most creatively fertile (if not commercially successful) period. This period began in 1966 with Face to Face, and led up to 1969's Arthur with the brilliant Something Else (1967) and the highly-lauded The Village Green Preservation Society (1968). While Village Green looks back to an England that may have been, Arthur provides a broader sweep, and ends up seeing England as it had become.

Arthur is populated by disillusioned Basil Fawlty-types who had attached their egos to the British Empire. As went the empire, so went their own sense of belonging to something large and superior. Suddenly, these folks began to feel small and inferior themselves. It is a history lesson set to rock music, from the pre-WWI high noon to the post-WWII setting of the sun. And I can confidently say "rock" music because the electric guitars are back in full force on Arthur, whereas they had been toned down - to good effect - on the previous two albums. (Note how the band burns through "Brainwashed" without even breaking a sweat.)

The album kicks off in high gear with the exuberant "Victoria", which casts a happy if somewhat rose-colored eye on the glory days of Great Britain. "Yes Sir, No Sir" and "Mr. Churchill Says" poke fun at the military and political leaders of the two World Wars. ("Mr. Beaverbrook says/We gotta save our tin" brings to mind the Bush administration's duct tape nonsense of 2002.) "Some Mother's Son", on the other hand, is perhaps the most affecting and effective anti-war song in all of popular music. "Australia" brings back the triumphant tone with its hope for a better place, one which is familiar but far from Great Britain. However, this optimism is immediately stomped on by "Shangri-La", which is literally and figuratively the album's centerpiece. It nicely captures the record's theme of decline on an individual scale. (Sadly, this individual's peak was never as glorious as the empire's.) "She Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina" is a tongue-in-cheek look at a couple who may not be able to afford to pack up and move, but who at least try to keep up appearances as long as they are sticking around. Finally, "Young and Innocent Days" recalls the sentimentality of Village Green, and the closing song, in which the album's namesake is formally introduced, has a "Nowhere Man" thematic quality to it.

Granted, some of the songs on Arthur are less catchy in the Britpop sense of the word. This was the sacrifice that Ray Davies was willing to make in order to create the ambitious album that he did. It may not be the personal favorite of most Kinks fans, but it is the one on which their reach was the furthest and their grasp the most complete. It was also the last in a series of Great records that proved that The Kinks deserved to be ranked among the best and most important British bands not only of the 1960s, but of all time. Davies' lyrics on Arthur were - as always - clever, caustic, humorous, and insightful. The band, meanwhile, was in peak form musically. The result was one of the most fully realized and entertaining concept albums ever. After a half-decade absence from the American charts and the States, The Kinks would return to both in 1970. Sadly, the millions of listeners who knew them only from their hits would remain oblivious to the fact the brothers Davies created their very best material between these visits.

(Be sure to grab the re-issue for a handful of excellent bonus tracks, including Dave Davies' magnificent "Mindless Child of Motherhood" and "This Man He Weeps Tonight", two more bits of evidence that, in batting average terms, Dave was almost as good a songwriter as his brother.)

God Bless Ray Davies .......2006-08-23

Arthur or The Decline of The British Empire is a concept album that tells the story of a man who dreams of having a good house and a Car as well as the luxories of life. He is a Carpet installer whose brother Edward died in the Great War, and whose son Edward died in the Korean War, when another son named Derek wants to move to Australia, and take his wife Liz and two children with him. The album is full of Folk influences and early Rock influences as well as influences from The Beatles via Sargent Pepper's Lonley Heart's Club Band and "The White Album" including both Revolver and Rubber Soul, for I can hear all of those influences in the album.
Shangri-La is by far the best song on the album alongside Victoria and Yes Sir, No Sir plus Australia, of what I have heared so far. Ray Davies is a true magician as a songwriter, with The KinKs being a band that has so many great hits and moments in thier history. I recomed this album fully.

One of the best from the best!.......2006-03-01

When I had the opportunity to meet with Ray Davies a decade ago after the Kinks played the "House of Blues" in LA, it was the "Arthur" album I chose to bring to have Ray sign. A masterpiece from beginning to end.

is there a 6 star rating? .......2006-02-11

what a beautiful album! one of the rare albums that has no fillers or weaker cuts. i'd call it a classic but that makes it sound dusty. these songs could come out in 20 years and still sound fresh.

Average customer rating:

Buy This Edition

Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
Manufacturer: Sanctuary UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0002SG1OY
Release Date: 2004-10-11

Tracks:

Victoria
Yes Sir, No Sir
Some Mother's Son
Drivin'
Brainwashed
Australia
Shangri-La
Mr. Churchill Says
She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina
Young and Innocent Days
Nothing to Say
Arthur

Customer Reviews:

Buy This Edition.......2007-04-22

If you are viewing this item right now you probably already know about the significance of this album. I have owned the old domestic Reprise edition for years now and just recently picked up this pressing. The sound quality is superior and the booklet is handsome and much more informative. You will not regret buying this import in lieu of the older, more common Reprise pressing.

Average customer rating:

not even its shortcomings ruin it
Kinks Arthur
Best Kinks album
One of the great almost-unheard albums; great bonus tracks
The One to Get

Arthur - Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire
The Kinks
Manufacturer: Castle Music UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Country | Imports | Stores | Music

Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
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The Village Green Preservation Society
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Lola vs. the Powerman & the Money-Go-Round, Pt. 1
The Kink Kontroversy

ASIN: B0000089A5
Release Date: 2000-05-16

Tracks:

Victoria
Yes Sir, No Sir
Some Mother's Son
Drivin'
Brainwashed
Australia
Shangri-La
Mr. Churchill Says
She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina
Young and Innocent Days
Nothing to Say
Arthur
Plastic Man [Castle Edition Only]
King Kong [Castle Edition Only]
Drivin' [Castle Edition Only]
Mindless Child of Motherhood [Castle Edition Only]
This Man He Weeps Tonight [Castle Edition Only]
Plastic Man [Castle Edition Only]
Mindless Child of Motherhood [Castle Edition Only]
This Man He Weeps Tonight [Castle Edition Only]
She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina [Castle Edition Only]
Mr. Shoemakers Daughter [Castle Edition Only]

Amazon.com

Album Description

Digitally remastered 1998 reissue on Castle's Essential label of their 1969 album that was commissioned as an ITV play but never produced. A concept album about an ordinary man reflecting on his life, it includes the top 75 hit 'Victoria'. The full title is 'Arthur, Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire'. Also contains 10 bonus tracks comprised of mono or stereo single versions, alternate mixes, etc. 22 tracks total. Also features restored packaging, unpublished photos and memorabilia.

Album Details

Reissues Will Include Bonus Tracks and Remastered Sound.

Customer Reviews:

not even its shortcomings ruin it.......2004-03-12

There's not much more to say that hasn't already been said. On this album the Kinks were about as good as the Beatles, and definitely as good as the Who. It may be the only classic rock album out there that has the distinction of being the score to a musical that never got made. It wasn't even meant to be a rock opera that stood on its own as an album, like "Tommy" or "The Wall", it was meant to be a soundtrack, so there aren't songs on it that try to explain the story- so as a result, the story is even harder to figure out than the story on those two albums, and it's not the Kinks' fault. With that in mind, every song rocks and has great lyrics, even though "Yes Sir No Sir" "Mr Churchill Says" and "Nothing to Say" have similar chord progressions. Like a whole lot of the Kinks' songs, you can start singing along because the music is so catchy, and then it hits you, "wow, these lyrics are really about something." People describe lots of albums as sort of time machines to other eras, but this is one you can truly say that about. And I'm not saying it evokes the sixties, it evokes 100 years of British history- or at least Ray Davies' version of it. His lyrics are not very poetic and complex like anything by the likes of Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, or Robert Hunter, but the subject matter of his songs is just as deep, and you always know exactly what he's talking about.

I have to reply to what one reviewer said about "Australia" being too long and too sixties- the four minute instrumental break really needs to be there as a transition between "Australia" and "Shangri-La."
Only complaint- and it's not much of a complaint- is that it could have better remastering. Sometimes the vocals get drowned out by the band, and on some songs the horns and strings get drowned out by everything. Anyhow, if you can wait until the next remaster version comes out, do that, but if you just have to hear it now, get this version of it.

Kinks Arthur.......2003-12-15

The current digitally remastered CD, with the bonus tracks, sounds great; it does justice, I believe, to one of the landmark albums of the late sixties. I can't suppress a recurring feeling of ambivalence, however, towards this band. It began for me when I went to see them play at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in the course of one of their "return to America" tours. I was looking forward to an evening of nostalgia, with a precise rendering of those "classic" "British Invasion" hits, for which I remembered them best. I hadn't listened to the interim albums. I wasn't prepared for what followed. Chaos seemed to reign on stage and throughout the auditorium. The performance seemed sloppy and disjointed (see John Mendelsohn's liner notes for "Kink Kronikles"). I remember leaving the short concert confused and disappointed. I couldn't believe they were the same band. Listening to the "Arthur" LP for the first time after that night, I felt reasonably certain that something had seriously gone wrong for the Kinks...Luckily the musical odyssey didn't stop for me there. As I gradually acquainted myself with the albums I missed, I began to reappraise the value of this seminal 60's band. A new perspective on "Arthur" emerged. From the driving opening cut "Victoria," to Arthur's last hurrah on track 12, I began to appreciate this album for its rich social commentary on Empire, instinct, war and conformity, the problems of political power, economic inequality, "brainwashing," and the mortal coil of old age and death. Yet beside the "darker implications" below the surface structure of songs such as "Yes Sir/No Sir," the maudlin and melodramatic, "Some Mother's Son," the trap of gross materialism in "Shangri-La," the psychedelic trip to "Australia," and the face of meaninglessness in "Nothing to Say," the Kinks delightfully conclude their opus with evident compassion for the brave protagonist, anti-hero, and every man, Arthur Morgan: "Somebody loves you, don't you know it?" Putting myself in Arthur's place, I'm not sure whether I know it or not, or whether I believe the Kinks when they sing "Somebody loves you, don't you know it?" Are they sincere or cynical? You decide. The bonus tracks, "Plastic Man," and "Mindless Child of Motherhood," seem to fit into the social commentary projected by "Arthur," as do "King Kong," and "The Man He Weeps Tonight," to some extent, even "Mr. Shoemaker's Daughter."

Best Kinks album.......2003-11-24

somewhere along the line ,there will always be someone who says a certain Kinks album is their favorite or best. In my opinion this is my favorite. its the 1st non hits Kinks album i ever bought and i still love it til this day. shangri-la is possibly their greatest song next to Celluloid heroes. Most of the album has a laid back drunk sound to it. Ray sings a couple of songs in a strange voice [victoria and yes sir no sir]. other songs like Princess marina he sounds totally different. Drivin is an excellent feel good song with great harmonies. Australia is a funny song but has an extended boring "jam" at the end. Overall most songs are great and this version has tons of xtra stuff including King Kong which is a great lost Kinks single.

One of the great almost-unheard albums; great bonus tracks.......2003-02-16

This is definitely one of the Kinks finest albums (just a notch below "The Village Green Preservation Society"), and it is even one of the best albums of 1969, holding its own against the fine albums of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Velvet Underground and others from that same year.

The ablum does have a few flaws, of course. It was the longest album the Kinks had made up until that point (clocking in at just under 50 minutes), and some of the songs could have been shorter by a bit: "Yes Sir, No Sir" and "Mr. Churchill Says," for instance, and especially "Australia," which ends with an unnecessary jam that now sounds extremely dated. But overall, the album is well-constructed. "Victoria" and "Arthur" are great rockers. Amazing slower songs include "Young and Innocent Days" and the anti-war "Some Mother's Son."

Musically, this was Ray Davies' finest effort. Though he had displayed his ability to write catchy, even beautiful, pop songs for several albums before this one, "Arthur" displayed a greater level of sophistication in his songwriting. For example, he contrasts English folk with '60s-style rock more cleverly than he had done before. This contrast is particularly evident within the span of five minutes in "Shangi-La," one of this album's highlights. Meanwhile, his lyrics are better on the whole this time around. On other Kinks albums, songs with great lyrics are often interspersed between sweet pop songs that sound great, but have really dumb words to them. Here, Davies sticks to the theme, singing of an increasingly complicated English life filled with generational differences, the turmoils associated with growing old and the difficulties faced by the working class. Though that theme lends itself to overly serious lyrics, they're delivered (for the most part) without heavy-handedness, and there's still a bit of humor to be found here and there.

The long and the short of it: every rock collection should own this album.

Also, this particular issue is all the more essential because it includes great bonus tracks like "Plastic Man" and "Mindless Child of Motherhood." The remaserted sound is great, too. It's certainly worth tracking down.

The One to Get.......2002-01-03

If you want to buy a Kinks album beyond a greatest hits compilation, this is the one to get. The first half of "Arthur" is easily the best album side the Kinks ever produced, anchored by their best rocker, "Victoria." The second half drops off slightly, but still contains that great ode to the working stiff, "Shangri-La." Best of all, almost all of the songs end up rocking. For best sound quality, get the remastered import with such bonus tracks as "Plastic Man", "King Kong", and "Mindless Mother of Childhood." A 5-star classic.

Average customer rating:

Classic Kinks album gets yet another face lift

Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
Manufacturer: Jvc Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Pop | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004TDVA
Release Date: 2000-05-30

Tracks:

Victoria
Yes Sir, No Sir
Some Mother's Son
Drivin'
Brainwashed
Australia
Shangri-La
Mr. Churchill Says
She's Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina
Young And Innocent Days
Nothing To Say
Arthur

Album Description

Japanese reissue of the 1969 album featuring 20 bit K2 remastering & the original artwork reproduced in a miniature gatefold LP sleeve. 2000 release.

Album Details

Japanese Version featuring an LP Style Slipcase for Initial Pressing. 20bit Digitally Remastered.

Customer Reviews:

Classic Kinks album gets yet another face lift.......2000-07-26

The impact of Arthur wasn't felt in America. Recorded before Tommy but released after it, critics failed to appreciate Ray Davies' conceptual masterpiece for what it was--the first true rock opera. Ray's narrative is a bit clearer than Townshend's (since he had written a television script for the album at the same time he was composing the music).

The advantages of this Japanese import are many as are the disadvantages. The packaging is faithful to the original LP down to the pull out lyric sheet and graphics. The sound quality is actually better than the British import (The Japanese pressing uses 20bit K2 superencoding to deliver the best sound). This version isn't as thin sounding, has an improved range, sounds warmer and has sharper details. Kudos to Victor in Japan for putting so much work into this masterpiece.

The disadvantages are also apparent. There are no bonus tracks (unlike the British version which has a number of fine Dave Davies' b sides and mono mixes of some of the album's best tracks). The booklet for the British edition puts the album into its context and is enjoyable reading. It's kind of cool to know what the album was like to record for those involved.

So it's a trade off. Better sound (although not dramatically better when compared to the Brit version) and a faithful reproducing of the original packaging make this well worth owning for Kinks fans. In a pinch the British edition is fine I'd suggest convincing a friend to purchase this and then check it out prior to purchasing it.

Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
Average customer rating:
Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
Manufacturer: Bmg
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music
General | Pop | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000RE616G
Release Date: 2007-08-06

Tracks:

Victoria
Yes Sir, No Sir
Some Mother's Son
Drivin'
Brainwashed
Australia
Shangri-La
Mr. Churchill Says
She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina
Young and Innocent Days
Nothing to Say
Arthur

Album Details

24bit Digitally Remastered Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.

Average customer rating:

Dutch Oven

Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005O053
Release Date: 2001-09-21

Tracks:

Victoria
Yes Sir, No Sir
Some Mother's Son
Drivin'
Brainwashed
Australia
Shangri-La
Mr. Churchill Says
She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina
Young and Innocent Days
Nothing to Say
Arthur
Plastic Man [Castle Edition Only]
King Kong [Castle Edition Only]
Drivin' [Castle Edition Only]
Mindless Child of Motherhood [Castle Edition Only]
This Man He Weeps Tonight [Castle Edition Only]
Plastic Man [Castle Edition Only]
Mindless Child of Motherhood [Castle Edition Only]
This Man He Weeps Tonight [Castle Edition Only]
She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina [Castle Edition Only]
Mr. Shoemakers Daughter [Castle Edition Only]

Album Description

Full title, 'Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire'. UK reissue of 1969 album, fully remastered from the original tapes. Packaged in an authentic reproduction of the original (Dutch issue) artwork with all inserts & packaging within a minia

Customer Reviews:

Dutch Oven.......2005-04-18

That is apparently where they cooked this thing up. First of all, there is no "jewel box": it's all paper. That's not too big of a deal. Unless you happen to lop off a corner by cutting through the envelope with excitement when the disc arrives in the mail, like I did.

But the REAL problem here is the sound of the CD. It's just awful. Especially near the end, where many of the songs become distorted. If you got the levels this bad on a tape you were making for a friend, you'd start over. These guys released it.

If you care about experiencing this great album without abominable sound getting in the way, go find another edition.

Music:

Music

music

1. Victoria
2. Yes Sir, No Sir
3. Some Mother's Son
4. Drivin'
5. Brainwashed
6. Australia
7. Shangri-La
8. Mr. Churchill Says
9. She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina
10. Young and Innocent Days
11. Nothing to Say
12. Arthur
13. Plastic Man [Castle Edition Only]
14. King Kong [Castle Edition Only]
15. Drivin' [Castle Edition Only]
16. Mindless Child of Motherhood [Castle Edition Only]
17. This Man He Weeps Tonight [Castle Edition Only]
18. Plastic Man [Castle Edition Only]
19. Mindless Child of Motherhood [Castle Edition Only]
20. This Man He Weeps Tonight [Castle Edition Only]
See all 22 tracks on this disc