Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) is a concept album by English rock band The Kinks, released in late 1969. The album followed a rough period for the band, with the commercial failure of the critically acclaimed concept album The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, its follow up single "Plastic Man", and the departure of founding member Pete Quaife. Songwriter Ray Davies constructed the album as the soundtrack to a planned television play, which was never produced but whose storyline had been developed in collaboration with Julian Mitchell. Mitchell recently recalled: "Arthur had a most unhappy history...we got as far as casting (excellent director and actors) and finding locations and were about to go when the producer went to a production meeting without a proper budget, tried to flannel his way through it, was immediately sussed and the production pulled. I have never been able to forgive the man."
The cover of The Kinks Arthur album. ... A studio album is a collection of previously unreleased, studio-recorded tracks by a recording artist. ... The Kinks were an English rock group formed in 1963 by lead singer-songwriter Ray Davies and his brother, lead guitarist and vocalist, Dave Davies. ... October 10 is the 283rd day of the year (284th in leap years). ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Pye Records was a British record label. ... Reprise Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, operated through Warner Bros. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 5_stars. ... Blender is an American magazine that bills itself as the ultimate guide to music and more. ... Image File history File links 5_stars. ... Robert Christgau (2007) Robert Christgau (sometimes abbreviated in print to Xgau), born April 18, 1942, is an American essayist, music journalist, and the self-declared Dean of American Rock Critics[1] His first reviews were published by Esquire in 1967. ... This article is about the magazine. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ... The Kinks were an English rock group formed in 1963 by lead singer-songwriter Ray Davies and his brother, lead guitarist and vocalist, Dave Davies. ... The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society is a pop-rock album released by the English music group The Kinks on November 22, 1968. ... Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One is an album by British rock band, The Kinks. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the Queen England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 967 AD  Area  -  Total 130,395 km²  50,346 sq mi  Population  -  2007 estimate 50... The Kinks were an English rock group formed in 1963 by lead singer-songwriter Ray Davies and his brother, lead guitarist and vocalist, Dave Davies. ... The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society is a pop-rock album released by the English music group The Kinks on November 22, 1968. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Julian Mitchell (born May 1, 1935) is a British screenwriter, especially for TV. He was screenwriter for many Inspector Morse episodes. ...

The story is based on Davies' brother-in-law Arthur, who emigrated from England to Australia with his wife Rose (Ray and Dave's older sister) in the early 1960s. The lead character Arthur is a carpet layer, and he and his family's plight in the opportunity-poor setting of post-war England is depicted. The songs describe the England that Arthur once knew, the promise of life in Australia for one of his sons, the emptiness of his superficially comfortable life in his home "Shangri-La", the resolve of the British people in World War II and the death of his brother in World War I, among other things. Many of the songs (such as "Victoria" and "Brainwashed") represent a strong return to Rock and Roll by the Kinks, which they had largely forgone during the 1966-1968 period. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ...

The album was critically acclaimed at the time of release, especially in the US rock press. It was very favorably compared to Tommy by The Who, the highly successful rock opera released earlier in the year. Arthur was a moderate commercial success, and was seen as something of a turnaround from The Kinks' commercial failures of 1968. It also set the stage for their return to touring the US in late 1969 (after a five year absence), and for even greater commercial success with the hit song "Lola" the following year. In their special issue commemorating the year 1969, Guitar World magazine ranked it as one of the greatest albums of the year. Tommy (1969) is the first of The Whos two full-scale rock operas (the second being Quadrophenia), and the first musical work explicitly billed as a rock opera. ... It has been suggested that Bob Pridden be merged into this article or section. ... The Whos Tommy, the first album explicitly billed as a rock opera A rock opera or rock musical is a musical production in the form of an opera or a musical in a modern rock and roll style rather than more traditional forms. ...

Track listing

All songs written by Ray Davies, except as noted.

1. "Victoria" – 3:40
2. "Yes Sir, No Sir" – 3:46
3. "Some Mother's Son" – 3:25
4. "Drivin'" – 3:21
5. "Brainwashed" – 2:34
6. "Australia" – 6:46
7. "Shangri-La" – 5:20
8. "Mr. Churchill Says" – 4:42
9. "She Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina" – 3:07
10. "Young And Innocent Days" – 3:21
11. "Nothing To Say" – 3:08
12. "Arthur" – 5:27

Shangri La is a song written by Ray Davies of The Kinks. ... Mr. ...

Bonus tracks on CD reissues

1. "Plastic Man (Mono Version)" – 3:04
2. "King Kong (Mono Version" – 3:23
3. "Drivin' (Mono Version)" – 3:12
4. "Mindless Child of Motherhood (Mono Version)" (Dave Davies) – 3:16
5. "This Man He Weeps Tonight (Mono Version)" (Dave Davies) – 2:42
6. "Plastic Man (Stereo Version)" – 3:04
7. "Mindless Child of Motherhood (Stereo Version)" (Dave Davies) – 3:16
8. "This Man He Weeps Tonight (Stereo Version)" (Dave Davies) – 2:42 [Due to a publishing error, it is only one side of the stereo mix in both channels; the true stereo version can be found on The Great Lost Kinks Album or a German compilation CD or on the UK iTunes.]
9. "She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina (Mono Version)" – 3:07
10. "Mr. Shoemaker's Daughter" – 3:08

Dave Davies (born David Russell Gordon Davies, 3 February 1947, in Muswell Hill, London, England) was a singer and guitarist with the English rock band The Kinks, which he founded with Pete Quaife in 1963. ... Dave Davies (born David Russell Gordon Davies, 3 February 1947, in Muswell Hill, London, England) was a singer and guitarist with the English rock band The Kinks, which he founded with Pete Quaife in 1963. ... Dave Davies (born David Russell Gordon Davies, 3 February 1947, in Muswell Hill, London, England) was a singer and guitarist with the English rock band The Kinks, which he founded with Pete Quaife in 1963. ... Dave Davies (born David Russell Gordon Davies, 3 February 1947, in Muswell Hill, London, England) was a singer and guitarist with the English rock band The Kinks, which he founded with Pete Quaife in 1963. ... The Great Lost Kinks Album is a 1973 LP collection of previously unreleased material by Reprise Records, after The Kinks had moved to RCA. The tracks were recorded between 1966 and 1970, and master tapes were shipped to the US Reprise Label in the early 1970s to fulfill contractual...

Song Notes

• Dave Davies has stated in interviews that he feels "Shangri-La" to be one of the best songs ever written by Ray Davies.

• The song "Victoria" was covered by The Fall in 1988.

• The single version of "Victoria" failed to crack the top 40 on the American Billboard Pop Singles chart, but was a top 40 hit in both the UK and Canada, and charted in the top ten in Sweden.

In popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition (performance or recording) of a previously recorded song. ... The Fall are a British rock music group, formed in Manchester in 1976, and named after Albert Camuss novel. ...

Personnel

• Ray Davies – Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards/Piano
• Dave Davies – Lead Guitar, Background vocals, Screaming
• John Dalton – Bass guitar, Background vocals
• Mick Avory – Drums, Percussion

This article does not cite its references or sources. ... A singer is a musician who uses his or her voice to produce music. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... A short grand piano, with the top up. ... Dave Davies (born David Russell Gordon Davies, 3 February 1947, in Muswell Hill, London, England) was a singer and guitarist with the English rock band The Kinks, which he founded with Pete Quaife in 1963. ... Lead guitar refers to a role within a band, that provides melody or melodic material, as opposed to the rhythm of the rhythm guitar, bass, and drums. ... John Dalton (b. ... The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is a string instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, or using a pick. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer. ...

Production

• Ray Davies - Producer
• Lew Warburton - Conductor
• Andrew Hendriksen - Engineer
• Brian Humphries - Engineer on "Drivin'"
• Bob Lawrie - Album art
• Recorded at Pye Studios, London