The Kinks Detail 'Arthur (Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire)' 50th Anniversary Reissue
Tuesday, 30 July 2019
Written by Jon Stickler
BMG will mark the 50th anniversary of the Kinks' album 'Arthur (Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire)' with a special reissue this autumn.
Following the reissue of 'The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society' last October, the iconic British rock band's 1969 seventh studio album will be re-released as a special box set on October 25.
Among the four CDs, comprising of 81 tracks and 28 previously unheard versions of songs, is the previously unreleased track The Future, which you can listen to below. There's also newly remastered versions of the original album, mono and stereo single versions, b-sides, alternate mono and stereo mixes, rehearsal tracks, BBC mixes and the lost Dave Davies solo album, with bonus tracks. Frontman Ray Davies said:
"I started 'Arthur' before the end of 'Village Green'. The albums piggyback one another because they are joined. I'd already written the song Arthur.
"I think I wrote Australia when I was still living at 87 Fortis Green so it was quite early on. I remember taking it over to Dave, he lived in Cockfosters at the time, and playing it to him.
"We were laughing at the irony in the line, 'nobody's got a chip on their shoulder'."
A 68-page book has also been included, featuring essays from Kinks experts, original cancelled Arthur play co-scriptwriter Julian Mitchell, and original album sleeve designer Bob Lawrie.
It also contains new interviews with Ray Davies, Dave Davies and Mick Avory, as well as rare photos, original release artwork and printed memorabilia.
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