The Kinks’ genius work, “Arthur” released for its golden anniversary

By mbrooks on October 22, 2019
The Kinks, (L-R) Dave Davies, Ray Davies, Peter Quaife, and Mick Avory, wait on the set of a television show, ready to perform, 1968. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

By Matthew Brooks

Too often, the greatest works are not recognized in their time. At least, not in the US.

Sometimes, fans appreciate true genius is appreciated after a time.

So it is with The Kink’s “Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire).”

The album’s “Victoria” returned The Kinks to the top 100 charts in the US, reaching up to No. 62. The album scaled up to No. 105 on the Billboard album chart.

Fans recognize this 1969 album as being the band’s masterpiece.

The work is now available for in a 50th anniversary edition.

The anniversary edition is a set of four CDs. The box set offers mono and stereo version of the music. Included are recording sessions, singles, and outtakes. The release also includes a previously unpublished solo record from Dave Davies.

If you remember seeing this album as a deluxe box set a few years ago, you remember right. Stores offered it as box set in 2011.

Around the site