Comments for Kinks, the, Arthur...or the Decline of the British Empire

the first true "rock opera"

I think this is the Kinks' best record. It has all the charm of Village Green Preservation Society, plus a somewhat broader scope. The playing is outstanding on song after song, and the I think the words are among the best Ray Davies has written.

This album stands at a threshhold of greatness: the raw and undisciplined Kinks of the '60s had yet to become the lackluster misbegottens of the '70s. At that time in 1969, oddly about 6 months too late to claim the first great "rock opera," this album shows, most importantly, the depth and maturity of the Davies' music at such an early stage in their illustrious and underground career. This album is a much more focused album than Village Green ever pretended to be, with much more pointed and insightful commentary than Muswell Hillbillies or Lola. In a word, Arthur is a tour de'force for Ray Davies and the Kinks; Arthur is their finest album.

Ray displays an incredible vocal range, and Mick Avory's drumming is extremely powerful ("Shangrila", "She Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina") The whole band rocks! And the songs! "Some Mother's Son" is a heart-breaking vision of youth killed in the war ("and still the world keeps turning / though all the children have gone away"). Ray mimics a Winston Churchill speech in "Mr. Churchill Said" -- I always have to turn it down when the siren wails or I go crazy! "Yes Sir, No Sir" has Ray mimicking an subdued army snot... later in this song the commanders condemn deserters amidst obnoxious laughter and drunken singing ("if he dies we'll send a medal to his Mom... a ha ha ha... la la la la...) His imagery, musically and lyrically, is vivid, often horrific, brilliant. Compositionally, the songs sustain plenty of interest, with only a few occasional extended jams that seem a bit pointless. All in all, a great album by a very tight band.

I can remember listening to this album while I was in college in New Haven, Connecticut on a cold, sunny afternoon. Me and a bunch of my friends were flying high on acid. I was already a Kinks fanatic but I know that a few more were made on that winter day. I will never forget the moment that "Victoria' came on our $100 stereo at full volume as we lit up a joint. Howie Schulman from Brooklyn are you listening. It's me, Bob from New Jersey. I miss you, man.

The album's actual title was "Arthur...Or the Decline AND FALL of the British Empire." But that's okay. This album (like all other Kinks albums, I guess) should've gotten more attention. It is almost up to par with The Beatles' "Abbey Road" also released in '69 and is definitely more enjoyable than The Rolling Stones' "Let it Bleed" (from '69 as well). It easily finishes in the top ten for that year, and in the top five as far as best Kinks albums.

Are there any more pop masterpieces out there like this that I should know about? 'Cause I'm amazed this isn't on critics top albums of the 60s..... I'd certainly never heard about it until recently.... my god what ELSE have I missed?!?

Tracks:(side 1)'Victoria', 'Yes Sir, No Sir', 'Some Mother's Son', 'Drivin'', 'Brainwashed', 'Australia',(side 2) 'Shangri-La', 'Mr. Churchill Says', 'She Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina', 'Young And Innocent Days', 'Nothing To Say', 'Arthur'

This is undoubtedly the best record I ever found in a bargain bin, and that's saying something.

Sorry - but this album doesn't do anything for me ( if fact I think I hate it) for sure there are 3 or 4 great songs on it but as a whole I can't listen to it (this comment from a FAN all my life 33yrs)

back again, I shouldn't have used the word "hate', I love the KINKS - but this album bothers me - basically I can't seem to relate to most of the songs on a personal level

this record is absolutely amazing - muscular, emotionally impactful, humor-filled, incisive - but suffers ever-so-slightly from a lack of the melodic diversity that was such a hallmark of the two preceding albums. i do think quaife's departure hurt the band. while sometimes reaching similar heights after "village green", it was never the same, and you can see the pitfalls that would consume the band begin to surface on this record. nonetheless, it's so much better than 99.99% of anything else i've heard ever.

Probably the best album they have done, short of Muswell Hillbillies. I was involved in the US military at the time, and Some Mother's son hit right where we were living. For someone that had never been there and done that, Ray has an incredible feel for the spirit of the times. Ya hadda be there, I guess.

I own the CD as well as the original LP version. And all I can say is that it makes a difference if you listen to the CD or the LP. It's somewhat mystic to sit and hold the large brown cover in your hand - and just listen. Victoria starts off with a powerfull bassline and when Ray starts singing I always have to turn my stereo up. I love all songs and especially 'She's Bought A Hat Like Proncess Marinas'. Have you ever tried dancing the Foxtrott? Try it with Marina. You will succeed! Mr. Churchill Says and Australia are very great tracks. Well done!

This is my favorite Kink album of all time. Definitely in my top 10 albums of all time list. It brings the great melodys of "Something else" and "Village Green" albums to a broader scope. Longer songs and witty storeys in this great album. I'm only 17 but I love this album and classic rock music.. i first heard this album when i saw my dad had it on record. Even the front cover of "Arthur" is very of its times and looks cool.

I have always liked the Kinks (Schoolboys was my first), but got into them long after they have had a large catalog, so I never got every disc, though I always tried and have had nearly every disc or record except "Face to Face", "Arthur" and some others. This is a fantastic disc, I can understand anyone saying that this is their best, although I will reserve judgement having just purchased it, it certainly seems that way. At first I thought "Australia" was weak, but I listen to it, for once Ray lets the band "jam" and it is very effective. Though I still need to listen to it, "Young and Restless" and many others are just as good as can be. Those who know "Victoria" and "Shangri-la" mainly from "Kinks Kronikles" really owe it to themselves to see in what context these songs come from. IMHO

I am 18 and i love the Kinks. Arthur is their second best album(after Muswell Hillbillies)It's so good.It really rules. Definitely one of the ten best albums of all time

definitely good as Yurcan says, free of violence and sex molesters, which seem to follow much of what music is, one of the best damn albums of all time.

This is a fine effort, however I still like "The Kinks are the Village Green Society" and "Sleepwalker" more.

This album is fantastic! I'm only 17 too (what's with all the crazy youngins listening to the Kinks, anyway?), but when I heard this about a month ago I had to pick it up on CD (that and Village Green, which I also love). My only complaint is that it's poorly engineered (and poorly mastered for CD, which will be fixed with the re-issues comming out this year). But it's not so poorly engineered that it takes away from the performances of the band itself. If you've never heard this album, go to your local music store and buy it (how can you go wrong, it's only like $9 anyway!).

Here's another teenager (15) sounding in on how great the Kinks are and how great this great album is. Probably the Kink's best. Sangri-la is their best song and Drivin', Victoria are also great

this review comes from not a long "hardcore" fan but a newer fan. arthur was the first album of theirs i got and it instantly made me want to discover what else they have in their catalogue(i''ve bought 4 more albums so far) and i am AMAZED at how overlooked they are with such an impressive 60''s output, i''ve heard clips of the 70''s material and it doesn''t sound as bad as a lot of people make it out to be. in fact it sounds REALLY good. anyways, my main point is that this album is spectacular from start to finish (dave''s "mindless child of motherhood" on the reissue is fantastic also)if you''re a beatles fan who has never explored the kinks, like i was, do yourself a favor and get this album and go from there. by the way this comes from another "youngin" (25) obsessed with 60''s music

This is to Bob who was looking for Howie Schulman from Brooklyn. I knew Howie and visited him several times while he was a student in in New Haven, Ct. I have last track of him but I certainly remember his penchant for the Kinks. The two of us went to see the Kinks on more than one occasion at the Schaeffer concerts in Central Park. I have lost track of him and if you have any information as to his whereabouts I would greatly appreciate your passing it on. Kevin Backmann Dallas, TX