2 - 675 - 1969 - Arthur (or the decline and fall of the British Empire)
Side one
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" 6:46Side two
1. "Shangri-La" 5:20
2. "Mr. Churchill Says" 4:42
3. "She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina" 3:07
4. "Young and Innocent Days" 3:21
5. "Nothing to Say" 3:08
6. "Arthur" 5:27Ray Davies – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards (harpsichord and piano), production
Dave Davies – lead guitar, backing vocals, co-lead vocals on "Australia" and "Arthur", lead vocals on his own tracks
John Dalton – bass guitar, backing vocals
Mick Avory – drums, percussionProduction
Lew Warburton – horn and string arrangements
Andrew Hendriksen – engineering
Brian Humphries – engineering on "Drivin'"
Bob Lawrie – album art
Austin Sneller – credited as "album 'tester'"My number 1 Kinks album, and at this stage my number 6 album of all time.
As I have mentioned before, possibly several times, this was the biggest grower for me on the thread. I actually didn't think I liked this album that much, until I dove into it, with no option but to ring every last drop out of it, because I had to find something to write about it for the thread....
That's the reason I wanted to do the Kinks thread in the first place, because the stuff I loved, I really loved, but the stuff I didn't know well enough, needed me to put pressure on myself to put in the effort, and things like this are where the dividends pay out.Initially the opener and closer grabbed my attention when I first heard this, but the middle was not able to be digested in a cursory listen. This album requires engagement. I guess now I could put it on in the background while I did something else, but to really hear this album requires full and dedicated attention. This is not a housework or paperwork soundtrack.
Ray never stopped delivering songs and albums I love, but for me this is the pinnacle of his writing.
This album is somewhat like an emotional and philosophical history lesson. It takes in the microcosm and the macrocosm and manages to tell a story of life in many different facets, and those facets shine like a polished diamond.
We sort of have the story of Arthur, but this is big picture writing, with small picture context. It expresses thoughts about the machinations of the world and the traps of society. It teaches a little history, and it waxes philosophical about a certain aspect of the British experience, which for the most part is the western world experience...
Musically it is a step into virtual prog, but managing to maintain that which makes the Kinks unique among sixties rock bands. Generally speaking The Kinks are a band that you know you are listening to, they don't mask who they are, and they have a sound, and no matter whether you are listening to the early stuff, the classic stuff, the smorgasbord of seventies styles and sounds, or the later material, it almost always has a distinctively Kinks sound, style and feel, and perhaps that is why I love them so much.
As a big fan of progressive rock, it is not surprising that this is the album that takes my top spot, because Ray writes the material here so well, and manages to still retain that ultra-human element to his lyricism and delivery, we get the best of all worlds.
Victoria comes in like one of the classic early sixties rock tunes, the emotional and musically stunning one two punch of Yes Sir, No Sir and Some Mother's Son sits us back on our butts and reaches deep into our souls, Drivin comes along to ease the pain and relax the mind all in a wonderful pop/rock package, then Brainwashed punches us in the guts for being complacent, and Australia again eases back for us to be able to smile again, with a nice little jam to collect our thoughts.
The album continues to manipulate the sense.
Whether listening to the record or a continuous cd/digital/or whatever copy.
We move into the musical and lyrical brilliance of Shangri-la and Mr Churchill Says, then we get to smile again with Princess Marina and a lighthearted jaunt with deeper meaning than the surface may tell, we get the somewhat reflective, almost Village Green-esque Young And Innocent Days, get blasted by Nothing To Say, and Arthur relaxes us again, and gives us time to digest the meal that has just slumped us back in our chairs exhausted.Even if nothing else in the Kinks catalog was a masterpiece, this certainly is, and is among the greatest albums ever recorded.
Why was Ray looking over his shoulder and running away on the Give The People What They Want cover... Running away on the State Of Confusion cover, wrestling with the idea of ever doing a real solo album, because the man has a legacy of work that is a daunting task to try and follow on from. Looming over him like a mountain that he can never climb again.... and yet, thankfully he continued....Favourite tracks.....
Some Mother's Son
Yes Sir No Sir
Shangri-la
Mr Churchill Says
all in my Kinks top ten favourite songsVictoria
Brainwashed
Young And innocent Days
Nothing To Say
all in my top 65 Kinks songsThis is a masterpiece album of daunting proportions to me.
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Seventeen folks placed Arthur in the 1-4, 33-30 points zone.
So Arthur gets just his just deserts, but could not conquer the Village
FAQs
What was the number one song for the Kinks? ›
Between 100 and 200 compilation albums have been released worldwide. Their hit singles included three UK number-one singles, starting in 1964 with "You Really Got Me"; plus 18 Top 40 singles in the 1960s alone and further Top 40 hits in the 1970s and 1980s.
What was the Kinks signature hit? ›Written and produced by Kinks frontman Ray Davies, "Waterloo Sunset" is one of the band's best-known and most acclaimed songs, and was ranked number 14 on the 2021 edition of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.
Who played the guitar solo on the Kinks You Really Got Me? ›Two versions were recorded, with the second performance used for the final single. Lead guitarist Dave Davies performs the song's famous guitar solo. Although it was long rumoured that future Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page had performed the song's guitar solo, this has been debunked by Page himself.
How many top 10 hits did the Kinks have? ›The Kinks have had five Top 10 singles on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Nine of their albums charted in the Top 40 of the Billboard 200.
How long were the Kinks banned? ›That was the last straw; the Federation banned the Kinks from performing in the United States for a period of 4 years, 1965 – 1969. Although the Federation never actually gave a reason for this ban – it didn't actually matter. The Kinks were out.
What song was a big hit in the 1970's for the Kinks? ›Lola — The Kinks' 1970 hit was controversial for its risqué lyrics, and its reference to a soft drink.
Why did the Kinks fall out? ›However, the brothers identify a long-running feud which threatened to disband The Kinks during their early rise to fame. Guitarist Dave admitted that he frequently came to blows with his brother just before taking the stage.
Did the Kinks ever win a Grammy? ›The Kinks
The Recording Academy never gave them their due, but the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame did induct the band in 1990, their first year of eligibility.
The Kinks enjoyed three UK Official Singles Chart Number 1s, the first with their debut hit You Really Got Me in 1964, and a string of acclaimed and influential hit albums such as 1968's The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society.
What Kinks song did Van Halen cover? ›There's no shortage of great original material on Van Halen, but Templeman's "if it's been a hit once, you're halfway there" mentality served the band well with their cover of the Kinks' groundbreaking 1964 single "You Really Got Me." By tinkering with such a classic song right out of the gate, Van Halen basically ...
Did Jimmy Page play on any Kinks songs? ›
Meanwhile, Shel Talmy, who produced the track, told The Guardian in 2013, “We used Jimmy Page on some Kinks stuff so Ray didn't have to play rhythm guitar as well as sing – but, contrary to myth, Jimmy didn't play on You Really Got Me.”
Who was the original drummer in the Kinks? ›Mick Avory, born 15 February 1944, in East Molesey, Surrey, drummed with The Kinks from January 1964 to 1984, making him the longest-serving member of the band, beside the Davies brothers.
What song hit #1 in 1964 by the kinks? ›On this day, 60 years ago, THE KINKS released their breakthrough single YOU REALLY GOT ME (Aug 4, 1964), a song that would go on to redefine the sonic possibilities of rock music and lay the groundwork for punk and hard rock.
What was the biggest hit by the Kinks? ›"You Really Got Me" The Kinks' breakthrough single features one of the greatest opening guitar riffs ever recorded. "You Really Got Me" made the band stars and set the template for almost every hard rock band that formed over the next decade (and then some).
How many of the original Kinks are still alive? ›The surviving founding members of the Kinks — brothers Ray and Dave Davies and drummer Mick Avory — each paid tribute to Gosling, who played keyboards and piano with the band from 1970's Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One to 1978's Misfits, a span of 10 studio albums.
What was the kink's first big hit? ›The Kinks enjoyed three UK Official Singles Chart Number 1s, the first with their debut hit You Really Got Me in 1964, and a string of acclaimed and influential hit albums such as 1968's The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society.
What was the Kinks hit in 1966? ›In July 1966, the single "Sunny Afternoon", also written in that style, reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart, and the song's popularity proved to Davies and the Kinks' managers that the group could find success with this style of songwriting.
What was the 1964 Kinks hit? ›The album was recorded in October 1964. The bands cover of 'Long Tall Sally' soared the charts and has the distinction of being The Kinks's first ever single. The band's second success from the album is the massively popular and best-selling summertime single, 'You Really Got Me'.
What song has been number 1 the most? ›The current record holder is “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X at 19 weeks, and the longest record held is “One Sweet Day” by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men with 8,554 days.