Deluxe 4CD + 4 x 7″ Vinyl Box Set featuring 2019 Newly Remastered Stereo/Mono Versions of Original Album, Lost Dave Davies Solo Album, Single Versions, B-Sides, Demos and BBC Mixes Plus 4 Arthur Related Singles, Softback Book and Memorabilia!

To mark its 50th anniversary, The Kinks release a Deluxe Edition 4CD + 4 x 7″ vinyl box set reissue of Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire which includes 2019 newly remastered stereo and mono versions of the original Arthur album from HD sources, a lost Dave Davies album, B-sides, alternate mono / stereo mixes, demos, and BBC mixes plus four Arthur related 7″ singles, a softback book and memorabilia.

Without doubt, the Kinks seventh studio album is one of the greatest rock albums ever made, a near perfect example of Ray Davies’ incredible storytelling ability in what was an innovation in 1969: a concept album. It’s also poignant that a record based on the story of emigrating from the UK around its potential to enter the Common Market should hit its 50th anniversary right now. With Brexit on the horizon, the themes of Arthur ring alarmingly familiar. Arthur received unanimous acclaim upon its 1969 release. Each of its 12 original tracks is an absolute gem and all perfect examples of Ray’s intrinsic ability to weave a story around a song. In what was a golden period for the Kinks, Arthur followed another classic, The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society.

“I started Arthur before the end of Village Green,” says Ray. “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’.”

In the midst of the Arthur sessions, studio time was devoted to completing tracks for Dave’s proposed solo album. The idea had progressed in staggered intervals since the initial success of his 1967 single, “Death Of A Clown” but, ultimately, never reached completion. “One of the reasons the album wasn’t finished was because I felt The Kinks’ management and record company were forcing me too much,” Dave reflects. “I felt very comfortable being in The Kinks and it seemed fulfilling to be part of a band. I didn’t really want for more. I couldn’t see the point.” Ray adds, “Hearing Dave’s songs again after all this time, I found them quite moving because they were like the back story of what The Kinks were going through at the time.” Reprise eventually scrapped the release by September 1969 and over the years, Kinks fans continued to obsess as to what Dave’s album – which some referred to as A Hole In The Sock Of, a working title Ray had jokingly thrown to a music journalist – might have contained.

Included in this anniversary edition are four CDs comprising 81 tracks in total, five of them unreleased and 28 previously unreleased versions. These include 2019 newly remastered versions of the original album from HD sources (in its original track listing), 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. It also includes Ray Davies’ compiled medley of unreleased demo tracks, two new recordings of Ray Davies with The Doo Wop Choir, Arthur & The Emigrants including one previously unreleased track, three previously unreleased The Come Dancing Workshop Ensemble tracks, and new Ray Davies remixes of “Australia” and “Shangri-La.”

A 68-page softback book has also been included, featuring extensive essays by world-renowned Kinks experts, original cancelled Arthur play co-scriptwriter Julian Mitchell, and original album sleeve designer Bob Lawrie. There are also new interviews with Ray Davies, Dave Davies and Mick Avory, as well as band photos, original release international cover artwork and printed memorabilia. Four 7″ singles from the album can also be found – “Drivin’,” “Victoria,” “Shangri-La” and “Hold My Hand” (Dave Davies solo) – all reproduced with original international artwork. Finally, a bespoke, exclusive, metal and enamel Kinks logo pin badge is included for fans to wear.

Contents:
7″ square x 3″ deep, 2-part rigid card box containing: 4 x CDs, 4 x 7″ singles, book, printed memorabilia, enamel badge
4 x CDs (in individual card wallets)
• 2019 newly remastered stereo and mono versions of original Arthur album from HD sources
• Mono and stereo single versions, B-sides, alternate mono / stereo mixes, demos, BBC mixes and Dave Davies’ solo
• 2 new recordings of Ray Davies with The Doo Wop Choir, including one previously unreleased track
• 3 previously unreleased tracks written for Arthur, and recorded by the ‘Come Dancing’ Workshop Ensemble (1998)
• New Ray Davies remixes of album tracks ‘Australia’ and ‘Shangri-La’
• 81 tracks total, comprising 5 previously unreleased tracks and 28 previously unreleased versions
4 x Arthur related 7″ singles (with reproduced original international artwork)
• Drivin’ / Victoria / Shangri-La / Hold My Hand (Dave Davies solo)
Softback book
• Extensive essays by world-renowned Kinks experts, original cancelled Arthur play co-scriptwriter Julian Mitchell, and original album sleeve designer Bob Lawrie
• New interviews with Ray Davies, Dave Davies and Mick Avory
• Band photos, original release international cover artwork and memorabilia
Printed memorabilia
• Reproduced original photos & posters
Badge
• Bespoke, exclusive, metal & enamel Kinks logo pin badge