THE KINKS
release new version of
‘Australia’
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To mark its 50th anniversary, The Kinks will issue a special release of ‘Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire’ – out October 25th on BMG.
It includes ‘Australia’(2019 Mix), available now. Remixed by Ray Davies earlier this year at Konk Studios. An original Kinks ‘Arthur’ album track, ‘Australia’ tells the story of Ray and Dave’s sister Rosie, brother-in-law Arthur and nephew Terry emigrating to Australia from post 2nd World War Britain in search of a better life.
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“The band rehearsed Australia with me and they played it all the way through. The only part that was edited was the slow ending,” Ray Davies explains.
Dave Davies says, “Australia is poignant but not very pleasant. It makes you feel uneasy. Even the wobble we used sarcastically. It goes out of time.”
Without doubt, the Kinks 7th 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.
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‘Arthur’ received unanimous acclaim on its release. Each of its 12 original album tracks is an absolute gem and all perfect examples of Ray Davies’ 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’ when it was released on October 10th 1969.
Rolling Stone wrote: “Arthur is a masterpiece on every level. The Kinks supreme achievement and the best British album of 1969.” Melody Maker was equally enthusiastic: “Ray Davies’ finest hour……beautifully British to the core”.
“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’.”
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Included in this anniversary edition are 4 CDs comprising of 81 tracks in total, 5 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, 2 new recordings of Ray Davies with The Doo Wop Choir, ‘Arthur & The Emigrants’ including one previously unreleased track, 3 previously unreleased ‘The Come Dancing Workshop Ensemble’ tracks, the new Ray Davies remixes of ‘Australia’ and ‘Shangri-La’.
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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’ & ‘Hold My Hand’ (Dave Davies solo) – all reproduced with original international artwork. Finally, a bespoke, exclusive, metal & enamel Kinks logo pin badge is included for fans to wear.
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THE KINKS ‘ARTHUR OR THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE’
LIMITED EDITION, 50TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE BOX SET
● 88 TRACKS, INCLUDING 5 UNRELEASED TRACKS & 26 UNRELEASED VERSIONS
● 4 x CDs: REMASTERED MONO & STEREO ALBUM, SINGLES, B-SIDES, ALTERNATE TRACK VERSIONS, NEW DOO WOP CHOIR RECORDINGS, RAY DAVIES REMIXES & DEMOS MEDLEY, THEATRICAL & BBC TRACKS, ‘LOST’ DAVE DAVIES ALBUM
● 4 x REPRODUCED 7″ SINGLES
● 68 PAGE DELUXE BOOK WITH ESSAYS, NEW BAND INTERVIEWS, RARE IMAGES
● REPRODUCED POSTERS & PHOTOS
● KINKS METAL PIN BADGE
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THE KINKS – ARTHUR BOX SET – TRACK LISTING
DISC ONE
ORIGINAL STEREO ALBUM, 2019 REMASTER
1. Victoria (Stereo)
2. Yes Sir, No Sir (Stereo)
3. Some Mother’s Son (Stereo)
4. Drivin’ (Stereo)
5. Brainwashed (Stereo)
6. Australia (Stereo)
7. Shangri-La (Stereo)
8. Mr. Churchill Says (Stereo)
9. She’s Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina (Stereo)
10. Young And Innocent Days (Stereo)
11. Nothing To Say (Stereo)
12. Arthur (Stereo)
Bonus Tracks
13. Plastic Man (Stereo)
14. Victoria (Alternate Stereo Mix)
15. Yes Sir, No Sir (Alternate Stereo Mix)
16. Drivin’ (Alternate Stereo Mix)
17. Brainwashed (Alternate Stereo Mix)
18. Australia (Alternate Stereo Mix)
19. Shangri-La (Alternate Stereo Mix)
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DISC TWO
ORIGINAL MONO ALBUM, 2019 REMASTER
1. Victoria (Mono)
2. Yes Sir, No Sir (Mono)
3. Some Mother’s Son (Mono)
4. Drivin’ (Mono)
5. Brainwashed (Mono)
6. Australia (Mono)
7. Shangri-La (Mono)
8. Mr. Churchill Says (Mono)
9. She’s Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina (Mono)
10. Young And Innocent Days (Mono)
11. Nothing To Say (Mono)
12. Arthur (Mono)
Bonus Tracks
13. Plastic Man (Mono)
14. King Kong (Mono)
15. Victoria (Alternate Mono Mix)
16. Australia (Alternate Mono Acetate Mix)
17. Shangri-La (Alternate Mono Mix)
18. She’s Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina (Alternate Mono Mix)
19. Australia (Australian Mono Single Mix/Edit)
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DISC THREE
THE GREAT LOST DAVE DAVIES ALBUM PLUS
1. This Man He Weeps Tonight (Stereo)
2. Mindless Child Of Motherhood (Stereo)
3. Hold My Hand (Stereo)
4. Do You Wish To Be A Man? (Stereo)
5. Are You Ready? (Stereo)
6. Creeping Jean (Stereo)
7. I’m Crying (Stereo)
8. Lincoln County (Stereo)
9. Mr. Shoemaker’s Daughter (Stereo)
10. Mr. Reporter (Stereo)
11. Groovy Movies (Stereo)
12. There Is No Life Without Love (Stereo)
Bonus Tracks
13. Lincoln County (Mono Single Mix/Edit)
14. There Is No Life Without Love (Mono)
15. Hold My Hand (Mono)
16. Creeping Jean (Mono Single Mix/Edit)
17. Mindless Child Of Motherhood (Mono)
18. This Man He Weeps Tonight (Mono)
19. Mr. Shoemaker’s Daughter (Alternate Stereo Mix)
20. Mr. Reporter (Alternate Stereo Mix)
21. Groovy Movies (Alternate Stereo Mix)
22. Lincoln County (Acoustic Mix)
23. Hold My Hand (Alternate Take)
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DISC FOUR
DEMOS, REHEARSALS, BBC & REMIXES
Part 1
1. Arthur’s Journey (Introduction)
2. Australia (2019 Mix)
3. Home Demos Medley, 1969: Arthur / Victoria / Some Mother’s Son / Drivin’ /
Brainwashed / Mr. Churchill Says (TV Premix)
Part 2
4. Shangri-La (2019 Mix)
5. My Big Sister (Theatrical Version)
6. Stevenage (Theatrical Version)
7. Space (Theatrical Version) (Full Version)
8. The Future (Doo-Wop Version)
9. Arthur (Doo-Wop Version)
Part 3
10. The Virgin Soldiers March
11. Soldiers Coming Home (Instrumental)
12. King Kong (BBC Mix)
13. Victoria (Ray Davies & Band With The DR Symphony & Vocal Ensemble) (Stereo)
14. Arthur (BBC Mix)
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