Kinks Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire Vinyl LP Reprise 1969

$

30

The Kinks Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) Vinyl LP - Reprise RS-6366 - First Pressing (1969) with "Victoria" and "Shangri-La"
Condition: Very Good Vinyl and Very Good Cover. Vinyl was play-tested on both sides and plays very well with occasional light background noise. Cover is clean with good color, fully intact, light shelf wear. Partial tape repair on top of gatefold. Includes original Reprise inner sleeve.
Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire), often referred to as just Arthur, is the seventh studio album by the Kinks, released in 1969. Kinks frontman Ray Davies constructed the concept album as the soundtrack to a Granada Television play and developed the storyline with novelist Julian Mitchell; the television programme was never produced. The rough plot revolved around Arthur Morgan, a carpet-layer, who was based on Ray and guitarist Dave Davies' brother-in-law Arthur Anning. 
The album was met with poor sales but nearly unanimous acclaim, especially among the American music press. Although Arthur and its first two singles, "Drivin'" and "Shangri-La", failed to chart in the UK, the Kinks returned to the Billboard charts after a two-year absence with "Victoria", the lead single in the US, peaking at number 62. The album itself reached number 105 on the Billboard album chart, their highest position for three years.
Rolling Stone reviewer Greil Marcus also praised the record, and said: "Less ambitious than Tommy, and far more musical ... Arthur is by all odds the best British album of 1969." Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic said Arthur was "one of the most effective concept albums in rock history, as well as one of the best and most influential British pop records of its era."
Track listing
A1 Victoria 3:37 A2 Yes Sir, No Sir 3:42 A3 Some Mother's Son 3:22 A4 Drivin'  3:15 A5 Brainwashed 2:30 A6 Australia 6:40
B1 Shangri-La 5:17 B2 Mr. Churchill Says 4:40 B3 She's Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina 3:05 B4 Young And Innocent Days 3:20 B5 Nothing To Say 3:07 B6 Arthur 5:20
The Kinks Mick Avory – drums, percussion John Dalton – bass guitar, background vocals Dave Davies – lead guitar, background vocals, co-lead vocal on "Australia" and "Arthur", lead vocals  Ray Davies – lead and background vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards (harpsichord and piano), production _____________________________________________
Shipping: Calculated domestic shipping via Media Mail or Priority Mail. Will ship internationally at FLAT RATES. Records mailed in a proper cardboard LP mailer with ample protection. All records cleaned prior to shipment if needed.
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I use the Goldmine Grading System, and play-test all records. I note any differences between vinyl and cover, and make note of any inserts, special sleeves, or potential defects.

MINT (M) - Absolutely perfect in every way. Most often this is a still sealed record, records that have been opened are rarely if ever marked as Mint.

NEAR MINT (NM) - A good description is that it looks like it just came from a retail store and it was opened for the first time. In other words, it?s nearly perfect, with no visible defects. 

VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+) - Except for a couple minor things, this could be Near Mint. Most collectors will be happy with a VG+ record, especially if on the high end (VG++). VG+ records may show slight signs of wear, including light scuffs or very light scratches that do not affect the listening experience. Covers should have only minor wear. 

VERY GOOD (VG) - VG records are among the biggest bargains, and for many, will be worth the money. They can lack the original gloss, may have surface noise, and some scratches may be audible, especially in soft passages. But the noise will not overpower the music. VG covers will have signs of handling, and may have minor splits. 

GOOD PLUS (G+) - Good+ does not mean bad! The record still plays through without skipping, but it has significant surface noise and groove wear. Cover may have significant ring wear, noticeable writing, or obvious damage.

GOOD (G) - Record may have some skipping, but is otherwise listenable. I generally avoid selling Good (G) rated records unless they are highly collectible or desirable, in order to enjoy until something better comes along. Cover has major wear or seam splits that need repair, or heavy writing like radio station call letters to prevent theft.

Feel free to contact me with any specific questions.