044: The Kinks - Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) (1969)

In this episode, we dive into the Kinks' 1969 concept album Arthur, or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire, which has long been one of Ben's favorite albums. Arthur tells the fictional life story of Englishman Arthur Morgan, who was born during the glory years of the British Empire, and whose slide into mid-20th-century obsolescence mirrors that of his home country. Sound heavy? It's heavy. But it's also fascinating, and richly musical. Ben leads a discussion that touches on world wars, isolationism, the class system, parenthood - and, of course, some great rock and roll music. He's ably joined by Rich, John, and Mike, who have all waited years to express their opinions on those subjects. Especially British isolationism during the late 1930s. We could yammer on for hours about that. Cohosts: Ben Marlin, Rich Bunnell, Mike DeFabio, John McFerrin Complete show notes: https://discordpod.com/listen/044-the-kinks-arthur-or-the-decline-and-fall-of-the-british-empire-1969 Support the podcast! https://www.patreon.com/discordpod