King Midas in Reverse
{{Short description|1967 single by the Hollies}}
{{Infobox song
| name = King Midas in Reverse
| cover = Hollies - King Midas US.jpg
| alt =
| caption = US picture sleeve
| type = single
| artist = the Hollies
| album =
| B-side = *"Everything Is Sunshine" (UK)
- "Water on the Brain" (US)
| released = 22 September 1967
| recorded = 3–4 August 1967{{cite AV media notes |title=The 30th Anniversary Collection |others=The Hollies |year=1993 |type=CD |publisher=EMI Records |id=D 202205}}
| studio = EMI, London
| genre = {{hlist|Psychedelia{{cite web |last1=Koda |first1=Cub |title=Dear Eloise/King Midas in Reverse – The Hollies |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/dear-eloise-king-midas-in-reverse-mw0000596155 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008231809/https://www.allmusic.com/album/dear-eloise-king-midas-in-reverse-mw0000596155 |archive-date=8 October 2022 |language=en |url-status=live}}|psychedelic pop{{cite book|title= Electric Shock: From the Gramophone to the iPhone - 125 Years of Pop Music|first=Peter|last=Doggett|date= 1 January 2015|chapter= Freak Out People|page= 374|publisher=The Bodley Head|location= London|isbn=978-1-847-92218-2
|url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Electric_Shock.html?id=guSsCAAAQBAJ|access-date= 21 February 2025}}|orchestral pop{{Cite web |last=Beviglia |first=Jim |date=18 September 2016 |title=The Hollies, "King Midas In Reverse" |url=https://americansongwriter.com/hollies-king-midas-reverse/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126081246/https://americansongwriter.com/hollies-king-midas-reverse/ |archive-date=26 November 2022 |access-date=16 June 2023 |website=American Songwriter}}}}
| length = 3:07
| label =
- Parlophone (UK)
- Epic (US)
| writer =
| producer = Ron Richards
| prev_title = Carrie Anne
| prev_year = 1967
| next_title = Jennifer Eccles
| next_year = 1968
}}
"King Midas in Reverse" is a song by English pop group the Hollies, written by Graham Nash but credited to Allan Clarke, Nash and Tony Hicks. It was released as a single in September 1967 in anticipation of the band's album Butterfly.
Musical style
The track was a departure in style and influenced by Graham Nash's visits to America. Nash wanted to take the band in a new direction which was resisted by other members of the band, and this led to his departure and move to the United States. It was released in the UK on the Parlophone label (R5637) and in the US on the Epic label (10234). While a critical success, the song was a commercial failure by the Hollies' standards, prompting them to write and record the more commercial song "Jennifer Eccles" for their next single.
Reception
Cash Box said that it's "a crashing folk-drenched rock side with heavy push in the rhythm section and some fine group vocal work" that also has "stunning production."{{cite magazine |title=CashBox Record Reviews |date=September 23, 1967 |page=26 |access-date=2022-01-12 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1967/CB-1967-09-23.pdf |magazine=Cash Box}} Record World called it a "compelling rock ballad about a destructive young chap.."{{cite magazine|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Record World|date=September 23, 1967|page=8|accessdate=2023-06-12|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/67/RW-1967-09-23.pdf}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Chart performance for "King Midas in Reverse" !scope="col"|Chart (1967) !scope="col"|Peak |
| scope="row"|Australia (Go-Set){{cite web |url=http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1967/19671122.html |title=Go-Set Australian Charts – 22 November 1967 |work=Pop Archives |accessdate=24 May 2011}}
|style="text-align:center;"|17 |
|---|
| scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Singles Chart){{Cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Hollies&titel=King+Midas+In+Reverse&cat=s|title=The Hollies - King Midas In Reverse|first=Steffen|last=Hung|website=Hitparade.ch|accessdate=1 February 2020}}
|align="center"|16 |
| {{single chart|UK|18|song=King Midas in Reverse|artist=Hollies|date=19671112|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|51|artist=The Hollies|artistid=10889|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|West Germany|31|song=King Midas in Reverse|artist=Hollies, The|songid=15618|year=1967|rowheader=true|accessdate4=27 March 2019}} |
Cover versions
- Nash performed the song in his solo part of concerts with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, the band Nash joined after the Hollies, during their 1970 tours. It appears on the 1992 reissue of their album 4 Way Street.
- DCL Locomotive, a spinoff of the post-punk band The Cravats, released their version of the song as a 12" single in 1984.{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/DCL-Locomotive-King-Midas-In-Reverse/release/417227 |title=DCL Locomotive – King Midas In Reverse |work=discogs.com |accessdate=16 May 2013}}
- The Posies covered the song in 1995 for the tribute album Sing Hollies in Reverse.
In film
The song features in The Limey, when Peter Fonda's character, an ageing record producer, is introduced.
References
{{reflist}}
{{The Hollies}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Graham Nash