King of New Orleans

"King of New Orleans"
Single by Better Than Ezra
from the album Friction, Baby
Released	July 22, 1996 (1996-07-22)
Length	4:07
Label	Elektra
Songwriter	Kevin Griffin
Producer	Don Gehman
Better Than Ezra singles chronology
"Rosealia" (1995) "King of New Orleans" (1996) "Desperately Wanting" (1996)

"King of New Orleans" is the lead single from American rock band Better Than Ezra's third studio album, Friction, Baby (1996). The song was serviced to U.S. alternative radio in July 1996 and entered the top 10 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and Modern Rock Tracks charts.

Commercial performance

"King of New Orleans" spent 17 weeks on the U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, peaking at No. 5. ^[1] The single also reached No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart. ^[2]

Charts

Chart (1996)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA) [3]	158
Canada Rock/Alternative ( RPM ) [4]	3
U.S. Hot 100 Airplay ( Billboard ) [2]	62
U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks ( Billboard ) [5]	7
U.S. Modern Rock Tracks ( Billboard ) [1]	5

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	July 22, 1996	Alternative radio	Elektra	[6]
	September 10, 1996	Contemporary hit radio		[7]

References

1. "Alternative Airplay" . Billboard . September 28, 1996. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
2. "Hot 100 Airplay". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 39. September 28, 1996. p. 103.
3. "Better Than Ezra ARIA chart history (to July 2025)". ARIA . Retrieved August 16, 2025– via Imgur. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
4. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9925". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
5. "Mainstream Rock Airplay" . Billboard. September 28, 1996. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
6. "Be on the Lookout". Gavin Report . No. 2112. July 5, 1996. p. 13.
7. "Selected New Releases". Radio & Records . No. 1162. September 6, 1996. p. 36.