The King Is Dead (Go West song)

Last updated
"The King Is Dead"
Go West The King Is Dead 1987 Single Cover.jpg
Single by Go West
from the album Dancing on the Couch
B-side "Little Caesar"
Released24 August 1987 [1]
Length4:28
Label Chrysalis
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Gary Stevenson
Go West singles chronology
"I Want to Hear It from You"
(1987)
"The King Is Dead"
(1987)
"From Baltimore to Paris"
(1987)

"The King Is Dead" is a song by the English pop duo Go West, released in 1987 as the third single from their second studio album Dancing on the Couch . It was written by Peter Cox and Richard Drummie, and produced by Gary Stevenson. [2] "The King Is Dead" reached number 67 in the UK Singles Chart. [3] The 12" version of the single featured a live version of "The King Is Dead" as the A-side, recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London. [4]

Contents

Background

The song features Kate Bush on backing vocals. While recording the song in Denmark, Go West felt it would benefit from the addition of backing vocals reminiscent of Bush's style. Guitarist Alan Murphy, who had worked with Bush in the past and was currently working with Go West on the recording of Dancing on the Couch, offered to contact her. Bush agreed to provide vocals, but rather than travel to Denmark due to her fear of flying, she recorded her part in her home studio. [5]

Critical reception

Upon release, John Aizlewood of Number One commented, "Go West have nimbly swapped their simplistic loud songs for a simplistic quiet one. 'The King Is Dead' tries for that late night, smoke-filled bar feel, and ends sounding not a million miles away from the keyboard demonstrator on Sale of the Century . A musical version of the SDP." [6] Andy Strickland of Record Mirror felt the song was superior to the duo's "usual effervescent adult pop" and described it as "some nice jazz/smooch that enables [Cox] to show off his tonsil technique to great effect". He added, "Star of the record is the piano player though, who rumbles and rolls across the last 20 seconds of this record like a Rip Rigger of old." [7] In a retrospective review of Dancing on the Couch, Dan LeRoy of AllMusic noted the song was "incongruous but attractive cocktail jazz with an assist from Kate Bush". [2]

Track listing

7" single
  1. "The King Is Dead" — 4:28
  2. "Little Caesar" — 4:39 (Recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London)
12" single
  1. "The King Is Dead (Live Version)" — 6:53
  2. "Don't Look Down (Live Version)" — 4:54
  3. "Little Caesar (Live Version)" — 4:29
  4. "Call Me (Live Version)" — 3:43

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1987)Peak
position
UK Singles Chart [3] 67

Related Research Articles

<i>Live at Hammersmith Odeon</i> (Kate Bush album) 1994 box set (CD+VHS) live album by Kate Bush

Live at Hammersmith Odeon is a 1994 live album by the British singer Kate Bush. It is a re-release of an abridged video recording of the 1979 The Tour of Life, first released on home video in 1981, complete with a CD version of the video soundtrack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Reflex</span> 1984 single by Duran Duran

"The Reflex" is the eleventh single by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 16 April 1984. The song was heavily remixed for single release and was the third and last to be taken from their third studio album Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983). The single became the band's first to reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and their second to top the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Go West (band)</span> English pop duo

Go West are an English pop duo, formed in 1982 by lead vocalist Peter Cox and rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Richard Drummie. At the Brit Awards 1986, they received the Brit Award for British Breakthrough Act. The duo enjoyed popularity between the mid-1980s and the early 1990s and are best known for the international top 10 hits "We Close Our Eyes", "Call Me", "Faithful", and "King of Wishful Thinking"; the last was featured in the American romantic comedy film Pretty Woman (1990).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Just Can't Get Enough (Depeche Mode song)</span> 1981 single by Depeche Mode

"Just Can't Get Enough" is a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode. It was their third single, released on 7 September 1981, a month before the release of their debut studio album, Speak & Spell. It was recorded during the summer of that year at Blackwing Studios, and was the band's first single to be released in the United States, on 18 February 1982. A riff-driven synth-pop song, "Just Can't Get Enough" was the final single to be written by founding member Vince Clarke, who left the band in November 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hungry Like the Wolf</span> 1982 song by Duran Duran

"Hungry Like the Wolf" is a song by English new wave band Duran Duran. Written by the band members, the song was produced by Colin Thurston for the group's second studio album, Rio (1982). The song was released on 4 May 1982 as the band's fifth single in the United Kingdom, and 8 June 1982 in the United States. It reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart, and received a platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garden Party (Marillion song)</span> 1983 single by Marillion

"Garden Party (The Great Cucumber Massacre)" is a song by the British neo-prog band Marillion. It was the second single released from their debut album Script for a Jester's Tear. It reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart in 1983, the band's biggest singles chart success prior to 1985. The song is a parody of social elitism and snobbery. The B-side is a live version of "Margaret" (recorded at Edinburgh Playhouse, 7 April 1983). The 12" single includes a live version of "Charting The Single" (recorded at Hammersmith Odeon, 18 April 1983).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Change of Heart (Cyndi Lauper song)</span> 1986 single by Cyndi Lauper

"Change of Heart" is a song by American singer and songwriter Cyndi Lauper, released on November 11, 1986 as the second single from her second album, True Colors (1986). It went gold in the US, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by singer-songwriter Essra Mohawk. Popular remixes by Shep Pettibone were also released. A music video was produced for the song, filmed in Trafalgar Square in London. It features Lauper and her tour band performing the song in front of a large group of people. The Bangles sang background vocals on the original recording. A live version of the song was released on Lauper's live album/DVD, To Memphis, with Love.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pretty Flamingo</span> 1966 single by Manfred Mann

"Pretty Flamingo" is a song written by Mark Barkan, which became a hit in 1966 when Manfred Mann's recording of it was released as a single. The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on 5 May 1966. Manfred Mann's recording was a minor hit in the United States where it spent eight weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 29 during the week of August 6, 1966. It was also successful in Ireland, and was number one there for four weeks, keeping the Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" at number two.

<i>World Machine</i> 1985 studio album by Level 42

World Machine is the sixth studio album by British pop group Level 42, released in 1985. It was the band's breakthrough album internationally and features one of their most successful singles, "Something About You".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Spender</span> Song from the 1966 musical "Sweet Charity"

"Big Spender" is a song written by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields for the musical Sweet Charity, first performed in 1966. Peggy Lee was the first artist to record the song, also on the album of the same name. It is sung, in the musical, by the dance hostess girls; it was choreographed by Bob Fosse for the Broadway musical and the 1969 film. It is set to the beat of a striptease as the girls taunt the customers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moving (Kate Bush song)</span> 1978 single by Kate Bush

"Moving" is a song written and recorded by English singer-songwriter Kate Bush for her debut album, The Kick Inside (1978). It was released as a single only in Japan in April 1978 by EMI Music Japan. Written by Bush and produced by Andrew Powell, the song is a tribute to Lindsay Kemp, her mime teacher. "Moving" opens with whale song sampled from Songs of the Humpback Whale, an LP including recordings of whale vocalisations made by Dr. Roger S. Payne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Tour of Life</span> 1979 concert tour by Kate Bush

The Tour of Life was the first concert tour by English singer-songwriter and musician Kate Bush. Starting in April 1979, the tour lasted just over six weeks. The tour was acclaimed for its incorporation of mime, magic, and readings during costume changes The show contained 24 performances from Bush's first two albums The Kick Inside and Lionheart, and new songs "Violin" and "Egypt" which would subsequently appear on Bush's third album Never for Ever (1980).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dignity (Deacon Blue song)</span> 1987 single by Deacon Blue

"Dignity" is a song by Deacon Blue, which was the band's first official release. It is one of their most popular songs and it is usually played as the final song at concerts. It received the most public votes for the 1980s songs in the Scotland's Greatest Album contest run by STV in 2011, and was featured on the 12 track compilation. It was also sung at the closing ceremony at the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow.

<i>Go West</i> (Go West album) 1985 studio album by Go West

Go West is the debut studio album by the English pop duo Go West, released in April 1985 by Chrysalis Records. The album brought the band into the limelight, scoring them a string of top 40 hits in the UK and New Zealand. "We Close Our Eyes" was the most successful single, reaching No. 4 in New Zealand and No. 5 in the UK. The album itself reached No. 8 in the UK.

<i>Dancing on the Couch</i> 1987 studio album by Go West

Dancing on the Couch is the second studio album by English pop duo Go West, released in 1987. It reached number 19 on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parisienne Walkways</span> 1979 single by Gary Moore

"Parisienne Walkways" is a song by guitarist Gary Moore that reached number 8 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1979. The song is featured on Moore's album Back on the Streets and features a vocal from Thin Lizzy frontman, Phil Lynott, who co-wrote the song with Moore. Lynott also played bass guitar on the track, alongside Thin Lizzy drummer Brian Downey, thus reuniting the short-lived 1974 Thin Lizzy line-up which had recorded "Still in Love with You", "Sitamoia" and the single "Little Darling". The melody of "Parisienne Walkways" is based on the jazz standard "Blue Bossa" by Kenny Dorham. It became Gary Moore's signature song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)</span> 1975 single by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

"Mr. Raffles " is a song by the British rock band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, released on 23 May 1975 as the second and final single from their third studio album The Best Years of Our Lives. The song was written by Harley, and produced by Harley and Alan Parsons. "Mr. Raffles " reached number 13 in the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freaks (Marillion song)</span> 1988 single by Marillion

"Freaks" is a song by British neo-prog band Marillion. First released in 1985 on the B-side to the number five UK hit single "Lavender", in November 1988 it was released in a live version on a double A-side single together with the band's 1985 number two hit, "Kayleigh". The single was intended to promote the forthcoming double-live album The Thieving Magpie, which documents the band's history with singer Fish, who had left the band in October 1988; as such, this was Marillion's last single to feature Fish on vocals and cover art by Mark Wilkinson, who would go on to collaborate with Fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Want to Hear It from You</span> 1987 single by Go West

"I Want to Hear It from You" is a song by British band Go West, which was released in 1987 as the second single from their second studio album Dancing on the Couch. It was written by Peter Cox and Richard Drummie, and produced by Gary Stevenson. "I Want to Hear It from You" reached No. 43 in the UK and remained on the charts for four weeks. A music video was filmed to promote the single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">True Colours (Go West song)</span> 1986 single by Go West

"True Colours" is a song by British band Go West, released in 1986 as the lead single from their second studio album Dancing on the Couch. It was written by Peter Cox and Richard Drummie, and produced by Gary Stevenson. "True Colours" reached No. 48 in the UK and No. 22 in Ireland.

References

  1. "New Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 22 August 1987. p. 32. ISSN   0265-1548 . Retrieved 7 August 2024 via World Radio History.
  2. 1 2 Dan LeRoy. "Dancin' on the Couch - Go West | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  3. 1 2 "GO WEST | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  4. "Go West - The King Is Dead (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  5. "Alan Murphy | Go West Guitarist". Alanmurphy.uk. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  6. Number One magazine - Singles - John Aixlewood - 29 August 1987 - page 50
  7. Strickland, Andy (5 September 1987). "Singles". Record Mirror . p. 14. ISSN   0144-5804.