King Midas in Reverse

"King Midas in Reverse"
"King Midas in Reverse"
	US picture sleeve
Single by the Hollies
B-side	"Everything Is Sunshine" (UK); "Water on the Brain" (US);
Released	22 September 1967
Recorded	3–4 August 1967
Studio	EMI, London
Genre	Psychedelia; psychedelic pop; orchestral pop;
Length	3:07
Label	Parlophone (UK); Epic (US);
Songwriters	Graham Nash; Allan Clarke; Tony Hicks;
Producer	Ron Richards
The Hollies singles chronology

"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 for the group and influenced by Graham Nash's visits to the United States. 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 US. The song 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."^[5] Record World called it a "compelling rock ballad about a destructive young chap.."^[6]

Charts

Chart performance for "King Midas in Reverse"
Chart (1967)	Peak position
Australia (Go-Set)^[7]	17
Netherlands (Dutch Singles Chart)^[8]	16
UK Singles (OCC)^[9]	18
US Billboard Hot 100^[10]	51
West Germany (GfK)^[11]	31

Cover versions

Nash performed the song in his solo section 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.^[12]
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

^ ^a ^b The 30th Anniversary Collection (CD). The Hollies. EMI Records. 1993. D 202205.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Koda, Cub. "Dear Eloise/King Midas in Reverse – The Hollies". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
^ Doggett, Peter (1 January 2015). "Freak Out People". Electric Shock: From the Gramophone to the iPhone - 125 Years of Pop Music. London: The Bodley Head. p. 374. ISBN 978-1-847-92218-2. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
^ Beviglia, Jim (18 September 2016). "The Hollies, "King Midas In Reverse"". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on 26 November 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. September 23, 1967. p. 26. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
^ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Record World. September 23, 1967. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
^ "Go-Set Australian Charts – 22 November 1967". Pop Archives. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
^ Hung, Steffen. "The Hollies - King Midas In Reverse". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
^ "The Hollies Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Hollies, The – King Midas in Reverse" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Hollies, The"
^ "DCL Locomotive – King Midas In Reverse". discogs.com. Retrieved 16 May 2013.

[liner_notes-1] The 30th Anniversary Collection (CD). The Hollies. EMI Records. 1993. D 202205.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[2] Koda, Cub. "Dear Eloise/King Midas in Reverse – The Hollies". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2023.

[Doggett_2015-3] Doggett, Peter (1 January 2015). "Freak Out People". Electric Shock: From the Gramophone to the iPhone - 125 Years of Pop Music. London: The Bodley Head. p. 374. ISBN 978-1-847-92218-2. Retrieved 21 February 2025.

[4] Beviglia, Jim (18 September 2016). "The Hollies, "King Midas In Reverse"". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on 26 November 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2023.

[cb-5] "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. September 23, 1967. p. 26. Retrieved 2022-01-12.

[6] "Single Reviews" (PDF). Record World. September 23, 1967. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-06-12.

[7] "Go-Set Australian Charts – 22 November 1967". Pop Archives. Retrieved 24 May 2011.

[8] Hung, Steffen. "The Hollies - King Midas In Reverse". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 1 February 2020.

[sc_UK_Hollies-9] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.

[sc_Billboardhot100_The_Hollies-10] "The Hollies Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.

[sc_West_Germany_Hollies,_The-11] "Offiziellecharts.de – Hollies, The – King Midas in Reverse" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Hollies, The"

[12] "DCL Locomotive – King Midas In Reverse". discogs.com. Retrieved 16 May 2013.

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v t e The Hollies
Allan Clarke Graham Nash Tony Hicks Eric Haydock Don Rathbone Bobby Elliott Bernie Calvert Terry Sylvester Mikael Rickfors Peter Howarth Carl Wayne Ian Parker
Studio albums	Stay with the Hollies Here I Go Again In the Hollies Style Hollies Would You Believe? Bus Stop For Certain Because Evolution Butterfly Dear Eloise / King Midas in Reverse Hollies Sing Dylan Hollies Sing Hollies Confessions of the Mind Distant Light Romany Out on the Road Hollies Another Night Write On Russian Roulette A Crazy Steal Five Three One - Double Seven O Four What Goes Around...
Live albums	Hollies Live Hits
Extended plays	The Hollies Just One Look Here I Go Again I'm Alive
Compilations	The Hollies' Greatest Hits Hollies' Greatest The Hollies' Greatest Hits The Hollies: 20 Golden Greats
Box sets	Clarke, Hicks & Nash Years: The Complete Hollies April 1963 – October 1968
Singles	"Searchin'" "Stay" "Just One Look" "Here I Go Again" "Yes I Will" "I'm Alive" "Look Through Any Window" "If I Needed Someone" "I Can't Let Go" "Bus Stop" "Stop Stop Stop" "On a Carousel" "Carrie Anne" "King Midas in Reverse" "Jennifer Eccles" "Listen to Me" "Sorry Suzanne" "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" "I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top" "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" "The Air That I Breathe" "Sandy (4th July, Asbury Park)" "Heartbeat" "Stop! In the Name of Love"
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