King Midas in Reverse

"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.

"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[1]
Studio	EMI, London[1]
Genre	Psychedelia[2] orchestral pop[3]
Length	3:07
Label	Parlophone (UK) Epic (US)
Songwriter(s)	Graham Nash Allan Clarke Tony Hicks
Producer(s)	Ron Richards
The Hollies singles chronology
"Carrie Anne" (1967) "King Midas in Reverse" (1967) "Jennifer Eccles" (1968)

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."^[4] Record World called it a "compelling rock ballad about a destructive young chap.."^[5]

Charts

Chart performance for "King Midas in Reverse"

Chart (1967)	Peak position
Australia (Go-Set)[6]	17
Netherlands (Dutch Singles Chart)[7]	16
UK Singles (OCC)[8]	18
US Billboard Hot 100[9]	51
West Germany (GfK)[10]	31

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.^[11]
• 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

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.
3. 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.
4. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. September 23, 1967. p. 26. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
5. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Record World. September 23, 1967. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
6. "Go-Set Australian Charts – 22 November 1967". Pop Archives. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
7. Hung, Steffen. "The Hollies - King Midas In Reverse". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
9. "The Hollies Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
10. "Offiziellecharts.de – Hollies, The – King Midas in Reverse" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Hollies, The"
11. "DCL Locomotive – King Midas In Reverse". discogs.com. Retrieved 16 May 2013.