Who'll Be the Next in Line

For the television episode, see My Lady Jane § Episodes.

"Who'll Be the Next in Line" is a song by the English rock band the Kinks. It was written by Ray Davies.

"Who'll Be the Next In Line"
US A-side label
Single by the Kinks
A-side	"Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy" (UK)
B-side	"Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy" (US)
Released	19 March 1965 (1965-03-19)
Recorded	22–23 December 1964
Studio	Pye, London
Genre	Garage rock[1] R&B[2]
Length	2:02
Label	Pye (UK) Reprise (US)
Songwriter(s)	Ray Davies
Producer(s)	Shel Talmy
The Kinks UK singles chronology
"Tired of Waiting for You" (1965) "Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy" / "Who'll Be the Next In Line" (1965) "Set Me Free" (1965)
The Kinks US singles chronology
"Set Me Free" (1965) "Who'll Be the Next In Line" / "Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy" (1965) "See My Friends" (1965)

Release

"Who'll Be the Next in Line" was first released as the B-side to "Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy", a Kinks single released in Britain. However, that song's chart performance in the UK was a disappointing #17,^[3] breaking a string of top-ten hits for the Kinks. Reprise felt that the "Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy" single was unfit for release in America. The subsequent single, "Set Me Free", was released, but after The Kinks' next proposed single, "See My Friends" was sent to Reprise, they decided to release the "Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy" single with "Who'll Be the Next in Line" as the A-side. The single charted, hitting #34, which was more successful than the following "See My Friends", which only hit #111.^[4] "Who'll Be the Next in Line" also appeared as a bonus track on some reissues of the Kinks' album Kinda Kinks.

Billboard described the song as a "pulsating funky blues rhythm number which rocks all the way."^[5] Cash Box described it as a "fast-moving, rollicking thumper about a fella who has plenty of regrets about his romantic involvements."^[6]

Personnel

According to band researcher Doug Hinman:^[7]

The Kinks

• Ray Davies – lead vocal, piano
• Dave Davies – electric guitar
• Pete Quaife – bass guitar
• Mick Avory – drums

References

1. Hasted, Nick (21 April 2020). "The Kinks: a guide to their best albums". Louder. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022.
2. Anon. (31 July 1965). "Spotlight Singles". Billboard. p. 14. Retrieved 17 January 2023 – via Google Books.
3. "officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
4. "U.S. Chart Positions". Kindakinks.net. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
5. "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. 31 July 1965. p. 14. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
6. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 31 July 1965. p. 12. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
7. Hinman 2004, p. 51.

Sources

• Hinman, Doug (2004). The Kinks: All Day and All of the Night: Day by Day Concerts, Recordings, and Broadcasts, 1961–1996. San Francisco, California: Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-0-87930-765-3.