This is one of the Hollie forgotten songs.I really liked it in 67 and never think about it.I found it again and it's as good as ever.Hollies have been little recognized for the depth they brought to the music scene for years.But record sales from 64 to 74 rewarded them with some monetary satisfaction I'm sure.They got enough of my money!
This song is indeed a hidden gem. It was featured in another hidden gem, the film The Limey from the 90s. Peter Fonda can't act if his life depended on it, but he was cast in the perfect role for him in the film. Even more so, the main star Terrance Stamp gives a tour de force performance.
When this was released in 1967, I ran out to get a 45 copy of it. I wore it out. This and "Little Games" by the Yardbirds. Great, great songs from that year.
This song changed my life! Especially the middle section, from 1: 28. I was in hospital, 1967, recovering from an appendicectomy that went wrong, and listening to the radio was as much as I was capable of. This came on. I knew a bit about music, but I was young and under the influence of my classically trained and somewhat stuffy dad who told me that all this new-fangled pop music was rubbish based on the three chord trick. This, emphatically, isn't. My dad was wrong. Discovering that to be possible for the first time is always a rite of passage for a young person, and King Midas remains a defining moment in my growing up.
Got to be one of their finest and make no mistake, written by Nash in an attempt to take the band in a different direction, with more meaningful lyrics and musically less top of the pops. It was a flop, make no mistake about that either and caused Nash to leave the band such was his commitment to change. He obviously went to join Crosby and Stills. Can you imagine if he stayed and they agreed on a mix? What a wonderful band.
One of my personal "Big Three" of The Hollies - the others being "I Can't Let Go" and "I'm Alive"! Oh, and an Honourable Mention for "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" - love that one too!
The Hollies could sing anything. Dylan,etc, The National Anthem, Tie Me Kangaroo Down. They were Brilliant. I think better vocals were better with Nash. Hollies - Love 'em! NELSON ROCKS!
