"Who'll Be the Next in Line" is a song by the English rock band

the Kinks The Kinks were an English rock band formed in London in 1963 by brothers Ray Davies, Ray and Dave Davies, and Pete Quaife. They are regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s. The band emerged during the height of British ...

, written by the groups primary songwriter

Ray Davies Sir Raymond Douglas Davies ( ; born 21 June 1944) is an English musician. He was the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and primary songwriter for the Rock music, rock band the Kinks, which he led, with his younger brother Dave Davies, Dave pro ...

and was released in 1965.

Release

"Who'll Be the Next in Line" was first released as the B-side to "

Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy "Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy" is a song by Ray Davies, released as a UK single by the Kinks in 1965. As the follow-up to the number-one hit " Tired of Waiting for You", and having their previous three singles all chart among the top two, it was ...

", a Kinks single released in Britain. However, that song's chart performance in the UK was a disappointing #17, 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. "Who'll Be the Next in Line" also appeared as a bonus track on the 1998 CD reissue of ''

Kinda Kinks ''Kinda Kinks'' is the second studio album by the English rock band the Kinks. It was released on in the United Kingdom by Pye Records. The original United States release, issued by Reprise Records on , omits three tracks and substitutes the si ...

''. ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' described the song as a "pulsating funky blues rhythm number which rocks all the way." '' Cashbox'' described it as a "fast-moving, rollicking thumper about a fella who has plenty of regrets about his romantic involvements."

Personnel

According to band researcher Doug Hinman: The Kinks *

lead vocal, piano *

Dave Davies David Russell Gordon Davies ( '; born 3 February 1947) is an English guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the English rock band the Kinks, led by his older brother (and principal writer and singer) ...

electric guitar *

Pete Quaife Peter Alexander Greenlaw Quaife (born Kinnes; 31 December 1943 – 23 June 2010) was an English musician, artist and author. He was a founding member and the original bassist for the Kinks, from 1963 until 1969. He also sang backing vocals on s ...

bass guitar *

Mick Avory Michael Charles Avory (born 15 February 1944) is an English musician, best known as the longtime drummer and percussionist for the English rock band the Kinks. He joined them shortly after their formation in 1964 and remained with them until 1984 ...

drums

References

Sources

* {{The Kinks singles 1965 singles The Kinks songs British garage rock songs Song recordings produced by Shel Talmy Songs written by Ray Davies Pye Records singles 1965 songs Reprise Records singles