Ok….I have my credentials to enter the backdoor to the venue.

Arm full of 45′s-check

Fog machine-check

Strobe light-check

Mirror ball? It’s a rental…they promised to be here by 5pm.

As I test out the turntables with a few selections, I look for songs that have a royal theme to them. There are a lot of them:

Duke Of Earl – Gene Chandler

Interesting hit. The song started out as a vocal method for warming up the voice of Eugene Dixon, who added lyrics to the practice. His group “The Dukays” originally recorded it, Vee Jay records bought the rights to the song, made Eugene change his name to “Gene Chandler” and released the record under his name. It hit number one in 1962.

Best line of the song?

“We’ll walk through my Duke-dom and paradise we will share.” 

I’m Henry The VIII, I Am - Herman’s Hermits

“Second verse, same as the first.”

A big hit in Britain in 1910? You bet. A favorite in British music halls, it was performed with a heavy cockney accent. “Hen-ery the VIII” was covered in 1965 by Peter Noone with the Hermits and actually became the fastest selling single in music history up to that point. A novelty song for Herman’s Hermits, it became their 9th top ten hit hitting number one during the summer of ’65.

Best line in the song?

“She wouldn’t have a Willy or a Sam (no Sam!)”

I’m A King Bee – Slim Harpo

One of the great records of the 1950′s. Originally written and recorded by one of the all time great harp players. Slim Harpo and the harmonica were synonymous. The song was one of the original selections the Rolling Stones chose to perform live when they began doing gigs. Mick Jagger admits however, their version doesn’t come close to the original from Slim. It’s been covered live by the Grateful Dead,  Led Zeppelin, The Doors and don’t forget about John Belushi’s classic SNL skit with him performing this in a yellow bumble bee outfit!

Best line in the song?

“Well, when you hear me buzzin’ baby – some stingin’ is goin’ on.”

Little Queenie – Chuck Berry

This is Chuck Berry at his original best. This was the sound that made young kids like Jimmy Page and Keith Richards want to play Rock-N-Roll on the guitar. Filled with original Chuck Berry riffs that would be copied and expanded on in countless other tunes through the decades, the Rolling Stones couldn’t resist recording this themselves. REO Speedwagon does an impressive cover of this classic rocker as well.

Best line in the song?

“Why, she’s too cute to be a minute over seventeen.”

The Royal Scam – Steely Dan

One of the darker albums by the band, the song dealt with American immigration from Puerto Rico in the 1950′s as many Puerto Ricans were moving to America in search of a better life. What they found was vast discrimination and the feeling that corporate America was forcing them into cheap labor.

Best line in the song?

“Every patron saint hung on the wall. Shared the room with twenty sinners.”

King Creole – Elvis Presley

 

A song about a King from the King! Many considered this movie the best out of the 33 feature films that Elvis Presley made. The part was originally offered to James Dean, who died before production got underway. The film took a different direction with Elvis playing the lead, concentrating more on the music with his character, Danny Fisher. This was the last look and sound of the 50′s Elvis. Twelve days after the film was made, the King would shave off his sideburns and go into the army.

  Best line in the song?

“He holds his guitar like a tommy gun.”  

King Tut – Steve Martin

As we move from the monarchy to the Nile, Steve Martin came up with the idea of this song from all the hype the Tut Exhibition was receiving touring the US back in 1976. The song was performed by Steve backed up by the “Toot Uncommons” who were really the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Another memorable skit on SNL.

Best line in the song?

“He coulda won a grammy, buried in his jammies – King Tut” 

Uh…oh. Her Royal Majesty just requested Roger Miller’s “King Of The Road” and I don’t have it.

Off to the gallows….

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