Graham Nash wanted to change the direction of the Hollies and write songs that were more in vogue around this time instead of the simple pop songs they were writing. The song only made it to #18 in the UK charts and it was considered a failure compared to their earlier releases although it was praised by the critics. I think it is inventive and fits in really well with the times.
Nash wrote it after he got back from America on a tour. This was not the rest of the band’s favorite song by any means and they wrote a simple…very simple pop song to follow this song called Jennifer Eccles that of course went to #7 in the UK charts which a disheartened Nash hated and he left for greener pastures with Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. I can’t blame him for not liking Jennifer Eccles…it was a weak song.
The song only made it to #51 in the Billboard 100 in 1967. Maybe the change of direction didn’t sit too well with the public. It’s one of my favorites by the Hollies.
Graham said: “My world was turning to sh*t at that point. I was on top of the world, we had 16 or 17 top ten hits, but I was feeling shitty. We made a great record of that song but it only got into the top 30, and the Hollies were always expecting their songs to go into the top 10. So they started to not trust me and not record my songs, ‘’Marrakesh Express’’ being one of them. So I wasn’t feeling that great about my life. It was all turning to sh*t, it wasn’t turning to gold, it was turning to rust.”
Personally, I like the song better than Marrakesh Express.
King Midas In Reverse
If you could only see me.
And know exactly were I am.
You wouldn’t want to be me,
Oh I can assure you of that.
I’m not the guy to run with,
Cause I’ll pull you off the line.
I’ll break you and destroy you
Give time.
He’s King Midas with a curse.
He’s king Midas in Reverse.
He’s King Midas with a curse.
He’s King Midas in Reverse.
It’s plain to see it’s hopeless,
Goin’ on the way we are.
So even though I loose you,
You’ll be better off by far.
He’s not the man to hold your trust,
Everything he touches turns to dust in his hands.
Nothing he can do is right, he’d even like to sleep at night, but he can’t.
All he touches turns to dust
All he touches turns to dust
All he touches turns to dust
All he touches turns to dust
And help me gain control.
Before I loose my reason,
And my soul
He’s King Midas in reverse.
He’s King Midas with a curse.
He’s king Midas in Reverse.
(all he touches turns to dust)
He’s Kind Midas in Reverse.
(all he touches turns to dust)
He’s King Midas with a curse,
(all he touches turns to dust)
He’s King Midas in Reverse
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I liked the video better than the song.
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It is very sixties no doubt… a lot different than Carrie Ann
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Might be my favourite Nash song – shame it wasn’t a hit.
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I know… I’ve wondered why it wasn’t bigger hit… I guess it just took people by surprise because of the style. It came off of the album Butterfly which many Hollies fans like…I’ve listened to it.
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I thought Jennifer Eccles would have been more of a shock. I like it, but it’s out-dated for 1967.
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Nash was shocked that it was a hit. It was out-dated then I agree. I thought King Midas fit in but it was different for them. I would have liked them to go down that path.
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I like this song and think he does it on 4-way street with CSNY also. Graham’s a talented songwriter. He outgrew The Hollies. He’s done some good solo work as well, used to have at least one mix tape — again cassette — from a friend, that’s long gone now.
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Most of his songs are simple but very effective.
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Not my favorite Hollies song.
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It’s one of mine because it has that sixties British vibe… I like the harmonies also. It was adventurous for them…much different from what they did.
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This song completely hooks me from the start, and the verses are in touch, but for me the chorus is so weak and incongruous that it ruins the rest of the song. I agree it should have been a bigger hit than Jennifer Eccles, though. I still can’t believe that one was a hit at all, let alone a big hit.
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I know… that kind of proved what Nash was saying about the plain pop songs. I can understand his frustration…He was trying to move ahead into something new.
The harmonies of course are good…as with any Hollies song.
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I understand his frustration too. Heck, who wouldn’t be frustrated with being stuck in a rut like that? And true about the harmonies. They had that gift.
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King Midas in Reverse took imagination… It’s not perfect. but… Jennifer Eccles was just thrown together…makes you throw your hands up.
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Absolutely. The song Jennifer Eccles makes me cringe from the very start.
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An interesting Hollies song, but not my favorite.
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It’s a rare one… One of the ones I like a lot is The Air That I Breathe
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Yes. And, Long Cool Woman.
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I like that one also.
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