King for a Day (Thompson Twins song)

"King For A Day" is a 1985 song by the British band the Thompson Twins. It was released as the third single from the band's fifth album Here's To Future Days.

"King For A Day"
Single by Thompson Twins
from the album Here's To Future Days
B-side"Rollunder"
Released11 October 1985
Recorded1984–1985
GenrePop rock
Length5:20 (album version)
3:58 (single version)
LabelArista Records
Songwriter(s)Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie, Joe Leeway
Producer(s)Nile Rodgers & Tom Bailey
Thompson Twins singles chronology
"Don't Mess With Doctor Dream"
(1985)		 "King For A Day"
(1985)		 "Revolution"
(1985)
Audio
"King for a Day" on YouTube
U.S. 7" vinyl sleeve

It was written by Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie, and Joe Leeway. There are two versions of the song, with various edits and remixes of the two. The UK version of the song has alternate lyrics and is more synth based. The U.S.A. and album versions contain electric guitar. The single peaked at #22 in the UK, spending six weeks on the chart[1] and would be the band's final UK Top 40 hit. The single fared better in America where it peaked at #8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and also peaked at #13 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[2]

The B-side, "Rollunder", was exclusive to this single with two versions; a shorter 7" version and an extended version. It is a variation of the band's song "Roll Over", which was planned for release as a single earlier in 1985 but withdrawn from sale at the last moment.

Music video

A promotional music video was made for the single that was directed by Meiert Avis. Three edited versions of the video are known to exist. The first version features Bailey, Currie, and Leeway at the "Hard Cash Hotel" with Bailey singing to Currie as he attempts to cheer her up. The ending shows the trio playing their instruments in front of stained glass windows with a backing band dressed as nuns.[3] The second edited version shows more shots of the trio performing with the backing band interspersed with scenes from the trio at the hotel.[4] The third edit omits any scenes from the hotel and solely features the trio performing with the backing band dressed as nuns in front of stained glass windows.[5]

Formats
7" UK vinyl single (1985) Arista TWINS 7
  1. "King For A Day" – 4:10
  2. "Rollunder" – 4:40
12" UK vinyl single (1985) Arista TWINS 127
  1. "King For A Day" (Extended Mix) – 8:02
  2. "Rollunder" – 6:50
12" UK vinyl single (1985) Arista TWINS 227
  1. "King For A Day" (U.S. Re-mix) – 7:20
  2. "Rollunder" – 6:50
12" UK vinyl Picture Disc (1985) Arista TWIPD 7
  1. "King For A Day" (Extended Mix) – 8:02
  2. "Rollunder" – 6:50
7" U.S. vinyl single (1985) Arista AS1-9450
  1. "King For A Day" (Single Version) – 3:58
  2. "Rollunder" – 4:40
12" U.S. vinyl single (1985) Arista ADP-9442
  1. "King For A Day" (Rock Radio Edit) – 4:10
  2. "King For A Day" (LP Version) – 5:20
  3. "Roll Over" (LP Version) – 4:58

Personnel

Written by Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie, and Joe Leeway.

  • Tom Bailey – vocals, piano, Fairlight, synthesizers, guitar, contrabass, Fairlight and drum programming
  • Alannah Currie – marimba, acoustic drums, percussion, tuned percussion, backing vocals, lyrics
  • Joe Leeway – congas, percussion, backing vocals
  • Nile Rodgers – additional guitar and backing vocals
  • Produced by Nile Rodgers and Tom Bailey
  • Mixed by James Farber
  • Mixed at Skyline Studio, NYC
  • Photography – Rebecca Blake
  • Artwork/Design – Andie Airfix, Satori
  • Art Direction – Alannah

Chart performance
Chart (1985–1986) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[6] 22
Australian Singles Chart[7] 20
Canadian Singles Chart[8] 12
New Zealand Singles Chart [9] 4
Swedish Singles Chart [10] 10
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 8
US Adult Contemporary[12] 13
Year-end chart (1986)Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[13] 96

Official versions
Version Length Mixed/Remixed by Comment
"Fools In Paradise" 7" Version 4:45 Nile Rodgers & Tom Bailey Semi-instrumental version and b-side of the UK 7" vinyl single for "Roll Over"(Arista TWINS 8), which was pulled from the shelves the day of release. Appeared on CD for the first time on the 2014 Cherry Pop compilation Remixes & Rarities..
"Fools In Paradise" (Extended) 5:25 Nile Rodgers & Tom Bailey An extended semi-instrumental version of the song featured as the 12" B-side to the rare discontinued single for "Roll Over"(Arista TWINS 128). Found on Edsel's 2008 CD reissue of Here's To Future Days.
Album Version 5:20 James Farber Found on the album Here's To Future Days, and the majority of their greatest hits compilations.
7" U.K. Single Version 4:10 Re-Edit by Tom Bailey Found on the U.K. 7" vinyl single and on the following CD compilations: Thompson Twins – 'The Greatest Hits' (1990 Stylus Music Ltd.), 'The Best of Thompson Twins' (1991 Old Gold Records Ltd.), Thompson Twins – 'The Greatest Hits' (2003 Camden/BMG).
7" U.S. Single Version 3:58 Nile Rodgers, Tom Bailey, & James Farber Found on the U.S. and Canadian 7" vinyl singles. This version has a shortened intro and is almost identical to the Rock Radio Edit version, except the ending fades out sooner.
Rock Radio Edit 4:10 James Farber Found on the Arista 12" promo vinyl single (ADP-9442) and the CD, Thompson Twins – 'The Platinum & Gold Collection' (2003 BMG Heritage/Arista).
Extended Mix 8:02 Re-Edited by Tom Bailey Found on the UK 12" vinyl single (Arista TWINS 127) and on the 2xCD reissue of Here's To Future Days (2008 Edsel).
12" U.S. Re-mix 7:20 John Morales Found on the UK 12" vinyl single (Arista TWINS 227) and on the 2xCD reissue of Here's To Future Days (2008 Edsel).
UK Remix Edit 5:57 Re-Edit by Tom Bailey
Edited by Tuta Aquino		 Exclusive UK remix edit found on The Best of Thompson Twins: Greatest Mixes, Thompson Twins – 'Singles Collection' (1996 Camden/BMG), and Thompson Twins – 'UK BMG Music Publishing Promo' (2003 BMG).
  • The song appeared in an episode of the short-lived Dick Clark's Nitetime in 1985.
  • The song appears in the 1986 film, Lucas.

References
  1. "Thompson Twins – King For A Day". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  2. "King For A Day – Thompson Twins". Billboard.com. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  3. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x28ptd_thompson-twins-king-for-a-day_music
  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKhCM9lmOe0
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuDltpEUvW0
  6. "Thompson Twins – King For A Day". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  7. "Australian-Charts". Australian-Charts.com. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  8. "Thompson Twins RPM 100". CollectionsCanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  9. "New Zealand Charts". charts.nz. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  10. "Swedish Charts". SwedishCharts.com. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  11. "King For A Day – Thompson Twins". Billboard.com. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  12. "King For A Day – Thompson Twins". Billboard.com. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  13. Nielsen Business Media, Inc (27 December 1986). "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 98 (52): Y-21.
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