Favorite "King" Songs #6 - "King of the World"

@teamfreak16 (43685)
Denver, Colorado
February 8, 2018 2:13am CST
My apologies ahead of time to @njchicca but we are at #6 in my countdown of my favorite songs with "king" in the title. Come to think of it, she ain't gonna like #5 much, either! The 6th spot in the series belongs to "King of the World" by Steely Dan. Comprised of guitarist/bassist Walter Becker and vocalist/keyboardist Donald Fagen, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's Steely Dan were both critics darlings (more often than not) and commercially successful. The two distinctions aren't always mutually inclusive, but the band's records were usually well received by critics, and the duo has sold over 40 million records worldwide. The jazzy rock group is also a Grammy winner. "King of the World" is the final track on the band's second album, 1973's Countdown to Ecstasy, on which Fagen took over lead vocals on a full time basis (he and David Palmer shared vocal duties on the debut album, Can't Buy a Thrill.) @FourWalls can probably fill in the blanks, but "King of the World" is basically sung from the point of view of a man broadcasting on a ham radio from inside his fallout shelter following a nuclear war. With such cheery subject matter, the upbeat, bouncy tune was not released as a single (at least, not according to Wikipedia,) yet it remains a fan favorite to this day. I've linked to the album version. Hope you enjoy it! R.I.P., Walter. Thanks for the music. (Fallout info verified by Wikipedia)
King Of The World by Steely Dan With lyrics "No marigolds in the promised land There's a hole in the ground Where they used to grow Any man left on the Rio G...
10 people like this
8 responses
@NJChicaa (127187)
• United States
8 Feb 18
3 people like this
@NJChicaa (127187)
• United States
8 Feb 18
@teamfreak16 I didn’t want to disappoint you or JJ
3 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43685)
• Denver, Colorado
8 Feb 18
That's what I thought.
3 people like this
@amadeo (111937)
• United States
8 Feb 18
Steely Dan this I know thank you for the link.
2 people like this
@amadeo (111937)
• United States
8 Feb 18
@teamfreak16 did I break a record.LOL
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43685)
• Denver, Colorado
8 Feb 18
Sweet! Two in one day!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43685)
• Denver, Colorado
8 Feb 18
@amadeo - Often, not everyone likes both songs when I do two in one day.
@FourWalls (86940)
• United States
8 Feb 18
Never hoid of these guys. Are they any good? Honorary mention:
Now they lay his body down Sad old men who run this town I still recall the way He led the charge and saved the day Blue blood and rain I can hear the bugle ...
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86940)
• United States
8 Feb 18
@teamfreak16 -- I think if you listen to "You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)" you can hear Steely Dan doing it.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43685)
• Denver, Colorado
8 Feb 18
@FourWalls - Totally. Throw in a little guitar and I can hear "Steppin' Out" as well. Would have fit on The Nightfly too, to my ears.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43685)
• Denver, Colorado
8 Feb 18
Nah, the rest of their stuff sucks. That Fagen guy's vocals are just a little too laid back cool for my tastes. I like that Joe Jackson claims them as a major influence. Makes perfect sense.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
9 Feb 18
I do not know this one, I should but I dont.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43685)
• Denver, Colorado
9 Feb 18
It's available on some of their "Best of" type compilations, but it wasn't a hit
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
8 Feb 18
Fourwalls is nodding approval!
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43685)
• Denver, Colorado
8 Feb 18
Nah, she secretly hates these guys!
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
8 Feb 18
For some reason I instantly thought "King of Wishful Thinking". Whenever I see Steely Dan I think Aja - one of my friends is named that for that reason
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43685)
• Denver, Colorado
9 Feb 18
Huh. That's a cool name for someone, actually.
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@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
9 Feb 18
@teamfreak16 It's really unique . :-)
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (36796)
• Philippines
8 Feb 18
Thank you. This is a good to know information as I don't know this band.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43685)
• Denver, Colorado
8 Feb 18
You should check them out. You might like them.
2 people like this
@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
8 Feb 18
I got one for you with King in the title of the song. Roger Miller's King of the Road. It was a big hit when I was young, Nov. 1964.
Roger Miller performs his classic hit, "King of the Road," at the ninth annual Texaco Country Showdown National Final in 1990!
@teamfreak16 (43685)
• Denver, Colorado
8 Feb 18
I was seven months old when "King of the Road" was released!" Seriously, it is a great song.
1 person likes this