King and Queen (King) Songs: Riding With the King (#7)
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (62387)
United States
June 16, 2021 10:45am CST
Sometimes these countdowns are fun because they’ll introduce you to songs that you know but you don’t. Today’s song with “king” in the title is one of those songs. You may have heard this one….just not this one. Here it is!
#7: Riding With the King - John Hiatt
Wait, wasn’t that by Eric Clapton and B.B. King?
There was a hit version of this song by them, which is what I meant by you’ve heard this but you haven’t. That was slightly rewritten toward the end to honor B.B. King. This version is all about Elvis.
It’s honest (“you can get your prescription filled, any kind of pill”) while referencing the Chuck Berry song “The Promised Land,” which Elvis made his own (“on a TWA to the promised land”).
It’s not the sweet, sanitized Elvis. But the blues aren’t sweet and sanitized. So rock out with Mr. Hiatt….or you can get the BB King/Eric Clapton rendition.
Riding With the King
Written by John Hiatt
Recorded by John Hiatt
From Riding With the King, 1983
He’s on a mission of mercy:
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupRiding With The King · John HiattThe Best Of John Hiatt 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection:? 1983 Gef...
11 people like this
11 responses
@RasmaSandra (73679)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
17 Jun 21
Nope never rode with the king that's for sure
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62387)
• United States
17 Jun 21
He’s written a number of big hits for Jeff Henley, Bonnie Raitt, and Three Dog Night, but he’s never been on the hit charts himself.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62387)
• United States
16 Jun 21
Ah, thanks Jimmy Buffett for covering “The Tiki Bar is Open.” 
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@NJChicaa (116106)
• United States
16 Jun 21
@FourWalls He did something else in concert too. . . at least 1 other Hiatt song if not more. I used to have Sirius/XM at the house and would always listen to Radio Margaritaville. They played loads of live songs JB did. That is what I remember him from. JB did a Hiatt song at least once. I feel like it was more than that though.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62387)
• United States
16 Jun 21
@NJChicaa — the ones I know he did were “The Tiki Bar Is Open” and “Window on the World.” “Pirate Radio” would fit Buffett, IMO.
Provided to YouTube by Redeye WorldwideWindow on the World · John Hiatt & The GonersBeneath This Gruff Exterior? New West Records, LLCReleased on: 2003-05-06...
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@LindaOHio (157016)
• United States
17 Jun 21
Not bad. I've never heard this one before.
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@JimBo452020 (42629)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun 21
I had never heard of the song or the singer prior to reading your post.
But anything about Elvis I do tend to give a miss.
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