B-side "Moving the River" Genre Synthpop, New Wave Label Kitchenware | Released April 1988 (1988-04) Length 4:26 | |
Format 7" vinyl
12" vinyl
CD single | ||
"The King of Rock 'n' Roll" is a single by the English pop band Prefab Sprout, released in 1988. It was the second single taken from their album of that year, From Langley Park to Memphis, and makes reference to a washed-up 1950s star who is only remembered for his one-hit novelty song, which is sung in the chorus. It remains as the band's biggest success in their native UK, where it reached #7 on the UK Singles Chart, and spent 10 weeks in the listings. Producer Thomas Dolby added a synth bass in the verses to mimic the sound of a bullfrog, tying them into the chorus. The song was featured in the 2nd episode of the 1st season of Spaced as well as an advert for Boots that premiered in October 2014.
Contents
Music video
The single had an unusual music video, featuring the band lying beside a pool and attended by a frog butler, a diver who is reluctant to jump into the pool until the end, and dancing human-size hot dogs.
7" vinyl single
Side one
- "The King of Rock 'n' Roll"
Side two
- "Moving the River"
12" vinyl single
Side one
- "The King of Rock 'n' Roll"
- "Moving the River"
Side two
- "Dandy of the Danube"
- "Tin Can Pot"
CD single
- "The King of Rock 'n' Roll"
- "Moving the River"
- "Dandy of the Danube"
- "He'll Have To Go"