Who'll Be the Next in Line

"Who'll Be the Next In Line"
US A-side label
Single by the Kinks
A-side "Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy" (UK)
B-side "Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy" (US)
Released 19 March 1965
Recorded 22–23 December 1964
Studio Pye, London
Genre
Length 2:02
Label
Songwriter(s) Ray Davies
Producer(s) Shel Talmy
The Kinks UK singles chronology
"Tired of Waiting for You"
(1965)
"Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy" / "Who'll Be the Next In Line"
(1965)
"Set Me Free"
(1965)
The Kinks US singles chronology
"Set Me Free"
(1965)
"Who'll Be the Next In Line" / "Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy"
(1965)
"See My Friends"
(1965)

"Who'll Be the Next in Line" is a song by the English rock band the Kinks. It was written by Ray Davies.

Release

"Who'll Be the Next in Line" was first released as the B-side to "Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy", a Kinks single released in Britain. However, that song's chart performance in the UK was a disappointing #17, breaking a string of top-ten hits for the Kinks. Reprise felt that the "Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy" single was unfit for release in America. The subsequent single, "Set Me Free", was released, but after The Kinks' next proposed single, "See My Friends" was sent to Reprise, they decided to release the "Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy" single with "Who'll Be the Next in Line" as the A-side. The single charted, hitting #34, which was more successful than the following "See My Friends", which only hit #111. "Who'll Be the Next in Line" also appeared as a bonus track on some reissues of the Kinks' album Kinda Kinks.

Billboard described the song as a "pulsating funky blues rhythm number which rocks all the way." Cash Box described it as a "fast-moving, rollicking thumper about a fella who has plenty of regrets about his romantic involvements."

Personnel

According to band researcher Doug Hinman:

The Kinks