Kings and Queens (Aerosmith song) explained

Kings and Queens
Cover:Kings and Queens cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Aerosmith
Album:Draw the Line
B-Side:Critical Mass
Released:[1]
Recorded:June–October 1977
Studio:
Genre:
Length:
  • 4:55 (album version)
  • 3:47 (single version)
Label:Columbia
Producer:
  • Jack Douglas
  • Aerosmith
Prev Title:Draw the Line
Prev Year:1977
Next Title:Get It Up
Next Year:1978

"Kings and Queens" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer, and Jack Douglas, their producer, who helped the band write many of the songs on Draw the Line. Douglas also played the mandolin featured in the song. The song first appeared on the album Draw the Line in December 1977 and was released as a single on February 21, 1978. The song was also used as a B-side to Aerosmith's version of The Beatles' "Come Together", released to promote the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band film and soundtrack.

Lyrical meaning

Steven Tyler said of "Kings and Queens" in the liner notes to Pandora's Box:

Reception

Cash Box said it has "a big production, driving beat and cymbal work, tight vocals, guitars and a piano-bass interlude."[4] Record World said that "Steve Tyler's musings on European history make for an enjoyable hard-rock single."[5]

Charts

Chart (1978)Peak
position
Canada (RPM100 Top Singles)[6] 76
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 70

In concert

The song was a staple of Aerosmith concerts in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and was included on the album Classics Live!. This version was also included on Pandora's Box. The band brought the song back into the set list during shows in Providence, Rhode Island and Anaheim, California in 2005 and 2006 on the Rockin' the Joint Tour, and in São Paulo, Brazil and Sölvesborg, Sweden in 2010 on the Cocked, Locked, Ready to Rock Tour. It was played during the 2014 Jones Beach show.

Covers and other versions

The song was included on the albums Aerosmith's Greatest Hits in 1980 and Greatest Hits 1973–1988 in 2004, but was considerably edited, with many of the guitar parts removed. This edited version is sometimes heard on radio, although many rock stations do play the full version.

"Kings and Queens" is a master track in the game and is unlocked upon beating the last song, "Train Kept A-Rollin".

Glenn Hughes recorded a version of the song in 2011.

Notes and References

  1. Aerosmith's Greatest Hits . Greatest Hits (Aerosmith album) . . 1980. 1993 . CD liner . . CK 57367 . .
  2. Pandora's Box . Pandora's Box (album) . . 1991. 2002 . CD liner . . C3K 86567 . .
  3. Web site: Aerosmith Albums Ranked Worst to Best . Ultimate Classic Rock . July 21, 2024 . September 1, 2023.
  4. News: CashBox Singles Reviews. March 4, 1978. 13. Cash Box. 2021-12-26.
  5. Record World. March 4, 1978. 2023-02-15. Hits of the Week. 1.
  6. Web site: RPM - Item Display : Top Singles - Volume 29, No. 5, April 29, 1978 . March 31, 2004 . . .Php . November 29, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121020201054/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5486b&type=2&interval=20&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f3 . October 20, 2012 . dead .
  7. Web site: [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=aerosmith-p3508/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}} Aerosmith - Billboard Singles ]. . . November 29, 2010.