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King of the Whole Wide World

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(Batchelor / Roberts)

Information:
King of the Whole Wide World was written by Ruth Batchelor and Bob Roberts for Elvis’s 1962 movie, Kid Galahad, where it was sung over the opening credits. Elvis first recorded the tune on October 26, 1961, at Radio Recorders. The acceptable master take (#31) was never officially released by RCA, although it has appeared on bootleg LPs. The following day, October 27, Elvis again attempted to record King of the Whole Wide World, this time with a different arrangement. RCA released take #4 from that session. Boots Randolph’s final saxophone solo on that take was deleted before the record’s release. Although RCA never issued a single of King of the Whole Wide World to the general public, the song reached #30 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart (for a seven-week stay) in 1962, based on the strength of the EP, Kid Galahad.

Lyrics:

A poor man wants the oyster, a rich man wants the pearl
But the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing
He's the king of the whole wide world

1. Come on let's sing, sing brother sing
'Cos the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing
He's the king of the whole wide world

The rich man wants the princess, the poor man just wants a girl
But the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing
He's the king of the whole wide world

1. (Repeat)

A poor man wants to be a rich man, a rich man wants to be a king
But the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing
He's the king of the whole wide world

1. 1. (Repeat)

Of the whole wide world, of the whole wide world

Where it was released:

Released for the fist time on EP »

Singles:

- King of the Whole Wide World / Home is Where the Heart Is (RCA SP-45-118) May 1962. Disc jockey promotional release.

EPs:

- Kid Galahad (1962) »

LPs/CDs:

- C'mon Everybody (1971) »

– Memories of Elvis (1978) »

- Elvis! His Greatest Hits (1979) »

- Return of the Rocker (1986)

- Forever, Volume 2 (1992)

- Command Performances – The Essential 60’s Masters II (1995)

- Double Features: Flaming Star / Wild in the Country / Follow That Dream (1995)

- Out in Hollywood (1999) - FTD »

- Can’t Help Falling In Love (1999)

- The Swedish Hit Collection (2000)

- Greatest Hits (2001)

- Today, Tomorrow and Forever (2002) - box set

- Can’t Help Falling In Love – The Hollywood Hits (2003)
- Kid Galahad (2004) - FTD »

– Elvis for Everyone (2014) - FTD »

- This is Elvis (2015) - FTD »

– The Kid Galahad Sessions (2020) - FTD »

Bootleg Releases:

- Behind Closed Doors – Audifon Records (1979)

- Leavin’ It Up to You – Audifon Records (1980)

- Unfinished Business – Reel to Reel Record Company (1980)

- The Complete Kid Galahad Session, Volume 1 – TCB Records (1987)

- The Complete Kid Galahad Session, Volume 3 – TCB Records (1987)

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