Queen Elvis

Infobox Album
Name = Queen Elvis
Type = studio
Longtype =
Artist = Robyn Hitchcock and The Egyptians


Cover size =
Caption =
Released = 1989
Recorded =
Genre = Rock
Length = 46:26
Language =
Label = A&M Records
Producer =
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kifixq85ldke~T00 link]
*Rolling Stone Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/robynhitchcock/albums/album/167263/review/5945396/queen_elvis link]
Compiled by =
Chronology =
Last album = "Globe of Frogs"
(1988)
This album = "Queen Elvis"
(1989)
Next album = "Eye"
(1990)
Misc =

"Queen Elvis" is an album released by Robyn Hitchcock and The Egyptians on A&M Records in 1989.

Having signed to A&M in 1988, it is surprising that this second set for the label was unreleased in Hitchcock's home country the UK, seeing light of day only in America. Compared with its predecessor "Globe of Frogs", the album is highly accessible with several brightly produced pop songs amongst its ten new compositions.

The most well known is "Madonna of the Wasps", released as an American single to modest success. A mid-tempo electric guitar-based number with a macabre lyric, it sets the scene for what follows, Hitchcock's writing persisting with a fascination for death and sex, and the now seasoned backing group working tightly against his lead guitar.

"The Devil's Coachman" is one of its author's funniest comedy numbers in which the Devil himself manifests in a plate of scrambled eggs, whilst "One Long Pair of Eyes" constitutes a pre-dawn declaration of love in deep blue, which pays tribute to Fellini along the way.

"Freeze" has since become a perennial favorite with its discordant structure, successful in concerts.

"Autumn Sea" though is perhaps the most accomplished composition on the album, with delicately surreal lyrics and two spoken sections in which Hitchcock recounts an imaginary conversation between three English upper class eccentrics getting drunk in front of a fire.

The album's cover depicts Hitchcock in an old British phone box, illuminated from the inside. Subsequent CD editions of the set include tracks 11 and 12 below, pulled from contemporary singles releases.

Track listing

All songs written by Robyn Hitchcock

# "Madonna of the Wasps" — 3:05
# "The Devils Coachman" — 2:33
# "Wax Doll" — 4:12
# "Knife" — 3:24
# "Swirling" — 3:38
# "One Long Pair of Eyes" — 4:57
# "Veins of the Queen" — 3:24
# "Freeze" — 4:46
# "Autumn Sea" — 4:23
# "Superman" — 3:48
# "Veins of the Queen (Royal mix)" — 4:00
# "Freeze (Shatter mix)" — 4:16