When You Are A King

Album: My Baby Loves Lovin' (1970)
Charted: 13
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Credited to J. & R. Hill and produced by Roger Greenaway, "When You Are A King" is the outstanding song from a far from outstanding group, and as good as it got for White Plains, in the 1970s anyway. Backed by "The World Gets Better With Love", this is cut from the same cloth as the even more endearing "Liverpool Lullaby". >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England
  • White Plains were a studio group put together by Roger Greenaway and his songwriting partner, Roger Cook. The vocalist was session singer Tony Burrows who in the late '60s and early '70s fronted a number of studio groups. They included The Flowerpot Men ("Let's Go to San Francisco"), Edison Lighthouse ("Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)"), The Pipkins ("Gimme Dat Ding") and Brotherhood of Man ("United We Stand").

Comments: 1

  • Kelly from Pennsylvania Not sure why Tony Burrows is always referred to as “the voice of White Plains”. It was Ricky Wolff and Pete Nelson who sang the majority of songs. Tony only sang a few on their first LP, but didn’t actually sing lead on any of their singles. “My Baby Loves Lovin’” was sung by Ricky with Tony doubling him on the chorus. It becomes obvious when you listen to the other songs Ricky sang lead on. And this song “When You Are a King” was sung by Pete (recorded a year and a half after Tony left the band!).
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Ralph Casale  - Session Pro

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."

Christopher Cross

Christopher CrossSongwriter Interviews

The man who created Yacht Rock with "Sailing" wrote one of his biggest hits while on acid.

Daryl Hall

Daryl HallSongwriter Interviews

Daryl Hall's TV show is a hit, and he's been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - only one of these developments excites him.

Maria Muldaur

Maria MuldaurSongwriter Interviews

The "Midnight At The Oasis" singer is an Old Time gal. She talks about her jug band beginnings and shares a Dylan story.

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.