I Was the King, I Really Was the King

I Was the King, I Really Was the King is the second album by British alternative rock band Animals That Swim, released in June 1996 via Elemental Records. Its title is taken from a line in the book This is Orson Welles.

Critical reception

I Was the King, I Really Was the King received mixed to positive reviews upon release. Allmusic's Ned Raggett saw the LP as a natural progression from the band's debut album, Workshy, but more energetic and "pop-friendly".^[1] He drew musical comparisons with Marc Almond's solo material and the songs of Simple Minds, and highlighted "The Longest Road" as one of the album's best tracks, stating that the trumpet playing of Del Crabtree gave the band's sound an integral uniqueness;^[1]

Crabtree's trumpet once more gives a very specific identity to the songs – it isn't simply added on, but becomes part of it, replacing what might have been in a less inventive group go-nowhere guitar or keyboard soloing... Fine numbers include "The Longest Road," one of Crabtree's best performances featuring on an at once brisk and melancholy song with a wonderful, subtly addicting chorus...

John Harris, writing for Q magazine in July 1996, thought that the album was "slightly compromised by a new-found accent on aural polish" compared to the that of the group's debut LP, but went on to single out "Faded Glamour", "Kitkats and Vinegar" and "The Greenhouse" as the album's highlights, in which "chief vocalist and lyricist Hank Starrs sculpts beautifully human vignettes, while the band provide shining evidence of their lofty musicality."^[2] Vox magazine's Mark Beaumont thought that the record was "a far more solid affair" than Workshy, surmising that the group had placed more emphasis on melody in comparison to their earlier output.^[3] He highlighted "The Greenhouse" and "East St O'Neill" as standout tracks, and ended his review with a short summation of the album's overall sound; "Horns parp convincingly, guitars swagger rather than stagger, choruses seem to have some idea of where they want to be in 30 seconds' time and Animals That Swim emerge as – gasp! – actual, potential pop stars".^[3]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]
Q	^[2]
Vox	(8/10)^[3]

Accolades

Publication	Country	Accolade	Year	Rank
NME	United Kingdom	Best 50 Albums of the Year^[4]	1996	39
Vox	United Kingdom	Best 50 Albums of the Year^[5]	1996	33

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Faded Glamour"	H. Barker	3:09
2.	"A Good Xmas"	D. Crabtree	2:57
3.	"The Longest Road"	H. Barker	4:15
4.	"East St O'Neill"	H. Barker/H. Starrs	2:28
5.	"The Greenhouse"	H. Barker/H. Starrs	4:39
6.	"Shipley"	D. Crabtree	3:48
7.	"Kitkats and Vinegar"	H. Barker/D. Law	3:08
8.	"London Bridge"	H. Barker/H. Starrs	3:20
9.	"Bed Island"	H. Barker/H. Starrs	4:00
10.	"Near The Moon"	H. Barker	3:19
11.	"Despatches From Lula"	H. Barker	4:34
12.	"The Good Old Way"	H. Barker	2:37

Track 5 is an alternate version to the single release issued in February 1996.

Personnel

Animals That Swim

Hank Starrs – drums, lead vocals, artwork
Hugh Barker – guitar, keyboards, melodica, harmonica, vocals, lead vocals
Al Barker – piano, hammond organ, guitar, vocals
Del Crabtree – trumpet, talking, artwork
Anthony Coote – bass guitar, guitar, percussion, additional vocals

Additional personnel

Dare Mason – producer, engineer, programming
Rachel Davies – violin
Derek Crabtree – additional vocals
Una McNulty – additional vocals
Michelle Grass – additional vocals
Julie Green – additional vocals
Andrew Scroope – sleeve photography
Howard Sooley – band photography, artwork

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Catalogue No.
UK	June 1996	LP CD MC	Elemental Records	ELM37LP ELM37CD ELM37MC

References

1 2 3 Raggett, Ned. "Review: I Was the King, I Really Was the King – Animals That Swim". Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
1 2 Harris, John. "Review: Animals That Swim – I Was The King, I Really Was The King". Q (EMAP Metro Ltd) (Q118, July 1996): 107.
1 2 3 Beaumont, Mark. "Review: Animals That Swim – I Was The King, I Really Was The King (Elemental)". Vox (IPC Media) (July 1996): 98.
↑ "1996 NME Albums". rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
↑ "Vox 1996 Albums". rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2009.

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