The King Is Dead (Tony Cole song)

"The King Is Dead" is a song written and originally recorded by Australian singer and songwriter Tony Cole. Produced by David McKay, it was part of Cole's debut album If The Music Stops (1972). That year the song was also released as a single that December, with "Ruby" on the flip side.

Background and commercial performance
"The King Is Dead" was the second single released from Tony Cole's debut album If The Music Stops (1972). U.S. Billboard magazine picked the single for its "Radio Action and Pick Singles" section. The review was: "Second cut from his debut LP is a more driving, commercial rhythm ballad loaded with Top 40 potential."

Nevertheless, the song didn't chart either on U.S. Billboard's charts, or on the UK Singles Chart. It was re-released in 1977 in France to capitalize off of the sucess of the French version by Johnny Hallyday (titled "Gabrielle" after the first line of the song), however, this also failed to chart.

Track listings
7" single 20th Century Records (1972, United States)
 * A. "The King Is Dead" (2:52)
 * B. "Ruby" (2:32)

7" single Jare International 410 067 EA (1977, France)
 * A. "The King Is Dead"
 * B. "Natural Dance"

Johnny Hallyday version (in French)
Several years later the song was adapted into French (under the title "Gabrielle") by Long Chris and Patrick Larue and recorded by Johnny Hallyday. His version was released as a single in 1976 and spent three consecutive weeks on the singles sales chart in France (from 16 September to 6 October).