Both sides of the single were recorded in December 1964 in the same session as the B-side and final overdubs for "Tired of Waiting for You". "Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy" drew inspiration from the
Earl Van Dyke trio, whom the Kinks had previously toured with. Following the disappointing performance in the UK,
Reprise held off releasing the single in the US. They did release follow-up "
Set Me Free" but when the next UK single, "
See My Friends", was judged to be even less suitable, they flipped the "Ev'rybody..." single with "
Who'll Be the Next in Line" as the A-side, releasing it four months after the UK version. Although only a moderate hit, reaching number 34, it was more successful than "See My Friends" which, when it was eventually released in the US in September, failed to reach the
Billboard Hot 100 (peaking at No. 111). As well as being the US B-side, "Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy" was included as the first track on side 2 of the US version of the
Kinda Kinks album.
Cash Box described it as a "catchy, high-spirited, rhythmic multi-beat teen-oriented terpsichorean item". == Personnel ==