What came first, the Hard Rock Cafe or Carole King’s song of that name?

Dear Straight Dope: And here’s an easy (for you) related question: Which came first, the original London Hard Rock Cafe or the song “Hard Rock Cafe” by Carole King? Bill MacDonald, Alexandria, VA

SDStaff Songbird replies:

Fortunately, you haven’t put us between a rock and a hard place, Bill.

Because what came first was the Hard Rock Cafe, which was opened in London June 14, 1971, by Americans Peter Morton and Isaac Tigrett.

Carole King’s song “Hard Rock Cafe” is a shameless song-ad for your local Hard Rock Cafe (“It’s really great down there, you’ll meet a lot of nice people, have a good time …”) and only appears on her “Carole King — In Concert” album (released in 1994 and currently unavailable), which is the soundtrack of a TV special.

Remember, all you have to do is call — you’ve got a friend with the Straight Dope.

Editor’s Note: Actually, we blew this one. “Hard Rock Cafe” the song came first; it was featured on Carole King’s album “Simple Things,” released in 1977. We regret the error. Thanks to Phil Anderson from Point Clare, NSW, Australia for correcting us.

SDStaff Songbird, Straight Dope Science Advisory Board

Send questions to Cecil via cecil@straightdope.com.

STAFF REPORTS ARE WRITTEN BY THE STRAIGHT DOPE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD, CECIL’S ONLINE AUXILIARY. THOUGH THE SDSAB DOES ITS BEST, THESE COLUMNS ARE EDITED BY ED ZOTTI, NOT CECIL, SO ACCURACYWISE YOU’D BETTER KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED.

What came first, the Hard Rock Cafe or Carole King’s song of that name?

A STAFF REPORT FROM THE STRAIGHT DOPE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD