A-Z Places in Song Titles

[Lindum]

Real or imaginary places. The A-Z must be the place.

A - "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo" is a song written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. It is about a man traveling to Amarillo, Texas, to find his girlfriend Marie.
The song was recorded by Tony Christie and released in the UK in November 1971 initially reaching number 18 on the UK Singles Chart. However, it was a substantially bigger hit at that time across Continental Europe, notably in Germany and Spain, where it made number one.

 

[sixpence]

B - BARCELONA - written by Freddie Mercury in 1982 for the Barcelona Olympics and sung by him with Montserrat Caballe.

 

[Lindum]

C - California Dreamin'. 1965 single by The Mamas & The Papas.

 

[herringthorpe]

D DURHAM Town (The Leavin') - sung by Roger Whittaker and got into the English charts in 1969.

 

[mikemiller]

I lived in Durham for a short while- very pleasant, although I did eventually leave it, for work-related reasons . Never saw a ship - can only remember seeing a few rowing boats! By the way, it's a city (and has a big cathedral), situated on the River Wear ... but that doesn't rhyme!
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Alternative "C" - CASABLANCA Moon by Anglo-German experimental pop group Slapp Happy (1974). Clip on YouTube.
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E ENGLAND swings - hit single for Roger Miller, US country singer (1965). Clip on YouTube. Not to be confused with Roger Milla, who played football for Cameroon in three World Cups (1982,1986, and 1990).

 

[Lindum]

Alternate E, England and one I have - 'There'll Always Be An England', Vera Lynn always brings tears to my eyes. Clip on YouTube.

 

[Lindum]

F - "Lost in France" 1976 single by Bonnie Tyler.

 

[mikemiller]

G GALVESTON- Hit single for Glen Campbell (1969). Clip on YouTube .The song, about the town in Texas, was written by Jimmy Webb and the original version had a more openly anti-war message.

 

[Lindum]

G GALVESTON- Hit single for Glen Campbell (1969). Clip on YouTube .The song, about the town in Texas, was written by Jimmy Webb and the original version had a more openly anti-war message.

I didn't know that, Mike. Interesting read on Wiki under 'Galveston (song)' about changes in lyrics, tempo and presentation.

 

[herringthorpe]

H HAMBURG Song - by Keane. In my humble opinion the song is better than the actual place.

 

[mikemiller]

Never been there.
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I INDIANA wants me - 1970 UK hit single for Canadian singer-songwriter R. Dean Taylor. He also had a UK hit with "Gotta see Jane".

 

[sixpence]

J - Gimmee hope JO’ANNA by Eddy Grant.
The lyrics are all about the sad state of apartheid in Johannesburg, South Africa.

 

[Lindum]

H HAMBURG Song - by Keane. In my humble opinion the song is better than the actual place.

Yes, Caz but it was much nicer before the bombing.

 

[Lindum]

J - Gimmee hope JO’ANNA by Eddy Grant.
The lyrics are all about the sad state of apartheid in Johannesburg, South Africa.

I never knew that.

 

[Lindum]

K - 'How Can You Buy Killarney?' Written in 1948 by Ted Steels and others. Covered by Bing Crosby, Josef Locke and many others.

 

[herringthorpe]

Yes, Caz but it was much nicer before the bombing.

Went a couple of years ago and to be honest, Lindum, they've had a long time to get over that!

 

[herringthorpe]

L Streets Of LONDON - made famous by Ralph McTell but sang in every folk club every week through the 70's. I actually think Ralph wrote another verse during Covid to the song but can't seem to find it so may have just imagined that.

 

[mikemiller]

Alternative "J" .... JERUSALEM - based on a poem by William Blake, music by Sir Herbert Parry (1916). Many versions of this song/hymn/anthem have been recorded , including by rock band Emerson, Lake and Palmer in the 1970s (Clip on YouTube).

Alternative "L" - LONDON calling by the Clash. Title track of the album released in 1979. All time classsic, still often heard on the radio, on jukeboxes, at football grounds , etc.
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M MOZAMBIQUE - song by Bob Dylan. Track on the album "Desire" (1976). Clip on YouTube

 

[Lindum]

L Streets Of LONDON - made famous by Ralph McTell but sang in every folk club every week through the 70's. I actually think Ralph wrote another verse during Covid to the song but can't seem to find it so may have just imagined that.

A link to the covid new verse is attached, Caz.

Why Ralph McTell has updated his hit Streets of London for coronavirus era

The folk legend had always previously refused to write new verses for Streets of London.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Lindum]

N - 'Niagara'. Single from Barbra Streisand's 1970s LP Wet.