Late Night Music Summer Vacation Edition Part 200....."We Still May Be Coming To Your Town!"
I have to start by saying that I had this one written a good 4 months ago, but for some reason, it was erased. I finally brought myself to write a new version. Songs in this list were not included in the previous list of “We May Be Coming To Your Town” written 7 years ago. In order to be receive votes, the SONG TITLE had to have the name of a city in the title. Anyway, here goes the 200th edition of “Late Night Music”.
Also receiving votes in this category was “One Night In Bangkok” by Murray Head, “Bombs Over Baghdad” by Outkast, “King of New Orleans” by Better Than Ezra, “Detroit Rock City” by Kiss, and “New York Minute” by Don Henley.
“The City Of New Orleans”- Arlo Guthrie. Arlo Guthrie scored a hit in 1972 when this cover of Steve Goodman’s Chicago-New Orleans train trip inspired this song about the sights and sound of the trip. This version peaked at #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has seen it covered by several artists including Willie Nelson. While Guthrie reluctantly listened to this song initially, this would prove to be his biggest hit and his only trip into the Top 20 on the Billboard Chart.
“Allentown”- Billy Joel. Billy Joel added this conceptual video which gave us a glimpse of him with a guitar. I have never quite gotten used to this- am I alone here? This single from his 1982 album The Nylon Curtain talks about the decline of the American manufacturing industry, inspired by the closing of Bethlehem Steel, which is NOT in Allentown. However, despite not being a big part of the Rust Belt, Allentown seemed to be easier to fit into a song. This single peaked at #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains a mainstay at Joel’s concerts, including those in Pennsylvania. Despite the negative mood of the song, Joel was presented with a key to the city of Allentown after the single’s release.
“Santa Monica”- Everclear. I always crack up when I listen to Everclear. It just always seems like their songs are SO simple, but that could translate into songs easy to play live. I don’t even play the guitar, but I would have to believe that this song would be a great song to learn while one was learning to play just due to the unbelievably simple structure of this song. According to lead singer Art Alexakis, this song was written after his girlfriend committed suicide and then him following suit by attempting to jump off the Santa Monica pier. Despite not being officially released as a single, radio stations played this song featured on their 1995 album Sparkle and Fade which led to the song peaking at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay Chart. In a strangely dark twist, this song was deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel Communications after the 9/11 attacks.
“Beverly Hills”- Weezer. This has to be one of the funniest back stories of any song that has ever been featured on my lists. In 2005, Weezer had this song as the lead single to their fifth studio album Make Believe. Because of the band’s blatant sarcastic and un-serious nature of the past, this song and video was completely thought to be a sarcastic satire of the Beverly Hills lifestyle that seems to be glorified by the media, with Weezer playing perfectly into the fun of the joke. However, according to lead singer Rivers Cuomo, this was never the intention. According to him, he was the Hollywood Bowl and saw a picture of Wilson Phillips in the program (of all bands) and thought to himself how cool it would be to marry an “established” celebrity and live in Beverly Hills with a celebrity life. He said by the time the song was recorded and the video was released, this original meaning was completely lost. This single would go on to be one of the bands biggest hits when it peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 2005.
“Philadelphia Freedom”- Elton John. This song also has another amazing back story. In 1975, Elton John was arguably the biggest star in the world, as he was in the middle of a then record 7 straight #1 albums. He was setting records for concerts and record sales while becoming a household name across the world. After releasing his autobiographical album Captain Fantastic And the Brown Dirt Cowboy, tennis star Billie Jean King approached Elton John and Bernie Taupin to write a song about her World Team Tennis Team the Philadelphia Freedoms. Not only had Elton and Bernie never written a song about tennis, they had also, to that point in their careers, never written a song specifically designed to be a single. What resulted was this single that shot to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and despite it’s patriotic use and tone, had absolutely nothing to do with the American Bicentennial that was coming up the following year. Despite this crazy background, the song remains a staple at Elton John live shows, including red, white, and blue lights/graphics to pay homage to the song’s new patriotic meaning it has garnered through the years. Seen here is a performance Elton John had in 1975 on the TV show “Soul Train”, in addition to being one of the first white artists to appear on the show, he was one of the only artists to actually sing a live track on the show.
“Kokomo”- The Beach Boys. In 1988, the Beach Boys came back in a big way when they had their first #1 single since 1966’s “Good Vibrations” when this single from the movie “Cocktail” starring Tom Cruise shot to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. This video was filmed as the grand opening of the Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World and famously featured John Stamos on percussion and the UNLV cheerleaders, and famously did not include Beach Boy mainstay Brian Wilson. The staff of the Grand Floridian used this video as a “soft opening”, as the Disney Resort had not officially opened yet. This would be the Beach Boys last waltz into the top of the charts, but this still remains one of their most famous songs of all time in a storied career.
“Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day”- Morcheeba. It’s always great to feature Skye Edwards and her band of merry men from England. This British soul/pop group included this catchy single on their 2000 album Fragments of Freedom where it peaked at #34 on the British Singles Chart, becoming their highest charting single in their home country. The soul of Skye Edwards along with the psychedelic mix of the band makes for a spectacular song that really shows the strength of Morcheeba. This is one of my favorite bands.
“Pompeii”- Bastille. British synth band Bastille made their first major splash when this single from their 2013 debut album Bad Blood peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song chronicles the fall of ancient Pompeii when it was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in the year A.D. 79. The singer compares this to his failing relationship in a dark twist of comparison. The video featured here is pretty good, but fits every British stereotype in the process.
“Werewolves of London”- Warren Zevon. Warren Zevon used Fleetwood Mac rhythm section of Jon McVie and Mick Fleetwood to put down the track to this single which would become easily his most recognizeable song. This 1978 single from his album Excitable Boy peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Zevon said himself that the song is absolutely meaningless, just something he thought of that sounded cool. Did anyone else hope for a big surprise on this one?
“Stranger in Moscow”- Michael Jackson. Despite being one of his most critically acclaimed songs, this single from the King of Pop’s 1996 acclaimed album HIStory was easily his lowest charting single of his once in a lifetime career. It peaked at #91 on the Billboard Hot 100 and featured this dark video along that like the song, was deeply personal about Jackson’s isolation from the world following his legal issues. This song was also rare in that it has to be one of his slowest songs from a tempo standpoint. Also, if you watch the video, it can be determined that Michael Jackson was officially white at the time of production of this video. While this song never caught on commercially, it was a fan favorite that was performed throughout the accompanying tour in 1997-98 and has been covered by several artists since.
“Save Me, San Francisco”- Train. I always feel so stupid when I think that Train didn’t write and originally record this song. For some reason, I always thought Train covered this song. This title track to Train’s 2009 album peaked at #75 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is still one of Train’s most catchy songs. Pat Monahan just always seems like he’s having fun when he sings.
BONUS VIDEOS
“Trigger Hippie”- Morcheeba.
“Drops of Jupiter”- Train.
“Island In The Sun”- Weezer.
“The Way”- Fastball.
Morcheeba
Weezer
Everclear
Billy Joel
Sir Elton John
posted by General 5A Pigott at 9:54 PM
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