Top 10: City Songs
December 3rd, 2007 by Wade Tatangelo in News
I got the idea for this tally when CL Political Whore Wayne Garcia played Randy Newman’s “Baltimore” during last Friday’s office “Dance Party.” Been working on it, to a certain extent, ever since. And let me tell ya, it was tough. How could this list NOT include “New York, New York” or “Angel From Montgomery”, right? Anyway, here’s the highly subjective finished product.
Top 10: City Songs
1. “London Calling,” The Clash
2. “Walking to New Orleans,” Fats Domino
3. “Atlantic City,” Bruce Springsteen
4. “Memphis,” Chuck Berry
5. “Straight Outta Compton,” N.W.A.
6. “I Love L.A.”, Randy Newman
7. “Goin’ to Acapulco,” Bob Dylan
8. “Crescent City,” Lucinda Williams
9. “Istanbul (Not Constantinople),” They Might Be Giants
10. “Free Man in Paris,” Joni Mitchell
BONUS: “Allentown,” Billy Joel
BONUS: Anything by John Denver
WHAT DID I MISS?
December 3rd, 2007 at 5:55 pm
My band, BLAST, has a tune called “Tampa Tried To Kill Patti Smith”, which is about her fall off a Tampa stage back in 1977.
https://www.harpmagazine.com/reviews/cd_reviews/detail.cfm?article_id=3860
December 3rd, 2007 at 6:57 pm
“Oh, Atlanta,” Little Feat.
“Dallas,” Joe Ely
I tried thinking of Florida specific cities. Only two obscure ones came to mind.
“Girl from Immokalee,” Raiford Starke.
“Cassadaga,” Tom Petty.
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:56 pm
drkptt: Ely’s “Dallas” was written by his pal/fellow Flatlander Jimmie Dale Gilmore. I like both versions.
Another “Dallas” is the one by slide-guitar great Johnny Winter. It’s on his classic, self-titled debut album, which I finally “discovered” a couple years ago.
As for Florida specific songs, the only one that comes to mind is Randy Newman’s “Miami.” “Best dope in the world,” he sings. “And it’s free.”
Will Smith has a “Miami” song, too.
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:48 pm
or just lump them all together with:
“Cities,” Talking Heads
December 4th, 2007 at 8:59 am
Counting crows also has a “Miami”. Their other “city” song “Raining in Baltimore” while lovely makes me want to take Seconal and a really long nap so let’s just go with “Miami”.
December 4th, 2007 at 11:27 am
Kellie: Hmmm… Johnny Winter has a song called “Too Much Seconal.” I betcha Peanut could play it for ya. I think it’s on one of the CDs he made me.