About the song
Downtown is a song written and produced by English composer Tony Hatch. It was recorded by British singer Petula Clark in 1964 and became an international hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the UK Singles Chart. The song is about finding happiness and excitement in the city, where there are lights, music, and people to enjoy. The song has been covered by many singers, including Dolly Parton, Emma Bunton, and the Saw Doctors.
The song was inspired by Hatch’s first visit to New York City in 1964, when he was impressed by the atmosphere of Times Square and Broadway. He wrote the melody while standing on a street corner waiting for the traffic lights to change, and later added the lyrics after Clark expressed interest in recording it. Hatch originally envisioned the song as a doo-wop R&B song for the Drifters, but later changed his mind and tailored it to Clark’s pop style.
The song was recorded at Pye Studios in London on October 16, 1964, with Hatch conducting an orchestra of session musicians. Clark sang the lead vocal in one take, and added a second vocal track for harmony. The song features a prominent piano riff played by session musician Bob Leaper, as well as a trumpet solo by Stan Roderick. The song also includes background vocals by the Breakaways, a female vocal group who often worked with Clark.
The song was released as a single in November 1964, with You’d Better Love Me as the B-side. It was also included on Clark’s album Downtown, which was released in December 1964. The song received positive reviews from critics and became a commercial success, selling over three million copies worldwide. It also won Hatch the 1981 Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.
The song has been recognized as one of the classic pop songs of the 1960s, and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. It has also been used in many films, television shows, and commercials, such as The Simpsons, Lost, Gilmore Girls, Seinfeld, and Target. The song is considered to be Clark’s signature song and one of her most popular recordings.
Oldies Music