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The following are my choices for the song(s) that should be used as the theme song or anthem for the selected cities listed below. Some are familiar, some historic, some new, some inspirational, some witty, and some are even satirical, but they all recall memories and images of a community that the local’s love. Links to each song are provided.
If you know of any that should be included or might be better choices than these, please feel free to pass them and your thoughts along. Enjoy!
Abilene, TX or KS – “Abilene,” by Waylon Jennings or George Hamilton IV
Albuquerque, NM – “Lights of Albuquerque,” by Jim Glaser
Amarillo, TX – “Amarillo,” by Alan Jackson
Asheville, NC – “Asheville City Skyline,” by the Lonesome Trio
Bakersfield, CA – “Mean Streets of Bakersfield,” by Merle Haggard – (suggested by Robert – thank you)
Baltimore, MD – “Baltimore,” – artist unknown
Baton Rouge, LA – “Callin’ Baton Rouge,” by various artists
Birmingham, AL – “Train to Birmingham,” by John Hiatt
Boston, MA – “Boston,” by Augustana
Buffalo, NY – “Buffalo Gals,” by Woody Guthrie
Charleston, SC – “The Charleston,” by Cecil Mack and Jimmy Johnson
Chattanooga, TN – “Chattanooga Choo-Choo,” by the Glenn Miller Orchestra
Chicago, IL – “My Kind of Town…Chicago Is,” by Frank Sinatra
Cincinnati, OH – “WKRP in Cincinnati” – TV show theme song – artist unknown
Cleveland, OH – “Cleveland Rocks,” by Ian Hunter
Dayton, OH – “Dayton, Ohio 1903,” by various artists
Denver, CO – “A Mile High in Denver,” by Jimmy Buffett or “Get Out of Denver,” by Bob Seger
Dallas-Fort Worth TX – “Dallas Days and Fort Worth Nights,” by Chris Le Doux
Detroit, MI – “Goin’ on to Detroit,” by Wes Montgomery
Edmonton, AB – “Edmonton Theme,” by Annabelle Santos-Dookie – yes, it is hokey.
El Paso, TX – “El Paso,” by Marty Robbins
Erie, PA – “Erie,” by Jonah Krull
Galveston, TX – “Galveston,” by Glen Campbell
Gary, IN – “Gary Indiana,” from “The Music Man”
Honolulu, HI – “Honolulu City Lights,” by the Beamer Brothers
Houston, TX – “Houston #1,” by Coldplay
Indianapolis, IN – “Naptown Blues,” by Wes Montgomery
Kalamazoo, MI – “I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamazoo,” by the Glenn Miller Orchestra
Kansas City, MO – “Kansas City Here I Come,” by various artists. but particularly the version by Fats Domino
Key Largo, FL – “Key Largo,” by Bertie Higgins
Key West, FL – “Key West Time,” by Pirate Sessions
Kokomo, IN – “Kokomo Blues,” by numerous artists, but the best version is by Marie Martens & the Messarounds (at 8:20 minutes in the linked video – be sure to turn the volume on at the bottom right of the video)
Las Vegas, NV – “Viva Las Vegas,” by Elvis Presley
Little Rock, AR – “A Little Past Little Rock,” by Lee Ann Womack
London, UK – “London Calling,” by The Clash
Los Angeles, CA – “I Love LA,” by Randy Newman
Louisville, KY – “Eight More Miles to Louisville,” by various artists
Lubbock, TX – “Lonely Lubbock, Nights,” by Aaron Watson
Macon, GA – “Macon,” by Jamey Johnson
Memphis, TN – “Walking in Memphis,” by Marc Cohn or “Memphis, Tennessee,” by Johnny Rivers
Mexicali, Mexico – “Mexicali Rose,” by Jim Reeves
Miami, FL –“Moon Over Miami,” by various artists, but especially the version by Ray Charles
Milwaukee, WI – “Milwaukee Polka,” by Frank Yankovic
Mobile, AL – “Mobile, Alabama,” by Curtis Gordon
Montreal, QC – “Green Gardens, Cold Montreal,” by Sloan
Nashville, TN – “Nashville Cats,” by the Lovin’ Spoonful
New Orleans, LA – “I’m Walking to New Orleans,” by Fats Domino
New York City, NY – “New York, New York,” by Frank Sinatra
Omaha, NE – “Omaha,” by Waylon Jennings
Paris, France – “April in Paris,” by Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
Pensacola, FL – “Pensacola,” by Deerhunter
Peoria, IL – “I Wish I Wuz in Peoria,” by The Smothers Brothers
Philadelphia, PA – “Philadelphia Freedom,” by Elton John, though both “Philadelphia” by Neil Young and “Streets of Philadelphia” by Bruce Springsteen are better songs.
Phoenix, AZ – “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” by Glen Campbell
Pittsburgh, PA – “Rainy Day in Pittsburgh,” by Joe Gruschecky & the Houserockers
Portland, OR – “Portland, Oregon,” by Jack White and Loretta Lynn
Reno, NV – “All the Way to Reno,” by REM
Saginaw, MI – “Saginaw Michigan,” by Lefty Frizzle
Salt Lake City, UT – “Salt Lake City,” by the Beach Boys or the Fendertones
San Antonio, TX – “New San Antonio Rose,” by Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys
San Diego, CA – “San Diego Serenade,” by Tom Waits
San Francisco, CA – “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” by Tony Bennett
San Jose, CA – “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” by Dionne Warwick
Santa Fe, NM – “South of Santa Fe,” by Brooks & Dunn or “Sante Fe,” by Steve Martin & the Steep Mountain Rangers (added 10/24/19)
Savannah, GA – “Sunday in Savannah,” by Nina Simone
Seattle, WA – “Seattle,” by Perry Como
Spokane, WA – “The Spokane Song,” by the Kelly Ellis Duo
St. Louis, MO – “St. Louis Blues,” by various artists
Tampa, FL – “Talk Me Out of Tampa,” by Joe Nichols
Toledo, OH – “Toledo, My Hometown,” by Sheri Lafontaine
Toronto, ON – “Toronto #4,” by the Tragically Hip
Tucson, AZ – “Tucson Train,” by Bruce Springsteen
Tulsa, OK – “Tulsa Time,” by Don Williams
Wasco, CA – “Radiator Man from Wasco,” by Merle Haggard – (Thank you, Robert)
Wichita, KS – “Wichita Lineman,” by Glen Campbell
Winnipeg, MB – “One Great City,” by The Weakerthans
Bakersfield, CA: “Mean Streets of Bakersfield” by Merle Haggard
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Thank you, Robert. I thought about including that song, but held off because of it was negative sounding. I will be glad to list it as a suggested addition though.
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Thank you. If you were born there and grew up there; you will know that the song does not apply to the entire city in these times. It is a source of a ride to many.
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I meant “pride”, not “ride”.
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Wasco, CA: “Radiator Man from Wasco” by Merle Haggard
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