Do You Know the Way to San Jose

Last updated

"Do You Know the Way to San Jose"
"Do You Know the Way to San Jose" - Dionne Warwick.jpg
"Do You Know the Way to San Jose" became an international best-seller in 1968.
Single by Dionne Warwick
from the album Dionne Warwick in Valley of the Dolls
B-side "Let Me Be Lonely"
ReleasedApril 1968
Recorded1967
Studio Bell Sound (New York City)
Genre
Length2:58
Label Scepter SCE-12216
Songwriter(s) Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Producer(s) Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Dionne Warwick singles chronology
"(Theme from) Valley of the Dolls"
(1968)		"Do You Know the Way to San Jose"
(1968)		"Who Is Gonna Love Me"
(1968)

"Do You Know the Way to San Jose" is a 1968 popular song written and composed for singer Dionne Warwick by Burt Bacharach. Hal David wrote the lyrics. The song was Warwick's biggest international hit to that point, selling several million copies worldwide and winning Warwick her first Grammy Award. David's lyrics tell the story of a native of San Jose, California, who, having failed to break into the entertainment field in Los Angeles, is set to return to her hometown.

Contents

The song was released on the 1968 RIAA Certified Gold album Dionne Warwick in Valley of the Dolls . "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" was issued as the follow-up single to the double-sided hit "(Theme from) Valley of the Dolls"/ "I Say a Little Prayer" in April 1968. It became Warwick's third consecutive top ten song in the closing months of 1967 and into 1968, punctuating the most successful period of her recording career.

The song peaked at No. 8 in the UK, Ireland, and Canada. It also charted highly in France, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Israel, Lebanon, Japan, and many other countries throughout the world. The single was one of the most successful of Warwick's international hits, selling over 3,500,000 copies worldwide. The flip-side of the single, "Let Me Be Lonely", also penned by Bacharach and David, charted in the Billboard Hot 100 as well and became one of many double-sided hits for Warwick.

Production

Bacharach had composed the music for the song before David wrote its lyrics. David had a special interest in San Jose, having been stationed there while in the Navy. [3]

The track was the last Dionne Warwick single to be recorded at New York City's Bell Sound Studios. It features a prominent use of bass drum, played by session musician Gary Chester. The engineer was Ed Smith, who devised the famous introduction to the tune by directly attaching a microphone to the head of Chester's bass drum. The electric bass was played by studio musician Lou Mauro.

Warwick did not like "Do You Know the Way to San Jose", and she had to be convinced to record it. In a May 1983 interview with Ebony , she said: "It's a dumb song and I didn't want to sing it. But it was a hit, just like [her recent Top Ten hit] 'Heartbreaker' is. I'm happy these songs were successful, but that still doesn't change my opinion about them." [4] Though she still does not like it, the song remains one of Warwick's most popular chart selections, and she still includes it in almost every concert she performs. [5]

Awards

Charts

Cover versions

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dionne Warwick</span> American singer (born 1940)

Marie Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress, and television host.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burt Bacharach</span> American composer and songwriter (1928–2023)

Burt Freeman Bacharach was an American composer, songwriter, record producer, and pianist who is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures of 20th-century popular music. Starting in the 1950s, he composed hundreds of pop songs, many in collaboration with lyricist Hal David. Bacharach's music is characterized by unusual chord progressions and time signature changes, influenced by his background in jazz, and uncommon selections of instruments for small orchestras. He arranged, conducted, and produced much of his recorded output.

<i>Soulful</i> (Dionne Warwick album) 1969 studio album by Dionne Warwick

Soulful is the twelfth album by Dionne Warwick. Released in 1969 on Scepter Records, it was the first of Warwick's Scepter albums that did not directly involve her longtime production and songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Instead, the album was produced by Warwick and Chips Moman and was composed of covers of soul hits and soul-influenced pop songs.

"That's What Friends Are For" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself</span> 1964 hit single for Dusty Springfield

"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Say a Little Prayer</span> 1967 song by Burt Bacharach and Hal David

"I Say a Little Prayer" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Dionne Warwick, originally peaking at number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in December 1967. On the R&B Singles chart it peaked at number eight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anyone Who Had a Heart (song)</span> 1963 single by Dionne Warwick

"Anyone Who Had a Heart" is a song written by Burt Bacharach (music) and Hal David (lyrics) for Dionne Warwick in 1963. In January 1964, Warwick's original recording hit the Top Ten in the United States, Canada, Spain, Netherlands, South Africa, Belgium and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfie (Burt Bacharach song)</span> 1966 song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David

"Alfie" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David to promote the 1966 film Alfie. The song was a major hit for Cilla Black (UK) and Dionne Warwick (US).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Never Fall in Love Again</span> 1969 single by Bacharach & David

"I'll Never Fall in Love Again" is a popular song by composer Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David that was written for the 1968 musical Promises, Promises. Several recordings of the song were released in 1969; the most popular versions were by Dionne Warwick, who took it to number 6 on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 and spent three weeks topping the magazine's list of the most popular Easy Listening songs, and Bobbie Gentry, who topped the UK chart with her recording and also peaked at number 1 in Australia and Ireland, number 3 in South Africa and number 5 in Norway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Guy's in Love with You</span> 1968 single by Herb Alpert

"This Guy's in Love with You" is a hit song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and released by Herb Alpert in May, 1968. Although known primarily for his trumpet playing as the leader of the Tijuana Brass, Alpert sang lead vocals on this solo recording, which was arranged by Bacharach. An earlier recording of the song by British singer Danny Williams with different lyrics titled "That Guy's in Love" appeared on Williams' 1968 self-titled album.

"Wishin' and Hopin'" is a song, written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach, which was a US Top 10 hit for Dusty Springfield in 1964.

<i>Here Where There Is Love</i> 1966 studio album by Dionne Warwick

Here Where There Is Love is Dionne Warwick's sixth studio album for Scepter Records, and was released on December 4, 1966. The album was recorded at Bell Sound Studios in New York City and was produced in full by Burt Bacharach and Hal David with Bacharach also arranging and conducting.

<i>Dionne Warwick in Valley of the Dolls</i> 1968 studio album by Dionne Warwick

Dionne Warwick in Valley of the Dolls is the title of Dionne Warwick's ninth album for the Scepter label. It was recorded during the summer and fall of 1967 and was released early the next year in March 1968. It was recorded at A&R and Bell Sound Studios in New York City and was produced by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What the World Needs Now Is Love</span> 1965 single written by Bacharach & David

"What the World Needs Now Is Love" is a 1965 popular song with lyrics by Hal David and music composed by Burt Bacharach. First recorded and made popular by Jackie DeShannon, it was released on April 15, 1965, on the Imperial label after a release on sister label Liberty records the previous month was canceled. It peaked at number seven on the US Hot 100 in July of that year. In Canada, the song reached number one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(Theme from) Valley of the Dolls</span> 1967 single by Dionne Warwick

"(Theme from) Valley of the Dolls" is a 1967 song by André and Dory Previn, composed for the film version of the Jacqueline Susann novel Valley of the Dolls, and recorded by Dionne Warwick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Message to Michael</span> 1966 single by Dionne Warwick

"Message to Michael" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, that has been a hit for several different artists under several different titles. The song was first recorded as "Message to Martha" by Jerry Butler in 1962. In 1964, singer Lou Johnson had a minor US hit with the song, with the title "Kentucky Bluebird". British singer Adam Faith also recorded the song as "A Message to Martha " in 1965, and had a substantial hit with it in the UK, reaching No. 12. Exactly the same recording was issued in Australia as "Message to Martha", where it was a No. 15 hit for Faith. In the United States, Dionne Warwick's version, titled "Message to Michael", was a top ten hit there in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Power (Dionne Warwick song)</span> 1987 single by Dionne Warwick and Jeffrey Osborne

"Love Power" is a song by American singers Dionne Warwick and Jeffrey Osborne. It was written and produced by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager for Warwick's studio album, Reservations for Two (1987), and features an appearance by Kenny G playing the alto sax solo. Released as its lead single, it became Warwick's sixth number-one hit on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The track also reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Love Power" marked her final appearance in the top 40 on the latter chart. For Osborne, "Love Power" was his only number-one Adult Contemporary hit, and it would be his last appearance in the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 as well, since "She's On the Left," his only number-one R&B hit, would only reach number 48 on that same chart the following year.

"The Windows of the World" is a song written by Burt Bacharach (music) and Hal David (lyrics) which was a hit single for Dionne Warwick in 1967.

<i>Promises, Promises</i> (Dionne Warwick album) 1968 studio album by Dionne Warwick

Promises, Promises is the title of a 1968 album by Dionne Warwick, and her eleventh studio album. Like many of her previous albums, it was produced by the songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. The album includes three songs from the musical Promises, Promises, for which Bacharach and David wrote the music and lyrics, and which would premiere a month after the album was released: the title song, "Whoever You Are " and "Wanting Things". The album also includes two other Bacharach/David compositions, "This Girl's in Love with You" and "Who Is Gonna Love Me".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart)</span>

"You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart)" is a song composed by Burt Bacharach, with lyrics by Hal David. It was originally recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1964, who charted at number 34 in the US Billboard Hot 100 with her version. It was covered by the Stylistics in 1973, who reached number 23 in the US with their cover.

References

  1. ↑ Bryans, Chris (2015). "Aretha Franklin - "I Say A Little Prayer". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. New York: Universe. p. 219.
  2. ↑ Moon, Tom (August 28, 2008). "Dionne Warwick - The Dionne Warwick Collection". 1,000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die. Workman Publishing Company. pp. 846–847. ISBN   9-780761-139638.
  3. ↑ Dominic, Serene (2003). Burt Bacharach, song by song: the ultimate Burt Bacharach reference for fans. New York City: Schirmer Trade Books. p. 190. ISBN   0-8256-7280-5.
  4. ↑ Hunt, Dennis (May 1983). "Dionne Wardwick Speaks Out for Strong Black Women". Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company: 100. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  5. ↑ "BBC Radio 5 Live - Midnight Meets With Colin Murray, Dionne Warwick, The hit song Dionne Warwick doesn't like". BBC. April 19, 2021.
  6. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  7. ↑ "CAN Charts > Dionne Warwick". RPM . Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  8. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Do You Know the Way to San Jose". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  9. ↑ "NZ Charts > Dionne Warwick". Official New Zealand Music Chart . Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  10. ↑ "UK Charts > Dionne Warwick". Official Charts Company . Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Dionne Warwick Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Dionne Warwick Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Dionne Warwick Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1968/Top 100 Songs of 1968". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.