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Top 20 Detroit Songs
Awesome lists. I didn't think it had to be songs so much "about" Detroit as songs that made you "feel" Detroit. For me, that would be Seger's "Heavy Music" from Smokin OPs and (going WAY back) a hand up for Salem Township's own Barbara Lewis and "Puppy Love." Would probably have to note how Detroit was the foil for so many country singers, too. Who was it that sang "Last night, I went to sleep in Detroit City, and dreamed about the cotton fields back home.." Earnest Tubb? Anyway, keep it up, all!
I agree, I think it's more about capturing the essence of Detroit, or a flavor...than being literally about Detroit. Bobby Bare did "Detroit City," right? "By day we make the cars, at night we hit the bars..." -- Susan Whitall
Another song for the list...
"The New World" by the Knitters
"...windshield wipers, Buffalo NY...Gary Indiana...don't forget the Motor City....don't forget the Motor City...this is supposed to be the New World...."
Top 20 Detroit Songs
Here are a few more songs about Detroit to continue my earlier list. There are others but I've listed only those I am familiar with. As far as favorites, can't say that I have any, but do enjoy hearing a Detroit tune.
28. 8 Mile - Eminem
29. Born in Detroit - The Rockets
30. Detroit Blues - Diana Krall
31. Hotel Yorba - White Stripes
32. I Care About Detroit - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
33. Move to Detroit - Eddie Flashin' Fowlkes
34. Nobody in Detroit - Howling Diablos
35. Passport to Detroit - Joe Strummer
36. Rock and Roll - Mitch Ryder
37. We Almost Lost Detroit - Gil Scott Heron
38. Welcome to Detroit - Jay Dee
39. Who's Afraid of Detroit? - Claude Von Stroke
40. (This spot is reserved for all those artists from the "D" who never made a song about our town. What are you waiting for?) THANKS again Susan for a great idea!
Top 20 Detroit Songs
When I first read your post I thought "No way are there 20 songs about Detroit." But as it turns out there are way more than that. So here's my first list and there will probably be another after I do a little more research. Thanks Susan, for generating the idea. Why should N.Y. get all the glory, right? The music coming from and about Detroit should get more recognition especially from Detroiters, so that we realize our musical talent and heritage.
In mostly alphabetical order by title:
1. Detroit - Laurent Garnier
2. Detroit '67 - Sam Roberts Band
3. Detroit Breakdown - J. Geils
4. Detroit City - Alice Cooper
5. Detroit Lift Up Your Weary Head - Sufjan Stevens
6. Detroit Rock City - Kiss
7. Detroit Swing 66 - Gomez
8. Detroit Thang - Kid Rock
9. Detroit Winter - PPP (Platinum Pied Pipers)
10.Doctor Detroit - Devo
11.Hands Up for Detroit - Matthew Dear
12.I Am Detroit - Electric Six
13.Motor City Baby - Dirtbombs (Also, Broke in Detroit)
14.Motor City Burning - MC5 or John Lee Hooker
15.Motor City Madhouse - Ted Nugent
16.Motown Music - Rod Stewart
17.My Life in the D - Brendan Benson
18.One Piece at a Time - Johnny Cash
19.Panic in Detroit - David Bowie
20.Worse Than Detroit - Robert Plant
21.Midnight at the 20 Grand - The Detroit Experiment-C.Craig
22.Eastern Market - Jusef Lateef
23.Makin' Thunderbirds - Bob Seger
24.Black Day in July - Gordon Lightfoot (Also, Edmund Fitz.)
25.Dancing in the Street - Martha and the Vandellas
26.Inner City Blues - Marvin Gaye
27.Hello Detroit - Sammy Davis Jr.
Had to go over the limit but will probably add more later.
Anticipating some corrections, so feel free. Thanks again!
P.S. If you want to get an idea of what some Detroiters consider as their personal "Top-5" songs, go to "Ann Delisi's Fans of Essential Music on WDET-FM 101.9" on Facebook for an interesting bunch of lists. You also can hear the lists played from time to time on her show airing Saturdays an Sundays from Noon to 4:00 P.M.
Ray,
This is great, you're on the research tip. "One Piece at a Time" by Johnny Cash is one I had, "Detroit Breakdown" by J. Geils was almost the first song I noted down. It would be hard to confine it to 20 songs, as Little Steven did with his New York list. I'll have to see. -- Susan Whitall
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