What City Inspired Petula Clark’s ‘Downtown’?

Sometimes, the meaning of great music gets lost in the shuffle. Petula Clark’s “Downtown” makes going downtown sound like a life-affirming experience — but what city inspired it? The track’s writer explained how its American roots helped it become a hit.

Petula Clark’s ‘Downtown’ was inspired by a certain part of New York City

When people think of the 1960s, some major musical duos come to mind. The Beatles’ Lennon-McCartney. Simon & Garfunkel. Sonny & Cher. One of the most successful duos of the era was British Invasion pop star Clark and songwriter Tony Hatch, though Hatch isn’t a household name. Together, they created hits like “Don’t Sleep in the Subway,” “My Love,” and, most famously, “Downtown.”

During a 2016 interview with The Guardian, Hatch discussed the origin of “Downtown.” “I’d heard about all the great songwriters working in the Brill Building in New York, so I took a trip over to find out how they did it,” he said. “I stayed near Central Park and, late one night, walked from Broadway to Times Square. I was amazed that everything was still open. Although I was there on my own, I didn’t feel alone.” 

How Petula Clark’s signature song came full circle

Initially, Hatch’s composition didn’t receive much praise. “At first, the record company were less than enthusiastic, but then the boss called me and said: ‘Can you bring that Petula Clark thing back in?’” Hatch recalled. “He wanted to play it to a guy from Warner Brothers in Los Angeles, who was visiting. When he heard it, he said: ‘I want that song and I want it now.’ He loved the fact it was America seen through the eyes of an Englishman.” A lot of British Invasion music took inspiration from American sounds, but a British Invasion song about America was something new.

Eventually, the song came full circle. “In 2013, I was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Petula sang ‘Downtown’ and presented me with the award — at the Marriott in Times Square, the place that inspired the song,” he said.

‘Downtown’ was a hit in the 1960s and the 1980s

“Downtown” became Clark’s first No. 1 single in the United States. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 15 weeks. It remains her biggest hit in the U.S. The track appeared on the album Downtown. That record reached No. 21 on the Billboard 200 and lasted on the chart for 36 weeks. Unlike The Beatles or The Beach Boys, Clark never established herself as an “album artist.”

The Official Charts Company reports “Downtown” was similarly popular in the United Kingdom. There, the tune peaked at No. 2 and charted for 15 weeks. The album Downtown didn’t make any impact in the U.K. However, a terrible dance remix of the song titled “Downtown ’88” reached No. 10 and charted for 14 weeks. “Downtown” was one of many 1960s pop songs to make a resurgence in the 1980s, alongside The Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing There” and Tommy James and the Shondells’ “I Think We’re Alone Now” (both covered by Tiffany) and Little Eva’s “The Loco-Motion” (covered by Kylie Minogue).

“Downtown” is Clark’s masterwork — and it wouldn’t be the same without the Big Apple.