After I had posted my tribute for Dolly Parton I was thinking about all the good she had done, amongst which was her Dollywood Foundation and theme park. By one of those strange leaps that our minds sometimes take I went from Dollywood to Hollywood, and the idea for today’s theme was born. I knew of several songs for it, and didn’t need much research, so here is my set of Hollywood songs for you: five plus a bonus cheat one at the end. At least one of these will be new for you, I’m sure.

I’m starting with a long time favourite of mine, and probably the most obvious choice I could have made:

Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band with Hollywood Nights, of course. That isn’t an official video but I rather like it – you can work out for yourself why! The song opened their album Stranger In Town, which was released in May 1978, and was then taken as the second single from it that July. The album was big success, peaking at #4 in the US and #5 in Canada, and was also his first to chart in the UK, reaching #31. It went 6x Platinum in the US for sales of 6m, 4x Platinum in Canada for 400,000, and Gold in the UK for 100,000. The single got to #12 in both the US and Canada, and #42 in the UK.

My second tune is the other really big name band in this set. As usual, copyright got in the way of most of the videos I could find for it, but this one somehow sneaked through. I wonder how long it will survive – it was only posted four months ago:

The Eagles released Hollywood Waltz on their fourth album, One Of These Nights, in June 1975. I was in the midst of my final university exams at that time, but can recall going into Norwich the day after I finished them to buy the record as my reward to myself for surviving them. Like all of their others, it became a regular feature on my turntable. It got to #1 in the US, #2 in Canada and The Netherlands, and #8 in the UK, and went 4x Platinum in the US (4m sales), and Platinum in both the UK and Canada (300,000 and 100,000 respectively). Hollywood Waltz wasn’t released as a single.

This next one is the song I’m expecting no one will know. I’ve long been a fan of Sarah Darling, who writes lovely songs and has a beautiful voice, so this was a nailed on selection for me:

Sarah released Hollywood on her sixth, and most recent, album, Canyon, in October 2024. As far as I can tell the album didn’t chart anywhere, but she has continued touring extensively on both sides of the pond: she has a very loyal following here in the UK. Many were no doubt attracted by her regular weekly sessions from home during the 2020 lockdown days: they were always a treat of beautiful music and a lovely personality. This song is typical of her laid back style, and the album as a whole is gorgeous.

Another big name for you next, though not one of his best known songs, I think:

Lewis Capaldi included Hollywood on his debut album, Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent, which came out in May 2019 and peaked at #1 in the UK, #5 in Canada and #20 in the US, selling more than 10m copies worldwide, including 1.8m in the UK (6x Platinum). Hollywood wasn’t officially released as a single, though it was issued to radio stations as part of the album’s promotion. It wasn’t allowed to be in the singles chart, due to the Official Charts Company’s rule limiting acts to three songs in the top 100 at a time, but it did reach #39 on the Official Downloads chart.

I’m closing my regular quota of five songs with another well known name, and a song you may have been expecting. This is the official video for it, so please don’t blame me if it sounds like he’s in an echo chamber:

Say Goodbye To Hollywood was the opening track on Billy Joel’s fourth album, Turnstiles, which was released in May 1976, charting only in the US, at #122, and Australia at #12. Despite that relatively low placing the album has gone on to achieve Platinum status in the US, selling more than a million copies. This track was originally a B-side to a single, then became an A-side, but didn’t make the charts until a version from the live album Songs In The Attic was released in 1981, making #17 in the US. Considering how familiar I am with the song I’m rather surprised at these chart placings – I would have expected to see it higher.

I promised you a bonus video, which I described as a cheat. This time, Hollywood is in the band’s name, and I couldn’t resist playing this:

Relax was the debut single by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, released in October 1983, and it was huge, going to #1 in the UK and many other European countries. Its US release was delayed until March 1984 and it was slow to take off, though it eventually peaked there at #10 in March 1975 after a re-release. It has sold more than 2m in the UK and 500,000 in the US. The track was also included on their debut album, Welcome To The Pleasuredome, a double album which came out in October 1984 and peaked at #1 in the UK, made the top ten across most of Europe, and reached #33 in the US. It went 3x Platinum in the UK for sales of 1.1m, Platinum in Germany for 500,000, and Gold in the US, also for 500,000. It was one of those rare albums that both my ex-wife and I liked, and we played it a lot. It had all of their three UK #1 singles on it, and a cut down version of the title track also made #2 here. But I still have a liking for a great cover of The Boss’ Born To Run which I think might be my favourite track from it. They disbanded in 1987, but they had more than made their mark.

That’s it for today’s music, but before I go I should remind you of where I’ll be sharing this post. Firstly, at Esme’s Senior Salon Pit Stop, and then at Cathy’s Monday’s (On Sundays) Music Moves Me. Do drop in on them please.

I’ll see you again soon. Have a lovely week 👍