- China Grove (song)
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"China Grove" Single by The Doobie Brothers from the album The Captain and Me B-side "Evil Woman" Released July 25, 1973 Format 7" single Recorded 1973 Genre Rock Length 3:16 Label Warner Brothers Writer(s) Tom Johnston Producer Ted Templeman The Doobie Brothers singles chronology "Long Train Runnin'"
(1973)"China Grove'"
(1973)"Another Park, Another Sunday"
(1974)"China Grove" is a song from The Doobie Brothers' 1973 album The Captain and Me. It was written by original lead singer Tom Johnston, before he fell ill in 1975 and was replaced by Michael McDonald. The song is based on a real town in Texas with the same name. The connection is obvious given its real-life proximity to San Antonio, which is referenced in the lyrics. However, the rest of the song is largely a fictional account portraying China Grove as Texas' version of Chinatown. Notable is the mention of samurai, who in fact are Japanese, not Chinese.
Origins
The track was originally titled "Parliament" after the band's tradition of naming demos after whatever brand of cigarette Tom Johnston was smoking at the time. According to producer Ted Templeman, "Billy Payne played a keyboard thing on the bridge that sounded like an Oriental lick, so I told Tommy, 'Write something that sounds oriental.' So he came up with 'China Grove'."
Cover versions
- Dolly Parton covered the song in 1976 on her variety show Dolly!.
- An instrumental of the song is the theme song of the Fox game show Don't Forget the Lyrics!. The instrumental is performed by band leader Rickey Minor. (On one of the episodes there is a question whose answer is "China Grove".)
External links
- [1] Austin Chronicle article on Texas named songs
Michael Hossack · Tom Johnston · John McFee · Patrick Simmons
Michael McDonald · Tiran Porter · Dave Shogren · Willie Weeks · Chet McCracken · Bobby LaKind · Keith Knudsen · John Hartman · Cornelius Bumpus · Jeff "Skunk" BaxterAdditional personnel Guy Allison · Marc Russo · Skylark · Ed Toth
Richard Bryant · Bernie Chiaravalle · John Cowan · Jimi Fox · M. B. Gordy · Danny Hull · Dale Ockerman · Bill PayneStudio albums The Doobie Brothers · Toulouse Street · The Captain and Me · What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits · Stampede · Takin' It to the Streets · Livin' on the Fault Line · Minute by Minute · One Step Closer · Cycles · Brotherhood · Sibling Rivalry · World Gone CrazyLive albums Farewell Tour · Rockin' down the Highway: The Wildlife Concert · Best of The Doobie Brothers Live · Live at Wolf TrapCompilations Best of The Doobies · Best of The Doobies, Vol. 2 · Listen to the Music: The Very Best of The Doobie Brothers · Long Train Runnin': 1970–2000 · Greatest Hits · Doobie's Choice · Greatest Hits · Divided Highway · The Very Best of The Doobie BrothersSingles "Nobody" · "Listen to the Music" · "Jesus Is Just Alright" · "Long Train Runnin'" · "China Grove" · "Another Park, Another Sunday" · "Eyes of Silver" · "Nobody" (re-issue) · "Black Water" · "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)" · "Sweet Maxine" · "I Cheat the Hangman" · "Takin' It to the Streets" · "Wheels of Fortune" · "It Keeps You Runnin'" · "Little Darlin' (I Need You)" · "Echoes of Love" · "What a Fool Believes" · "Minute by Minute" · "Dependin' on You" · "Real Love" · "One Step Closer" · "Wynken, Blynken & Nod" · "Keep This Train A-Rollin'" · "Here to Love You" · "You Belong to Me" · "The Doctor" · "Need a Little Taste of Love" · "South of the Border" · "Dangerous" · "Rollin' On" · "Long Train Runnin'" (re-issue) · "Ordinary Man" · "Nobody" (re-recording)Related articles Categories:- 1973 singles
- The Doobie Brothers songs
- Songs about Texas
- Songs written by Tom Johnston
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