Song Of The Day 8/10/2012: Middle Of The Road - "Sacramento"

Middle Of The Road was a band from Scotland. They had an impressive run of top five hits in Europe between 1971 and 1973. Switzerland and Germany, in particular, were verrückt for Middle Of The Road. Their most famous hit, undoubtedly, was their first: the jejune international chart-topper "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep." If you think "Call Me Maybe" is poisoning our water supply, you oughta take a listen to that. On second thought, don't give a listen to "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep." It's too dangerous.

In 1972 they recorded a song about my hometown that went to #1 in the German, Norwegian, Swiss and Dutch music charts. The accompanying promotional video was shot on a moving train, which saves them the trouble of having to show shots of the actual Sacramento. They're going to Sacramento, you see. They're anticipating the wonders of Sacramento. Although it's pretty clear the train itself is traveling through European countryside. Who cares? Sacramento is a state of mind, bub.

By the way, Middle Of The Road never had a hit in the U.S.