The Best LA Songs: #2 "Walking in LA" Missing Persons (1982)
By John Roberts
@JohnRoberts (109857)
Los Angeles, California
July 9, 2016 9:29am CST
Most of you will not have heard of this song or Missing Persons. So why does "Walking in LA" rate #2 on the list over more obvious, better known and critically acclaims songs? Because Missing Persons and the song are favorites of mine. The band is classic 80s new wave. Missing Persons were formed in LA by drummer/principle songwriter Terry Bozzio and then wife Dale Bozzio who possessed a Betty Boop hiccup voice and wild garish stripper persona. While not synthpop, Missing Persons had a similar beat and sound and enjoyed a number of heavily played songs on alternative radio and "Walking in LA" did reach #70 on Billboard Hot 100.
Written by Terry, "Walking in LA" is on the band's most successful album "Spring Session M" that was certified gold. The song is a take on the LA mystique as a car oriented city where everyone drives and nobody walks (not true). Dale points out no cop walks a beat and mocks lame joggers and shopping cart pushers.
"Walking in LA, nobody walks in LA"
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9 people like this
8 responses
@FourWalls (62120)
• United States
9 Jul 16
I actually DID walk in L.A. one time when I was there, and I thought of this song. 
It's a great tune.
It's a great tune.2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Jul 16
You have to walk the boulevard (Hollywood) to see the stars in the walk. Do a little Mental Hopscotch.
@Ceerios (4698)
• Goodfellow, Texas
9 Jul 16
@JohnRoberts - Brother John - I really wish that I could get all hot, bothered, and excited about contemporary "music," but it is not in me. However, I like your explanation of the message coming from "Walking in LA." It reminds me a lot of a visit to San Francisco from years ago wherein the star of the day, for me anyway, was a crusty pigeon bird whose whole attitude was both "bad" and noticeable. Someone could have put some music together about that rascally critter, maybe a lot like the stuff wherein no cop walking a beat looks down on the down-trodden along the way.
Interesting stuff, music.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Jul 16
At this point in time a song from 1982 is not contemporary.
1 person likes this
@Ceerios (4698)
• Goodfellow, Texas
9 Jul 16
@JohnRoberts - Brother John - Contemporary could well be relative to the person doing the contemplating. In 1982 I was 51 years old and, as I recall, not much enamored of the then current "popular music." Let's see. What was I then doing? Oh yes, I now remember... I was programming a large computer system in the service of a real estate title company - preparing programs to follow and report on "chains of title" of real properties. Lucky me. Did not have to listen to "popular music," and much preferred classical (symphonic) stuff, mostly because that sort of noise helped to settle my then typically over-stressed neurons and synapses.
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Jul 16
@Ceerios You look younger in your photo than your age. I can see how 80s music is not your era. You would be more 50s or 60s style.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306113)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
9 Jul 16
I've never heard of them. It's interesting, but definitely not my style of music.
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Jul 16
Missing Persons weren't for everyone and never made it big.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
11 Jul 16
I love these guys. I honestly thought this would be your #1. But I've seen what your #1 is, and it makes perfect sense.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
11 Jul 16
It was #1 then I switched. California Dreaming is more poignant in the long run and I was going with favoritism with Missing Persons. It could have the horrid I Love LA!
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
9 Jul 16
John another one that I have not heard.Nobody walk in LA really lol
