Favorite "Direction" Songs #5 - "Life in a Northern Town"

@teamfreak16 (43421)
Denver, Colorado
August 11, 2017 6:08am CST
The theme for my Favorite "Direction" Songs series is pretty basic: I am counting down songs with "north," "south," "east," or "west" in the title. We are at the midway point: #5 is "Life in a Northern Town" by The Dream Academy. You know how some bands can bash out a song within a day or two during the recording of an album? It took The Dream Academy an entire year to record "Life in a Northern Town." It was well worth the effort, reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, and is the group's highest charting single in the United States, the UK, and Ireland. A tribute to the late Nick Drake, "Life in a Northern Town" has been covered by Sugarland, who, despite it not being released as a single, reached #28 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, and #43 on the Hot 100. Rick Springfield also covered the song on his cover songs album, The Day After Yesterday. When I worked in radio back in the 80's, our Adult Contemporary station played the bejezus out of this. Very heavy rotation, which was well deserved. Two videos were made for the tune. Not being familiar with either setting, I think this is the first one, set in Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire, England. I hope you enjoy it! (Info verified by Wikipedia)
Dream Academy - Life In A Northern Town
6 people like this
5 responses
• Preston, England
11 Aug 17
very apt song for me living in a Northern town as I am
3 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
11 Aug 17
I saw a map the other day. For some reason, I always assumed you lived in the south.
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
11 Aug 17
@teamfreak16 North West England is where I am, Preston
1 person likes this
@dollaboy (6048)
11 Aug 17
Thanks, It was nice, Scott
3 people like this
@FourWalls (61915)
• United States
11 Aug 17
I didn't know this was for Nick Drake. Absolute classic.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
11 Aug 17
If Wikipedia is to be believed, that was the original intention.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
11 Aug 17
Remember this one well. I consider this new wave alternative because KROQ played it and it had that 80s sound. Never thought of it as adult contemporary.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
11 Aug 17
It actually fit right in with the format, believe it or not.
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (34300)
12 Aug 17
I remember this one. You do like sad songs! It was a catchy reflective tune, good pick.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
12 Aug 17
Out of all things that I listen to, I tend to gravitate to the dark stuff.
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@dgobucks226 (34300)
12 Aug 17
@teamfreak16 The darkness can be a beautiful thing. Photo- genius quotes
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