(Is This the Way to) Amarillo

1971 single by Tony Christie September 2020 October 2021 (Is This the Way to) Amarillo Is this the way to amarillo tony christie US single side-A.png side-A label A-side label of the US single single Tony Christie With Loving Feeling Love Is a Friend of Mine November 1971 * Pop schlager * 3:35 (album and video version) 3:12 (single version) MCA (UK and Europe); Kapp (US) * Neil Sedaka Howard Greenfield * Tony Christie Peter Callander Mitch Murray Have You Ever Been to Georgia? 1971 Don't Go Down to Reno 1971 "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo" is a song written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. It is about a man traveling to Amarillo, Texas, to find his girlfriend Marie. Written by two Americans with a strong country-western lyrical theme, the song was first released in Europe, where it has become much more popular than in the composers' native country, with a big-band/orchestral pop arrangement sung by Tony Christie. Christie's version was a major hit in Europe and a modest success in his native United Kingdom upon its release, then became even more popular in 2005 when the song was reissued. As Christie's version failed to make a major impact in the U.S., Sedaka released his own recording of the song in 1977, which narrowly missed the top 40 but was an easy listening hit in the U.S. and Canada. Background The song is based on a rhythmic feel Sedaka borrowed from "Hitchin' a Ride" by Vanity Fare.Neil Sedaka's daily mini-concert, September 2, 2020 The song was originally to be titled "Is This the Way to Pensacola" referring to Pensacola, Florida, but Sedaka felt that Amarillo worked better than Pensacola.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Is+This+the+way+to+Pensacola%3f+Record+columnist+Tam+Cowan+finds+it...-a0133940082 Is This the way to Pensacola? Record columnist Tam Cowan finds it could all have been so different when he meets his lifelong idol Neil Sedaka at his New York apartment Thefreelibrary.com April 2, 2014 Tony Christie version The song was recorded by Tony Christie and released in the UK in November 1971, initially reaching number 18 on the UK Singles Chart. However, it was a substantially bigger hit at that time across Continental Europe, including in Germany and Spain, where it reached number one. In the U.S., however, Christie's record stalled at #121 on the Bubbling Under the Hot 100. Following the re-issue of Christie's version in 2005 in aid of the charity Comic Relief, promoted with a video featuring comedian Peter Kay, the song reached number 1 in the UK.2005-03-26 (IS THIS THE WAY TO) AMARILLO https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/tony-christie-ft-peter-kay-is-this-the-way-to-amarillo/ 2025-06-05 Official Charts en In 2006, the song was played at the World Cup Final in Berlin and was also played by the Central Band of the Royal British Legion on Centre Court at Wimbledon before the start of the Men's Singles final.December 2014 Chart history Weekly charts Chart (1971–72)PeakpositionArgentina (Top 20)Tony Christie - Is This the Way to (Amarillo) https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1972/BB-1972-03-25.pdf live August 24, 2021 Billboard. March 25, 1972. p. 62 https://web.archive.org/web/20210121024129/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1972/BB-1972-03-25.pdf January 21, 2021 3Australia (KMR) David Kent David Kent (historian) Australian Chart Book 1970-1992 Australian Chart Book St Ives, N.S.W. 1993 0-646-11917-610Austria (Hitradio Ö3)https://austriancharts.at/oe3_1972.asp Ö3-HITPARADE - 23.01.1972 austriancharts.at February 15, 20241Flanders 1 Tony Christie (Is This The Wat To) Amarillo true 15 February 2024Wallonia 15 Tony Christie (Is This The Wat To) Amarillo true 15 February 2024Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)https://suomenlistalevyt.blogspot.com/2015/08/cay-chr.html Timo Pennanen 2021 Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 Artistit CAY - CHR Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava Helsinki 15 February 2024 fi7West Germany 1 Tony Christie (Is This The Wat To) Amarillo 216 1971 15 February 2024Ireland2 3 Is This the Way to Amarillo October 22, 2017Dutch100 4 Tony Christie (Is This The Wat To) Amarillo true 15 February 2024Dutch40 4 Tony Christie (Is This The Wat To) Amarillo true 15 February 2024South Africa (Springbok Radio)SA Charts 1965–March 1989 http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(C).html September 2, 20186Spain 1New Zealand (Listener)Flavour of New Zealand, 31 January 19722South African Singles Chart http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(C).html "Acts C" on the South African Singles Chart Springbok Radio December 10, 1971 February 15, 20246Switzerland 3 Tony Christie (Is This The Wat To) Amarillo true 15 February 2024UK (OCC) 18US Billboard Hot 100[Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004]121 Year-end charts Chart (1972)RankAustralia http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=35092 Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts) Australian-charts.com May 7, 2017 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160602084720/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=35092 June 2, 201668 Neil Sedaka version Amarillo Amarillo neil sedaka US single side-A.png side-A label One of side-A labels of the US single single Neil Sedaka A Song The Leaving Game May 1977 1977 Pop 3:07 Elektra (US); Polydor (Europe) Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield George Martin You Gotta Make Your Own Sunshine 1976 Alone at Last 1977 In the United States, Neil Sedaka, the writer of the song and a man who had recently returned to prominence as a pop singer in the mid-1970s after a decade of relative obscurity, recorded his own version of the song, released under a shortened title of "Amarillo". Produced and arranged by George Martin, Sedaka's version of "Amarillo" got to number 44 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1977; in Canada, Sedaka reached number two on the Adult Contemporary chart.July 16, 1977 RPM Adult Oriented Playlist http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.3688.pdf live RPM Magazine 27 16 25 https://web.archive.org/web/20121114155550/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.3688.pdf November 14, 2012 Chart performance Weekly singles charts Chart (1977)PeakpositionCanada RPM Top Singles July 23, 1977 RPM 100 Top Singles (51-100) http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.3682b.pdf live RPM Magazine 27 17 18 https://web.archive.org/web/20150218165300/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.3682b.pdf February 18, 201554Canada RPM Adult Contemporary 2U.S. Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - 0-89820-089-X44U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary4 Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay version (Is This the Way to) Amarillo (Is This the Way to) Amarillo.jpg single Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay 2005 3 14Public Falls for Christie Charm Music Week 22 March 12, 2005 The new version will be issued as a video single next Monday, March 14... * Pop schlager 3:12 * Neil Sedaka Howard Greenfield Tony Christie Peter Kay I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) 2007 In 2002, Tony Christie's version was used in the Channel 4 sitcom Phoenix Nights. The song was then re-released on March 14, 2005, to raise money for Comic Relief. The video features Peter Kay, Tony Christie and other celebrities, including William Roache, Anne Kirkbride, Jim Bowen, Ronnie Corbett, Michael Parkinson and Geoffrey Hayes. Music video In the accompanying video, Peter Kay mimed the song accompanied by various celebrities including Brian May, Roger Taylor, Shakin' Stevens, Shaun Ryder, Bez, Paddy McGuinness, Michael Parkinson, Heather Mills, Danny Baker, Ronnie Corbett, Phillip Schofield, Mr Blobby, Jim Bowen, Jimmy Savile, look-alikes of Mahatma Gandhi and Cliff Richard, William Roache, Anne Kirkbride, Sally Lindsay, Bernie Clifton, Keith Harris and Orville the Duck, Sooty, Sweep, Geoffrey Hayes and Bungle as well as Tony Christie himself. In the first few cameos, Max and Paddy from Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights and its spin-off appear together, arguing and eventually fighting in the Granada Studios' corridor. This is one of many appearances of characters from Kay's TV series, including Paddy's tennis-playing cellmate Cliff from Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere, and both a football team for people with dwarfism and Brian Potter from Phoenix Nights. The video consists almost entirely of Kay walking towards the camera flanked by different pairings of the celebrities, in front of increasingly bizarre and unlikely backgrounds. From 2012 onwards, any repeat airing of the music video on television is now a re-edited version which takes out the appearance of Savile. In October 2012, a series of revelations showed Savile to be a prolific repeated child sex offender, thus his appearance in the video was edited out for future broadcasts. The re-edited version is mainly the same as the original except the short 15-second scene with Savile who joined Peter Kay and actress Sally Lindsay is now re-edited to show Lindsay and Kay only, with a slowed down and repeated showing of Lindsay on her own next to Kay to fill the gap left by the absence of Savile, thus eliminating Savile from the 15-second section. The original version remains on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqLLDZvbG-U (Is This the Way To) Amarillo Peter Kay Featuring Tony Christie YouTube October 8, 2020 In October 2020, a re-edited version was released on Peter Kay's official YouTube channel, which eliminated Sally Lindsay's appearance in the video, when she appeared with Peter and Savile – the newly re-edited version has the Tony Christie appearance moved to replace Savile's section, making this version slightly shorter in length.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t63CMUqo7qA Tony Christie - (Is This The Way To) Amarillo YouTube October 8, 2020 Big Night In version On April 23, 2020, BBC One broadcast The Big Night In, a telethon to support those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.When is The Big Night In on TV and who is taking part in the BBC One show? https://metro.co.uk/2020/04/15/big-night-tv-taking-part-bbc-one-show-12558735/ April 23, 2020 Metro April 15, 2020 As part of the running order, Peter Kay created an updated version of the music video. The video featured updated performances from Kay and Tony Christie, combined with repeated footage from the 2005 music video and submissions from key workers such as fire-fighters, NHS staff and social care workers.https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-04-23/peter-kay-tony-christie-perform-amarillo-big-night-in/ Peter Kay and Tony Christie will perform Amarillo for BBC's Big Night In Cremona Patrick April 23, 2020 Radio Times June 13, 2020https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-04-23/peter-kay-tony-christie-perform-amarillo-big-night-in/ Peter Kay asks fans to help remake Amarillo video for Big Night In charity special Rosseinsky Katie April 20, 2020 Evening Standard June 13, 2020https://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/news/people/buxton-care-home-staff-star-comical-amarillo-video-bbcs-big-night-event-2552315#gsc.tab=0 Buxton care home staff star in comical Amarillo video for BBC's Big Night In event McVay Ben April 28, 2020 Buxton Advertiser June 13, 2020 Chart performance This time around, the song peaked at number one on the UK singles chart,https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/mar/21/arts.artsnews Comic Relief gets 70s star to the top March 21, 2005 The Guardian August 14, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20161010063543/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/mar/21/arts.artsnews October 10, 2016 live Press Association and remained there for seven weekshttps://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4504171.stm Christie holds on to chart reign May 1, 2005 BBC News August 14, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20180421170054/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4504171.stm April 21, 2018 live before finally being knocked off by "Lonely" by Akon.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4527755.stm Akon topples Christie chart reign May 8, 2005 BBC News August 14, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20180613020708/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4527755.stm June 13, 2018 live It went on to become the UK's best-selling single of 2005.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4575226.stm Amarillo tops 2005 single sales January 2, 2006 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20181116062934/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4575226.stm November 16, 2018 live During its success, the song was credited in chart rundowns and other media appearances to "Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay". However, Kay does not appear on the record, since it is a re-issue of the original version and not a re-recording.May 2019 Having sold 1.2 million copies by the end of 2009, "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo" was the fourth best-selling single of the 2000s in the UK, behind "Anything Is Possible"/"Evergreen" by Will Young, "Unchained Melody" by Gareth Gates,http://www.nme.com/news/will-young/49046 Will Young and James Blunt win biggest selling single and album of the noughties Bassett Jordan December 31, 2009 NME Time Inc. UK August 14, 2015 and "It Wasn't Me" by Shaggy featuring Rikrok. As of March 2017, it has sold 1.28 million copies.http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-biggest-selling-comic-relief-singles-revealed__18581/ The Official biggest selling Comic Relief singles revealed Copsey Rob March 24, 2017 Official Charts Company March 24, 2017 Charts Weekly charts Chart (2005)PeakpositionEurope (European Hot 100 Singles)Hits of the World: Eurocharts Billboard 117 14 39 April 2, 20053Ireland2 1 Is This the Way to Amarillo January 7, 2022 "ire2005"Scotland 1 20050326 August 14, 2015UKdownload 1 20050402 August 14, 2015UK 1 20050326 August 14, 2015 Year-end charts Chart (2005)RankEurope (Eurochart Hot 100)http://www.vnuemedia.com/bb/biz/images/pdf/YearEndEuropeanHot100.pdf Year End European Hot 100 Singles Chart 2005 01 – 2005 52 Billboard VNU Media dead https://web.archive.org/web/20121018142431/http://www.vnuemedia.com/bb/biz/images/pdf/YearEndEuropeanHot100.pdf October 18, 2012 January 7, 202237UK Singles (OCC)http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2005.pdf 2005 UK Singles Chart UKChartsPlus July 6, 20151 Decade-end charts Chart (2000–2009)RankUK Singles (OCC)Myers Justin Official Charts announces The Noughties definitive chart books https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/official-charts-announces-the-noughties-definitive-chart-books__27299/ www.officialcharts.com February 23, 2021 September 24, 20194 Certifications United Kingdom single Tony Christie ft Peter Kay (Is This the Way to) Amarillo Platinum 2 2005 2013 10093-933-1 1,280,000 Track listing CD single "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo" – 3:12 "Amarillo" - (club mix) – 3:52 "The Laughing Record" – Nicola Green – 2:41 "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo" – (music video) – 3:36 DVD single "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo" (music video) – 3:35 "Amarillo" – (club mix) – 3:52 "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo" – (Instrumental w/Photo Gallery) – 3:36 Is This the Way to Armadillo Is This the Way to Armadillo is a spoof video of the song "Is This the Way to Amarillo" produced by the Royal Dragoon Guards stationed in Iraq at Al-Faw towards the end of their 6-month deployment there. The video was emailed so frequently on May 13, 2005, it crashed a server at the Ministry of Defence.'Amarillo' soldiers hail response https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4559345.stm November 29, 2019 BBC May 18, 2005 According to the Evening Standard, the crashing of the server caused systems to go down at various British military establishments, and the MoD was forced to issue instructions to delete all instances of the video.Sawyer Patrick Is this the way to Army-rillo? https://www.standard.co.uk/news/is-this-the-way-to-army-rillo-7254055.html November 29, 2019 Evening Standard May 17, 2005 The "Peter Kay" character is credited as "Lucky Pierre", an obscure sexual reference.Bakir Vian Sousveillance, Media and Strategic Political Communication: Iraq, USA, UK May 27, 2010 A&C Black 978-0826430090 98–99 https://books.google.com/books?id=g8fogAhxoDYC&q=%22Is+This+the+Way+to+Armadillo%22&pg=PA98 November 29, 2019 (Is This the Way to) The World Cup (Is This the Way to) The World Cup (Is This the Way to) The World Cup single Tony Christie 2006 5 29 yes Tug Records Ian Stringer and George Webley In 2006, a version of "Is This the Way to Amarillo" was released with lyrics written by Ian Stringer and George Webley and published by Tug Records, titled "(Is This the Way to) The World Cup".http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/(is-this-the-way-to)-the-world-cup/ (Is This the Way to) The World Cup Official Charts Company 2018-05-22 It was created as a version to support the England national football team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The song reached a peak of No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart, remaining on the charts for 5 weeks. Other cover versions January 2014 Dutch singer Albert West covered the song in 1988.http://www.albertwest.nl/htm/index.htm Welkom op de website van Albert West Albertwest.nl April 2, 2014 After the successful re-release of the song in the UK, Tony Christie re-recorded it with the Hermes House Band; this version charted in Germany in 2005. There is also a version by the Les Humphries Singers and a version in German by Roberto Blanco. There is also a 1971 version on the MGM label (K 14360) by a band called English House, produced by Terry Slater. The A-side was "Music Is the Voice of Love" composed by Terry Slater and Phil Everly. The song has also been covered in Czech as "Kvítek mandragory" by Helena Vondráčkováhttp://www.vondrackova.net/en/lieder-15/1972-02-18-kvitek-mandragory-320 Kvitek Mandragory on Helena Vondráčková's website August 15, 2014 and as "Napis Na Dverich" by Jiri Hromadka. Parody versions In 2003, Gala Bingo ran a series of adverts with a jingle based on the tune of "Is This The Way to Amarillo?".March 2025 In April 2020, British comedian Paddy McGuinness tweeted a video of him singing a parody version referring to Dominic Cummings, special political adviser to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, breaking the rules of the UK's COVID-19 pandemic lockdown rules when he travelled from his home in London to his father's home in Durham, later taking a day trip to Barnard Castle. The lyrics of the song were changed to "Is this the way to Barnard Castle? Where sweet Mary waits for me."https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/paddy-mcguinness-dominic-cummings-video-a4451496.html Paddy McGuinness mocks Dominic Cummings with Is This The Way To Barnard Castle spoof Fenwick George May 27, 2020 Evening Standard June 13, 2020 References 30em External links Revealed: The Road to Amarillo Manchester Evening News, March 21, 2005 'Amarillo' video crashes MoD PCs BBC News, May 17, 2005 Category:1971 songs Category:1971 singles Category:Number-one singles in Germany Category:Number-one singles in Spain Category:Culture of Amarillo, Texas Category:Kapp Records singles Category:MCA Records singles Category:Songs written by Neil Sedaka Category:Songs with lyrics by Howard Greenfield Amarillo Category:Songs about Texas Category:Amarillo, Texas Category:Schlager songs Category:Tony Christie songs Category:1977 singles Category:Neil Sedaka songs Category:Elektra Records singles Category:Polydor Records singles Category:2005 singles Category:Comic Relief singles Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles Category:Number-one singles in Scotland Category:UK singles chart number-one singles Category:2000s fads and trends Category:Charity singles