Where am I?: "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" Dionne Warwick (1968)
By John Roberts
@JohnRoberts (109846)
Los Angeles, California
April 22, 2018 8:35am CST
Dionne Warwick is largely forgotten today but she was a major recording star in the 60s. In fact Warwick ranks among the biggest selling and most charted female artists of all time. The singer was toiling in obscurity when spotted and signed by legendary songwriting team Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Their collaboration produced hits like “Walk On By,” “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” and “I Say a Little Prayer.” Bacharach and David also wrote “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” about a San Jose native failing in Hollywood and returning home. Warwick did not like the song thinking it dumb and had to be convinced to record it. She still does not like it but performs it in concert. From the album “Dionne Warwick in Valley of the Dolls,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” went gold at Billboard #10 and was her biggest international hit. Warwick received a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Performance for the song, the first of her five Grammys.
15 people like this
16 responses
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
22 Apr 18
I actually don't know the way to San Jose. You'll have to give me directions. True, she was a big star at one time. Glad to know she's still singing.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (180760)
• United States
22 Apr 18
Oh yeah, those songs were big in the day, but if I didn't know the way to San Jose, I would use a map..lol or a GPS.
3 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Apr 18
Dusty Springfield was 60s.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112879)
• El Paso, Texas
22 Apr 18
I forgot all about Dusty @JohnRoberts I was always more into Rock n Roll or in the late 60s psychedelic rock than the soft stuff these ladies sang. Gimme CCR or Pink Floyd anyday.
1 person likes this
@Paradon (2063)
• Pattaya, Thailand
23 Apr 18
In the early 70's I was working at A&M Records and had the great pleasure of working with her on several occasions. She was always a nice lady and every time she was there she would cater food in, not just for those working on the set, but for everyone in the studios!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (68032)
• United States
22 Apr 18
Do I know the way? Sure, take a left turn at Albuquerque.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37355)
• Toccoa, Georgia
22 Apr 18
I remember hearing that song on the radio when I was a small child.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14761)
• San Jose, California
22 Apr 18
I definitely know the way, although it's a big city and it's easy to get lost here.
1 person likes this
@april_ang (578)
•
22 Apr 18
Hmmm.. I don't know her, I might need to check her out. But her name reminds me of Saturn's moon, Dione.
1 person likes this
@EricMcCole (551)
•
22 Apr 18
I'd like to visit San Jose, San Fransisco/Bay Area, and L.A. :D
1 person likes this