10 Best Songs With The Word 'Hollywood' In The Title

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Hollywood has long been a muse for songwriters, conjuring images of dazzling dreams, starry-eyed ambition, and the gritty realities hidden behind the glitz. In rock and roll, the word “Hollywood” has served as a canvas for storytelling, a metaphor for larger truths, and a snapshot of a city both adored and misunderstood. From soulful odes to biting critiques, these songs reveal how the idea of Hollywood resonates across genres, decades, and perspectives.

# 10 – Hollywood – Boz Scaggs

Well, it doesn’t get any simpler than a one-word title. And why not start with one from one of our favorite musical artists of all time. Boz Scaggs’ “Hollywood” captures the intoxicating allure and hidden pressures of fame, blending smooth grooves with a nuanced narrative. The song comes from his 1977 album Down Two Then Left, which was produced by Joe Wissert. The recording features Ray Parker Jr. and Jay Graydon on guitars, Jeff Porcaro on drums, Scott Edwards on bass, Michael Omartian on keyboards, and Victor Feldman on vibraphone. Together, they give the track the polished West Coast sound that frames Scaggs’ distinctive vocal style.

Read More: 10 Most Rocking Boz Scaggs Songs

# 9 – Hollywood Perfume – The Pretenders

“Hollywood Perfume,” from The Pretenders’ 1994 album Last of the Independents, offers a vivid exploration of love, longing, and the intoxicating pull of Hollywood. Chrissie Hynde co-wrote the song with Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. Ian Stanley produced the recording, with Andy Hobson on bass, J.F.T. Hood on drums, and Hynde and Adam Seymour on guitars. Hynde’s vocal drives the emotional core of the track. The polished arrangement gives the song a lush backdrop while keeping its sense of disillusionment and yearning intact.

# 8 – Somewhere In Hollywood – 10cc

“Somewhere In Hollywood” was released on 10cc’s 1974 album Sheet Music. The album was recorded at Strawberry Studios in Stockport, England. Lol Creme, Kevin Godley, Eric Stewart, and Graham Gouldman produced the record themselves. Godley and Creme wrote “Somewhere In Hollywood,” and all four members contributed vocals and instrumental versatility throughout the album. The track combines intricate arrangements with biting social commentary. Its lush orchestration and theatrical delivery give the song a cinematic quality that fits its title perfectly.

# 7 – West Of Hollywood – Steely Dan

Two Against Nature by STEELY DAN (2000-02-29)

Steely Dan’s “West of Hollywood,” the sprawling closing track from their 2000 album Two Against Nature, offers a richly layered exploration of unfulfilled desires and disillusionment. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker produced the album during the band’s long-awaited return to studio recording. The track features Tom Barney on bass, Sonny Emory on drums, Walter Becker on lead guitar, Jon Herington on rhythm guitar, Ted Baker on piano and Rhodes, and Donald Fagen on organ and lead vocals. Chris Potter contributes the extended tenor saxophone solo that dominates the song’s closing stretch. The arrangement blends Steely Dan’s jazz-rock precision with the kind of intricate storytelling that had always defined the band. Its long instrumental ending gives the song an unusually expansive and reflective finish.

Read More: Top 10 Steely Dan Songs

# 6 – Gone Hollywood – Supertramp

“Gone Hollywood” opens Breakfast in America, Supertramp’s 1979 album, with a sharp look at disillusionment and resilience beneath the glitter of Los Angeles. The album was recorded from May through December 1978 at The Village Recorder in Los Angeles and produced by Peter Henderson with the band. Rick Davies handles lead vocals and keyboards, with Roger Hodgson on backing vocals and guitars, John Helliwell on woodwinds, Dougie Thomson on bass, and Bob Siebenberg on drums. The meticulous production and layered arrangement establish the sound that carries through the rest of the album. Breakfast in America went on to top the Billboard 200. It also won Grammy Awards for Best Album Package and Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical.

Read More: Top 10 Supertramp Songs

# 5 – Hollywood Swinging – Kool & The Gang

“Hollywood Swinging” was released as a single in 1974 after appearing on Kool & The Gang’s 1973 album Wild and Peaceful. The recording was made at Mediasound Studios in New York City. Kool & The Gang produced and arranged the album. The lineup included Robert “Kool” Bell on bass, Ronald Bell on saxophones, George Brown on drums, Robert Mickens on trumpet, Dennis Thomas on alto saxophone, Claydes Charles Smith on guitar, and Rick Westfield on electric piano. Their tight playing gives the track the infectious groove that made it one of the group’s defining funk records. “Hollywood Swinging” reached number one on Billboard’s soul chart and number six on the Billboard Hot 100.

Read More: Top 10 Kool & The Gang Songs

# 4 – Hollywood – The Runaways

“Hollywood,” featured on The Runaways’ 1977 album Queens of Noise, is a bold and energetic track built around the band’s hard rock and punk influences. Kim Fowley, Jackie Fox, and Joan Jett wrote the song. Joan Jett sings the lead vocal, with Lita Ford on lead guitar, Jackie Fox on bass, Sandy West on drums, and Cherie Currie also part of the album lineup. Kim Fowley and Earle Mankey produced the album. The recording carries the raw, unapologetic energy that made The Runaways stand apart in the late 1970s. Its title and attitude make it a natural fit for a collection of songs centered on Hollywood.

Read More: Top 10 Runaways Songs

# 3 – Hollywood (Down On Your Luck) – Thin Lizzy

“Hollywood (Down On Your Luck)” by Thin Lizzy delivers a gritty portrayal of ambition, struggle, and disillusionment in the entertainment capital. The song appeared on the band’s 1981 album Renegade and was released as a single in 1982. Phil Lynott and Scott Gorham wrote the track, while Thin Lizzy and Chris Tsangarides handled production. The lineup features Lynott on bass and lead vocals, Gorham and Snowy White on guitars, Brian Downey on drums, and Darren Wharton on keyboards. Their playing gives the song the melodic hard rock sound that defined this period of the band. The combination of sharp guitar work and Lynott’s storytelling keeps the Hollywood dream firmly grounded in uncertainty.

# 2 – Hollywood Nights – Bob Seger

“Hollywood Nights” by Bob Seger is a rousing portrait of Los Angeles, driven by vivid storytelling and relentless energy. The song was released in 1978 on Stranger in Town. The track was recorded at Cherokee Studios in Hollywood and produced by Bob Seger and Punch Andrews. Seger handles lead vocals and guitar, Chris Campbell plays bass, David Teegarden plays drums and percussion, and Bill Payne contributes piano and organ. The Waters family provides the powerful background vocals that help push the arrangement forward. The pounding rhythm and fast-moving narrative make “Hollywood Nights” one of Seger’s most immediately recognizable rock songs.

Read More: Top 20 Bob Seger Songs

# 1 – Say Goodbye To Hollywood – Billy Joel

Billy Joel’s “Say Goodbye to Hollywood” is a poignant song about change, farewell, and the inevitable passage of time. It was released in 1976 on his album Turnstiles. Joel recorded the album at Ultrasonic Studios in Hempstead, New York, and produced it himself. The recording features Doug Stegmeyer on bass, Liberty DeVitto on drums, Richie Cannata on saxophone, and guitar work from Howie Emerson and Russell Javors. These sessions marked Joel’s first album-length work with musicians who would become central members of his longtime backing band. The song’s sweeping arrangement gives its farewell theme a sense of both sadness and forward motion.