Top 10 City Boy Songs

Feature Photo: Cdtheduck, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

City Boy was a band that hailed from Birmingham, England. The group was formed in 1974. This was a very interesting band as their sound changed from album to album. They were a group that was clearly inspired by many musical acts of the 1970s, from Queen to Sweet and many more. The band was made up of members Lol Mason on lead vocals, Steve Broughton on lead vocals and guitar, Max Thomas on keyboards and vocals, Chris Dunn playing bass and acoustic guitar, Roger Kent on drums, lead guitarist Mike Slamer, and later, Roy Ward joined on drums and vocals.

# 10 – Dear Jean (I’m Nervous)

We open our top 10 City Boy Songs list with the fabulous song “Dear Jean (I’m Nervous). The opening guitar riff sounds like Brian May of Queen. The song “Dear Jean (I’m Nervous ” was released on the Young Men Gone West album. The album was released in 1977. This great rocking tune features outstanding vocals and killer guitar solos. This band should have been much bigger than they were.

# 9 – [Moonlight] Shake My Head and Leave

Continuing with our top 10 City Boy Songs list we take a listen to the exhilarating song entitled “(Moonlight) Shake My Head and Leave.” The song “(Moonlight) Shake My Head and Leave.” was released on the album entitled City Boy. The album was released in 1976. It was the band’s debut album. “(Moonlight) Shake My Head and Leave,” was the opening track on the album. The song was composed by Steve Broughton, Lol Mason, and Max Thomas. This is an interesting song that mixes a lot of musical genres. There is a soul groove, some rock guitars, and a bit of funk. It reminds me of the band Player. “(Moonlight) Shake My Head and Leave” was released as a single but failed to chart.

# 8 – Need A Little Loving

It’s funny how many bands followed musical trends in the 1970s. So many groups that you never would have expected to release songs in the genres of disco, punk, and new wave surprised fans by releasing albums or at least songs out of their wheelbox. Who would have ever thought that Linda Ronstadt woudl have released a new wave album like Mad Love? Well, on this track, “Need A Little Loving,” City Boy followed the new wave crowd in releasing a song with a distinctive Cars-like feel. It’s actually pretty good.

# 7 – The Day the Earth Caught Fire

In the number seven position on our top 10 City Boy Songs list is the breathtaking song entitled The Day the Earth Caught Fire. The song was released on the album also entitled The Day the Earth Caught Fire. The album was released in 1979. It was the first single released from the album. The song was a hit on the UK Music Charts, peaking at number sixty seven. It would be the last song released by the band to chart. The band reminds me of Styx on this track. Its progressive rock blended with a perfect pop sensibility.

# 6 – Raise Your Glas (To Foolish Me)

Oh, this is just so 1970s. You know what I mean. Listen to that melody, that Chris, and the arrangement. The backing vocals, the lead vocals—it’s all pure 1970s. And you know what? I love every second of it. This one should have been a hit. It was originally released in 1978 on the Book Early album. The song was also released on the band’s best album, Young Men Gone West when it was re-released in 2015 with bonus material.

# 5 – The Violin

It’s incredible how this band can sound so different from album to album. This is a fascinating piece. Listen to the beautiful orchestration at the song’s start. At the halfway point on our top 10 City Boy Songs list is the song entitled “The Violin.” The song was issued on the album entitled Dinner At The Ritz. The album was released in 1977.

# 4 – The Hap-Ki-Do Kid

At the number four spot on our top 10 City Boy Songs list, we present the jubilant song “The Hap-Ki-Do Kid.” The band sounds like a cross between Chicago and Earth Wind & Fire on this song. The song was released on the band’s debut album, City Boy, which was released in 1976. It was the second single released from the album. The song failed to chart in the US or UK.

# 3 – Speechless

Moving along on our top 10 City Boy Songs list we present the touching song entitled “Speechless.” The song opens with some really beautiful piano playing that sets the tone for this wonderful ballad by City Boy. You can hear how much of an influence bands like Queen had on this band. The song was released on the album entitled Heads Are Rolling. The album was released in 1980.

# 2 – What A Night

This one starts out sounding very much like The Beatles and then suddenly starts to sound like Electric Light Orchestra, which, of course, makes sense because ELO always reminded many people of the Beatles. As my friend Kevin Minihan always used to say, “Jeff Lynne, son of the Beatles.” City Boy’s “What A Night” was released on the album Book Early. It was released as the second single from the album. It became a top 40 hit in the United Kingdom. It failed to chart in the United States.

# 1 – 5.7.0.5.

We close out our top 10 City Boy Songs list with the extraordinary song “5.7.0.5.” The song was released on the album Book Early, which was released in 1978. It was the first single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number twenty-seven. In the United Kingdom, the song hit number eight. This was also the band’s biggest hit of their career.