“Arizona” (Mark Lindsay)

Today’s classic song of the day is “Arizona” by Mark Lindsay. This single, released in November of 1969, peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February of 1970.

“Arizona” was written by Kenny Young, who also wrote Lindsay’s follow-up, “Silver Bird,” which peaked at #25 on the Hot 100 later in 1970. He previously wrote, with then -partner Artie Resnick, several hits for the Drifters, including “Under the Boardwalk” and “I’ve Got Sand in My Shoes.” On his own, he wrote “Just a Little Bit Better” for Herman’s Hermits and “A Little Bit of Heaven” and “When Liking Turns to Loving” for Ronnie Dove.

The song “Arizona” is all about a straightish guy who has a hippie girlfriend named after the Grand Canyon State. The singer initially laments his girlfriend’s free spirited ways (including her hobo shoes, rainbow shades, and Indian braids) and wishes she’d join the straight world, although he later relents and accepts her view of the world. As the lyrics say:

Strip off your pride you’re acting like a teeny-bopper run away child
And scrape off the paint from the face of a little town saint
Arizona, take off your hobo shoes
Arizona, hey won’tcha go my way

You gotta follow me up to San Francisco
I will be guide your way
I’ll be the Count of Monte Cristo
You’ll be the Countess May
And you can believe in Robin Hood and brotherhood and rolling the ball in the hay
And I will be reading you an Aesop’s fable
Anything to make you stay-ay-ay

It was kinda of its time.

Mark Lindsay was the lead vocalist in the group Paul Revere and the Raiders, who had a ton of hits in the late ’60s and early ’70s, including “Kicks,” “Hungry,” “Good Thing,” “Him or Me—Who’s It Gonna Be?,” and the #1 “Indian Reservation.” In 1969, Lindsay began recording solo, with hits like “Miss America,” “Silver Bird,” and “And the Grass Won’t Pay No Mind.” His sound was very much middle-of-the-road, pleasant enough for both teens and their parents to enjoy. I certainly enjoyed it.

Lindsay continues to tour today, most often as part of the Happy Together oldies tour. He currently hosts the American Revolution show on SiriusXM Satellite Radio, on Little Steven’s Underground Garage channel.