China Grove (song)
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"China Grove" is a song from The Doobie Brothers' 1973 album The Captain and Me. It was written by original lead singer Tom Johnston, before he fell ill in 1975 and was replaced by Michael McDonald. The song is based on a real town in Texas with the same name. The connection is obvious given its real-life proximity to San Antonio, which is referenced in the lyrics. However, the rest of the song is largely a fictional account portraying China Grove as Texas' version of Chinatown. Notable is the mention of samurai, who in fact are Japanese, not Chinese.
The bass riffs in the song feature clave.
[edit] Trivia
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- During The Simpsons episode The Mansion Family, a Coast Guard vessel attempts to lure Homer's ship into patrolled waters by stating over a megaphone that "we just want to party." Bart demands they play some rock music as proof, and the Coast Guard responds by mimicking the distinct opening guitar riff to China Grove. Homer shouts "Come on, Bart! The Coast Guard's covering the Doobs!"
- On the animated TV show Squidbillies, Early asks Rusty if he likes white people, to which he replies "Well, I... I reckon they OK. I like 'em ol' Doobie Brothers." Early says he ain't ready, and Grandma concurs. Then Early proclaims "Yeah, I reckon you right. Damn them Doobies and they Chinese grove!"
- In an episode of King of the Hill where Hank finds himself with a tattoo, he goes back to the night he got it. Bill had just enlisted in the US army and the gang decides to take a road trip to Dallas to celebrate. There is a short scene of them driving and China Grove playing in the background.
- The beginning of the made for TV movie "Into Thin Air" includes this song.
The guitar solo section is the background music for the "driving to Boston" scene in Field of Dreams.
- An instrumental of the song is the theme song of the FOX game show Don't Forget the Lyrics!. The instrumental is performed by band leader Rickey Minor.
- The song is also played in the movie Radio.
- This song is also on the master track for Guitar Hero On Tour for Nintendo DS
- Dolly Parton covered the song in 1976 on her variety show Dolly!.
[edit] External links
- [1] Austin Chronicle article on Texas named songs
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