"Swingtown" is a 1977 hit song by the Steve Miller Band. It was their third and final single release from their ''Book of Dreams (Steve Miller Band album), Book of Dreams'' album, and became the second biggest hit from the LP. "Swingtown" reached on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and spent two weeks at on the ''Cashbox (magazine), Cash Box'' Hot 100. It also peaked at on the Canadian pop chart.

Reception

''Cash Box'' said that it "centers around an infectious drum/bass riff (music), riff."

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Use in media

In late 1978 and 1979, Ford used an edit from the instrumental sections of the song in its television ads for the Ford Mustang (third generation), '79 Ford Mustang. "Swingtown" appears in the soundtrack of the 1994 film ''My Girl 2''. "Swingtown" is used in the 2000 episode entitled "D-Girl (The Sopranos), D-Girl" from the second season of the Home Box Office, HBO series, ''The Sopranos''. "Swingtown" is a popular song sung by students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison, especially at Wisconsin Badgers football, Wisconsin football games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. The University of Wisconsin Marching Band, Wisconsin Marching Band plays it and the students sing the "O-OOOOO-O-O-O-O-O-O-O" part of the song ending it with the word "sucks" to refer to section "O" of the student section, the "sucks" is chanted by other student sections especially section P, this is usually followed by a chant of "fuck you, eat shit" by student sections O and P. Despite the song being popular among the students, several attempts to have the song banned by the UW staff and the Chancellor have been attempted due to the controversial "fuck you, eat shit" chant, but the banning of the song has so far proven to be unsuccessful. Steve Miller (musician), Steve Miller, himself a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Wisconsin and vocalist of the Steve Miller Band guest conducted the song with The University of Wisconsin Marching Band, Wisconsin Marching Band. It appears in promotions for the 2022 The Players Championship, The Players golf tournament.

Inspiration for Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train"

Guitarist Greg Leon, who initially took Randy Rhoads' place in Quiet Riot, claims that the iconic verse riff to Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train" came about when he and Rhoads were messing around with "Swingtown". “We were hanging out, and I showed him the riff to Steve Miller (musician), Steve Miller’s "Swingtown". I said: "Look what happens when you speed this riff up". We messed around, and the next thing I know he took it to a whole other level and end up writing the "Crazy Train" riff.”

References

External links

Lyrics of this song
* 1977 songs 1977 singles Capitol Records singles Steve Miller Band songs Songs about dancing Fictional populated places {{1970s-rock-song-stub