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St. Paul, Minn.

Petula Clark blazed a trail with her No. 1 hit 'Downtown'

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Petula Clark
Former British child star and pop singer Petula Clark, Feb. 6, 1974.
P. Shirley / Getty Images 1974

Today's Morning Edition music is from 50 years ago today, when "Downtown" by Petula Clark was No. 1 on the U.S. pop chart.

Clark was an established star in the United Kingdom and France at the time, but this song was her breakthrough in the United States.

Tony Hatch wrote and produced "Downtown." He told the Wall Street Journal, "I had to connect with young record buyers in the States but not alienate Pet's older core audience in the U.K. and France. The trick was to make a giant orchestra sound like a rock band."

Clark was the first female solo artist to have a No. 1 song in the U.S. during the rock era.

• More Morning Edition music