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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.

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

Today's Morning Edition music is from 50 years ago today, when "Downtown" by Petula Clark was number one on the U.S. pop chart. Clark was an established star in the United Kingdom and France at the time, but it was this song that was her breakthrough in the U.S.  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." Petula Clark was the first female solo artist to have a number one song in the U.S. during the rock era.

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

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