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This is a brief Eureka! story. 

On a long drive home at night in 1978 I was listening to the radio when I heard an unusual rendition of Hedy West's classic "500 Miles." I heard it once and never since. Until just now. It was unusual because it was performed by a girl band and was up tempo and upbeat, not slow and mournful as every other version was. It had a silly, playful, girly--and unique--"Doo doo doodoodoo doo doo doodoodoo do do doodoodoodoo" between bars. 

Man, I searched for that version of "500 Miles" a hundred times over the years since that night. I googled it every way I could think, "500 Miles girl band", "500 Miles up tempo", "500 Miles doodoodoodoodoo," and listened to the openings of dozens of versions. Nothing. Finally, today, "500 Miles '70's".  One, two, three, four, I scrolled down the search results, five, six, seven...Then, 11th, a video that I had not remembered stumbling across before. I opened it up in YouTube and as the first few up-tempo beats came through my computer speakers I was conscious that my eyes went wide. I knew immediately that I had, at long last, found it. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, '70's and '80's: "500 Miles" by Heaven Bound with Tony Scotti:

8,577 views Aug 5, 2013

Heaven Bound with Tony Scotti - S/T (US 1972). Pop impresario Tony Scotti was one of the harmony vocalists who comprised Heaven Bound -- and he produced the album with a sweet sound that's part late Beach Boys, part 70s Four Seasons, and part LA electric soundtrack. The record's got some real charms, and plenty of breathy 70s pop song hooks. members: Lead Vocals -- Joan Medora Backing Vocals -- Tony Scotti, Eddie Medora, Tommy Oliver, Michael Lloyd

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7 years ago

You just can't imitate this fantastic harmony no matter how you try. This group probably is one of the most underrated recording acts in the history of pop music!!

Linda McQuade

6 years ago

I totally agree. This is just a fabulous recording. I remember listening to it on the AM radio station in Boise, ID just after I graduated from high school in 1972--and was having to come to terms with the fact that the girl I was crazy about didn't feel the same way about me. This song took some of the edge off it. Hey, we live and learn and grow. Yeah, Neil Sedaka's original is timeless, but Heaven Bound's cover is a special little gem. Thanks so much for posting it! And thanks Heaven Bound for making it. 

 

ted chittenden

6 months ago

I got this album while I was touring Phoenix's KOOL-FM in 1973 with other blind and visually impaired children. I had never heard of it before, and I didn't know that any singles charted on any local stations until I looked at the ARSA surveys on line. Great song for its time, but it never really went anywhere nationally.

 

 

MrTrashcan1

3 months ago

WIP/610 in Philly played this and Breaking Up Is Hard To Do. Both are amazing productions and and yet both quickly forgotten.

 

*I have only listened to this five times since posting. I shake my head in disbelief that I finally found it and once caught myself raising my arms over my head in happiness.