FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 12, 2017

DEAR JERRY: Many popular songs have names of big cities in their titles.

But is China Grove, by the Doobie Brothers, the smallest town to have its name in a hit record title?
—Paul Kirby, China Grove, Texas

DEAR PAUL: According to the 2010 census, the population of China Grove was 1,197, though a 2015 study estimated it to be 1,291.

Either way, the population has roughly tripled since mid-1973, when "China Grove" was a Top 15 hit for the Doobies.

Back then, your town was home to approximately 350 fine folks, who I'm sure all knew each other.

I can't think of a hit song with an actual town in the title, that is smaller than China Grove, Texas.

It's important to know that your town is the one in the song (more on that later), but there is another China Grove in the States.

That one is in North Carolina, but with 4,200 residents it will not likely be a threat to your tiniest town in song entitlement.

Knowing how often a topic we cover triggers similar or related responses, I believe our small town song piece would inspire readers to want a big town sequel.

Anticipating same, here are 42 of the world's most populated cities, in 30 countries, each with at least 2.5 million, and a U.S. 45 rpm with that name in the title.

Many of the world's most populous areas have names incompatible with English lyrics. Others are in English and on records released in their country, but not in the U.S., or on LPs but not singles.

Confirmed selections are alphabetical by location, followed by a recording with that name in the title. Includes year of issue, artist, label/number, and peak chart position if appropriate.

Some of these areas have dozens of qualifying tunes, but, unless there is an interesting reason for more information, I'll list just one.

Enjoy our global adventure, and travel safely:

BAGHDAD, IRAQ:
1957 "Rockin' in Bagdad (sic)" [Vocal] - Jerry Reed (Capitol F3731)
1959 "Baghdad Rock" [Instrumental] - The Shieks (Trine 1101) No. 111
1960 "Baghdad Rock" [Instrumental] - The Sheiks (MGM K-12876)
(Trine issue made the Bubbling Under chart. A few months later, MGM picked it up for national distribution, and corrected the band's name to "Sheiks.")

BANGKOK, THAILAND:
1985 "One Night in Bangkok" - Murray Head (RCA 13988) No. 3

BARCELONA, SPAIN:
1954 "Belle From Barcelona (O-O-Le, Mu-Cha-Cha)" - Dean Martin (Capitol F3011)

BERLIN, GERMANY:
1944 "(There'll Be A) Hot Time in the Town of Berlin (When the Yanks Go Marching In)" [Vocal] - Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters (Decca 23350) No. 1
1962 "Berlin Melody" [Instrumental] - Billy Vaughn (Dot 16262) No. 39

BOGOTA, COLUMBIA:
1969 "Bogota" - Thumper (A&M 1045)

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA:
1956 "(What Happens In) Buenos Aires" - Les Baxter His Chorus and Orchestra (Capitol F3573)

CAIRO, EGYPT:
1968 "Road to Cairo" - Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger and the Trinity (Atco 45-6629)

CALCUTTA (KOLKATA), INDIA:
1960 "Calcutta" - Lawrence Welk (Dot 16161) No. 1

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA:
1977 "Cape Town Fringe" - Dollar Brand (Chiaroscuro CRDJ-4556)

CASABLANCA, MOROCCO:
1963 "Casablanca" - Pete Fountain (Coral 62365)

CHICAGO, UNITED STATES:
1971 "Chicago" - Graham Nash (Atlantic 2804) No. 29

DELHI (NEW DELHI), INDIA:
1962 "New Delhi" - Victor Feldman Quartet (Infinity 025)

HANOI, VIETNAM:
1973 "Hanoi Jane" - Leon Rausch (Derrick 100)

HAVANA, CUBA:
1969 "Fly Me to Havana" - The Grass Roots (Dunhill/ABC 4198)
(B-side of "I'd Wait a Million Years," No. 15)

HONG KONG:
1938 "Hong Kong Blues" - Hoagy Carmichael (Brunswick 8255)
1942 "Hong Kong Blues" - Hoagy Carmichael (Decca 18395)
1945 "Hong Kong Blues" - Hoagy Carmichael (ARA 123) 1945 No. 6
1947 "Hong Kong Blues" - Hoagy Carmichael (Decca 23797)
1955 "Hong Kong Blues" - Hoagy Carmichael (Coral 9-65120)
1961 "Hong Kong Blues" - Hoagy Carmichael (Warner Bros. 5222)
(Unusual to find six releases of the same song, by the same artist, over four decades. The one hit came in 1945.)

HOUSTON, UNITED STATES:
1965 "Houston" - Dean Martin (Reprise 0393) No. 21

ISTANBUL, TURKEY:
1953 "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" - The Four Lads (Columbia 4-40082) No. 10

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA:
1958 "The Lady From Johannesburg" - Jim Lowe (Dot 45-15693)

LAGOS, NIGERIA:
1983 "Lagos Jump" - Third World (Columbia 38-04193)

LIMA, PERU:
1967 "Lima Lady" - Mel Torme (Columbia 44399)

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM:
1978 "London Town" - Wings (Capitol 4625) No. 39

LOS ANGELES (L.A.), UNITED STATES:
1971 "L.A. International Airport" - Susan Raye (Capitol 3035) No. 9 C&W

MADRID, SPAIN:
1959 "Madrid" - Nat King Cole (Capitol F4125) No. 45

MANILA, PHILIPPINES:
1920 "In Old Manila" The Plantation Jazz Orchestra (Emerson 10239)

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO:
1965 "Mexico City" - Johnny Wright (Decca 31821)
(B-side of "Hello Vietnam," No. 1 C&W)

MOSCOW, RUSSIA:
1962 "Midnight in Moscow" - Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen (Kapp K-442) No. 2

NEW YORK, NEW YORK:
1980 "Theme From New York, New York" - Frank Sinatra (Reprise 49233) No. 32

OSAKA, JAPAN:
1955 "A Yellow Rose of Osaka" Harry Kari and His Six Saki Sippers (Capitol F3257)

PARIS, FRANCE:
1956 "The Poor People of Paris" - Les Baxter His Chorus and Orchestra (Capitol F3336) No. 1

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL:
1981 "Rio De Janeiro" - Bill Wyman (A&M 2367)

ROME (ROMA), ITALY:
1955 "Goodbye to Rome (Arrivederci, Roma)" - Georgia Gibbs (Mercury 70743)

SANTIAGO, CHILE:
1966 "Santiago" - Vikki Carr (Liberty 55857)

SANTA DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:
1970 "Santa Domingo" - Buddy Alan (Capitol 2852) No. 57 C&W

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL:
1977 "Sao Paulo" - Chic (Atlantic 3435)
(B-side of "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)," No. 6

SHANGHAI, CHINA:
1951 "(Why Did I Tell You I Was Going To) Shanghai" Doris Day No. 7

SINGAPORE:
1944 "On a Little Street in Singapore" - Frank Sinatra With Harry James and His Orchestra (Columbia 36700) No. 27

TOKYO, JAPAN:
January 1973 "Woman From Tokyo" - Deep Purple (Warner Bros. 7672) No. 80
August 1973 "Woman From Tokyo" - Deep Purple (Warner Bros. 7737) No. 54

TORONTO, CANADA:
1982 "Goin' to Toronto" - Mike "Mad Dog" Adams (20/20 1001)

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN:
1953 "Yokohama Mama" Harry Kari and His Six Saki Sippers (Capitol F2392) No. 22

IZ ZAT SO? Tom Johnston, co-founder of the Doobie Brothers and their original lead singer, is also the writer of most of their early hits.

Among those are "Listen to the Music"; "Long Train Runnin'"; "Another Park, Another Sunday"; "Eyes of Silver"; "Nobody"; "Sweet Maxine"; and "China Grove."

According to Johnston, he wrote "China Grove" in 1972, but didn't learn until 1975 it was also the name of a Texas town, very near San Antonio.

He later opined that he may have driven through the area in '72, and may have seen the name on a road sign.