Do You Know the Way to San Jose

"Do You Know the Way to San Jose"
"Do You Know the Way to San Jose" became an international best-seller in 1968
Single by Dionne Warwick
from the album Dionne Warwick in Valley of the Dolls
B-side	"Let Me Be Lonely"
Released	April 1968
Format	7" single
Recorded	1967 at Bell Sound Studios; engineer, Ed Smith
Genre	Soul, pop
Length	2:58
Label	Scepter SCE-12216
Writer(s)	Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Producer(s)	Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Dionne Warwick singles chronology
"(Theme from) Valley of the Dolls" (1968) #2 "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" (1968) #10 "Who Is Gonna Love Me" (1968) #33

"Do You Know the Way to San Jose" is a 1968 popular song written for singer Dionne Warwick by Burt Bacharach (music) and Hal David (lyrics). The song was Warwick's biggest international hit, selling over a million copies and winning Warwick her first Grammy Award. It tells the story of a native of San Jose, California who, having failed to break into the entertainment field in Los Angeles, is set to return to her hometown.

The song was released on the 1968 RIAA Certified Gold album Dionne Warwick in Valley of the Dolls. "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" was issued as the follow-up single to the double-sided hit "(Theme from) Valley of the Dolls"/ "I Say a Little Prayer" in April 1968. It became Warwick's third consecutive Top Ten song, punctuating the most successful period of Warwick's recording career.

The song peaked at #8 in the UK, Ireland, and Canada. It also charted in France, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, and many other countries. The flip-side of the single, "Let Me Be Lonely," also penned by Bacharach/David, charted in the Billboard Hot 100 as well and became one of many double-sided hits for Warwick.

Burt Bacharach wrote the music for the song before Hal David wrote its lyrics. David had a special interest in San Jose, having been stationed there while in the Navy.

The track was the last Dionne Warwick single to be recorded at New York City's Bell Studios. It features a prominent use of bass drum, played by session musician Gary Chester. The engineer was Ed Smith, who devised the famous introduction to the tune by directly attaching a mike to the head of Chester's bass drum.

Dionne Warwick did not like "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" and had to be convinced to record it. In a May 1983 interview with Ebony, she said: "It's a dumb song and I didn't want to sing it. But it was a hit, just like [her recent Top Ten hit] 'Heartbreaker' is. I'm happy these songs were successful, but that still doesn't change my opinion about them." The song remains one of Warwick's most popular numbers and is included in almost every concert she performs.