Is This The Way To Amarillo - Other Cover Versions, Re-issues Etc.

Other Cover Versions, Re-issues Etc.

The Dutch singer Albert West covered the song in 1988. After the successful re-release of the song in the UK, Tony Christie re-recorded it with the Hermes House Band; this version charted in Germany in 2005. There is also a version by The Les Humphries Singers and a version in German by Roberto Blanco. There was also a 1971 version on the MGM label (K 14360) by a band called English House. It was produced by Terry Slater. The A-side was "Music Is The Voice Of Love" composed by Terry Slater and Phil Everly.

Football

• In the early 1970s, following their run to the final in the Texaco Cup, Airdrieonians FC sung to the tune of "Amarillo", changing the last line to "Airdrie for the Texaco Cup". This song was revived by Airdrie fans following the release of Peter Kays version
• Since the late 1990s, Falkirk have played Amarillo after a goal scored by the club at home. This precedes the re-release by Christie and Peter Kay and was highlighted when Tony Christie was added to the line-up of performers at the Big In Falkirk music concert to perform the song with the Falkirk playing staff and manager after the club won promotion to the SPL in the summer of 2005
• The English Football team, Bolton Wanderers (Peter Kay's hometown club) have had Amarillo as their 'Goal' song since the 2004/05 Premier League season (although I Feel Good is still used on occasion). One version of the song sung by fans replaces the fourth line of the chorus with "El Hadji Diouf will spit on you", although this line has been seldom used since Diouf left the club. The song is also frequently used by Christie's local side, Doncaster Rovers
• Birmingham City's version was "Is This The Way To Hammer Villa" after beating them 5-0 over two games in their first season back in the top flight

Rugby League

• Leeds Rhinos fans regularly sing an altered version during the end of the season playoffs, changing the last line to 'Old Trafford waits for Leeds', due to Old Trafford being the venue for the Super League Grand Final

Boxing

• Bolton boxer Amir Khan used the song when he was walking to the ring in his last amateur fight against Mario Kindelan which took place in his home town

Darts

• The PDC darts player Peter Manley has used the song since 2005 as his entry song

Others

• Other artists to have recorded the song include Daniel O'Donnell, Albert West, James Last, Joe Loss and his Orchestra, and the thrash metal band Brainstorm
• A spoof version "Is This the Way To Santa's Grotto" was a Christmas UK Top 40 hit in 2005, and Christie himself re-recorded the song as "Is This the Way To the World Cup" to coincide with England's 2006 World Cup campaign. This version reached number 8 in the UK charts
• Another spoof version, "Is This the Way to Aberystwyth", is sung by Chris Moyles Show producer Aled Haydn Jones and is about the coastal Welsh town of Aberystwyth. There is both an English and a Welsh version
• The UK insurer NFU Mutual recorded a version of the song and video by Peter Kay for an internal DVD celebrating the company's centenary
• Two Czech language versions were recorded in 1972: "Kvítek mandragory" by Helena Vondráčková, and "Nápis na dveřích" by Jiří Hromádka
• Roberto Blanco has recorded a German-language version of the song, called "Ich Komm Zurück Nach Amarillo"
• There is also a cover version for Christingle Services called "Show me the Way to Shine for Jesus". (Lyrics from the Children's Society)