Echo Beach by Martha and the Muffins

Album: Metro Music (1980)

Charted: 10

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Songfacts®:

While Marc Gane was a student at the Ontario College of Art, he had a job one summer at a paint and wallpaper factory. It was so boring that he daydreamed a lot. While Echo Beach did not exist as a real location, it was a symbol of a place everyone wants to escape to when they're not where they want to be.
The inspiration was Sunnyside Beach on the shoreline of Lake Ontario in Toronto. Says Gane, "The lake and beach could have been in the middle of nowhere while the city behind became a 'surrealistic sight'." >>
Suggestion credit:
Darryl - Cambridge, Canada, for above 2
This won the 1981 Juno Award for Single of the Year, tying with Anne Murray's "Could I Have This Dance." It reached #5 in Canada and was the Canadian new wave band's only significant international hit, though they had several other hits in their homeland. >>
Suggestion credit:
Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England

Comments: 10

Wilson Martin from WinnipegMark Gane confirmed in multiple interviews, that “Echo Beach” was not a real or specific location, but simply represented a place of escape. Echo Beach in Toronto was named after the song, not the other way around.
David Malbuff from Strasburg VaI loved this song the first day I heard it on WHFS back in 1981, and love it to this day. Now, I have been told there is a "Echo Beach" concert venue on a real beach near Toronto. Was that venue inspired by this song, or has its location always been the "real" Echo Beach? Does anyone know?
Amanda from TorontoLove this song! I remember playing it all the time when it came out and it drove my dad nuts!! Lol
Paul Higgins from Fleet, Hampshire,uk.One of the most iconic songs of all time in the 80s,this is still the brilliant song as it is today brings back so many memories for me!
George from Vancouver, CanadaIt's quite possible there's a beach on Echo Lake in California & the song is inspired by it -- most lakes called Echo Lake are situated deep in the mountains, thus the name. How peaceful would that be, once people got over hollering to make echoes, of course!
George from Vancouver, CanadaKent: Only #1 in Portugal? Gee, how terrible a showing in a non-English country!
Brian from IrelandOne of the best songs ever written.
John from Windsor, OnGot hooked on this song the first time I heard it. Great song!
Andy from Norwich, United Kingdomin my opinion one of the most underated 80's song of all time
Kent from Toronto, CanadaThis really great tune, although a worldwide hit, seems only to have hit #1 in Portugal. (In their native Canada, the group reached #3 with this offering.)

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