Echo Beach

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1980 single by Martha and the Muffins

title: "Echo Beach" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1980-songs", "1980-singles", "1987-singles", "martha-and-the-muffins-songs", "toyah-willcox-songs", "gabriella-cilmi-songs", "song-recordings-produced-by-mike-howlett", "juno-award-for-single-of-the-year-singles", "songs-about-beaches", "music-videos-shot-in-toronto"] description: "1980 single by Martha and the Muffins" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echo_Beach" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1980 single by Martha and the Muffins ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]

FieldValue
nameEcho Beach
coverEcho_Beach_cover.jpg
typesingle
artistMartha and the Muffins
albumMetro Music
B-sideTeddy the Dink
releasedFebruary 1980
recorded1979
genreNew wave
length3:38
labelDindisc
writerMark Gane
producerMike Howlett
prev_titleInsect Love
prev_year1979
next_titleSaigon
next_year1980
misc
::

| name = Echo Beach | cover = Echo_Beach_cover.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Martha and the Muffins | album = Metro Music | B-side = Teddy the Dink | released = February 1980 | recorded = 1979 | studio = | venue = | genre = New wave | length = 3:38 | label = Dindisc | writer = Mark Gane | producer = Mike Howlett | prev_title = Insect Love | prev_year = 1979 | next_title = Saigon | next_year = 1980 | misc = "Echo Beach" is a song by Canadian musical group Martha and the Muffins. Written by band member Mark Gane, it was released as a single from their album Metro Music in 1980 and went on to reach number five in Canada, number six in Australia, and number 10 in the UK. It was certified gold in Canada on October 1, 1980, a month after Metro Music achieved gold status; the song also won the Juno Award for Single of the Year. "Echo Beach" was the band's only significant international hit, although they had other popular singles in Canada.

Background

Echo Beach in the song is not a real place. It is a metaphor for a pleasant location that someone thinks of when they have an unsatisfactory job. There is now an Echo Beach in Toronto, but it was named after the song. The song was created while Gane was working checking wallpaper for printing faults. He found the work rather dull and his mind drifted to times he would like to live over again. One such time was an evening spent at Sunnyside Beach on the shoreline of Lake Ontario in Toronto in summer. The B-side, 'Teddy The Dink', is featured on the band's second album Trance and Dance. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Sunnyside_Beach,_Etobicoke,_Toronto,_Canada.jpg" caption="Sunnyside Beach, Etobicoke, Toronto, Canada" alt="Sunnyside Beach, Etobicoke, Toronto, Canada"] ::

The map shown on the cover of the Canadian and US version of the single is of the eastern part of Toronto, including the Beaches neighbourhood, the Leslie Street Spit, and a portion of the Toronto Islands. The UK version of the single shows the north-western end of the Fleet Lagoon and the bar of Chesil Beach, the location of Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset. It has been modified to show Chesil Beach being named as Echo Beach.

Reception

In 2003, Q magazine listed "Echo Beach" among the 1001 best songs ever.

In 2005, it was named the 35th greatest Canadian song of all time on the CBC Radio One series 50 Tracks.

Releases

In 2010, the band released a 30th anniversary version of "Echo Beach". A commentator described the new version as "definitely a different song compared to the previous version; it's slower and the famous guitar riff that introduces the song is acoustic. [The original] was also good to be danced to, whereas the new one is darker and languid." Mark Gane explained, "We wanted to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the song, by not trying to replicate the version that we originally recorded, but as musicians who've experienced three decades of living. We'd like to refer to the new recording of 'Echo Beach' as our 'grown-up' version."

In pop culture

In 1996, the song was featured on Oh, What a Feeling, a 4-CD collection of Canadian music.

In June 2011, concert promoter Live Nation opened a 4,000-person outdoor concert facility in Toronto and named it after the song.

Track listing

  • 7-inch single :A. "Echo Beach" – 3:38 :B. "Teddy the Dink" – 3:32

Charts

Weekly charts

::data[format=table] | Chart (1980) | Peak position | Australia (Kent Music Report) | Canadian Singles (RPM) | Irish Singles (IRMA) | UK Singles (OCC) | US Hot Disco Singles (Billboard) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 6 | | | | | | | | 5 | | | | | | | | 11 | | | | | | | | 10 | | | | | | | | 37 | | | | | | | ::

Year-end charts

::data[format=table]

Chart (1980)PositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)Canada (RPM Magazine)
59
16
::

Certifications

Toyah version

| name = Echo Beach | cover = Toyah-echo_beach_7"_cover.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Toyah | album = Desire | B-side = Plenty | released = April 6, 1987 | recorded = | studio = | venue = | length = 3:20 | label = E.G. | writer = Mark Gane | producer = Mike Hedges | prev_title = World in Action | prev_year = 1985 | next_title = Moonlight Dancing | next_year = 1987 | misc = British singer Toyah covered "Echo Beach" on her 1987 album Desire. The song was released as the lead single from the album and reached number 54 in the UK Singles Chart. It is Toyah's last charting single in the UK to date.

Track listings

  • 7-inch single :A. "Echo Beach" – 3:20 :B. "Plenty" – 3:40

  • 12-inch single :A. "Echo Beach" (Surf mix) – 5:36 :B1. "Echo Beach" (7-inch mix) – 3:20 :B2. "Plenty" – 3:40

Charts

::data[format=table] | Chart (1987) | Peak position | UK Singles (OCC) | |---|---|---| | 54 | | | ::

References

References

  1. Bush, John. "Martha and the Muffins {{!}} Biography & History".
  2. Monger, James Christopher. "Various Artists - ''Playlist: New Wave'' (2008) Review".
  3. (February 2, 2010). "Martha and the Muffins back after 18 years".
  4. Roberts, David. (2006). "[[British Hit Singles & Albums]]". Guinness World Records Limited.
  5. "Gold/Platinum: Martha and the Muffins". [[Music Canada]].
  6. ClassicVideos80s. (2015-02-22). "Martha & The Muffins Interview on Countdown 1980".
  7. (2003). "1001 Best Songs Ever". [[Q (magazine).
  8. Roberta Capuano. (August 20, 2010). "Martha and the Muffins – Echo Beach".
  9. Vaccaro, Mishki. (April 26, 2011). "Live Nation to open Echo Beach, a new 4,000-person venue in Toronto". [[Toronto Life]].
  10. "TD Echo Beach Upcoming Shows in W. Toronto, Ontario — Live Nation".
  11. "One Hit Wonders". australian-charts.com.
  12. (August 9, 1980). "RPM 100 Singles".
  13. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie.
  14. "Official Singles Chart Top 75: 23 March 1980 - 29 March 1980". [[Official Charts Company]].
  15. "Metro Music - Martha and the Muffins > Charts & Awards > Billboard Album". AllMusic.
  16. (January 5, 1981). "National Top 100 Singles for 1980".
  17. "RPM Top 100 Singles - December 20, 1980".
  18. Smith, Robin. (April 4, 1987). "News Digest".
  19. Roberts, David. (2006). "[[British Hit Singles & Albums]]". Guinness World Records Limited.
  20. "Official Singles Chart Top 100: 26 April 1987 - 02 May 1987". [[Official Charts Company]].

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

1980-songs1980-singles1987-singlesmartha-and-the-muffins-songstoyah-willcox-songsgabriella-cilmi-songssong-recordings-produced-by-mike-howlettjuno-award-for-single-of-the-year-singlessongs-about-beachesmusic-videos-shot-in-toronto