Okay, here we go. I began writing under the Hey, What’s That Song? banner in order to have an outlet for posting a few of the lesser known artifacts from popular music history, the assumption being that little to no information would be available (in contrast to the Song Of The Week posts) but maybe I could miraculously pull a few sentences out of a hat to go along with the song. Surprisingly, however, most of these obscurities have provided plenty to write about.

Until now!

Here’s what’s known: Mike Reilly was apparently discovered (according to an ad in Billboard) by Tommy Smothers (one half of the very popular and very subversive Smothers Brothers comedy-folk duo). He recorded and released the self-written single “1927 Kansas City,” which entered the Billboard Hot 100 in March of 1971, peaked at #88 in April, and fell off of the charts in May. The song featured production credit by Richard Landis, who would later go on to produce Juice Newton’s greatest hits as well as a number of hits for big country artists in the 80s and 90s. “1927 Kansas City” is so obscure, however, that Landis’s own Wikipedia page doesn’t list it among his extensive credits.

But perhaps Mike Reilly didn’t languish in this obscurity forever. Although there’s zero corroboration, at least one source claims that this same Mike Reilly joined the country-rock group Pure Prairie League as their bassist in 1972 and has played with them to this day. Although someone by that name did join that band, no history of Pure Prairie League mentions his previous experience, nor does any interview with this Mike Reilly mention his brief solo career (in fact, this Mike says he was playing with a blues-rock band in England for a year prior to joining the League), sooooo…..maybe? Maybe not.

Anyway, here’s a sweet, old-fashioned love story that sounds like a lyrical cross between Harry Nilsson and a less acerbic Randy Newman. Cynics, turn back now — or open your hearts and journey to Kansas City.