Right before The Godfather, he directed a music video for "Mill Valley"...?!

In 1970, a teacher in Marin released a song that hit the Billboard Hot 100 songs list. If that isn’t Marin enough for you, the song is called “Mill Valley” and was recorded with the help of her 3rd grade class.

The song is ok, but the fun facts are amazing.

Here it is:

The song debuted at 92 on the list and reached as high as 90. It faded off the list after 3 short weeks. Its cultural staying power is only local, including celebrations like 2020’s 50 year-anniversary.

But there are many interesting facts.

1. The music video was directed by… Francis Ford Coppola!?! Yes, on July 4, 1970 he directed the music video. Then just a couple of months later, on September 28, 1970 he was announced as the director of The Godfather (the IMDb #2 greatest movie of all time, #3 on AFI, #1 by ratings). I like to think “Mill Valley” shaped him into being ready to film The Godfather. Without his learnings from “Mill Valley”, he would have been an average director. Coppola would return to Marin to help his friend as a producer on George Lucas’s directorial debut on “American Graffiti” (which was so successful they let him do his crazy Star Wars idea).

2. They recorded the song at the same San Francisco studio and at the exact same time as another Marin History feature: Deja Vu by CSNY. In that article we shared that the Grateful Dead were recording in the same studio and they collaborated a bit.

3. The other songs on the list at the time (links 1, 2, 3). #1 was Close to You by the Carpenters (meh, “Why do birds suddenly appear…”). Also debuting around then way down the chart: Uncle John’s Band by the Grateful Dead (at #97 and one of those recorded at the same studio around that time). All Right Now by Free (hit the list at #96 and began a steady march to #4, Stanford’s band played it at the Rose Bowl halftime in 1972 and it has been their de facto fight song since).

4. The most famous song with school kids performing is Another Brick in The Wall, Part Two by Pink Floyd. It hit #1 on the charts, but was a school choir, not a class, so a bit different.

Rita Abrams and her Strawberry Point Elementary students went on to record a whole album when they were in 4th grade. No other hit songs.

Are any of those kids on this email list now? Please reply!

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Retired folks, have you thought about downsizing? Townhomes are appealing due to their lack of upkeep and this one was just listed for sale yesterday.

It’s perfect for someone with an active lifestyle. I’d love to take my paddle board down to Piper Park to play some beach volleyball. Or take the bike trail just over a mile to the downtown Larkspur restaurants. You don’t want to share the road when Redwood High School lets out…

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The only thing you have to watch out for is the HOA fees on townhomes. $725 a month. They’ll take care of things like the roof, but sometimes these HOAs are underwater and do a big assessment for repairs (so savvy owners get out 1-3 years before it is expected).

Check it out:

Zillow link

Thanks for reading. We will be back with the regular events and activities email Wednesday morning!

— Allison + Brian