I first heard this in 1984; it sounds like a real Americana classic, a lot like Steve Perry (Journey) or possibly Tom Waitts.

It starts:

Downstairs Danny was taking the bar by storm
The air was heavy, hot, smoky and warm
And all the odds-on favourites going out were coming home
But for someone with so many friends how come you're so alone

The chorus is:

I've got all those travel books we were looking through
All the blue-eyed girls running up the beach they look like you
But there's no good asking questions noe about who's to blame....

I could supply more lyrics if necessary. I would just love to know who wrote it and who that singer was.

Many, many thanks as I've been thinking about this for years.