When I first heard "Downtown", I was floored by the beauty of the tune. Tony Hatch was one amazing composer.
I have met some real “Rock Stars”...and most of them have been REALLY nice people. (Members of led Zep, iron maiden, Cinderella, Peter Frampton’s Band, Van Morrison’s sax player, The afore mentioned Funk Brothers, David Currier from “Boston”,etc)
You are right about “Downtown”; the melody is beautiful.
“I know a Place”, another Petula Clark song, also has a great melody.