~~~What Are The Best New York Inspired Songs?~~~

[JIVE FIVE Mary G.]

Hello Everyone,

This question is from something I just saw on Facebook. I'll try to insert the image here.



The basic question is in the thread title.

~~Mary~~

[JIVE FIVE Mary G.]

Some of my choices are:

"Across 110th Street" ~~Bobby Womack
"Coney Island Baby"~~The Excellents
"Just Over The Brooklyn Bridge"~~Lola & The Saints
"My True Story"~~Jive Five [[chose this because Stevie Van Zandt picked it as one of the top ten songs ever to come out of NY)
"Blues In The Ghetto" ~~ Jive Five
"New York State of Mind" ~~Billy Joel
"The Boy From New York City" ~~The Ad Libs

There are many more. What are your choices?

~~Mary~~

[Soul Sister]

All good choices Mary, I'll add off the top of my head:

Slumming On Park Avenue ~ Alice Faye [[my Aunt)
Rose of Washington Square ~ Alice Faye
Native New Yorker ~ Odessy [[so fits).
Broadway ~ Drifters, Jimmy Scott, & others [[so true).
Rage In Harlem ~ Jimmy Scott
Bosa Nova York ~ Lionel Hampton
Savoy Blues ~ Louis Armstrong
Take The A-Train To Sugar Hill ~ Duke Ellington
Harlem State Of Mind [[? correct title) ~ Vanesa Bell Calloway [[LOVE this song and her interpetation!).
N.Y. State of Mind ~ Bennett, everyone, lol.
42nd Street ~ Ruby Keeler
11th Street ~ Ravens
A Night At Birdland ~ Charlie Parker
51st Street Blues ~ Charles Mingus
110th & 5th ~ Tito Puente
Ain't It Hell Up In Harlem ~ Edwin Starr
Back in Manhattan ~ Nora Jones
Boogalou Down Broadway ~ The Fantastic Johnny C
Funky Broadway ~ Dyke & The Blazers, Wilson Pickett
Brooklyn ~ Mos Def

TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MANY TO LIST!
S.S.
***

[JIVE FIVE Mary G.]

Now that's a list, S.S.!!

I knew you would come up with ones I wouldn't think of. BRAVO!

~~Mary~~

[Vonnie Eli]

Ain't No Green's Up In Harlem - Coasters

Empire State Of Mind - Jay Z & Alicia Keys

[marv2]

"[[Everybody Was) Kung Fu Fighting"



Ok ,ok just kidding........LOL!!!!

[JIVE FIVE Mary G.]

Thank you, Vonnie.

Those are good ones, too.

I thought of another~

"Spanish Harlem"~~Ben E. King

~~Mary~~

[JIVE FIVE Mary G.]

hahahahahahahaha Just saw your post, marv2. That song would certainly be descriptive of some areas in NY. lol

~~Mary~~

[marv2]

the Theme from New York, New York - Frank Sinatra

[marv2]

"New York State of Mind" - Mary Wilson's version:

[JIVE FIVE Mary G.]

Good one, marv2. Thank you.

Lisa Minnelli is famous for that one, too.

OH! Didn't know Mary Wilson did that song. Good show!

~~Mary~~

[JIVE FIVE Mary G.]

Don't know why I didn't think of this one before:

"Harlem Hit Parade"~~Little Isidore & The Inquisitors with my friend Angel Rissoff on lead!

~~Mary~~

[imnokid]

Uptown by The Chambers Brothers is a fave of mine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT-qlhCpEwI

[imnokid]

Here's a good one by a NY guy, Willie Nile, called The Streets Of New York.
worth a listen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk-G3MIjMY0

[imnokid]

From my Itunes library. whew!

James Brown - Down and Out In NYC
Jim Croce - New York's Not My Home
Jimmy Reed - Going To new York
Chuck Jackson - Big New York
Jan Bradley - Night In New York City
Esther Phillips - Native New Yorker
Clarence Reid - New York City
Bob Dylan - Hard Times In New York Town
Willie Nile - Faded Flower Of Broadway
Steve Marriott - Ain't You Glad New York Can't Talk
Tom Waits - I'll Take New York
The Rascals - I'll Take New York
T. Rex - New York City
Don Henley - New York Minute
Dr. Ross - New York Breakdown
Delbert McClinton - New York City
Ray Charles - New York's My Home
Harvey Scales And The 7 Sounds - On The Streets Of New York City
Simon & Garfunkle - The Only Living Boy In New York
Billy Hambrick - New York City baby
Johnny Copeland - Drinking New York City Dry

[MIKEW-UK]

Penguin At the Big Apple Trammps

[imnokid]

In re-reading the actual question in the thread, I have edited my list
Across 110th St - Bobby Womack
James Brown - Down and Out In NYC
New York, New York - Frank Sinatra
New York State Of Mind - New York
Chuck Jackson - Big New York
Jan Bradley - Night In New York City
Clarence Reid - New York City
Bob Dylan - Hard Times In New York Town
Ray Charles - New York's My Home
Harvey Scales And The 7 Sounds - On The Streets Of New York City

[jsmith]

Suprised [[given how many versions there are & the times it has been a hit) that no one has mentioned "HARLEM SHUFFLE".
Would the tracks made by 'The Voices of Eat Harlem' count as being inspired by the city ??
How about the Flamingos "Brookyln Boogaloo" .... a big track years ago on the UK NS scene.

[jsmith]

Don't think this will ever become my fave version of "Spanish Harlem" ........
Attachment 6025

[Kamasu_Jr]

On Broadway - Drifters; George Benson
Are You There With Another Girl - Dionne Warwick
Empire State of Mind -Jaz Z with Alicia keys
Hard Knock Life - Jay Z
No Pity - Jackie Wilson
The Message - Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five
Manhattan- Dinah Washington; Supremes, etc.
Don't Sleep in the Subway - Petula Clark

[JIVE FIVE Mary G.]

In re-reading the actual question in the thread, I have edited my list
Across 110th St - Bobby Womack
James Brown - Down and Out In NYC
New York, New York - Frank Sinatra
New York State Of Mind - New York
Chuck Jackson - Big New York
Jan Bradley - Night In New York City
Clarence Reid - New York City
Bob Dylan - Hard Times In New York Town
Ray Charles - New York's My Home
Harvey Scales And The 7 Sounds - On The Streets Of New York City

Hi imnokid,

All the lists you've posted are fine with me. You're introducing me to songs I've never heard of. It's interesting to see just how many songs there are about NY. Thanks for posting.

~~Mary~~

[JIVE FIVE Mary G.]

Hello MIKEW_UK,

Love the Trammps. Good choice. Thanks for posting.

~~Mary~~

[JIVE FIVE Mary G.]

Suprised [[given how many versions there are & the times it has been a hit) that no one has mentioned "HARLEM SHUFFLE".
Would the tracks made by 'The Voices of Eat Harlem' count as being inspired by the city ??
How about the Flamingos "Brookyln Boogaloo" .... a big track years ago on the UK NS scene.

Hello jsmith,

Right you are! "Harlem Shuffle" should definitely be included. I like your choice by the Flamingos, too. I agree, Cliff Richard's version will never be the definitive one. Thanks for posting.

~~Mary~~

[JIVE FIVE Mary G.]

On Broadway - Drifters; George Benson
Are You There With Another Girl - Dionne Warwick
Empire State of Mind -Jaz Z with Alicia keys
Hard Knock Life - Jay Z
No Pity - Jackie Wilson
The Message - Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five

Good ones, Kamasu. Love me some Jackie Wilson. Thanks for posting.

~~Mary~~

[Soul Sister]

@jsmith, how right you are, a case can also be made for "HARLEM KNOCKTURN".
kam, yes Jackie! Esp. since he lived in Manhattan at the Dorchester Apts.

S.S.
***