Tuesday Tunes 319: New York

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While I was putting together Friday’s post to mark the anniversary of 9/11 the thought occurred to me that I knew several good songs about New York which might make for a happier piece, so that is where I’m going this week: five songs with New York in their title. And before anyone complains (you know who you are!), there was always zero chance of ‘Noo Yoick, Noo Yoick’ being among them!

Let’s start with a bit of fun, from my favourite live band, a bunch of lunatics who never disappoint:

Bellowhead recorded New York Girls for their Hedonism album, released in October 2010, which went Silver for sales of 60,000 copies and reached #57 in the UK Albums Chart. They opened the album with this, though I have also seen them play it live as the final song before the encores. They released a shortened version as a single, and the official video features that. They also included it in a live streamed show in 2021 after they reformed the band, which was a delight, but this one has to be my favourite: they created it ‘live from home’ in pandemic days, and it was such a joy to see in those terrible times. They had a lot of fun with this and I hope you did, too.

Something a little more serious for my next tune:

New York Minute was originally released in June 1989 on Don Henley’s third solo album, The End Of The Innocence. The album was a big success and is still his best seller: it went 6x Platinum in the US for 6m sales, 2x Platinum in Canada for 200,000, and Gold in the UK for 100,000. It is a fantastic album, which I bought at the time and is still my favourite of his. The version I’m playing today is by The Eagles, who included it in their setlist for what became their Hell Freezes Over tour and album. The album was released in November 1994, and contains four new studio songs and eleven that were recorded the previous April for an MTV Special. The band had reformed for this after a fourteen year hiatus, and the title comes from a comment made by Don at the time of the breakup when asked if they would ever get back together: his reply was “when Hell freezes over.” Never say never, I guess. The album went to #1 in the US and Canada, and made #18 in the UK – I bought it at the time and it was another that I played to bits. It was a huge seller: 9x Platinum in the US for 9m sales, 7x Platinum in Canada for 700,000, and Platinum in the UK for 300,000. The concert was also released as a DVD and that too sold in large numbers: 8x Platinum in the US for 800,000, 3x Platinum in the UK for 150,000, and 20x Platinum in Australia for 300,000. I think it is safe to say that their fans were pleased to see them back!

You may know this next one:

Taylor Swift originally released Welcome To New York on her fifth album, 1989, in October 2014, but when she began her project of re-recording her albums in their ‘Taylor’s Version’ forms, following a dispute over ownership with her previous record company, 1989 (Taylor’s Version) was the fourth of those, released in October 2023, on the same date as the first time round. It was another great success for her, going to #1 in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and a further sixteen countries around the world. Sales figures are impressive, with Platinum discs galore: four each in the US and Canada, three each in Australia and New Zealand, and two in the UK. Not bad going for a second time round!

An old favourite for my next one, a quirky little song that I’ve always liked:

Englishman In New York was released on Sting’s second solo album, Nothing Like The Sun, in October 1987: a single CD and a double vinyl – take your pick. It peaked at #1 in the UK, #3 in Canada, and at #9 in the US, going 2x Platinum in the US for 2m sales and Platinum in the UK for 300,000. It actually sold more in France (600,000) and Germany (500,000) though it didn’t get to #1 in either country. Sting wrote the song about the famous eccentric and gay icon Quentin Crisp, who is the “Englishman” of the title. It was composed not long after Crisp had moved from London to an apartment in the Bowery in Manhattan. Sting had met her, and Crisp remarked jokingly to the musician that she looked forward to receiving her naturalisation papers so that she could “commit a crime and not be deported.” When Sting asked her what kind of crime, Crisp answered, “Something glamorous, non-violent, with a dash of style. Crime is so rarely glamorous these days.” I think the song is a suitable tribute, and you can see Quentin in the video.

To close this set, it just has to be this:

The Only Living Boy In New York has long been my favourite track on Simon & Garfunkel’s superb album, Bridge Over Troubled Water, and this video with images of 1970s New York is a great accompaniment for it. The album was released in January 1970 and was a huge hit, reaching #1 in the US, the UK, and just about anywhere else you look, and has sold more than 25m copies. This track was released as the B-side to the single of Cecilia, in April 1970: that got to #4 in the US and #51 in the UK. The story behind the song is that Paul Simon wrote it as a thinly veiled message to Art Garfunkel, referencing in the first verse a specific incident where Garfunkel went to Mexico to act in the film Catch-22. Simon was left alone in New York writing songs for Bridge over Troubled Water, hence the very lonely feelings that gave the song its title. Simon speaks to Garfunkel in the song as “Tom,” a reference to their early days when they were called Tom and Jerry, and encourages him to “let your honesty shine . . . like it shines on me”. The multi-tracked backing vocals of the pair of them, recorded in an echo chamber, give the song a feeling of ethereal beauty and a timeless quality. Rather ironic, perhaps, in that this was the reason behind the duo splitting up later that year!

That’s all for today and as usual I hope you have enjoyed these. I’m sharing this post as usual at Esme’s Senior Salon Pit Stop and, though yet again I’m off-theme for her, at Cathy’s Monday’s Music Moves Me, and hope that you drop in on them.

I’ll see you again soon. Until then take care and have fun 🤩

31 thoughts on “Tuesday Tunes 319: New York”

  2. Glen Frey said that without Don Henley The Eagles would be Air Supply. Song’s like New York Minute goes to show why he said it, albeit off a solo album. That vocal is on the video is perfect isn’t it?

    A long time since I’ve heard ‘Only Living Boy..’, it is amazing, as you allude to, so evocative, a stunning, genius production. And thanks for the Taylor Swift track, I’d only heard the Ryan Adams version previously, which I also like. I think Taylor is incredible.

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    • A great performance of a great song. The whole Henley album is fantastic.

      The S&G song is a masterpiece, isn’t it.

      I’m a Taylor fan too, and I also like Ryan Adams version of this song – I almost played it!

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  3. Oh, Sting’s classic song! I haven’t heard it in a while. Lately, I heard Christopher Cross’ song: “Arthur’s Theme”. The song was played in the plane when we landed in NYC. I was 15 and it was my first visit to the USA. I’ll never forget what a feeling that was for me back then.

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  4. What a stellar line-up, Clive! ‘The Only Living Boy In New York’ is such a masterclass in harmony and emotion—hard to beat that one as a closer. ‘Englishman In New York’ is always a classic, too. Great playlist to start the week! 🎶🗽

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  5. Great list…obviously many more, some so obvious and insipid they are not worth mentioning at all…while “Saturday In The Park” by Chicago doesn’t include New York in the title, it’s about Central Park, so an honorable mention for me!

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    • Glad you liked them, John. I had a hard time getting this down to just five, despite some of the other candidates being as dull as you suggest! I wouldn’t have considered that Chicago one on title alone, but I can’t say the song ever did much for me anyway – never a fan of the band, I’m afraid.

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  7. Yes! Let’s hear it for my hometown! I was expecting something from Billy Joel but you made up for it with the Eagles. 😄 The only one from the batch I didn’t know was Bellowhead’s ‘New York Girls’ and I loved it! What a fun song/group and I can see why it’s your favorite live group. Great listening this morning, Clive. 😎

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    • I thought you’d appreciate the choice! I’m sorry, but that Billy Joel one isn’t a favourite of mine, but the Don Henley one is, and the full band did a great job with it.

      I’m pleased you enjoyed Bellowhead. Even during the pandemic they found a way to entertain us, and that video is typical of them. Such a fun band – I tried counting how many times I’ve seen them, and I think it was 7 or 8. No one else comes close to that for me!

      Glad you enjoyed the music. Enjoy the day 👍

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  8. I really enjoyed all of these songs especially Englishman in New York!

    and of course Simon and Garfunkel… all the songs were great.

    Sadly you forgot this little gem… I refer to the voice and the ability to blow rassberries with aplomb!

    💜💜😁😁

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    • I’d probably have been able to guess which ones you knew. I hope they have a lovely time there and don’t fall foul of ICE! I’ve never liked that Sinatra one, so it stood no chance of being played 😉

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