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Classic Rock

Songs for New York City

54 songs / 255:00

By: Concert Vault

Playlist Description

"If this town is just an apple, then let me take a bite." (M. Jackson)

Human nature is a complicated subject matter to say the least, but if there's one convenient place in the world to conduct field research on the entire spectrum of what it entails, it's New York City. Symbolized by the Statue of Liberty, the City has long been associated with tolerance and opportunity, welcoming emigrants from countries all across the world. Now, with over 8 million people living in an area of about 300 square miles (790 km sq.), over 800 languages spoken, and countless neighborhoods spread throughout the five boroughs each adding their unique stories to the city's collective legend, it's more of a small continent than a metropolis.

At the same time, as Glenn Shorrock points out in the Little River Band cut in Lady Liberty's honor, New York also plays home to some of the most outrageous greed in the world. But that's not its only vice - to reach venues where you can witness pinnacles in art and entertainment, you must walk past homeless beggars on the sidewalks; museums can be found around the block from seedy storefronts promising the best in X-rated material; and prestigious research universities are located in the same areas where drug trafficking and prostitution thrive. There are folks living their wildest dreams in New York alongside others stuck in horrendous nightmares.

For some of us, therein lies its beauty. The country boys in Quicksilver Messenger Service may want to get out ASAP, but for folks like me and Michael Jackson, she is an irresistible mistress beckoning us out into her bosom with her seductive sighs. She promises us a glimpse into the best and worst of humanity, and we find it easily as we touch strangers and look into each other's electric eyes (even if you've been conditioned to never make eye contact). That's half of the reason why I heart NY...the other half is because I know every person here has their own story and their own reasons for loving it as much as I do. So if they say,

  1. 1 Snowblink / Human Nature 5:52
  2. 2 Little River Band / Statue Of Liberty 3:59
  3. 3 Genesis / Introduction to Back In N.Y.C. 1:15
  4. 4 Genesis / Back In N.Y.C. 6:12
  5. 5 Graham Parker and the Rumour / The New York Shuffle 3:25
  6. 6 Bruce Springsteen / Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street? 5:18
  7. 7 Vampire Weekend / M 79 3:50
  8. 8 Johnny Dankworth & His Orchestra / Take the A Train 8:14
  9. 9 Quicksilver Messenger Service / Subway 4:06
  10. 10 Mink DeVille / Venus Of Avenue D 6:56
  11. 11 10cc / The Wall Street Shuffle 4:24
  12. 12 Greg Kihn Band / Madison Avenue 4:45
  13. 13 Billy Joel / Big Man On Mulberry Street 7:50
  14. 14 Dave Edmunds' All Star Rock N' Roll Revue / King Of … 6:11
  15. 15 Tim Moore / Second Avenue 4:16
  16. 16 Count Basie and His Orchestra / Avenue C 2:53
  17. 17 The Byrds / Positively 4th Street 3:35
  18. 18 Grateful Dead / Desolation Row 12:35
  19. 19 The Rolling Thunder Revue / Diamonds And Rust 5:09
  20. 20 Rod Stewart / The Killing Of Georgie (Pts 1 and 2) 6:15
  21. 21 The Bee Gees / Nights On Broadway 4:42
  22. 22 Nellie McKay / Broadway Melody 1:24
  23. 23 David Frizzell & Shelly West / Another Honky Tonk Ni… 1:53
  24. 24 Glen Campbell / Rhinestone Cowboy 3:03
  25. 25 The Rolling Stones / Miss You 7:43
  26. 26 Ian Hunter / Central Park and West 4:33
  27. 27 Casper & The Cookies / Sid from Central Park 2:55
  28. 28 Clare and the Reasons / Alphabet City 5:25
  29. 29 Jesse Malin & The St. Mark's Social / Burning The Bo… 3:41
  30. 30 Judy Collins / Chelsea Morning 4:01
  31. 31 George Shearing / Sleepy Manhattan 3:18
  32. 32 The Chambers Brothers / Uptown To Harlem 5:33
  33. 33 Pete Townshend / Harlem Shuffle 5:42
  34. 34 Elton John / Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters 8:00
  35. 35 Mink DeVille / Harlem Nocturne 3:32
  36. 36 David Berkeley / Willis Avenue Bridge 4:01
  37. 37 Paul Simon / Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard 3:04
  38. 38 Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks / Vanessa From Queens 3:14
  39. 39 The Mountain Goats / Going To Queens 2:34
  40. 40 The Ramones / Rockaway Beach 2:20
  41. 41 Lou Reed / Coney Island Baby 5:28
  42. 42 Jeffrey Lewis and the Jitters / Williamsburg Will Ol… 6:04
  43. 43 Larry Coryell / Autumn In New York 5:37
  44. 44 Gordon Lightfoot / Cold Hands From New York 5:23
  45. 45 The Kinks / Lost And Found 5:00
  46. 46 The Sex Pistols / New York 3:42
  47. 47 Suzanne Vega / Tom's Diner 2:37
  48. 48 Blondie / In The Flesh 3:05
  49. 49 Tom Scott / New York Connection 7:51
  50. 50 Mark Mallman / You're Never Alone in New York 3:44
  51. 51 Cameron McGill & What Army / Ghost of New York 5:04
  52. 52 Paul Maziar / NYC Love You Long Time 0:56
  53. 53 Eddie Money / Going Back To New York 4:11
  54. 54 Climax Blues Band / Going To New York 8:40