Native New Yorker (song)
| "Native New Yorker" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by Odyssey | |
| from the album Odyssey | |
| B-side | "Ever Lovin' Sam" |
| Released | November 1977 |
| Format | 7 inch, 12 inch |
| Recorded |
1977 House Of Music, West Orange, New Jersey |
| Genre | Disco[1] |
| Length |
3:29 5:35 (Disco version) |
| Label | RCA Victor |
| Songwriter(s) |
Sandy Linzer Denny Randell |
| Producer(s) |
Charlie Calello Sandy Linzer |
"Native New Yorker" is a disco song written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell. It was first recorded in 1977 by Frankie Valli and released on his album Lady Put the Light Out. Later in 1977 the song became a hit single for the soul dance band Odyssey, which reached No. 3 on the U.S. disco chart.[1] Odyssey's "Native New Yorker" also went to No. 6 on the soul chart and No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2] It reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart.[3]
Odyssey recorded the song at House of Music, a private recording studio on Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange, New Jersey. Jeffrey Kawalek was the recording and mix engineer. Richard Tee played its signature piano track. Jim Bonnefond assisted on many sessions. Studio owner Charlie Conrad did additional engineering, and added additional instrumental solos to the original mixes to create extended dance versions. Sandy Linzer added Tommy Mandel on Clavinet and played Hair Drum himself, on the mix that would be released as a single, engineered by Billy Radice at Sigma in New York City.
It was also recorded by Esther Phillips in 1978, and Black Box in 1998.
The song was later sampled by Rich Cronin's band, Loose Cannons, for their song "New York City Girls," as well as the house music group, Kluster, in their song featuring Ron Carroll, entitled "My Love".
The tenor saxophone solo is played by Michael Brecker.[4][5]
Chart history
| Chart (1977-78) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada RPM Top Singles | 13 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[6] | 7 |
| UK Singles Chart[3] | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 21 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Easy Listening | 28 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles | 6 |
In popular culture
The song is featured in an episode of Good Times, "That's Entertainment, Evans Style" (1978), as well as the films Eyes of Laura Mars (1978); 54 (1998); A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006); The Nanny Diaries (2007), and a commercial for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014). It also served as background music towards the end of the preliminary swimsuit segment of the 1981 Miss Universe pageant in New York City.
"Native New Yorker" is played after every New York City FC soccer game at Yankee Stadium.[7]
References
- 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 193.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 437.
- 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 404. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ↑ "Pop Saxophone". Saxophonemes.fr. Retrieved 2014-03-29.
- ↑ ""Native New Yorker" Michael Brecker Solo Transcription". Seanfreemanmusic.com. 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2014-03-29.
- ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Native New Yorker". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ↑ Kessler, Jordan (August 12, 2015). "Hudson River Blue talks with DJ Mode, music director for New York City FC". Hudson River Blue. Vox Media. Retrieved March 14, 2018.