Native New Yorker (song)

"Native New Yorker"
Single by Odyssey
from the album Odyssey
B-side Ever Lovin' Sam
Released 1977
Format 7 inch, 12 inch
Recorded 1977
House Of Music, West Orange, New Jersey
Genre Disco
Length 3:29
5:35 (Disco version)
Label RCA Victor
Writer(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 a 1977 hit single for the dance band Odyssey, which reached No. 3 on the U.S. disco chart.[1] "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]

The song was recorded 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. 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.

It was also recorded by Frankie Valli in 1977, 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 alto saxophone solo is played by George Young.[4][5]

Chart positions

Chart (1977-1978) Peak
position
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
UK Singles Chart[3] 5

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).

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 193.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 437.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 404. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. "Pop Saxophone". Saxophonemes.fr. Retrieved 2014-03-29.
  5. ""Native New Yorker" Michael Brecker Solo Transcription". Seanfreemanmusic.com. 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2014-03-29.