Hell, I still love you New York
This morning I hopped a plane to New York City for a long weekend visiting three of my best friends from the year I studied abroad in Florence, Italy. I am ridiculously excited.
After all those months of spending immense amounts of time together with these gals, seeing mind-boggling beauty and tentatively pushing our edges through hesitant Italian speaking, train rides all over Europe, lots of carbs and gelato and Michelangelo, and questionable Italian dance moves in sweaty clubs, we all went back to our respective lives across the country and the world. The four of us saw each other three years ago in Cleveland (and we rocked that town) but ever since then it’s been this b.s. “someday we have to get together!” nonsense. In fitting with my new efforts to seize the day while it’s here and fresh and beckoning, I sent out an email in August saying we had to make plans now, and amazingly — things started to really happen.
In my excitement, I’ve been working on this mix off and on for a month of songs written in, about, or for New York. It’s synced to my iPod for the travels today, and all ready to become your new favorite playlist for New York nights — or just thinking about all the fun you could have there.
HELL, I STILL LOVE YOU NEW YORK MIX
(individual links are dead but the zip file still works below)
New York City (home recording) – John Lennon
New York, New York – Ryan Adams
I’m Waiting For The Man – Velvet Underground
NYC (There’s No Need to Stop) – The Charlatans
Angel of Harlem – U2
No Sleep Til Brooklyn – Beastie Boys
My Apartment – Ben Kweller
Brooklyn Stars – Matt Pond PA
NY Nights – Jesse Malin
The Only Living Boy In New York – Simon & Garfunkel
53rd and 3rd – The Ramones
Dirty Blvd – Lou Reed
Chelsea Hotel #2 – Leonard Cohen
New York – Richard Ashcroft
She’s The New York City Skyline – The Damnwells
Harlem Shuffle – The Rolling Stones
New York – Stephen Fretwell
New York Baby – Leona Naess
Queensboro Bridge – David Mead
New York – Sex Pistols
New Amsterdam – Travis
Olympia WA – Rancid (paradoxically)
New York City – Mason Jennings
Broadway – Old ’97s
New York – U2
The Boy Looked At Johnny – The Libertines
Central Park N West – Ian Hunter
Motorcycle Drive By – Third Eye Blind
New York City Serenade (Springsteen) – Pete Yorn
NYC Improvisation 5/5/06 – Pearl Jam
Name: Heather Browne
Obviously we all wish you well and you are hopefully experiencing much happiness in your Ny sojourn;the beginning and end of ‘Manhattan’ comes to mind;firstly the rhapsody in blue and secondly the immortal and swooning glory of Mariel Hemmingway’s perceptive final lines,’it’s only six months,you’ve got to have a little faith in people.” and Woody’s smile which lights up the skyline like the fireworks.
If you are ever feeling blue before work,watch it and weep for joy.
Enjoy!
russell — October 26, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
I can’t believe you left Sinatra off the list!!
No one tops his “New York, New York”
aikin — October 26, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
@Heather: Why not putting together another New York Zip File?
Franz — October 27, 2007 @ 12:54 am
what a great playlist. I’ve used the downloadthemall firefox plugin to download the entire list and put it in my itunes/ipod.
tonight (sat night) is a great night for live music:
Shout Out Louds – Maxwells in Hoboken, a Path train ride
Jens Lekman – Webster Hall
Go Team – Bowery Ballroom
Morrissey – Hammerstein
Scout Niblett – Knitting Factory
and many others
http://jambase.com/Shows/Shows.aspx?City=New%20York&State=NY&radius=25
enjoy NYC even if its raining
rightbacktoyou — October 27, 2007 @ 5:51 am
Heather. I am a loyal reader of your blog and a great admirer of your musical choices as well as your tasty commentary. Keep up the great work!!
Anonymous — October 27, 2007 @ 8:26 am
Oh, great mix. I made myself a New York mix CD about six/seven years ago. Lost it since. I started it with an edited version of “New York New York” from the Gene Kelly & Frank Sinatra musical On The Town.
It also featured the Darts version of “Boy From New York City”, the Eagles’ “In A New York Minute”. And the previously mentioned “Hey Manhattan” by Prefab Sprout. Billy Joel’s “New York State Of Mind” is really essential.
And no Rosie Thomas? “Much Farther To Go” on the new album should be a on your mix…
Any major dude with half a heart — October 27, 2007 @ 10:50 am
I’m looking forward to listening to these. Thanks for posting them.
I’ll also second the Rosie Thomas nomination, and add a recommendation for They Might Be Giants “New York City”.
I hope to visit the city some day.
James — October 27, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
Made me think of my time in one of the greatest cities… And miss it terribly.
The Wombat’s “Moving To New York” is also a worthy addition to this lovely mix!
Hadar — October 27, 2007 @ 3:33 pm
Nina Hagen ‘New York’ it’s a cracker
Anonymous — October 27, 2007 @ 9:41 pm
“I like New York in June”
Whatever version, this song is quintessential.
booktapes — October 27, 2007 @ 11:29 pm
you forgot “Only New York Going On” by Francis Dunnery
SINEDDIE — October 28, 2007 @ 8:54 am
Heather ~ once again an amazing playlist! Hope you had a great reunion in the City. And I must thank all the posters, I’m keeping a running list of more songs to download and add to it, thanks for all the suggestions!
aims — October 29, 2007 @ 8:25 am
Great post, and hope you’re enjoying your stay in my neck of the woods!
The Lennon track made me want to tell one of my little New York incidents: I was at Penn station, about to see the Chili Peppers play Madison Square Garden in 2002. I had some time to kill while I waited for my friends so I decided to grab a beer at this pizza place (I forget the name of it but you can get a 22 oz. Fosters for $2).
I was sitting next to a weird-looking dude in a black leather jacket, with long black hair in a ponytail. He started talking to me, and it came out that I was in a band. He started dispensing advice, including how you need to leave your home turf in order for anyone to give a damn about you (in NJ there are a million bands, but if you play farther away you can get billed as “All the Way From New Jersey!”) He then gave me his business card.
Stupid me, I didn’t look at it until later that night… it was David Peel! (Namechecked in John Lennon’s “New York City” and produced by John and Yoko.) Beleive me, if I knew who he was at the time I would most DEFINITELY have had a few questions about New York, the 70s and John. Every time I’m there I poke my head in that pizza place to see if he’s there, but that was my moment.
petepizza — October 29, 2007 @ 10:45 am
By the way… no Dylan in this post???
petepizza — October 29, 2007 @ 11:20 am
hey heather – nice mix – but more importantly:
The PJ track was from the Irving Plaza Show?? Do you have a copy of that whole show? ive been dying to hear it since my bro went and i didnt!
ev — October 29, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
What about the Wombats’ “Moving to New York”…it’s incredible.
Soki — October 30, 2007 @ 12:31 pm
Heather – listening to you post of Chelsea Hotel #2 reminded me of someone you may like. Chris McFarland – a singer/songwriter from Austin. He does a great cover of that song on his CD ‘Given’.
Thanks for all the great posts!
Chris Chapman — November 1, 2007 @ 7:27 am
I adore all these New York songs..especially Dirty Boulevard by the king of the underground in NYC.
Of course you cannot beat a Leonard Cohen song with a coat hanger.
I am still waiting for my trip to NYC.
First stop The Dakota.
Great music you have!
Chloe
ChloeSkye — November 8, 2007 @ 11:18 pm
I love New York! 3 visits already and I still want more
Cant seem to download your song mixes though
- Jerry
Anonymous — January 6, 2008 @ 3:35 am
Wicked playlist!
dubmusic — January 26, 2008 @ 2:42 am
Fantastic playlist; I love every song. I’m currently working on one for a friend who is moving to Chicago. Does anyone have any Chicago recommendations?
Anonymous — January 27, 2008 @ 10:01 pm
clearly you already have Dear Chicago by ryan adams, right?! Via Chicago, wilco. Chicago x 12 Rogue Wave. Used To Work In Chicago, a cover of an old folk song Pearl Jam did one year at Bridge School (I have this if you email me). I don’t have really obscure ones for you
heather — January 27, 2008 @ 10:04 pm
Dear Chicago and Via Chicago were the first two songs that came to mind
I definitely need that Pearl Jam song. I am emailing you immediately. Thanks!
Anonymous — January 28, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
Is there anyway you could re-post this mix? I would love to get a copy of it?
Eric — August 30, 2008 @ 7:14 pm
Hi heather,
Today I have found your blog thank to "This Morning I Born Again", please could you re-post this compilation again?
Thanks & Merry X-mas.
Juan
Anonymous — December 23, 2008 @ 12:22 pm
‘i dont even listen to pearl jam on principle’
quinn — May 22, 2014 @ 12:27 pm