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This week’s Song of the Week is Billy Joel’s timeless 1976 recording “New York State of Mind.”

“New York State of Mind” was released on single in 1976 and also appeared on Billy’s fourth album “Turnstiles” from the same year. “Turnstiles” celebrated Joel’s move back to New York from the West Coast. New York is referenced in two other songs on “Turnstiles” (“Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out On Broadway”) and “Summer Highland Falls”) and the album opens with the Spector-inspired “Say Goodbye to Hollywood.”

“New York State of Mind” is like a love letter to the city. The implication is that New York feels like real life to him and that his West Coast experience, though fun for a while (I’ve seen all the movie stars in their fancy cars and their limousines”), lacked the grit and authenticity of his home town.

The first verse and last lines of the song mention taking a Greyhound bus on the “Hudson River Line” and this is what Joel was reportedly doing when the idea for the song came to him.

“New York State of Mind” didn’t have much impact when first released, but has since become one of the best loved of Joel’s songs. Its appearance on several hit compilations has helped in that regard, as has its popularity on radio. The song also seemed to take on more significance following the events of 9/11. Here was a song that satisfied the desire of New Yorkers and the wider public to extol the virtues of the city.

Billy Joel – “New York State of Mind”

In March 1978, Joel performed an excellent version of “New York State of Mind” on BBC television:

Authorship

Billy Joel wrote the words and music of “New York State of Mind.”

Recording date/location

“New York State of Mind” was recorded at Ultrasonic Recording Studios, Hempstead, NY in January 1976.

Musicians

The musicians who appeared on “New York State of Mind” included:

• Billy Joel – keyboards, vocals
• Richie Cannata – saxophone
• Liberty DeVitto – drums
• Doug Stegmeyer – bass guitar
• Howie Emerson – guitar.

Chart performance

This is one of those songs that didn’t receive the attention it deserved when first released. The single failed to chart and the album on which it appeared, “Turnstiles”, only made 122 in the US.

Despite the low chart position for “Turnstiles”, the album did go on to be a Platinum seller in the US.

Covers

Oleta Adams – “New York State of Mind”

Oleta Adams featured “New York State of Mind” on her 1993 album “Evolution”, which was a top 10 hit in the UK. The arrangement is a little busier than the original, with less emphasis on the piano than Billy’s.

Barbra Streisand – “New York State of Mind”

Barbra Streisand’s cover of “New York State of Mind” was released the year after Joel’s on her hit album “Streisand Superman.” It’s a strong vocal from Streisand, if a little overzealous towards the end. This, as with Adams’ version, doesn’t eclipse the original.

There will be a new Song of the Week on January 3.

Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind” features on his album “Turnstiles” and several compilations, including “Piano Man: The Very Best of Billy Joel.”

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Piano Man – The Very Best of Billy Joel (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now