Various Artists - The Sound Of The City : New York

The final collection in this series.

‘The New York set obviously reflects the greatest cultural melting pot in the world. Jazz greats John Coltrane and Charlie Parker each provide a sophisticated tune which like so much non-pop music in the entire series may become stepping-stones to unfamiliar genres.  Again, on the first disc you may know several songs from the cover versions e.g. On Broadway, If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody, Spanish Harlem and Sally Go Round The Roses.  They are mostly refreshing, uncommercialised, original artefacts and sometimes feature extremely clever arrangements.  The Flamingos original version of I Only Have Eyes For You is a case in point, where the backing vocalists sing extremely short, compressed, abstract phrases that contrast with the lovely, long lead vocal line.  I could not have imagined a more beautiful reading than Art Garfunkel’s.  The Cuban and Puerto Rican influence is well represented throughout the NY double, but the American Italians were the big thrill.  The rock/soul of the La Bamba-like Good Lovin’ by The Young Rascals is as infectious as ever.  Dion may well be a rock great. Was he inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame a few years back?  Dunno.  He will be inducted into mine. One of those artists you will have to check out for yourself for, like Tim Buckley, Lee Hazlewood and Bert Jansch, his legendary status still doesn’t get him played on the radio too often. His reading of Leiber and Stoller’s Drip Drop is as raw and direct as something of the Beach Boys Party album and his voice is as beautiful as any Beach Boy.  The second CD takes in punk, pop, new wave art rock, soul, disco and rap. Dissent rears it imposing head in famous songs like The Message and Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent but the most moving piece of dissent and perhaps the most powerful song you will hear in aeons is Society’s Child by the then seventeen-year-old Janis Ian. An absolute massive hit in 1967 America, it deals frankly with the then untenable notion of teenage interracial relationships. With its soulful blasts of Hammond, cheesy 1960s harpsichord and tidal waves of tension, it is quite different to the lightweight singer songwriter work of her 1970s albums.’

(Stephen Ridley, Comes With A Smile website)

CD 1

1. When I Take My Vacation In Harlem - Tampa Red

2. Minnie The Moocher - Cab Calloway

3. Now's The Time - Charlie Parker

4. I Cover The Waterfront - Billie Holiday

5. Hernando's Hideaway - Archie Bleyer

6. Serenata Ritmica - Noro Morales

7. What'cha Gonna Do - Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters

8. Speedoo - The Cadillacs

9. Maybe - The Chantels

10. A Thousand Miles Away - The Heartbeats

11. I Only Have Eyes for You - The Flaming's

12. Central Park - John Coltrane

13. Sally Go Round The Roses - The Jaynetts

14. If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody - James Ray

15. He's So Fine - The Chiffons

16. Leader Of The Pack - The Shangri Las

17. A Quiet Place - Garnett Mimms

18. Spanish Harlem - Ben E King

19. El Watusi - Ray Barretto 

20. On Broadway - The Drifters

21. Drip Drop - Dion

22. Spanish Harlem Incident - Bob Dylan

CD 2

1. Hey Leroy Your Mama's Calling

2. Good Lovin' - The Young Rascals

3. Summer In The City - The Lovin' Spoonful

4. I Want Candy - The Strangeloves

5. I'm Waiting For The Man - Velvet Underground

6. Subway Joe - Joe Bataan

7. Society's Child - Janis Ian

8. Spanish Stroll - Mink Deville

9. Hanging On The Telephone - Blondie

10. Johnny - Suicide

11. The Message - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five

12. Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent - Gwen Guthrie

13. Road To Nowhere - Talking Head

14. You're Gonna Miss Me - Turntable Orchestra

15. Respect - Adeva

16. Ladies' Choice - Queen Latifah feat. Monie Love

17. King Of New York - Fun Lovin' Criminals

18. Mother Earth - Wax Poetic