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New York State of Mind
Turnstiles (1976) |
I don't have any reasons I've left them all behind I'm in a New York state of mind "New York State of Mind" is an instant classic. There has never been a better song written about New York, not "New York, New York," "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters," or "Empire State of Mind." Billy hits all the right notes in this tribute to the city that he knows and loves.
Billy wrote the song upon his return to New York in 1975 after a three years in Los Angeles, breaking into the music industry. Overcome with emotion and pride upon his return, he said that the music and lyrics to "New York State of Mind" just came pouring out of his head one day on a bus ride to the Hudson Valley. He'd been to Hollywood, he'd been up in the Evergreens, but home is a ride on the Hudson River line. 
The Brooklyn Bridge by Joseph Stella.
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Words and Music by Billy Joel Some folks like to get away Take a holiday from the neighborhood Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood But I'm taking a Greyhound On the Hudson River Line I'm in a New York state of mind I've seen all the movie stars In their fancy cars and their limousines Been high in the Rockies under the evergreens But I know what I'm needing And I don't want to waste more time I'm in a New York state of mind It was so easy living day by day Out of touch with the rhythm and blues But now I need a little give and take The New York Times, The Daily News It comes down to reality Well it's fine with me 'cause I've let it slide Don't care if it's Chinatown or on Riverside I don't have any reasons I've left them all behind I'm in a New York state of mind It was so easy living day by day Out of touch with the rhythm and blues But now I need a little give and take The New York Times, The Daily News It comes down to reality Well it's fine with me 'cause I've let it slide I don't care if it's Chinatown or on Riverside I don't have any reasons I've left them all behind I'm in a New York state of mind I'm just taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River Line 'Cause I'm in a New York state of mind Background and photo above John Cardasis/Getty Images.
Billy discusses "New York State of Mind," from SiriusXM. |
In an interview with Mark Seal in American Way magazine, Billy said "'I'm a New Yorker, and it's indelibly imprinted on my soul that this is where I'm from and where I should be.' When he arrived home he went straight to the piano and within 30 minutes had written New York State of Mind, which he calls 'a celebration of a homecoming.'"
Billy clearly missed the sights and sounds of the Big Apple and he never left again. In the song he cleverly contrasts his experiences elsewhere (Rockies, Miami Beach, Hollywood) which cannot compare to the grittiness and beauty of New York. Reality is New York, taking a bus on the Hudson River Line, hanging out in Chinatown or on Riverside. Anything else is being out of touch with reality, from the highbrow of The New York Times to the lowbrow of The Daily News (Billy sometimes sings "and Newsday too" in the repeat verse).
Musically, the song is a standard bluesy jazz ballad. It is reminiscent of Ray Charles' "Georgia, On My Mind." Richie Cannata's signature sax solo ties it all together.
Musically, the song is a standard bluesy jazz ballad. It is reminiscent of Ray Charles' "Georgia, On My Mind." Richie Cannata's signature sax solo ties it all together.
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Although the song was never released as a single, it has become of one Billy's most popular and enduring songs. The song has been covered by many people (e.g., Barbara Streisand, Shirley Bassey, Mel Torme, Oleta Adams, Melissa Etheridge, Alicia Keys, as well as in a duet with Billy and Tony Bennett which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2002. Joel and Bennett also performed the song live at the Live at Shea concert in 2008. Barbra Streisand originally covered the song on her hit album Superman in 1977 which helped establish Billy as a songwriter. You can see Billy and Barbra discuss this on video (YouTube). Decades later they did a "duet" together of the song, but it unfortunately feels somewhat contrived.
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Billy has also done several live recorded versions, but I still like the earnest original. Apparently producer Phil Ramone and Columbia Records replaced Richie Cannata's sax solo on the original version for the version that appeared on Greatest Hits I & II (a new solo was done by jazz saxophonist Michael Brecker, not Phil Woods as has been erroneously reported on some websites) and also on a re-issued version of Turnstiles several years later. In my opinion, however, Cannata's solo on the original LP is still unsurpassed. See Cannata perform it again in this 2014 interview.
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When I hear this song and think of New York, images of bridges and skyscrapers come to mind as does Joseph Stella's iconic painting The Brooklyn Bridge (above). Stella's painting, like the song, captures the essence of a jazz-filled lit New York evening. I also think of my favorite poet, Frank O'Hara, who frequently wrote about New York in his poems such as the wonderful "Steps" and humorous "Song (I'm Going to New York!)." But mostly I think about my kids as "New York State of Mind" is the song they always mention when talking about my admiration for Billy Joel's music.
In 2004, a children's book was made of the song with a dog as the main character, and illustrations by Izak Zenou.
American Songwriter does a nice write-up on the song, from 2019. See article.
In 2004, a children's book was made of the song with a dog as the main character, and illustrations by Izak Zenou.
American Songwriter does a nice write-up on the song, from 2019. See article.
