| "Native New Yorker" | |
|---|---|
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| SinglebyOdyssey | |
| from the album Odyssey | |
| B-side | "Ever Lovin' Sam" |
| Released | November 1977 (1977) |
| Recorded | 1977 House of Music, West Orange, New Jersey |
| Genre | Disco[1][2] |
| Length | 3:29 5:35 (Disco Version) |
| Label | RCA Victor |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) |
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| Official audio | |
| "Native New Yorker"onYouTube | |
"Native New Yorker" is a disco song written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell. It was first recorded in 1977 by Frankie Valli and released on his album Lady Put the Light Out. Later in 1977, the song became a hit single for the soul dance band Odyssey, reaching No. 3 on the U.S. disco chart.[1] Odyssey's "Native New Yorker" also went to No. 6 on the soul chart and No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] It reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart.[4]
The group recorded the song at House of Music in West Orange, New Jersey. Jeffrey Kawalek was the recording and mix engineer. Richard Tee played its signature piano track. 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. Sandy Linzer added Tommy Mandelonclavinet and played hair drum himself on the mix that would be released as a single, engineered by Billy Radice at Olmstead studios in New York City.
"Native New Yorker" was also recorded by Esther Phillips in 1978, and Black Box in 1998.
It was later sampled by Rich Cronin's band, Loose Cannons, for their song "New York City Girls", as well as by the house music group, Kluster, in their song featuring Ron Carroll, entitled "My Love".
The tenor saxophone solo on Odyssey's recording is played by Michael Brecker.[5] George Young was part of the horn section, where he played alto sax.[6]
| Chart (1977–1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada RPM Top Singles | 13 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[7] | 7 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ)[8] | 15 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[4] | 5 |
| U.S. Cashbox Top 100 | 15 |
| 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 |
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); The Stud (1978); 54 (1998); A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006); The Nanny Diaries (2007), a commercial for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014), Colin Quinn: The New York Story (2016), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). It also served as background music towards the end of the preliminary swimsuit segment of the 1981 Miss Universe pageant in New York City; it is typically played during lead-in segments of Good Day New York. The song opens the 3rd episode of season 3 of Pose (2021) entitled "The Trunk".[9]
"Native New Yorker" is played after every New York City FC soccer game at Yankee Stadium.[10]
Television personality Wendy Williams (as 'Lips') performed a rendition of the song on the fourth season of the American TV series The Masked Singer. Following her performance, multiple memes and reenactments were created.[11]
One of the best one-off disco hits ever recorded, with a sophisticated air and a somewhat jaded undertone.
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