If you’re sick of hearing Frank Sinatra tell you that he wants to be a part of it, or Alicia Keys gushing about how these streets will make you feel brand new, then rejoice – here’s an alternative musical history of the Big Apple. Ladies and gentlemen, get your walking shoes on for a journey through Flavorpill’s essential Manhattan lyrical topography. Click here for a larger version of our rock ‘n roll map of the borough and take our guided tour after the jump.
Harlem
Harlem’s rich musical history is well-documented, as is the fact that it was where Lou Reed used to go to score smack. The blocks north of 110th Street feature prominently in all sorts of songs – including, of course, “Across 110th Street.”
“Up to Lexington, 125/Feeling sick and dirty/More dead than alive…”
The Velvet Underground, “I’m Waiting for the Man”
We confess to having taken a photo on this corner, under the street signs.
“Get as high as you can on Saturday night/Go to church on Sunday to set things right…”
Gil Scott-Heron, “Small Talk at 125th and Lenox”
A landmark album in many ways, Scott-Heron’s 1970 masterpiece references his adopted home of Harlem in its title and several of its lyrics.
“I am sitting/In the morning/At the diner/On the corner…”
Suzanne Vega, “Tom’s Diner”
The real Tom’s Restaurant – as also featured in Seinfeld – is on 112th and Broadway.
“Across 110th Street’s a hell of a tester…”
Bobby Womack, “Across 110th Street”
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Here’s another one: Central Park ‘n West by Ian Hunter.
The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy) – Simon & Garfunkel
Big Man On Mulberry Street – Billy Joel
Keep ‘em coming…
“Bleecker Street” by Simon & Garfunkel
“Sullivan Street” by Counting Crows
Just to mention the ones that have it in their titles. It seems to me NYC has inspired one too many songs.
I think there are those who would argue with you about whether or not Greenpoint Tavern is truly a terrible place, but one thing you definitely got wrong is the location — it’s BEDFORD and North 7th
alphabet town, elliott smith
Bah curses I meant Bedford and North 7th. Bushwick? Where did *that* come from? Stupid non-functioning brain. Thanks for pointing that out, I’ll fix it.
And smcasey – Alphabet Town is in there!
matt & kim’s “daylight” says “and float down grand street in daylight.” i’m guessing it’s brooklyn’s grand street, but who knows? could be manhattan :)
Come on! What an incomplete list! Nice N Smooth – “Sometimes I Rhyme Slow”
1. I go to Bay Plaza and catch a flick
2. Go to Tavern on the Green have a glass of wine
3. I was on 125 and Saint Nick, Waiting on a cab, standing in the rain
Un-named track hidden at the end of Song 10 on Counting Crows “Across a Wire: Live in New York”
“There’s something ’bout the buildings in Chelsea that just kills me.”
[...] rock ‘n roll map of the borough and take our guided tour after the jump. … More here: Flavorwire » A Rock 'n Roll Map of Manhattan Tags: a-journey-through, and-gentlemen, get-your, guided, here-for, manhattan, our-guided, [...]
Positively 4th Street, ‘just a come-on from the whores on 7th avenue’ (really? 7th?), ‘chelsea girls’, ‘there’s gonna be a showdown’ (‘you best be at the dance on 14th street, you hear?’ ny dolls via archie bell), ’10th avenue freeze-out’, this could go on forever. literally.
There’s got to be some Dylan references somewhere…
sad that no credit was given to the original map illustration: http://mappery.com/Manhattan-Neighborhood-map
14th Street – Rufus Wainwright (tuns of Rufus songs mention Manhattan)
The Luckiest Guy On The Lower East Side – The Magnetic Fields
Rancid – Olympia, WA (52nd and Broadway reference)
Quicksand – East 3rd St.
How about “Checkin’ his stash by the trash at St. Mark’s place.” from Alex Chilton by The Replacements.
Dylan? He could have his own map! ‘Positively 4th St’ is one, but I like to chase the ‘laughter on Elizabeth St’ or the clam bar where Joey last lifted up his fork. Endless.
First thing I did when I moved to NYC? Walked to St Marks & 1st Ave — the corner bar was Mick & Keith’s destination in ‘Waiting on a Friend’ (changed a lot since). They begin that 1981 video halfway down St Marks to Tompkins Square Park, on the stoop of the building used for the Led Zeppelin ‘Physical Graffiti’ album cover.
By the way, 2nd St between Bowery & 2nd Ave, is now Joey Ramone Place.
There’s the cover shot of Beastie Boys’ ‘Paul’s Boutique’ in LES
I hear Tom’s Diner is actually the Brooklyn one in Prospect Heights (Sterling & Washington Sts). Dunno.
How about the Mudd Club, it’s on White Street y’all, where they work the wall, and work the floor, and work the pipe, and work the wall some more
You are aware that Lenox Ave and Lexington Ave are different streets, right?
Ted Leo, The World is in the Turlet (“The East River boiled and belched up a cadaver, The corpse walked to Enid’s for a drink and some palaver”).
Great graphic – put it on a T-shirt.
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I remember her well at the ‘Chelsea Hotel’ – Mr Cohen
Duder – that’s a hell of a great line! I’ll have to look that song up…
Daddy Don’t Live In That New York City No More by Steely Dan:
“Daddy don’t need no lock and key
For the piece he stowed down on Avenue D”
Incident on 57th St.
Gene Simmons was a sixth grade teacher in Harlem or when part of the upperwestside was considered harlem,he taught at P.S 75 NY before joining the band KISS.
Miles Davis lived at 312 West 77th Street for 25 years starting in 1958
as well as singing the 59th Street Bridge Song, Simon and Garfunkel also got a come on from the whores of 7th avenue (the boxer)
And Broadway. As well as the famous Lullaby, also note that the Lamb Lies Down there (Genesis)
Ramones – 53rd & 3rd
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That’s actually not Tom’s Diner, it’s Tom’s Restaurant. The Tom’s Diner of Suzanne Vega’s song is located in Prospect Heights and even has a framed manuscript of the song’s lyrics on the wall. You’re thinking of Seinfeld.
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