"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 Mandel on clavinet 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.
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".
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]
References
^ abWhitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 193.
^Billboard Staff (October 19, 2023). "The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2024. One of the best one-off disco hits ever recorded, with a sophisticated air and a somewhat jaded undertone.
^Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 437.
