New York City
New York City was a short-lived R&B vocal group from New York with a soulful sound influenced by Philly soul. They formed in 1972 under the name Tri-Boro Exchange and achieved brief success in the mid-1970s.
The group consisted of experienced vocalists including lead singer Tim McQueen, John Brown (formerly of The Five Satins, The Cadillacs, and The Moonglows), Claude Johnson (ex-The Genies and Don & Juan), and Eddie Schell. They later featured Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, who went on to form Chic, as part of their touring band.
Produced by Wes Farrell and Thom Bell, New York City released their debut album I'm Doin' Fine Now in 1973, featuring the hit single of the same name that reached No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 35 on the R&B chart. A follow-up album, Soulful Road, came in 1974, peaking at No. 50 on the R&B chart, but the group disbanded soon after.
Though their run was brief, New York City's smooth soul style left a mark, with their biggest hit remembered for its catchy, upbeat vibe typical of the era's vocal groups.
I’m Doin’ Fine Now
Written-By – Felder, Harris, Baker
3:00
A2 Make Me Twice The Man
Written-By – McQueen
3:16
A3 By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Written-By – Webb
3:55
A4 Sanity
Written-By – Johnson, Schell, Brown, McQueen
3:00
A5 Hang On Sloopy
Written-By – Russell, Farrell
3:37
A6 Set The Record Straight
Written-By – McQueen
2:56
B1 Quick, Fast, In A Hurry
Written-By – Creed, Bell
2:36
B2 Uncle James
Written-By – Jefferson
3:25
B3 Ain't It So
Written-By – Jefferson
3:36
B4 I'm Doin' Fine Now
Written-By – Marshall, Bell
2:52
B5 Reach Out
Written-By – Hart, Janssen, Farrell
3:31
Label: Chelsea Records – BCL1-0198
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1973
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Philly
The 1973 debut album I'm Doin' Fine Now by New York City is a well-regarded example of early 70s Philly soul, praised for its mix of ballads and uptempo tunes produced by the notable Thom Bell. It is often compared favorably to other soul groups of the era like The Spinners, The Stylistics, and the Chi-Lites.
The lead vocalist, Tim McQueen, is commended for his "great, haunting voice" and perfect phrasing, particularly on the title track. Reviewers consistently describe the album as a prime example of the "Philly sound". One reviewer on Rate Your Music notes it has a sound "veering between The Spinners, Stylistics & Chi-lites," recommending it to fans of those groups.
The production work by the "genius" Thom Bell (known for his work with the Detroit Spinners) and writer Linda Creed is highly praised. The use of rich string arrangements and a tight band (which included future Chic founders Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards on tour, though potentially not in the studio) is highlighted as a key strength.
Beyond the hit title track, the album contains "hidden gems" and a strong mix of songs. Highlights include:- "Uncle James": Cited by some as one of the best "smooth soul" ballads of the early 70s;m"Quick, Fast, In A Hurry": Another charting single, noted as an uptempo favorite; "Set The Record Straight": A jazz-funk track with "cleverly refined strings" and a "hard grooving" feel.
The album's title song was a significant success, reaching No. 17 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, No. 14 on the Hot Soul Singles, and No. 8 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The album itself reached the Top 50 on the Black Albums chart.
A recurring complaint among user reviews on Amazon is the poor audio quality of certain CD releases, with some tracks reportedly sounding muffled or like they were recorded directly from vinyl, lacking proper digital mastering. Reviewers advise seeking out releases with better sound quality, such as the "Best of New York City" compilation, for a better listening experience.
A common sentiment is regret that the collaboration between the group and producer Thom Bell was abrupt, leading to the group being relatively short-lived with only two albums released.
Im Doin Fine Now I m Doin' Fine Now
Soulful Road
Written-By – Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons, Joseph B. Jefferson 3:21
A2 I've Had Enough
Written-By – Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons, Joseph B. Jefferson 3:54
A3 Darling Take Me Back
Written-By – Phil Terry, Talmadge Conway, Life 4:04
A4 Can't Survive Without My Sweets
Written-By – Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons, Joseph B. Jefferson 3:36
A5 Got To Get You Back In My Life
Written-By – Phillip Pugh, Sherman Marshall 4:10
B1 Do You Remember Yesterday
Written-By – Kenny Gamble, Linda Creed, Thom Bell 4:38
B2 Only You
Written-By – Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons, Joseph B. Jefferson 6:02
B3 Take My Hand
Written-By – Phil Terry, Talmadge Conway, Life 4:18
B4 Can't Go On Without You
Written-By – Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons, Joseph B. Jefferson 4:34
B5 Love Is What You Make It
Written-By – Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons, Joseph B. Jefferson 4:31
Label: Chelsea Records – CHL 500
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1974
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Philly Soul
New York City's Soulful Road is a key Philadelphia Soul album, known for its homage to The Beatles' Abbey Road on its cover and themes, featuring hit R&B singles like "Happiness Is" and "Love Is What You Make It," showcasing smooth vocals, strong production (though largely written by others), and representing the group's final effort with critical and modest chart success before they disbanded.
The album cover directly mirrors Abbey Road, with the band crossing Abbey Road in similar poses but opposite directions, and the tracklist mimicking its layout.
Produced, arranged and conducted by Thom Bell, the album is a prime example of the "Philly Sound," blending soul, disco, funk, R&B, and jazz with lavish string and horn arrangements. The production quality, largely thanks to Sigma Sound Studios and producer Thom Bell, is often praised for its "lush, soulful sound".
Soulful Road had limited commercial success compared to the band's debut, reaching the Top 50 on the US Top Soul Albums chart. The singles "Happiness Is" and "Love Is What You Make It" reached numbers 20 and 41, respectively, on the US R&B charts.
It's a prime example of the genre, noted for its lush arrangements and soulful vocals, cementing the group's importance in Philly Soul's development.
Despite limited mainstream success and the group splitting after its release, Soulful Road is considered a strong entry, ripe for modern reissue, highlighting New York City's talent.
In essence, Soulful Road is a well-crafted soul record with a clever Beatles twist, delivering smooth, chart-friendly tracks that solidified New York City's place in 70s soul music.