“Talking Big Apple ‘75” (song by Loudon Wainwright III, 1976)

A plaque remaining from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem.

Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.

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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.

Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.

Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.

Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.

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Entry from June 12, 2021

“Talking Big Apple ‘75” (song by Loudon Wainwright III, 1976)

“Talking Big Apple ’75” is a song on the album T Shirt (1976) by American songwriter, folk singer, humorist, and actor

Loudon Wainwright III. The lyrics are a time capsule of New York City and mention then-mayor Abe Beame.

“Sure I know New York is dirty and ugly,” Wainwright sings, but he concludes, “Oh, but it’s not boring.”

Wikipedia: T-Shirt (album)
T Shirt is a 1976 album by Loudon Wainwright III. Unlike his earlier records, this (and the subsequent Final Exam) saw Wainwright adopt a full blown rock band (Slowtrain) - though there are acoustic songs on T Shirt, including a talking blues. According to Wainwright on the 2006 CD liner notes, it received a scathing review from Rolling Stone which depressed him so much he stayed in bed for five days.
(...)
Track listing
All tracks composed by Loudon Wainwright III; except where indicated

1. “Bicentennial”
2. “Summer’s Almost Over”
3. “Hollywood Hopeful” (Traditional; arranged and adapted by Loudon Wainwright III)
4. “Reciprocity”
5. “At Both Ends”
6. “Wine with Dinner”
7. “Hey Packy” (George Gerdes)
8. “California Prison Blues”
9. “Talking Big Apple ‘75”

Genius.com (lyrics)
Talking Big Apple ’75
Loudon Wainwright III
From the 1976 album titled “T Shirt”
Release Date January 1, 1976
Well there’s all kinds of cities that I ramble around
But New York, New York, now there’s a hell of a town
You know it ain’t no lie, and it ain’t no guff
They got five big boroughs chock full of stuff
They got skyscrapers
subways
and a sea of humanity ...

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Now playing Loudon Wainwright III - Talking Big Apple ‘75 - Paris Theatre 1976 #LoudonWainwrightIII.
BBC Radio 6 Music - Gideon Coe, Loudon Wainwright at the Paris Theatre in 1976
Loudon Wainwright live in 1976, plus The Monochrome Set and These New Puritans.
bbc.co.uk
7:21 PM · Mar 18, 2014·BBC 6 Music Bot

YouTube
Loudon Wainwright III : Talking Big Apple ‘75
Sep 18, 2014
Mr Kleeg
From the 1975 Arista album “T Shirt”

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Loudon Wainwright III - Talking Big Apple ‘75 - Paris Theatre 1976 https://j.mp/361VCZg #NowPlaying #6music
6:30 PM · Nov 2, 2020·WhatsOn6music

Posted by Barry Popik
New York City • The Big Apple • 1970s: Big Apple Revival • Saturday, June 12, 2021 • Permalink

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