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The Sidewalks Of New York
Composer: Charles B. Lawlor / James W. Blake

The melody of The Sidewalks Of New York was briefly played by the Grateful Dead prior to the encore of the March 28, 1972 show in new York.

The song was written in the 1890s by Charles B. Lawlor and James W. Blake. The story behind the song, which may be apocryphal, is that Lawlor came up with the melody whilst walking around the city. He went to the hat shop where Blake was working and asked him to come up with lyrics to fit the melody. Blake did this between customers.

The Sidewalks Of New York is thought to have been popularised by Lottie Gilson, who sang the song every night during her act at the London Theater on the Bowery, in 1894.



Grateful Dead

info Dick's Picks, Vol. 30, Grateful Dead, 2003

Other recordings

This list is not intended to be comprehensive.

no info Sidewalks Of New York, Dan W. Quinn, 1895 (Berliner)
no info Sidewalks Of New York, George Gaskin, 1895 (Berliner)
no info Sidewalks of New York, Harry MacDonough, 1903 (Victor)
no info Single (Sidewalks Of New York / On The Banks Of The Wabash Far Away), Royal Waikiki Hawaiian Orchestra, 1920
no info Single (Old Time Waltzes, Pt.1 / Old Time Waltzes, Pt.1), Selvin's Novelty Orchestra, 1923?
no info Single (Medley (inc. Sidewalks Of New York) / Medley), Walter C. Peterson, 1925
no info Single (The Sidewalks Of New York / The Girl I Left Behind Me), Vernon Dalhart, 1925
no info Single (The Sidewalks Of New York / Governor Al Smith For President), Al Craver / Carolina Night Hawks, 1926
no info Single (Maggie Murphys Home / Sidewalks Of New York), The Shannon Quartet, 1926
no info Single (On The Banks Of The Wabash, Far Away / The Sidewalks Of New York), The Shannon Quartet, 1927
no info Single (Beloved / Sidewalks Of New York), Manhattan Musicians, 1927?
no info Single (Old Time Waltzes, Pt.1 / Old Time Waltzes, Pt.1), Bar Harbor Society Orchestra, 1928
no info Single (The Sidewalks Of New York / In The Good Old Summertime), Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra, 1928
no info Single (Estrellita / Sidewalks Of New York), Oriole Dance Orchestra, 1928
no info Single (Sidewalks Of New York / He's Our Al), Willie Walker & His Gang, 1928
no info Single (Old Time Waltzes / The Sidewalks Of New York), Johnnie Sylvester, 1928
no info Single (Sidewalks Of New York / In Good Old Summertime), Eddy Jordan's Oldtime Orchestra, 1928
no info Single (Rye Straw / Sidewalks Of New York), Floyd Thompson & Hometowners, 1928
no info Single (Sidewalks Of New York / On The Banks Of The Old Omaha), Andrew Jenkins/Carson Robison, 1928
no info Single (The Sidewalks Of New York / Home Sweet Home), Jewel Dance Orchestra, 1928
no info Single (Carry Me Back To Old Virginny / Sidewalks Of New York), Supertone Male Quartet, 1928
no info Single (Bowery Medley Of Old Timers / The Sidewalks Of New York), Hurdy Gurdy Street Organ, 1928
no info Single (Never Take The Horseshoe Off The Door / Sidewalks Of New York), Fitzpatrick Brothers, 1928
no info Single (The Sidewalks Of New York / He's Our Al), Jack Kaufman, 1928
no info Single (The Sidewalks Of New York / Old Time Medley), Street Organ, 1928
no info Single (Medley Of Old Time Favorites / Sidewalks Of New York), Dixie Marimba Players / Adrian Schubert's Salon Orchestra, 1928
no info Single (Anchors Aweigh (The Song Of The Navy) / Sidewalks Of New York), Victor Young & His Orchestra, 1935
no info Single (Come, Josephine, In My Flying Machine / Sidewalks Of New York), Dick Robertson & His Orch, 1937
no info Single (Old Time Waltz Medley / The Princess Glide/In The Sweet Long Ago Medley), Byron Wolfe's Orchestra, 1939
no info Single (Take The A Train / The Sidewalks Of New York), Duke Ellington Orchestra, 1941
no info Single (Sidewalks Of New York / In The Good Old Summertime Medley), Knickerbocker Serenaders, 1942
no info Single (Sidewalks Of New York/The Bowery / Tim Toolan/Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly), 5 Demarco Sisters, 1945
no info Single (Sidewalks Of New York / Sweet Rosie O'Grady), Hildegarde With Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians, 1946
no info Single (Jealousy / Sidewalks Of New York), Tiny Grimes Quintet, 1949
no info Single (Don't Get Around Much Anymore / Sidewalks Of New York), Duke Ellington Orchestra, 1949
no info Single (Canadian Capers / Sidewalks Of New York), Russ Morgan & His Orchestra, 194?
no info Single (Sidewalks Of New York / Tea For Two), Eddie "Piano" Miller, 1950
no info Single (Take Me Out To The Ball Game Medley / Sidewalks Of New York Medley), Charlotte Boy's Choir, 1950?
no info Single (Sidewalks Of New York / Sweet Bunch Of Desires), Eddie Smith, 1951
no info Introducing, Pete Rugolo & His Orchestra, 1954
no info Single (Manhattan Mambo / Sidewalks Of New York, Pete Rugolo & His Orchestra, 1954
no info Single (Chinatown My Chinatown / Sidewalks of New York), Johnny Maddox, 1954
no info Honky Tonk Piano, Knuckles O'Toole, 1955
no info Honky Tonk Piano, Lew "Ace" Raymond, 1955
no info Hi-Fi Keyboards, Billy Maxted, 1955
no info A Visit to New York, Arthur Godfrey and All the Little Godfrey's, 1955
no info Single (How Could You Do A Thing Like That / Sidewalks Of New York), Tyree Glenn, 1955
no info Organ and Firelight, Hal Shutz, 1956
no info Trombone Panorama, Kai Winding, 1957
no info Honky Tonk and Ragtime Piano, Puddin' Head Smith, 1957
no info Piano Roll Party in Hi-Fi!, J. Lawrence Cook, 1957
info Crazy Calliope Music, Margie Meinert, 1957
no info Beau James: The Life and Times of Jimmy Walker Soundtrack, Joseph Lilley, 1957
no info Nostalgia Revisited in Hi-Fi, Banjo Kings, 1958
no info Things Are Getting Better, Cannonball Adderley, 1958
no info The Good Old Days: 32 All Time Greats, San Francisco Marching, Trotting and Walking Band, 1958
no info Sing Along, Good-Time Charlie & the Gang, 1959
no info Dagenham Girl Pipers, Dagenham Girl Pipers, 1959
no info Beatrice Kay Sings Gay '90s, Beatrice Kay with Gerald Dolin & Eligibles, 1959
no info Party Sing Along with Mitch, Mitch Miller & Gang, 1959
no info Sing Along With, Big Ben Banjo Band, 1960
no info Chimes of Memory, Charles Kendall, 1960
info Songs I Love To Sing, Tommy Collins, 1960
no info Sings God Bless America, Kate Smith, 1960
no info Everybody Sing Vol 1: For Cubs, Various Artists (Oscar Brand), 1960
no info Getting to Know You, Varel & Bailly & Les Chanteurs de Paris, 1961
no info Introducing the Fantastic, Raymond Shelley, 1961
no info Wingy Manone And The Jazz Band Bus, Wingy Manone, 1962
no info Souvenirs of New York, Dick Leibert, 1962
no info American Waltzes, Mantovani & His Orchestra, 1962
no info Single (Peggy O'Neill / Sidewalks Of New York), Margie Meinert, 1962
no info Manhattan Beat, Eddie Heywood, 1963
no info Single (Harlem Blues / Sidewalks Of New York, Eddie Heywood, 1963
no info World Renowned, Ferko String Band, 1963
no info Sings Sunday In New York, Mel Torme, 1964
no info Live at the Americana, Volume 1, Liberace, 1964
no info Musical Souvenir of New York City, Dave Terry Orchestra, 1964
no info I Happen to Like New York, Caterina Valente With The Johnny Keating Orchestra, 1964
no info Dixieland at Carnegie Hall, Jimmie McPartland & Wild Bill Davison, 1964
no info The Roaring Sound of Percussion Banjos, New Orleans Swingers featuring Mr. Strum, 1965
no info All Time Great Hits, Frank Fontaine, 1966
no info New York: My Port of Call, Jimmy Roselli, 1966
no info Barrel Organ Memories, Stanley Holloway, 1966
no info King of the Road, Bill Black's Combo, 1967
no info Party Sing-A-Long, Jim Murray Singers, 196?
no info Banjos Roar and Swing, Mr. Banjo & New Orleans Redheads, 196?
no info 24 Honky Tonk Piano Selections, Blotto Otto & Rhythm, 196?
no info Every Night Is New Year's Eve, Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians, 1973
no info Phenix, Cannonball Adderley, 1975
no info Sidewalks Of New York, Wurlitzer 164 Band Organ, 1976
no info Mickey Finn's Music, Mickey Finn, 1978
no info The Good Old Days, Arthur Fiedler & Boston Pops Orchestra, 1978
no info The 22 Great Organ Favorites, The Magic Organ, 1985
no info Ragtime Piano Favorites, Dick Wellstood, 1987
no info The Blanton-Webster Band, Duke Ellington, 1990
info Best of Fiddle Fever, Fiddle Fever, 1990
no info Songs Of New York, Mel Torme, 1993
no info The Jimmy Blanton Era 1939-1941, Duke Ellington, 1994
no info East Side, West Side, Kenny Davern, 1994
no info 1940-1941, Duke Ellington & His Orchestra, 1995
no info Complete RCA Victor Recordings: 1927-1973, Duke Ellington, 1999
no info Comin' Home Baby!/Sunday in New York, Mel Torme, 2000
no info Complete Columbia and RCA Victor Sessions, Duke Ellington, 2001
no info Rocket Ship Beach, Dan Zanes, 2001
no info 1944-1949, Tiny Grimes, 2003
no info Adventures in Jazz, Pete Rugolo, 2006
no info The Argo, Verve and Impulse Big Band Studio Sessions, Oliver Nelson, 2006
no info The Duke Box, Duke Ellington, 2007
no info Dis Here, Cannonball Adderley, 2011

 
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