Cashman & West
Though best known for producing the classic hits of singer/songwriter Jim Croce, the team of Terry Cashman and Tommy West also enjoyed successful performing and composing careers in their own right. Cashman was born Dennis Minogue in New York City on July 5, 1941; while playing minor league baseball in the Detroit Tigers' farm system during the late 1950s, he simultaneously fronted the Chevrons, scoring a handful of minor pop hits and even appearing on American Bandstand. Read Full BioThough best known for producing the classic hits of singer/songwriter Jim Croce, the team of Terry Cashman and Tommy West also enjoyed successful performing and composing careers in their own right. Cashman was born Dennis Minogue in New York City on July 5, 1941; while playing minor league baseball in the Detroit Tigers' farm system during the late 1950s, he simultaneously fronted the Chevrons, scoring a handful of minor pop hits and even appearing on American Bandstand. However, as both his baseball and performing careers waned, in 1964 Cashman joined the promotions staff of ABC Records; there he eventually teamed with songwriter Gene Pistilli to author the lovely Sunday Will Never Be the Same, a Top Ten pop hit for Spanky and Our Gang during the summer of 1967. In time the duo joined forces with fellow tunesmith Tommy West, born Thomas Picardo, Jr. on August 17, 1942. Like Cashman, West began his career as a performer, co-founding the New Jersey-based vocal group the Criterions in 1958; after a handful of unsuccessful singles, they adopted the name the Troubadours. West concurrently attended Villanova University, joining the collegiate vocal club and befriending fellow member Croce.
As Cashman, Pistilli, and West, the threesome recorded a series of singles and a pair of LPs, 1967's Bound to Happen and the following year's For Love of Ivy, to little notice; under the name the Buchanan Brothers, however, they notched a hit in mid-1969 with "Medicine Man." Meanwhile, at West's urging, Capitol signed his old friend Croce and wife Ingrid to a record deal; Cashman, Pistilli, and West also produced the resulting LP, 1969's Approaching Day, but when the record failed to generate much interest, the Croces were dropped from their contract. Soon after, Pistilli dissolved the partnership to join the Manhattan Transfer; Cashman and West continued as a duo, recording as Morning Mist before issuing 1972's A Song or Two under their given names and scoring a Top 30 hit with "American City Suite." When Croce signed to ABC in 1972, Cashman and West resumed production duties, and as the album You Don't Mess Around With Jim launched a pair of hit singles, "Operator" and the title cut, they divided their time between their own career (issuing Moondog Serenade in 1973) and Croce's (helming Life and Times and I Got a Name).
In the wake of Croce's tragic death in a September 20, 1973 plane crash, Cashman and West issued one more LP, Lifesong, before ending their recording partnership, although in 1975 they founded their own label -- also dubbed Lifesong -- scoring a Top Ten hit the following year with Henry Gross' "Shannon." Also in 1976, West recorded his debut solo album, Hometown Frolics.
Cashman issued a self-titled effort of his own around the same time; in 1981, he returned to his roots with the cult hit "Talkin' Baseball (Willie, Mickey and the Duke)," a nostalgic ode to the national pasttime heartily embraced by the sport and its fans. Sports remained the dominant theme of Cashman's work in the years which followed; in 1982, he released two Talkin' Baseball collections (one for the American League, the other for the National League), and in 1994 issued Passin' It On--America's Baseball Heritage in Song. Three years later, he also wrote and produced A Champion Forever: The Cry of the U.S. Open, an oral history of the historic golf tournament, in addition to work with cable sports network ESPN. West, meanwhile, launched High Harmony Records in 1992, producing Anne Murray's Croonin' album a year later; he also established his own recording studio, Somewhere in New Jersey.
As Cashman, Pistilli, and West, the threesome recorded a series of singles and a pair of LPs, 1967's Bound to Happen and the following year's For Love of Ivy, to little notice; under the name the Buchanan Brothers, however, they notched a hit in mid-1969 with "Medicine Man." Meanwhile, at West's urging, Capitol signed his old friend Croce and wife Ingrid to a record deal; Cashman, Pistilli, and West also produced the resulting LP, 1969's Approaching Day, but when the record failed to generate much interest, the Croces were dropped from their contract. Soon after, Pistilli dissolved the partnership to join the Manhattan Transfer; Cashman and West continued as a duo, recording as Morning Mist before issuing 1972's A Song or Two under their given names and scoring a Top 30 hit with "American City Suite." When Croce signed to ABC in 1972, Cashman and West resumed production duties, and as the album You Don't Mess Around With Jim launched a pair of hit singles, "Operator" and the title cut, they divided their time between their own career (issuing Moondog Serenade in 1973) and Croce's (helming Life and Times and I Got a Name).
In the wake of Croce's tragic death in a September 20, 1973 plane crash, Cashman and West issued one more LP, Lifesong, before ending their recording partnership, although in 1975 they founded their own label -- also dubbed Lifesong -- scoring a Top Ten hit the following year with Henry Gross' "Shannon." Also in 1976, West recorded his debut solo album, Hometown Frolics.
Cashman issued a self-titled effort of his own around the same time; in 1981, he returned to his roots with the cult hit "Talkin' Baseball (Willie, Mickey and the Duke)," a nostalgic ode to the national pasttime heartily embraced by the sport and its fans. Sports remained the dominant theme of Cashman's work in the years which followed; in 1982, he released two Talkin' Baseball collections (one for the American League, the other for the National League), and in 1994 issued Passin' It On--America's Baseball Heritage in Song. Three years later, he also wrote and produced A Champion Forever: The Cry of the U.S. Open, an oral history of the historic golf tournament, in addition to work with cable sports network ESPN. West, meanwhile, launched High Harmony Records in 1992, producing Anne Murray's Croonin' album a year later; he also established his own recording studio, Somewhere in New Jersey.
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American City Suite
Cashman & West Lyrics
People going, coming
Traffic always humming
A sweet city song
Everyone your neighbor
Living at a flavor
With a sweet city song
There was a certain way
That the city sound
Made you glad you belonged
I remember now
That the rhythm somehow
Made me want to sing along
Do do do do, sweet city song
Do do do do, sweet city song
Oh, come on along
Boxes on a brick wall
Boys are playing stickball
The chicks are walking by
Something bout their sweaters
Made you play a little better
Or at least you'd try
Meanwhile on the corner
A group is singing
In three-part harmony
There was a time
When you couldn't find
A better place to be
Do do do do, sweet city song
Do do do do, sweet city song
Do do do do, sweet city song
Come on
Johnny, ride the pony
The Dodger's own sym-phoney
An egg cream at the
Corner candy store
Radio and dancing slow
Who could ask for more
Do do do do, sweet city song
Do do do do, sweet city song
Do do do do, sweet city song
Come on along
Hello, Jack, it's good to be back
I been away at school
Yeah, Ed, I heard what you said
You know that I'm no fool
I know that it's changing
I see that it's changed
I know that it's changing
I see that it's changed
But goodbye is too hard
For me to say
When I still believe
The good things
Outweigh the bad
I think of all the
Good times we had
Think of all the
Good times we had
A junkie steals, a mayor deals
Who knows what's coming next
Traffic jams and greedy hands
Did you read it in the text
Of the daily news
The subway blues
How does your garden grow
And the strikes and the likes
All lined up in a row
Something is wrong here
It doesn't belong here
People are locking themselves
Behind their own four walls
It falls from the skies here
But no one's surprised here
And maybe that's the
Saddest part of all
Jesus freaks
Mohammed speaks
The Lord is on their team
Tenements and midtown rents
Rich and poor live in between
Say a prayer and breathe the air
In the cold or heat
When evening falls, the city calls
But the lights only shine
On empty streets
Something is wrong here
Doesn't belong here
People are locking themselves
Behind their own four walls
Falls from the skies here
No one's surprised here
Maybe that's the
Saddest part of all
Something is wrong here
Doesn't belong here
People are locking themselves
Behind their own four walls
Falls from the skies here
No one's surprised here
Maybe that's the
Saddest part of all
Log on to kill this message.
I think of her
I think of life's own music
At least that's the way
It used to be
I think of her and I
See the children laughing
But it's only on the streets
Of my memory
And I never felt so lonely
And so helpless
Wishing that I didn't
Know the truth
But they tell me
That a friend is dying
And there's nothing
In this world I can do
When she was good
It was, oh, so good
You were blessed
If she smiled on you
You could be king
If she believed your story
When it was over
If she laughed at you
Now I've never felt so lonely
And so helpless
I'm wishing that I
Didn't know the truth
They tell me
That a friend is dying
And there is nothing
In this world that I can do
The hands that used to
Reach out to everybody
Now they're lying by her side
And her eyes are closed
No one really knows
If she can make it through
Another night
Still most of what I love
Is locked inside her
Everything I thought
I'd ever need
My heart keeps crying
You've got to hold on
A little bit longer
But my head is sure
That it's time to leave
And I've never felt so lonely
And so helpless
I'm wishing that I
Didn't know the truth
And they tell me that
My friend is dying
And there's nothing
In this world that I can do
I've never felt so lonely
And so helpless
I'm wishing that I
Didn't know the truth
They tell me that
A friend, a friend is dying
Oh, New York City
Can you say it ain't true
Can you tell me now
Before I'm leaving you
I'd give anything I own
Just to believe in you again
Contributed by Max I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
DealReal12
Historian212 True but the Alecia Keys song SUCKS as does Billy Joke-sky such a pompous ass and a friend of the devil racist pornographer totally disgusting obnoxious howeird “fartman” stern.
Want a great NYC Anthem New York City you’re a woman by Al Kooper
Or Going to New York by Jimmy Reed
Talking New York Blues Bob Dylan
I guess the Lord Must Be in New York City by Brooklyn raised Harry Nilsson
Only Living Boy in New York
by Simon and Garfunkel
Living In The City by Stevie Wonder
Spanish Harlem Ben E King
Harlem Shuffle (forgot the original group but the Stones revived it)
New York Tenderberry by Laura Nyro
The Message Grand Master Flash and the Furious 5
And so many Great others
not bill joke-see or that lame song by Alicia Keys and Jay z
Johnny Red
Here are the lyrics if you want to sing along:
People going, coming
Traffic always humming
A sweet city song
Everyone your neighbor
Living had a flavor
With a sweet city song
There was a certain way
That the city sang
Made you glad you belonged
I remember now
That the rhythm somehow
Made me want to sing along
Do do do do, sweet city song
Do do do do, sweet city song
Oh, come on along
Boxes on a brick wall
Boys are playing stickball
The chicks are walking by
Something bout their sweaters
Made you play a little better
Or at least you'd try
Meanwhile on the corner
A group is singing
In three-part harmony
There was a time
When you couldn't find
A better place to be
Do do do do, sweet city song
Do do do do, sweet city song
Do do do do, sweet city song
Come on
Johnny, ride the pony
The Dodger's own sym-phoney
An egg cream at the
Corner candy store
Radio and dancing slow
Who could ask for more
Do do do do, sweet city song
Do do do do, sweet city song
Do do do do, sweet city song
Come on along
~~~~~~~~~
Hello, Jack, it's good to be back
I been away at school
Yeah, Ed, I heard what you said
You know that I'm no fool
I know that it's changing
I see that it's changed
I know that it's changing
I see that it's changed
But goodbye is too hard
For me to say
When I still believe
The good things
Outweigh the bad
I think of all the
Good times we had
Think of all the
Good times we had
A junkie steals, a mayor deals
Who knows what's coming next
Traffic jams and greedy hands
Did you read it in the text
Of the daily news
The subway blues
How does your garden grow
And the strikes and the likes
All lined up in a row
Something is wrong here
It doesn't belong here
People are locking themselves
Behind their own four walls
It falls from the skies here
But no one's surprised here
And maybe that's the
Saddest part of all
Jesus freaks
Mohammed speaks
The Lord is on their team
Tenements and midtown rents
Rich and poor live in between
Say a prayer and breathe the air
In the cold or heat
When evening falls, the city calls
But the lights only shine
On empty streets
Something is wrong here
Doesn't belong here
People are locking themselves
Behind their own four walls
Falls from the skies here
No one's surprised here
Maybe that's the
Saddest part of all
Something is wrong here
Doesn't belong here
People are locking themselves
Behind their own four walls
Falls from the skies here
No one's surprised here
Maybe that's the
Saddest part of all
~~~~~~~~~
I think of her
I think of life's own music
At least that's the way
It used to be
I think of her and I
See the children laughing
But it's only on the streets
Of my memory
And I never felt so lonely
And so helpless
Wishing that I didn't
Know the truth
But they tell me
That a friend is dying
And there's nothing
In this world I can do
When she was good
It was, oh, so good
You were blessed
If she smiled on you
You could be king
If she believed your story
When it was over
If she laughed at you
Now I've never felt so lonely
And so helpless
I'm wishing that I
Didn't know the truth
They tell me
That a friend is dying
And there is nothing
In this world that I can do
The hands that used to
Reach out to everybody
Now they're lying by her side
And her eyes are closed
No one really knows
If she can make it through
Another night
Still most of what I love
Is locked inside her
Everything I thought
I'd ever need
My heart keeps crying
You've got to hold on
A little bit longer
But my head is sure
That it's time to leave
And I've never felt so lonely
And so helpless
I'm wishing that I
Didn't know the truth
And they tell me that
My friend is dying
And there's nothing
In this world that I can do
I've never felt so lonely
And so helpless
I'm wishing that I
Didn't know the truth
They tell me that
A friend, a friend is dying
Oh, New York City
Can you say it ain't true
Can you tell me now
Before I'm leaving you
I'd give anything I own
Just to believe in you again
George Burrell
Fantastic song in a fantastic era. Wonderful contrast beginning and end. We could have heard much more from these 2.
Chris Mulwee
They were primarily songwriters. They actually wrote some of the song for THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY. To me the SWEET CITY SONG part is a song all to itself.
Linda Dodson
I had this album and played it over...and over...and over. I'd forgotten about this song--I'll bet I haven't heard it in over 30 years. I came across this by accident but could sing the lyrics without skipping a beat.
Eileen Hripto
@Cutty Colyar Beautiful song--Great album!
Cutty Colyar
@Eileen Hripto THANKS. WALKING BACK TO GEORGIA.
Eileen Hripto
@Cutty Colyar Yes- they produced some of Jim Croce's albums as "Cashwest Productions. "
Cutty Colyar
DID THEY PLAY WITH JIM CROCE ALSO??
Barbara Baker
me too!!!! over and over and over <3 I think I still have the album somewhere =)
Johnny Nowhere
This tune was an FM AOR staple back in the early 70s. I used to think it was two different songs until it occurred to me that one always followed the other. This should be a classic on today's throwback stations instead of the forgotten jewel it has become.
Steve Carras
3 songs with one other between 1st and 2nd (as in the single) in the full track offered above!@) (making "second": third) , and the final part, at leasdt, edited from 5 to four minutes-from 5:53 to 10:49 in the above full version to the edit's 3 min 40 sec to 7m49s (typed that eway without timecodes since this is the LP)GREAT suite..even the single is one of the longest (7:49--at the time the longest...even more than 1968's HEY JUDE, 7:05 & MacARTHUR's PARK, 7:20 and nex year's LAYLA, 7:05, and PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE, 7:47..though PWARS DOES tie near neck in neck..Framptons's 1976 DO YOU..WE DO (live) at 7:19 was yet another, around MaP's length..