Steve Goodman : City Of New Orleans (Live 1972)

[Pibbs1]

R.I.P. Steve. 36 was too young to die. I miss you ;

[Imissthepostoffice]

Of course he (Steve) may be better than Arlo !  But then again, , Arlo made HIM (Steve) famous ...

Just a great song no matter how you look at it !

Love, me

[Sforeczka]

So much better than Arlo. And I love Arlo.

[blacklt19661]

Meesterlijk nummer!!!!!!

[Imissthepostoffice]

"Go Cubs Go" was also written by SG. It's a good day in Chicago when the white flag is up !!

[Imissthepostoffice]

Thanks again to 1000magicians ! You have honored Steve Goodman.

[staggmovie]

Does anybody have the studio version of this song? If so please upload it on Youtube, or if you have a link please feel free to send it to me. I can't remember the last time I heard the studio version of this song.

[johntracy72]

I certainly agree with Kristofferson. This is the best damned train song ever.

[rgjerde53]

I'm from Chicago, and proud to call Steve a "native son".  I think he is proof that only the good die young.

[WelakaWombat]

This guy was a classic before classics

[patjepatatje1958]

Willie Nelson did well, but nothing beats this original version of this great song!

[marksbarry]

This is the only version that explains what's in the paper bag - tequila - which makes sense considering it was around this time Goodman played guitar (and wrote songs) for Jimmy Buffet ... btw, there's a nice cover of the song on YouTube (and on DVD) of Buffett singing from the bleachers at Wrigley Field, just a few days after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans

[Jakeman1260]

He looks like someone told him a really good joke backstage and he's trying to hold it in.

[Imissthepostoffice]

It sounds like a Woody Guthrie sort of song. Don't all of the great ones sound that way ?

Well, it's understandable that we kinda all come from the same theme here, if you will. Greatness is as greatness does. Steve Goodman is a natural. Much too rare these days ~ or ANY days, for that matter. I'm proud to be near Chicago ~ very close southwest suburb ~

everything he sings about has held importance to me and my work and .. the Cubs.

And I hate parking on the north side to this day !!!!

[normanstanley1]

I have a memory of seeing this clip on the Old Grey Whistle Test when it was first broadcast and have loved the song, and performed it many times, over the last 40 years. Thanks for posting this.

[MrMightyslim]

Outstanding.

[EGTim]

I saw Steve open for John Prine at the Troubadour in LA in @72, with the woman who is now my wife. Great guy, sad he is gone...

[cgs136689845]

sing it steve i love this song

[funguy4utube]

Man what a sad story ... life just isn't fair ... a good guy like this dealt cards like that .. and so many nasty folks live on and on ... anyway .. glad for youtube so we can all share in knowing about Steve ... I hope Arlo was grateful and treated him well !!! It is a perfect song ... really a great example of songwriting. The guy had such a remarkably kind and friendly face and manner. A classic song. Never get tired of hearing it.

[bcwest]

Great Stevie. Where was this from? Any more out there?

[didjndrums]

Heard a great story told by John Prine. Steve approached Arlo Guthrie wanting to perform this song for him. Arlo said "buy me a beer and I'll listen to your song til I'm done with my beer." Steve bought him a beer and began to perform the song. Half way through the beer Arlo knew he was hearing magic. What a great song.

[hooliamc2]

What a tragedy to America that Leukemia took this talent to soon and in his "prime" Only glad that Arlo recorded this so others could enjoy his talent.

[billwelshombmusic]

Steve Goodman....what a talent gone way too soon like so many others....

[jrad1977]

my favorite perfomer of all time...thanks

[nakedhombre]

This is the first time I have ever actually heard the words! What great lyrics, Steve was so talented. I prefer this so much over the Arlo Guthrie which was so overproduced. More is not necessarily better, for sure! So moving when sung right by the composer here. sorry, but Arlo's version is cold by comparison. Still, it was a fantastic hit for him and finally gave Goodman the respect he deserved. So tragic that he died of Leukemia at age 36. Would have liked to hear what he would have done

[robbourassaguitarist]

This is the finest song of its kind.

[DexterVanZile]

Thanks for this.

[Lockbar]

I'm not a giant fan of folk music, but this is probably the best American song in the past 50 years.

[TheRunner75]

Thanks very much. I think this live version is better than his studio one ;-)

[softshoes]

I saw Steve perform at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival shortly before he died. What a fabulous songwriter and performer. I was blessed to see him. When he did his Cubs song it was the highlight of the night.

[Rynotows]

Wow, that's fantastic.



[TheDeebri55]

This is the greatest American folk song ever written...

[peterbiltearl]

proves once more awesome ppl wear overalls

[streetender1878]

@peterbiltearl if they are from arkansas!

[peterbiltearl]

@streetender1878 so i guess Chad Grey the lead singer of mudvayne is from arkansas

[streetender1878]

@peterbiltearl do you mean THE chad grey? why didnt you say earlier?, but seriously nobody who is "awesome" wears overalls! its simply a fact!

[streetender1878]

@peterbiltearl its great though, that you have now got internet connection on walton mountain. say hello to johnboy for us

[bosun1724]

Did he write this?

[Fedcop78]

@bosun1724 Yes

[CanadianBadAss999]

HUGE HUGE Talent! You are so missed Steve I know you are at Rest and hopefully performing this song nightly to the angels in heaven...God Bless You!

[d088808862]

an absolute master singing the ultimate masterpiece

[weinbergalan65]

This is the year I first Steve sing it. Wish he were still around. I miss him a lot. This is a definitive piece of Goodman's legacy!

[arinvests]

Lovely song by Steve, shame about his long illness & early death.RIP Steve ~ Arthur

[garcemac]

Absolutely, heartbreakingly brilliant. I thank you you so much. I first heard this song when I was twelve - that was thirty-six years ago.

My GOD! This means so much to me. I thank you - over and over again.

[jeepers2655]

Arlo made this song a Masterpiece,never knew who wrote it the......R.I.P. Steve.

[dannydontgoin237]

The image is amazing, looks almost like 24p. Steve was a remarkable songwriter, singer and person. Nice to know there are so many other fans out there.

[IanBond07]

I never knew the writer of what Kristofferson called "the best damned train song ever written". Thanks for this.

[mightymissk]

What a great, magnificent songwriter. What a poet. This is just a masterpiece.

[a1mahoney]

I saw him in 1972. He warmed up someone in Saratoga. I remembered him but I can not remember who he warmed up??

[Seeker4Peace]

Loved the smile which was of mischief and delight. Thought he was going to mess.up qith the smile.

[waterdog226]

The most incredible train song ever. It is 'genius'.

[skontch1]

@waterdog226 ..the quote was actually by kris kristofferson who called it the best damn train song ever written. hard to argue. rest in peace steve. you left us far too soon..

[pogonut48]

I went to camp with Steve as a youngin and tried to get him gigs in the 60s. No one would hire him then because he was singing protest songs about war. Clay Eals did a biography on him thats absolutely incredible. thnx for posting this.

[Idolfan21785]

We lost a great one TOO SOON 

[Idolfan21785]

We lost a great one

[IanDavidOnDU]

He kinda looks like Greg Giraldo.

[GabbyGraffiti]

goosebumps..thanks for uploading this! :)

[Saskalbrovich]

Just remarkable. What a convergence of elements in this magic clip. It's not just that the quality of the video is amazing -- and it is. It's not even that Steve Goodman is so young; it's that the song itself as performed here is so young. We're hearing 'City of New Orleans' in its infancy, its unformed youth, before it grew up to become a standard.

[julietennyson1]

I used to see him at the Earl of Old Town before he was supposedly famous. He was always a chicago guy.

[BillWa]

I was working as an orderly at the UW medical center when Steve was in there, He was a great manand sorely missed. Just call me a lincoln Park Pirate.

[cj382]

Steve Goodman is the one who wrote this song in 72, Willie just made it famous.

[mcasenl]

@cj382 Arlo Guthrie made it famous. It was a huge hit for him, almost as big as Alice's Restaurant.

[leobluesy]

brilliant !!

[goodguyradio]

This is amazing footage-is there any more of it anyone can upload!!

[rdvqc]

I know he never got that old but Steve looks so young here.

Steve and Arlo did each other a big favour. If you hear the whole story by Arlo, you will probably agree that it was the "best beer he ever had".

At least we still have Arlo - dodged his Dad's bad gene.

[l2string]

Steve's song as sung here is the only one I'll listen to. This is exactly the way it was supposed to sound. Right?

[crcausey]

@l2string - yes. you're right! Stevie wrote it. It's his and the interpretation comes from him... but you do have to give Arlo some credit. He did a wonderful job with a great song & didn't hurt it as so many will do. Arlo did find a way to make it his own, so that you're not sitting there going "Stevie did this and Arlo missed it" Arlo tells the story well; Stevie gets you inside the passangers being. btw - its alright to get "misty" when watching this. Otherwise, I'd question their humanity.

[8114pp]

steve was awesome on this.....

[Stackvent]

I used to think Arlo "owned " this song but now I am not so sure. The more that I hear this version the more I like it. Steve is just incredible.

[joeb810]

Steve wa a good friend. Last time I saw him alive was at a halloween party the year before he died. He won first place. Dressed as a CUBS Fan. We all loved him and still do.

[PamKraemer]

My all time favorite song.

[PapyNavions]

Merci d'avoir mis en ligne cette version originale, de loin ma préférée... même si j'apprécie celles d'Arlo Guthrie et de Willie Nelson. Super !

[wizardofwaste]

Damn, why am I crying?

[MyMoppet52]

What a great video! I love this video of Steve singing his song. Steve looks so young. He was multi talented and a writing genius. We owe him a great big 'thank you' and don't even know it! Thanks so much for putting this up. I do appreciate it and know others do also.

[ayokay123]

THANKS for uploading this excellent version! Very clean too!

[davis027umn]

I grew up listening to the Arlo version, so that will always be my sentimental favorite, but wow, Steve Goodman, what an amazing talent. His original version of the song is fast becoming a huge love of mine as well.

[gken0976]

Steve Goodman was a special person. Saw him in concert at the Cellar Door in Georgetown in the 70's and I never laughed so hard. Besides a great songwriter he was great in concert and a death much too soon.

[gken0976]

Steve Goodman was a special person. Saw him in concert at the Celler Door in Georgetown in the 70's and I never laughes so hard. Besides a great songwriter he was great in concert.

[doctorpsycho1960]

Quite different from the versions I have heard previously -- and even if this is how the composer envisioned it, I think I prefer Arlo Guthrie's performance. Probably makes me a Philistine :{ ) but I can live with that.

[songsforyou00]

oh wonderful - magic - charming - pure Steve!!

[HubieB]

What a great video this is!

[STRUMMERBOY1975]

This is Great.... and Image so clear ! Thanks 4 this Post ! :)

[daveo138]

I have to confess to having not heard of Steve Goodman before seeing him on BBC4's 'Singer-songwriters at the BBC'

Awesome! Added to my favourites and I've lost count of the number of times I've watched this.

[kfcchicken12]

1600 views???? should be 100000000000000000000000000000­000000000000000000000000000000­000000000000000000000000000000­000000000000000000000000000000­0000000000

[lugags]

This is Goodmans song.Nobody even comes close to covering it.He is so good.

[tommerrigan1956]

Magicians- Thanks so much for uploading this. i love Arlo, but Goodman's version is at least as good. 

[prince1pal]

Great stuff coming up lately by Steve, really appreciated, but now I have to ask,I will beg if required>>does anyone have him on video/dvd singing "I can't sleep if I can't sleep with you" from LP "Jessie's Jig" and while I'm on my knees "Rainbow Road"

If these do appear I WILL be back asking for more,like "Blue Umbrella". They are not even up in audio,I have the albums but not the know how.

[moondoggie53]

If you're ever in NYC, check out the Museum of Television and Radio. Some great stuff to be found. Bring a lunch...

[RRF]

That voice is amazing. Even more so when it appears to come so easily!

[themuse64]

Wow. This is terrific. Many thanks! Never heard it done like this.

[PlaztekNerd]

Where does the time go ? This is great, Thanks PN.

[homelessbrother]

Many thanks for uploading this - I was blown away seeing it on TV on Friday night , best clip I have seen of anyone for years.

Was just about to try and upload this clip myself (cos it SHOULD be on YouTube) but you saved me the trouble. Thanks again.

[1000Magicians]

@homelessbrother Yes, like you I was so pleased to see this on TV on Friday. I'm a huge Steve fan and have loaded others of him but this is by some distance the earliest footage of him Ive seen.

[lowemk]

This is great. Never saw him this young. Thanks.