New York Groove by Ace Frehley

Album: Ace Frehley (1978)

Charted: 13

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Songfacts®:

Ace Frehley is a full-blooded New Yorker, but "New York Groove" was written by an Englishman: Russ Ballard, a songwriter who until 1974 was the guitarist in Argent. He wrote the bones of the song on a plane while flying to New York City to work on a Roger Daltrey solo album - Ballard hadn't been to the city in a while and was getting "back in the New York Groove."

Ballard had written a song called "You Move Me" for the English band Hello, and when he returned to the UK, their manager asked for another song. Ballard gave them "New York Groove," which they released in 1975. Their version was a Top 10 hit in England and Germany, but made no impact in America. Ace Frehley, guitarist for Kiss, turned it into a hit Stateside with his 1978 version, which became his signature song. "A lot of people think I wrote 'New York Groove,'" he told Songfacts. "But that was a cover."
With a big, bossy rhythm, the song has elements of glam rock, a style that suited Frehley well. Russ Ballard talked about how the song come together in an interview with Classic Rock magazine: "I wanted to do a Bo Diddley beat because I thought that sort of sound hadn't been heard for a long time, so I got some maracas and a harmonica, and I started off with this 'cha-ch-ch-cha-chcha-cha' rhythm. I got the members of Hello to stand on some trestle tables with their platform boots on and they all stomped along. I had the chorus - 'I'm back, back in the New York groove' - and I wrote the rest of the words in the studio."
Frehley was still with Kiss when he released this song. In 1978, each member of the band released a solo album on the same day as part of a (mostly) friendly and highly marketable competition. Gene Simmons had the best-selling album, but Frehley had the only hit with "New York Groove."
In 2015, the New York Mets started playing this song after home victories.

Comments: 13

Big Al from Westport Mahave not listened to that song in years just took a trip down memory lane
Dave C from Ivanhoe AustraliaBen from Pensacola - All 4 members singing lead. Lemme think. The Beatles. Heard of them?
Stukka63 from St.augustine,fla.This is such an amazing song.
Yeah, it has some personal meaning.
Debby from UsaI agree with Leon from Waterbury. Peter has a great voice and versatile. He sang on Black Diamond,Beth ( KISS's highest charting record and only Top Ten hit), Hard Luck Woman,Baby Driver,Hooligan and others. Paul's good too. Gene is okay but Ace could use some lessons. He's more of a musician than vocalist.
The live version of NY Groove on their reunion tour is way better than the studio version.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn October 8th 1978, "New York Groove" by Ace Frehley entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart a t position #87; and 16 weeks later on January 28th, 1979 it peaked at #13 {for 2 weeks} and spent a total of 21 weeks on the Top 100...
It was his only Top 100 record as a solo artist; but earlier in 1978 as a member of Kiss, he was on the Top 100 twice with "Shout It Out Load (Live Version of 1976 hit)" and "Rocket Ride"...
Ace, born Paul Daniel Frehley, will celebrate his 64th birthday come next April 27th {2015}.
Kat from Eaton, CoOccasionally played as bumper music on MSNBC's "Morning Joe"
Kirsten from New York, NyWhy is there no entry on songfacts for the band Hello who wrote and first had a hit with this song? But there are all kinds of garbage "flavor of the moment" bands listed here?

The British glam rock band Hello first recorded the song in 1975, for their debut album, Keeps Us Off The Streets. This version of the song is featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV on the in-game radio station Liberty Rock Radio.

The song was a top 10 hit in the UK, which was a sign of the band's importance in British glam rock. In Germany, the boys from London reached No.7 in February 1976, although their chart entry was four months before in October 1975.
Niklas Mørup from Copenhagen, -All members of The Beatles have song lead on various songs, Ringo did "don't pass me by" and "Yellow Submarine" Harrison did many like "Something" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" - Paul and John did the most songs though.
Ben from Pensacola, FlI personally find it interesting that every member of this band has sung lead on various songs. Does anyone know if any other band has done this ? I know of bands where 2 people have traded out singing lead on different songs, but not every member.
Leon from Waterbury, CtI disagree, David -- Peter has a great, raspy voice. Paul's a great singer as well. Gene's voice has character...but that's about it.
David from Youngstown, OhThis song only proves that like the three other members of the band, Ace is also a horrible singer - not Peter Criss horrible, more like Gene Simmons horrible.
Farrah from Elon, NcI love this song. Ace, you're the greatest!!!
Brian from New York, NyPlayed by the New York Giants when they score a touchdown.

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