Maps of Music

A Song (1977)

Where the lyrics of A Song take you, and where it was really made.

Sedaka would walk into piano bars and hear 'Alone at Last' played as a jazz standard, only to realize it was his own composition.

Key places

Recording studio: Record Plant, New York City (1977)

Recording site Record Plant Studios — The album's recording is listed at Record Plant in New York City. The pin marks the city centre, not the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• A Song: album by the American musician Neil Sedaka
• Released in 1977
• Produced by George Martin
• Released in the US on the Elektra label; outside the US on the Polydor label
• Twelve tracks, six on each side
• Officially remastered and released on CD and digital platforms on November 11, 2022

Background

• Marks the beginning of Sedaka's association with Elektra, which ran through 1981
• Several record labels released bootleg CDs sourced from vinyl pressings over the years
• The official remaster came after those unofficial releases

Recording

• Arranged by George Martin
• The recording location is listed as Record Plant in New York City

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born March 13, 1939, in Brooklyn, New York.
• Began his music career in 1957 after a short tenure as a founding member of the Linc-Tones, later renamed the Tokens.
• Signed a recording contract with RCA Victor.

Career

• Scored a string of early hits including "Oh! Carol" (1959), "Calendar Girl" (1960), "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" (1961), and "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" (1962), which hit No. 1 on the Hot 100.
• Popularity declined by the mid-1960s after the British Invasion.
• Revived in the mid-1970s with "Laughter in the Rain" and "Bad Blood", both Hot 100 number ones in 1975.
• Wrote or co-wrote over 500 songs, including hits for Connie Francis, Captain & Tennille, and Tony Christie.
• Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983.
• Died February 27, 2026, in Los Angeles, aged 86.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Singles were cut from five of the album's songs on 45 rpm
• "Amarillo" reached No. 44 on the US chart, No. 4 on the US AC chart, and No. 2 on the Canadian AC chart
• "Alone at Last" reached No. 104 on the US chart, No. 17 on the US AC chart, and No. 10 on the Canadian AC chart
• "You Never Done It Like That" was also released as a 45 rpm single in Australia, with "Sleazy Love" as the B-side

Reappraisal

• Sedaka noted that "Alone at Last" became a minor jazz standard
• The album was officially remastered and released on CD and digital platforms in 2022
• A remix of "Amarillo" was included on the 2001 retrospective CD set Produced by George Martin: 50 Years in Recording

Records

• "Amarillo" U.S. No. 44, AC No. 4
• "Alone at Last" U.S. No. 104, AC No. 17
• Captain & Tennille's 1978 cover of "You Never Done It Like That" reached No. 10 on the US pop charts

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• "Amarillo" was originally written for the British pop star Tony Christie, who made a No. 18 hit out of it.
• In the 2000s, "Amarillo" regained popularity after comedian Peter Kay used the Tony Christie version in a number for Comic Relief.
• Sedaka noted that "Alone at Last" became a minor jazz standard; he would often walk into piano bars and hear the song playing only to realize it was his own composition.
• Captain & Tennille produced a cover version of "You Never Done It Like That" in 1978, which went to No. 10 on the US pop charts.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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