Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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In the City

Written and first recorded Joe Walsh (1979).
Hit album versions by Eagles (1979), Anybody Killa (2003)

From the wiki: “‘In the City’ was written by Barry De Vorzon (‘Nadia’s Theme‘) and Joe Walsh, and was first recorded by Walsh for release on the 1979 soundtrack album to The Warriors. Walsh recalls: ‘I went to junior-high school at P.S. 216 in Queens (NYC). I was in a gang, but we weren’t that tough because I had to be in by 7:30 to practice clarinet. Anyway, I came up with ‘In The City’ out of memories of growing up partly in New York City, which contrasted a lot from where I lived before that, which was Ohio.’

“Walsh joined the Eagles for their 1976 Hotel California album, but it was three years before they released their next album, The Long Run. ‘In The City’ was included on the album even though the subject matter of the song didn’t really suit the Eagles. ‘It was a positive statement,’ Walsh said, ‘to go against the desperation of miles and miles of concrete and growing up in a city – that really can affect you, and we thought it was a valid thing to put on The Long Run, and so we chose to do it.’

“Although not released as a single, ‘In the City’ became an album-oriented Rock radio favorite in the U.S.

“In 2003, Detroit rapper Anybody Killa (aka ABK) included his recording of ‘In the City’ on the hit album Hatchet Warrior.”

Eagles, “In the City” (1979):

Anybody Killa, “In the City” (2003):

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