SELECTED MUSIC FROM OR ABOUT THE LOWER EAST SIDE
This list features bands, musicians, albums and songs that represent the Lower East Side. Bands that were based in or had members from the Lower East Side are represented by one album or EP. Live albums that were recorded on the Lower East Side are also included, as are instrumental records that may reference the Lower East Side through song titles.
It should be noted that in researching this music, it quickly became clear how ambiguous and disputed the boundaries of the Lower East Side are, with some writers extending the area to include the East Village. In a message forum where we were tapping the knowledge banks of friends to generate this list, Queens-based musician Ben Smith of the band The Brought Low commented:
The term ‘East Village’ is actually a bit of a misnomer and was really a term created by real estate agents to make the area sound more attractive and safer to yuppies and the like as the name ‘The Lower East Side’ was as synonymous with crime and urban decay as ‘South Bronx.’ You didn’t really hear the term until the late 80s. Prior to that pretty much anything south of 14th St. and east of 2nd Ave. was technically and commonly referred to as the Lower East Side. ‘Alphabet City,’ refers to those avenues east of 1st Ave. the river with letter names, but is just a part of the Lower East Side rather than a separate neighborhood.
This list is obviously incomplete and mainly focuses on the last fifty years, but we hope it sends you off to go hear some great LES music!
Ryan Adams – “New York, New York” (2001)
Aesop Rock – “6B Panorama” (2000)
Agnostic Front – Victim in Pain (1984)
Rubén Blades – “Pedro Navaja” (1978)
Bongwater – “Folk Song” (1990)
Julian Casablancas – “Ludlow Street” (2009)
Eddie Cantor – The Columbia Years: 1922-1940 (1994)
Choking Victim – No Gods, No Managers (1999)
The Clash – “Straight to Hell” (1982)
Dana Dane – “Delancey Street” (1987)
The Dictators – “Avenue A” (2001)
Dogbowl – Tit! An Opera (1989)
False Prophets – Implosion (1986)
Fear – “I Don’t Care About You”
Tim Finn – “Hit the Ground Running” (1993)
The Fugs – The Fugs First Album (1965)
Gogol Bordello – Voi-La Intruder (1999)
The Holy Modal Rounders - The Holy Modal Rounders (1964)
Keiji Haino – New Rap (2006)
Steve Hobbs – On the Lower East Side (2008)
INDK – “Living With Even LES” (2002)
Judge – “New York Crew” (1988)
Massel Klezmorim – “Lower East Side” (1994)
L.E.S. Stitches – Staja98L.E.S. (1999)
Leftöver Crack – Mediocre Generica (2011)
Loisaidas – Porque Te Amo (2011)
Magnetic Fields – “The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side” (1999)
Medeski, Martin & Wood – Electric Tonic (1998)
Roger Miret & the Disasters – “Lower East Side” (2005)
Nausea – Extinction (1990)
Randy Newman – “Lower East Side” (1981)
Nico – “60/40” (1981)
Nightmare of You – “Dopesick Couples” (2008)
Nu Band – Lower East Side Blues (2009)
David Peel and the Lower East Side – Have a Marijuana (1968)
Molly Picon – Theater & Movie Hits (2005)
Policeband – Stereo / Mono EP (1979)
Iggy Pop – Avenue B (1999)
Prince – “Alphabet Street” (1988)
Rat At Rat R – Rock & Roll Is Dead, Long Live Rat At Rat R (1985)
Lou Reed – New York (1989)
Red Rider – “Avenue A” (1980)
Santigold – “L.E.S. Artists” (2008)
Elliott Smith – “Alphabet Town” (1995)
Patti Smith & Lenny Kaye – February 10, 1971 (live) (2006)
Soul Coughing – Ruby Vroom (1994)
Sshe Retina Stimulants vs. Komplet – Lower East Side Sleaze EP (2005)
Steely Dan – “Daddy Don’t Live In That New York City No More” (1975)
The Stimulators – Loud Fast Rules EP (1980)
Suicide – Suicide (1977)
Surgery – Nationwide (1990)
Swans – Filth (1983)
Suzanne Vega – “Ludlow Street”
Tru Life – Tru York (2008)
U.K. Subs – “Lower East Side” (1988)
The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967)
Warzone – Lower East Side Crew EP (1987)
White Zombie – Soul-Crusher (1987)
John Zorn & Masada – Live At Tonic 2001 (2001)
Thanks to the following people for helping us with this list:
Paul Sargent, Ben Smith, David Grant, Heath Schultz, Anthony Elms, Philip Valois, Kaitlin Kostus, Jason Guthartz, Rachel Herman, Jed Hovey, Paul Dickinson, Julia A. Friedman, Jason Foumberg, Alexis Bhagat, Laurel Kurtz, Robby Herbst, Albert Stabler and Jen Fieber.