New York City (John Lennon and Yoko Ono song)

[1][2] The final version released on the album was recorded in 1972 with Plastic Ono Band Elephant's Memory on the backing instruments.

[1][2] "New York City" is in some ways a sequel to "The Ballad of John and Yoko," a song Lennon wrote and performed with the Beatles.

[3][4][6] Among the events included are Lennon's meeting with street musician David Peel, his concert with Frank Zappa at the Fillmore East, meeting Elephant's Memory, his Attica State Prison benefit concert at the Apollo Theater, and his visit to Max's Kansas City.

"[7] Music critic Johnny Rogan claims that "the melody sounds like a direct lift from 'The Ballad of John and Yoko.

"[5] According to Du Noyer, Lennon performs "New York City" with a "boisterous drive that testifies to the new lease on life that the Big Apple had given him.

"[6] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Nick DeRiso called "New York City" the most underrated song on Some Time in New York City, describing it as "a Chuck Berry-esque mash note to Lennon's new hometown, an effortless romp on an LP sorely lacking such moments.

[1][2][7] Rogan calls this version "stirring" but notes that on the album the song loses some power due to the vocal being mixed too low at times.

John Lennon sings about his benefit concert at the Apollo Theater in "New York City."
David Peel and his meeting with John Lennon are among the topics of "New York City." Peel also wrote a similar song, "The Ballad of New York City (John Lennon–Yoko Ono)."