20 episodes
Girl To City: A Memoir Amy Rigby
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- Arts
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4.9 • 60 Ratings
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Were you a misfit who followed your dreams to New York City back in the twentieth century when Manhattan rents were cheap and crime and creativity were rampant? Maybe you just imagined what it would be like. Based on her memoir, Girl To City follows singer-songwriter Amy Rigby's progression from Elton John fan in the Pittsburgh suburbs to late 70's Manhattan art student; from punk show habitué to fledgling musician to cult artist who caused a sensation with her album Diary Of A Mod Housewife. Each Wednesday, Amy will read a chapter and throw in some music.
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1. Prologue/Elton Girl
In this first episode, Amy's teenage daughter poses a question that sends the songwriter and musician looking back towards her Catholic girlhood in 60s/70s Pittsburgh; early musical obsessions and attraction to New York City.
Amy's songs used in this episode
Playing Pittsburgh from The Old GuysHousecleaning from A One Way Ticket To My LifeQuestions/comments? Find me here -
2. Be A Model, Or Just Look Like One
Babysitting, booze and boys; tall boots and the majesty of rock. Amy ventures on her own to downtown Pittsburgh, falls in love and plans her trajectory to NYC.
Songs used in this episode:
Girls Got It Bad from Little FugitiveDirty Bridge (Elliot Easton/A. Rigby) from MiddlescenceQuestions/comments? email me here -
3. Girl To City
Art school, black jeans from Trash & Vaudeville, and my first trip to the Bowery with a boy named Bob.
Songs used in this episode:
Bob live version from Faulkner, Dylan Heinz & Me + studio version The Old GuysDancing With Joey Ramone from Little Fugitive -
4. Second Year
1977. Friends, family, fashion illustration and trying to figure out where I fit into it all. Oh, and the Sex Pistols are coming.
Songs used in this episode:
Yankee Wheels from The Stiff Generation & Faulkner, Dylan, Heinz & MeAlways With Me from Little Fugitive and the Shams' Quilt -
5. The Married Manager
You never forget your first broken heart...or your first trip to England.
Songs used in this episode:
The Leader from The Sandinista! ProjectQuestions I Can't Answer sample from Faulkner, Dylan, Heinz & MeStratford on Avon -
16. Outside Looking In
Moving to Williamsburg, back when Brooklyn was...Brooklyn. A day job at Tudor City. The Shams make an album, and a video.
Songs in this episode:
All I Want original demo - A One Way Ticket To My LifeFarmer's Daughter - Shams rehearsal tape Dec. 1990Dressed To Kill - The Shams from Quilt, 1991
Customer Reviews
Amy Rigby is the best
Someday the whole world will understand that Amy Rigby is one of the cleverest and most touching songwriters that America has produced. In the meantime, those lucky enough to listen to the audio version of her book have a treat in store. If you ever had NYC rock star dreams, live them vicariously through this bittersweet and gripping tale, told with so much heart by the author.
Girl to City
Came to this accidentally and enjoyed every minute. Lots of fun details and heartfelt life experiences, interspersed with Amy's catchy music. Loved listening to the progression in Amy's musical style over the years. My brother knew of Amy's music and he suggested I listen to the podcast as my daughter is currently in NYC and struggling with art school and life decisions, This did contribute to extra enjoyment of the earlier episodes. I'm the right age to get a lot of the references, but I'm hoping my NYC daughter will listen and enjoy next. (My only note - some of the episodes are a bit on the longish side. I enjoyed the approx 30 min length best and found after 1-2 long ones, I just needed to split them in two. And hey, kind of made me happy anyway to have a couple of extra episodes that way.) I hope this becomes a not-so-hidden gem.
Amy Rigby brings the past to life
I'm just a little too young to have experienced CBGB and the downtown scene in the prime of the punk era, but Amy Ribgy's podcast makes me feel like I was there. I'd already read the book, but the Podcast made it even more immediate. Looking forward to whatever comes next in her long and fascinating career!