The songwriter from Chicago…
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Goodman began writing and performing songs as a teenager. By 1969, after a brief sojourn in New York City’s Washington Square, Goodman was a regular performer at the well-known Earl of Old Town folk music club in Chicago, while attending Lake Forest College. During this time Goodman also married Nancy Pruter, and paid bills by writing and singing advertising jingles.
It was also during this time that Goodman wrote many of his most enduring songs, including “City of New Orleans”, the song which would become most associated with Goodman. Goodman’s songs first appeared on a locally-produced record, Gathering at the Earl of Old Town, in 1971.
In 1971, Goodman was playing at a Chicago bar called the Quiet Knight as the opening act for Kris Kristofferson. Kristofferson, impressed with Goodman, introduced him to Paul Anka who brought Goodman to New York to record some demos; these resulted in Goodman signing a contract with Buddah Records.
Seeing Arlo Guthrie in a bar, Goodman asked to be allowed to play a song for him. Guthrie grudgingly agreed on the condition that Goodman buy him a beer first; Goodman played “City of New Orleans” which Guthrie liked enough that he asked for the right to record it. Guthrie’s version of the song became a hit in 1972, and provided Goodman with enough financial success to make his music a full-time career. The song would become an American standard, covered by many other musicians including Johnny Cash, Judy Collins, and Willie Nelson.
In 1974, singer David Allen Coe achieved considerable success on the country charts with Goodman’s “You Never Even Call Me By My Name”, a song which good-naturedly spoofed stereotypical country music lyrics.
Goodman’s own success as a recording artist was more limited. Although known in folk circles as a great song writer and highly influential, his albums received more critical than commercial success.
Goodman’s singing career remained centered around the folk music clubs of Chicago, and Goodman wrote and performed many humorous songs about the city, including two about the Chicago Cubs: “The Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request” and “Go, Cubs, Go.” Others included “The Lincoln Park Pirates”, about the notorious Lincoln Towing Company, and “Daley’s Gone,” about Mayor Richard J. Daley. Another comic highlight is “Vegematic,” about a man who falls asleep while watching late-night TV and dreams he ordered a slew of products he saw on infomercials. He could also write serious songs, most notably “My Old Man,” a tribute to Goodman’s father, Bud Goodman, a used car salesman.
Goodman was closely involved with the Old Town School of Folk Music, where he met and mentored his good friend, John Prine. Ironically one of Goodman’s biggest hits was a song he never wrote; The Dutchman which he popularised, was written by Michael Peter Smith.
Around the time Goodman’s career began to take off, he was diagnosed with leukemia. The entire time he was writing and singing, he was also fighting cancer. On September 20, 1984, Goodman died at University of Washington Hospital in Seattle, Washington . Eleven days later, the Chicago Cubs, the baseball team Goodman rooted for and wrote two songs about, would play their first play-off game since 1945 at Wrigley Field.
Words from the official website.
Discography
Live Wire
Red Pajamas Records 2000
Tracks: You're The Girl I Love, Banana Republics, Luxury's Lap, The One That Got Away, This Hotel Room, The Dutchman, City Of New Orleans, Men Who Love Women Who Love Men, Hand It To You, Would You Like To Learn To Dance, What Have You Done For Me Lately, It's A Sin To Tell A Lie, Old Smoothies, The Auctioneer, My Old Man, Tossin And Turnin & Crazy Mary.
Musicians on the American Gypsies album: Steve Goodman, Amy Madigan, Jim Rothermel, Jim Enger, Rick Chudacoff, Peter Bunetta & Arno Lucas.
Live At The Earl Of Old Town
Red Pajamas Records 2000
Tracks: Intro: The Earl Of Old Town, Lincoln Park Pirates, Red Red Robin, Three Legged Man, I'll Fly Away, Grand Canyon, Men Who Love Women Who Love Men, What Have You Done For Me Lately?, I Gotta Hand It To You, The Family Tree, Truck Drivin' Man, The Auctioneer, Lost Highway, City Of New Orleans, Let's Give A Party, Rockin' Robin & When The Cubs Go Marching In & Old Smoothies.
Musicians on the Live At The Earl Of Old Town album: Steve Goodman and others.
The Easter Tapes
Red Pajamas Records 1996
Tracks: Introduction, Red Red Robin, The I Don't Know Where I'm Goin' But I'm Goin' Nowhere In A Hurry Blues, Blue Skies, This Hotel Room, I Can't Sleep, Banana Republics, City Of New Orleans, Chicken Cordon Blues, It's A Sin To Tell A Lie, Easter Parade, Video Tape, Big Iron, Somebody Else's Troubles, Don't Fence Me In, 18 Yellow Roses, Splish Splash, Rudolph The Red-Nosed (Easter) Reindeer & Runaway.
Musicians on the The Easter Tapes album: Steve Goodman and others.
No Big Surprise
Red Pajamas Records 1994
Tracks: DISC 1: STUDIO: Between The Lines, Take Me Out To The Ballgame, Go Cubs Go, City Of New Orleans, Would You Like To Learn To Dance - (previously unreleased), Souvenirs, Red Ball Jets - (previously unreleased), The One That Got Away, Talk Backwards, If She Were You - (previously unreleased), Danger - (previously unreleased), You Better Get It While You Can (The Ballad Of Carl Martin), Yellow Coat - (previously unreleased), Banana Republics, California Promises, Bobby Don't Stop, My Old Man, This Hotel Room, Where's The Party - (previously unreleased), I Just Keep Falling In Love - (previously unreleased), Watchin' Joey Glow, The Dutchman - (previously unreleased) & In Real Life. DISC 2: LIVE: Chicken Cordon Bleus, The I Don't Know Where I'm Going But I'm Goin' Nowhere In A Hurry Blues - (previously unreleased), Is It True What They Say About Dixie? - (previously unreleased), Turnpike Tom - (previously unreleased), Elvis Imitators, Lincoln Park Pirates - (previously unreleased), Wonderful World Of Sex - (previously unreleased), Vegematic, A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request, Men Who Love Women Who Love Men - (previously unreleased), The Auctioneer - (previously unreleased), The Broken String Song - (previously unreleased), Just Lucky I Guess - (previously unreleased), I'll Fly Away - (previously unreleased, It's A Sin To Tell A Lie - (previously unreleased), Born To Be Wild / Teen Angel / Tell Laura I Love Her / Strange Things Happen (Laurie), You Never Even Called Me By My Name - (previously unreleased), Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes - (previously unreleased) & As Time Goes By - (previously unreleased).
Musicians on the No Big Surprise album: Steve Goodman and others.
The Original Steve Goodman
Special Music 1992
Tracks: The Dutchman, Song For David, Chicken Cordon Blues, Someboy Else's Troubles, Six Hours Ahead Of The Sun, I Ain't Heard You Play No Blues, You Never Even Call Me By My Name & City Of New Orleans.
Musicians on the The Original Steve Goodman album: Steve Goodman and others.
Affortable Art
Red Pajamas Records 1989
Tracks: If Jethro Were Here, Vegematic, Old Smoothies, Talk Backwards, How Much Tequila (Did I Drink Last Night), When My Rowboat Comes In, Souvenirs, Take Me Out To The Ballgame, A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request, California Promises, Watchin' Joey Glow & Grand Canyon Song.
Musicians on the Affortable Art album: Steve Goodman, John Prine, Marty Stuart, Jethro Burns, Jerry Douglas, Rick N. Backer, Jim Rothermel, Rick Chucdakoff, Jimmy Tittle, Peter Bunetta, Arno Lucas, Bob Tangrea, Sharon White & Cheryl White.
The Best Of The Asylum Years Volume One Two
Red Pajamas Records 1989
Tracks: This Hotel Room, Bobby Don't Stop, Men Who Love Women Who Love Men, That's What Friends Are For, Just Lucky I Guess, My Old Man, Video Tape, Danger, Door Number Three, I Can't Sleep, You Can Turn To Me & Spoon River.
Musicians on the Best Of The Asylum Years Volume Two album: Steve Goodman and others.
The Best Of The Asylum Years Volume One
Red Pajamas Records 1988
Tracks: Between The Lines, Jessie's Jig (Rob's Romp, Beth's Bounce), Hand It To You, Death Of A Salesman, Still Trying To Care, The Twentieth Century Is Almost Over, Banana Republics, Two Lovers, I'm Attracted To You, One Bite Of The Apple & The One That Got Away.
Musicians on the Best Of The Asylum Years Volume One album: Steve Goodman and others.
Unfinished Business
Red Pajamas Records 1987
Tracks: Whispering Man, Mind Over Matter, God Bless Our Mobile Home, Millie Make Some Chili, In Real Life, (Now And Then There's) A Fool Such As I, Don't Get Sand In It, The Dutchman, Colorado Christmas & My Funny Valentine.
Musicians on the Unfinished Business album: Steve Goodman and others.
Santa Ana Winds
Red Pajamas Records 1984
Tracks: Face On the Cutting Room Floor, Telephone Answering Tape, The One That Got Away, Queen of the Road, Fourteen Days, Hot Tub Refugee, I Just Keep Falling In Love, The Big Rock Candy Mountain & Santa Ana Winds.
Musicians on the American Gypsies album: Steve Goodman and others.
Artistic Hair
Red Pajamas Records 1983
Tracks: East St. Louis Tweedle-Dee, Let's Give A Party, Winter Wonderland, Elvis Imitators, Tico Tico, The Water Is Wide, Red Red Robin, Chicken Cordon Bleus, Old Fashioned, City Of New Orleans, Three-Legged Man & You Never Even Call Me By My Name.
Musicians on the Artistic Hair album: Steve Goodman and others.
Hot Spot
Red Pajamas Records 1980
Tracks: Danger, Bobby Don't Stop, Sometimes Love Forgets, Still Trying To Care, Hit And Run Lover, Trust Me, Part Of Your Life, Can't Find My Heart & Sdrawkcab Klat (Talk Backwards).
Musicians on the Hot Spot album: Steve Goodman and others.
High And Outside
Red Pajamas Records 1979
Tracks: Just Lucky I Guess, You Can Turn To Me, The One That Got Away, Hand It To You, Luxury's Lap, That's Why (I Love You So), One Bite Of The Apple, It Would Be (You And Me), Men Who Love Women Who Love Men & What Have You Done For Me Lately.
Musicians on the High And Outside album: Steve Goodman, Nicolette Larson , Rick Vito, Joseph Golan, Elliott Golub, Fred Spector, Ruth Goodman, Ottokar Sroubek, Roger Moulton, Robert Swan, Leonard Chauson, Shirley Tabachnick, Jim Rothermel, Corky Siegel, Bobby Lewis, Bill Elliott, Rick Chudacoff, Michael Boddicker, Peter Bunetta, Arno Lucas, Jim Peterik, Kitty Haywood, Denise Fackler, Vicki Hubly & Bonnie Herman.
City Of New Orleans
Pair Records 1978
Tracks: The, Dutchman, Song For David, Chicken Cordon Blues, Somebody Else's Troubles, Six Hours Ahead Of The Sun, I Ain't Heard You Play No Blues, You Never Even Call Me By My Name, City Of New Orleans, The Vegetable Song, Lincoln Park Pirates, The Ballad Of Penny Evans, Eight Ball Blues, Rainbow Roads, Donald And Lydia, Mind Your Own Business, Turnpike Tom, Yellow Coat, So Fine & Would You Like To Learn To Dance.
Musicians on the City Of New Orleans album: Steve Goodman and others.
Say It In Private
Red Pajamas Records 1977
Tracks: I'm Attracted To You, You're The Girl I Love, Video Tape, There's A Girl In The Heart Of Maryland, Two Lovers, Is It True What They Say About Dixie, Weary Blues From Waitin', Daley's Gone, My Old Man & The Twentieth Century Is Almost Over.
Musicians on the Say It In Private album: Steve Goodman, Pete Seeger, Dolores Hall, Heather Wood, John Prine, Kenny Vance, Benny Diggs, Thomas Dunn, Chris King, Milton Grayson, Rick Chudacoff, Cliff Morris, Steve Burgh, Eric Weisberg, Jethro Burns, Larry Parker, Alan Shulman, Sanford Allen, Charles Libove, David Nadien, Max Pollikoff, Richard Sortomme, Selwart Clark, Kermit Moore, Maurice Smith, Dave Tofani, Scott Hamilton, Roger Rosenberg, Leon Pendarvis, Ken Ascher, Rob Mounsey, Milt Hinton, Will Lee, Allen Schwartzberg, Peter Bunetta, Errol "Crusher" Bennett, Jimmy Maelen, Arnold McCuller & Arthur Freeman.
The Essential Steve Goodman
Buddha Records 1976
Tracks: City of New Orleans, The Dutchman, Somebody Else's Troubles, Turnpike Tom, Yellow Coat, You Never Even Call Me By My Name, Chicken Cordon Blues, Election Year Rag, Donald & Lydia, Eigfht Ball Blues, Jazzman, Would You Like To Learn To Dalnce, Song For David, The I Don't Know Where I'm Goin' But I'm goin' Nowhere in A Hurry Blues, Six Hours Ahead of the Sun, The Loving Of The Game, I Ain't Heard You Play No Blues, Can´t Do Me Any Favouors Anymore, Lincoln Park Pirates & The Balllad Of Penny Evans.
Musicians on the Essential Steve Goodman album: Steve Goodman and others.
Words We Can Dance To
Red Pajamas Records 1976
Tracks: Roving Cowboy, Tossin' And Turnin', Unemployed, Between Lines, Old Fashioned, Can't Go Back, Banana Republics, Death Of A Salesmman, That's What Friends Are For & The Glory Of Love.
Musicians on the Words We Can Dance To album: Steve Goodman, Steve Mosley, Sid Sims, Saul Broudy, Winnie Winston, Jeff Gutcheon, Bill Swofford, Jim Post, Hugh MacDonald, Raun MacKinnon, Diane Holmes, Mary Gaffneu, Jim Rothermel, Peter Ecklund, Jethro Burns, Kenny Kosek, Lew London, Tom Radtke, John Frigo, Elaine Skorodin, Ruth Goodman, Harold Klotz, Lenore Glazer, David Amram & Bobby Rossi.
Jessie´s Jigs & Other Favorites
Red Pajamas Records 1975
Tracks: Number Three, Blue Umbrella, This Hotel Room, Spoon River, Jessie's Jig, It's A Sin To Tell a Lie, I Can't Sleep, Moby Book, Lookin For Trouble & Mama Don't Allow It.
Musicians on the Jessie´s Jigs & Other Favorites album: Steve Goodman and others.
Somebody´s Else´s Troubles
Buddha Records 1973
Tracks: The Dutchman, Six Hours Ahead Of The Sun, Song For David, Chicken Cordon Bleus, Somebody Else's Troubles, The Loving Of The Game, I Ain't Heard You Play No Blues, Don't Do Me Any Favors Anymore, The Vegetable Song (The Barnyard Dance), Lincoln Park Pirates, The Ballad Of Penny Evans, I'm My Own Grandpa (Live) & The Auctioneer (Live).
Musicians on the Somebody´s Else´s Troubles album: Steve Goodman and others.
Steve Goodman
Buddha Records 1972
Tracks: The I Don't Know Where I'm Going But I'm Goin' Nowhere In A Hurry Blues, Rainbow Road, Donald & Lydia, You Never Even Call Me By My Name, Mind Your Own Business, Eight Ball Blues, City Of New Orleans, Turnpike Tom, Yellow Coat, So Fine, Jazzman, Would You Like To Learn To Dance?, Election Year Rag & Georgia Rag.
Musicians on the Steve Goodman album: Steve Goodman, Robert Milkwood Thomas, Donnie Fritts, Norbert Putnam, David Briggs, Charlie McCoy, Billy Sandford, Ben Keith, Bucky Wilkin, Stephen Bruton, Kenneth Buttrey, Grady Martin, Vassar Clements, Pete Wade, George Tidwell, William Pruett, Gene Mullins, Dennis Good & Martha McCrory.
Gathering At The Earl Of Old Town
Drive Archive 1970
Tracks: Prepare For Invasion, Eight Ball, Wild Woman (Don´t Have The Blues), Jimmy Newman,, Chicago Bust Rag, Jazzman, The Man Who Sings, For Eddie, Colorado Exile, Fat Stuff, Goin´Home, I Met A Boy & City Of New Orleans.
Musicians on the Gathering At The Earl Of Old Town album: Steve Goodman and others.