Good Evening New York City cover

Released 17 years ago this November

Good Evening New York City

Paul McCartney · 2009

123 min · 67 tracks · classical music

A dynamic live celebration blending rock classics with heartfelt ballads, showcasing McCartney's enduring charisma and musical range.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Drive My Car Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
  • →
    Hey Jude — This rendition features an extended sing-along section that highlights McCartney's ability to engage the audience and creates a communal experience reflecting the song’s theme of hope.
  • →
    Let It Be — Performed with poignant sincerity, this track exemplifies McCartney's skill in conveying emotional depth through simple yet powerful lyrics, resonating deeply with the listeners.
  • →
    Band on the Run — This classic showcases McCartney’s knack for storytelling within a song structure, blending various musical styles seamlessly while energizing the crowd.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

56 /100
Foothills
Higher than 47% of albums we've rated

The album captures a wide range of McCartney's work but lacks a cohesive narrative across its lengthy runtime.

What we noticed

  • The album features a diverse setlist that spans McCartney's entire career, including both Beatles classics and solo material.
  • Each song is performed with a live band, creating a dynamic atmosphere that shifts between energetic rock anthems and softer ballads.
  • The running time exceeds two hours, with the performance structured to maintain audience engagement through varied tempos and styles.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • vibrant live concert atmosphere
  • dynamic journey with peaks
  • nostalgic sing-along moments
  • heartfelt performances in abundance
  • for celebratory gatherings

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer shorter, concise albums
  • avoid lengthy live recordings

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Fan Favorite — Captures a dynamic live performance, showcasing McCartney's catalog and appealing to dedicated fans.
Themes
Citi Field celebration· Beatles legacy· New York City energy
Career context
Released in 2009, Good Evening New York City captures Paul McCartney at a point of resurgence, following his successful 2007 album Memory Almost Full. This live album documents a historic performance at Citi Field in New York City, marking McCartney's return to the city where The Beatles had their first U.S. concert in 1964, emphasizing both nostalgia and his ongoing relevance in music.
Stylistic neighbors
Wings· The Beach Boys· David Bowie

Tracklist

Disc 1

  • 1 Drive My Car Start here 2:36
  • 2 Jet 4:19
  • 3 Only Mama Knows 3:38
  • 4 Flaming Pie 2:24
  • 5 Got to Get You Into My Life 2:50
  • 6 Let Me Roll It 5:49
  • 7 Highway 3:56
  • 8 The Long and Winding Road 3:36
  • 9 My Love 3:55
  • 10 Blackbird 2:41
  • 11 Here Today 2:27
  • 12 Dance Tonight 2:58
  • 13 Calico Skies 2:35
  • 14 Mrs Vandebilt 4:39
  • 15 Eleanor Rigby 2:21
  • 16 Sing the Changes 4:13
  • 17 Band on the Run 5:25

Disc 2

  • 1 Back in the U.S.S.R. 3:12
  • 2 I'm Down 2:19
  • 3 Something 4:03
  • 4 I've Got a Feeling 5:48
  • 5 Paperback Writer 3:25
  • 6 A Day in the Life / Give Peace a Chance 5:41
  • 7 Let It Be 3:54
  • 8 Live and Let Die 3:12
  • 9 Hey Jude 7:22
  • 10 Day Tripper 3:10
  • 11 Lady Madonna 2:30
  • 12 I Saw Her Standing There 3:09
  • 13 Yesterday 2:13
  • 14 Helter Skelter 3:47
  • 15 Get Back 4:11
  • 16 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band / The End 4:38

Disc 3

  • 1 Intro
  • 2 Drive My Car Start here
  • 3 Jet
  • 4 Only Mama Knows
  • 5 Flaming Pie
  • 6 Got to Get You Into My Life
  • 7 Let Me Roll It
  • 8 Highway
  • 9 The Long and Winding Road
  • 10 My Love
  • 11 Blackbird
  • 12 Here Today
  • 13 Dance Tonight
  • 14 Calico Skies
  • 15 Mrs. Vandebilt
  • 16 Eleanor Rigby
  • 17 Sing the Changes
  • 18 Band on the Run
  • 19 Back in the USSR
  • 20 I'm Down
  • 21 Something
  • 22 I've Got a Feeling
  • 23 Paperback Writer
  • 24 A Day in the Life / Give Peace a Chance
  • 25 Let It Be
  • 26 Live and Let Die
  • 27 Hey Jude
  • 28 Day Tripper
  • 29 Lady Madonna
  • 30 I Saw Her Standing There
  • 31 Yesterday
  • 32 Helter Skelter
  • 33 Get Back
  • 34 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band / The End

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata