Today’s classic song of the day is a fine example of Philly Soul via New York City—the place and the group. The song is “I’m Doin’ Fine Now” by that group called New York City. It was released in the spring of 1973 and hit #17 on the Billboard Hot 100, #14 on Billboard’s Best Selling Soul Singles chart, and #8 on Billboard’s Easy Listening chart.
“I’m Doin’ Fine Now” was written by Thom Bell and Sherman Marshall, and produced by Mr. Bell. Thom Bell, of course, was one of the architects of the Philly Soul sound, creator of soft soul hits by the Delfonics (“La La (Means I Love You)” and “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)“), the Stylistics (“You Are Everything,” “”Betcha by Golly, Wow,” “Break Up to Make Up,” “You Make Me Feel Brand New,” and “I’m Stone in Love with You“), the Spinners (“I’ll Be Around,” “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love,” “Games People Play,” “The Rubberband Man,” and “Then Came You,” with Dionne Warwick), and more. His success continued into the ’80s with hits for Deniece Williams (“It’s Gonna Take a Miracle“), Elton John (“Mama Can’t Buy You Love”), and James Ingram (“I Don’t Have the Heart”). He was the man.
New York City, the group, was a vocal quartet from, you guessed it, New York City—Tim McQueen (lead), John Brown, Claude Johnson, and Eddie Schell. Like a lot of Philly Soul groups, the guys in New York City had plenty of experience singing in doo-wop groups previously, including the Five Satins, the Cadillacs, the Moonglows, and the Genies. They first got together in 1972 under the moniker of the Tri-Boro Exchange, then fell under the tutelage of Thom Bell and Wes Farrell. They quickly changed their name and had their first big hit with “I’m Doin’ Fine Now.” They had a few more hits on the soul chart but nothing else that hit the Billboard Hot 100.
Interesting fact: New York City’s touring band included guitarist Bernard Edwards and bassist Nile Rodgers, better known from their later and much more famous group, Chic. Hey, you gotta start somewhere…
