Sheffield streets by Amy Allison
A musical tribute from a Long island girl based in New york
Jim Buck left a comment on this blog earlier about Amy Allison, a Long island girl who used to live in Sheffield. The title track from her forthcoming album is this love song to the city called Sheffield streets:
And to quote directly from the information on the YouTube video page on monstersoftheid’s channel:
Back in the early 1980s, there used to be a pub in Sheffield called Woodstock diner. It was set out like an American diner, but of course the waitresses spoke with local accents – all except one: she not only looked straight out of a Woody Allen movie, but talked like it too. It turned out that her name was Amy Allison, and she had left Long island to live in Sheffield with her husband (I found that out when I met them both at an evening class).
Much to my surprise, Amy loved living in Sheffield! She adored Castle market; the Kashmir, on Spital hill; the Leadmill; and, of course, the beautiful suburbs and their framing countryside.
Most of all. Amy loved the friendliness of Sheffielders, so much so that when her husband wanted to move back to work in New york, she did her best to persuade him to stay. Her efforts were unsuccessful, and the couple returned to the US at the end of 1983.
A couple of months ago, I looked her up on Facebook; obviously, there were a lot of Amy Allisons to filter through; but I found her her eventually. Amy was really pleased to hear from me, because she had just recorded a new CD; it is called Sheffield streets. The title song is a love song to the city of Sheffield.
It is a great story and amazing to think that after 26 years away from Sheffield her fond memories are still vivid enough to inspire this touching tribute. Hearing all the local references sung in an Amy’s American accent over an alt-country backing is also quite cool.
The Woodstock diner is of course now the Prince of Wales pub in Ecclesall. I wonder if she ever served me up a knickerbocker glory on one of our Sunday lunchtime family visits?
Amy’s official website and MySpace page feature more of her music.
Love rather good to get all that in..