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We started in LA, headed back to London, and now we're back across the pond again for ten songs inspired by the city of blinding lights...

Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys

Uber hit for the Brooklyn rapper from 2009 and one that's still getting rinsed on radio. The track features a sample of the 1970 song “Love on a Two Way Street” by The Moments.

New York, New York - Ryan Adams

Lead single from the alt.country songwriter's 2001 album, Gold. The video, which shows Adams performing in front of the city's towering skyline was shot just four days before the 9/11 attacks changed it forever.

Walk on the Wild Side – Lou Reed

From the Reed's groundbreaking 1972 album, Transformer, which was produced by his friend David Bowie. The song refers to several individuals who were regulars at Andy Warhol's studio, he Factory.

New York City Cops – The Strokes

Track tacken from the native New Yorker's 2001 debut album, This Is It. The song was removed from the US version of the album as a mark of respect following the 9/11 attacks.

Across 110th Street

Bobby Womack-penned theme from the classic Blaxploitation movie of the same name which came out in 1972. The movie is set in Harlem, of which 110th Street is the official boundary.

Harlem Shuffle

Wall Street Shuffle – 10cc

1974 single from British rock band, 10cc. The song refers to the financal district of lower Manhattan and also name checks Howard Hughes, one of the wealthiest men in the world at the time.

Spanish Harlem – Ben E King

Written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector, it was soul crooner Ben E King who made this ode to the upper westside neighbourhood a classic before it was later covered by Aretha Franklin and the Mamas and the Papas.

Angel of Harlem – U2

The Dublin quratet's homage to Billie Holiday refers to numerous NYC landmarks including JFK airport and radio station WBLS. The song was written on the Joshua Tree tour and came out as a single on the back of 1988's Rattle & Hum album.

Bleecker St – Simon & Garfunkel

Track on the folk duo's 1964 debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3am. The pair were regulars on the Greenwich Village folk scene which was focussed around the clubs and bars on Bleecker Street.

Fairytake of New York – The Pogues

Shane McGowan's tale of drunkeness in the Big Apple from 1987 featured English singer Kirtsy MacColl and has since become known as one of the most popular Christmas songs ever – even though the song isn't even about Christmasbut just mentions it in the first line!