Dion & Paul Simon together in new duet

Never one to rest on his laurels, rock ’n’ roll legend Dion (DiMucci) recently returned to the studio to record a new album that will be released this coming February.

Produced by Jimmy Vivino, seen nightly leading The Basic Cable Band on Conan, the album will be issued by Richard Gotteher’s Instant Records through The Orchard on February 16. “New York Is My Home,” the album’s title track, will be available this Friday, November 13.  It’s a duet with fellow New Yorker Paul Simon.  He is seen with Dion in a video for the song that was shot on the streets of New York in late October by David Niles.

The song was written by Dion and initially recorded as a solo effort. He noted, “Early on, I knew I had to sing it with Paul Simon.  We share a love for rock ’n’ roll street music, the say it was done when we were kids.  I knew Paul would ‘get’ this song.  And he did.  Soon after I sent it to him called and said he’d become obsessed with it and added his own distinct touches to the production.  He’s from Queens, I’m from the Bronx; we’re both at home in New York.  This was a labor of love for us.”

Dion, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 by the late Lou Reed, commented on the new track, “It’s my ‘street rock ’n’ roll song,” my love song to the city and my girl.”  He continued, “What can I say? For me, God’s country is never gonna mean canyons and forests.  Its gonna have sirens and subways and crowds of people.  I love the style and the way the city moves — all acceptance and love — the music seeping up from the streets.  To my eyes the city is pure; it lifts me to a higher reality.  I experience the fullness of life in New York.  It’s all here.”

Pre-order Dion’s New York Is My Home album (includes immediate digital download of the single): http://radi.al/NYIsMyHomeDionandPaul