Millions know Suzanne Vega’s hits, like “Luka” and “Tom’s Diner.” Since her debut album in 1985, she has been one of America’s leading songwriters; but her new album recorded last year at the Café Carlyle, An Evening of New York Songs and Stories, shows that she is even more specifically one of the great New York City songwriters. For this podcast, she recounts her experiences with days-long parties, describes how Lou Reed threw doors open for her lyrically as a songwriter when she was a student, and clarifies that while she might have been influenced by him, they both occupied different corners of the same city. Suzanne Vega plays some of these New York songs live at home and discusses her long career.