Search - Jay & Americans :: Complete United Artist Singles

+1/2 -- Exhaustive collection of `60s vocal group's singles

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 07/22/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Jay and the Americans had an unusually long chart run for a pop vocal group, racking up ten top-40 hits, and many lower charting entries, over the course of nine years. Having sprouted from roots in 1950s doo-wop, the group was signed to United Artists by Leiber & Stoller who quickly had them cut a Drifters-styled cover of West Side Story's "Tonight." This first outing was a respectable local hit in New York, but it was their second single, "She Cried," that established them on the national charts, peaking at #5 in 1962. Unusually, just as the group was finding its commercial footing, lead singer John "Jay" Traynor left to get a "real job." Replaced by David "Jay Black" Blatt, the group continued to ride the charts through the rest of the decade.



The newly fronted group hit again with the Brill Building sound of Mann & Weil's "Only in America." Written as a social criticism for the Drifters, and rewritten as a satire when Atlantic balked, the song became an optimistic anthem in the hands of Jay & The Americans. Originally released as the B-side to "Dawning" (which stiffed), the song rose to #5 after radio jocks began flipping the single. It wasn't the last time the group would have a hit B-side, as 1964's "Come a Little Bit Closer" and 1965's Roy Orbison-esque "Cara Mia," the group's top charting singles, both started life as flipsides. As musical innovation swirled throughout the 1960s, the group tasted additional styles but never really abandoned their traditional vocal roots. Their last major hit, 1969's #6 "This Magic Moment," brought them back full-circle to their Brill Building roots with a cover of the Drifters' 1960 single.



Throughout the 1960's Jay and the Americans remained a step out-of-time. They hung on to their doo-wop inspired sound long after the genre had faded from pop's main stage, stuck with orchestrated, theater-inspired vocals as the British Invasion pushed the guitar up front, and returned to their Brill Building roots just in time for the nostalgia wave of the late `60s. For each commercial breakthrough, however, there were several formulaic reiterations or nondescript follow-ups that failed to capitalize on or sustain the group's chart success. Their early years with Leiber & Stoller gave way to successful years with UA house producer Gerry Granahan, and ended with a stream of less sympathetic producers and songwriters.



After a clutch of four top-20s in 1965 and a #25 cover of Roy Orbison's "Crying" in 1966, the group hit a drought in 1967 and 1968. The revolving door of producers and songwriters picked up speed, pushing the group outside their comfort zone with a mish-mash of commercially failed attempts to find workable contemporary grooves, including baroque pop and the rock-funk "Shanghai Noodle Factory." The latter, courtesy of shared producer/songwriter Jimmy Miller, turned up as a cover on Traffic's Last Exit album! Jay Black released a solo cover of the Johnny Mathis hit "What Will My Mary Say" in 1967, but with his voice so defining the group at that point, the absence of his band mates is hardly noticeable.



It wasn't until the band's fortunes ebbed to an all-time low that they shucked off external pressures to find a contemporary sound. They regrouped to self produce the 1969 album Sands of Time, which reworked twelve of their favorite songs from the original doo-wop era. Three singles were spun from the album, with a terrific interpretation of the Drifters' "This Magic Moment" climbing to #6, and enthusiastic covers of "When You Dance" and "Hushabye" charting lower. The group that had drifted out of doo-wop into the tumult of the 1960s had come back to its roots with a fresh injection of swagger and energy. Sadly, financial and personal hurdles would sink the group within a year, but not before having one last top-20 hit with a soaring 1970 cover of the Ronettes' "Walking in the Rain."



Casual listeners may be better off with the superb hits collection, Come a Little Bit Closer: The Best of Jay and the Americans, but the band's fans will treasure the opportunity to hear all the lower- and non-charting singles along with their B-sides. Lesser-known highlights include the working man's anthem "Friday," written by Ellie Greenwich and her early songwriting partner Tony Powers, the horn-lined rocker "Goodbye Boys Goodbye (Ciao Ragazzi Ciao)," the folk-rock "If You Were Mine, Girl" and "Girl," the baroque pop "(He's) Raining in My Sunshine," the uncharacteristically sharp-tongued "You Ain't As Hip As All That Baby," the light-psych "Gemini," and the Phil Spector produced public service release "Things Are Changing." The latter, with vocal coaching from Brian Wilson and sung to the melody of Wilson's "Don't Hurt My Little Sister," was also waxed by the Blossoms and Supremes.



The group had artistic, if not commercial, success with original material as well, including the emotional ballad "Stop Your Crying," the country-rock "(I'd Kill) For the Love of a Lady," the vocal-psych "Learnin' How to Fly," and the A-side "Livin' Above Your Head." The latter's original recording stalled on the charts but became a UK hit for the Walker Brothers. Collectors' Choice's 3-CD set pulls together sixty-six sides in crisp mono (just the way the AM radio gods intended) and adds a 20-page booklet filled with liner notes by Ed Osborne, release and chart details, and archival photos. It's not all gold, but there are several tracks that match up to the group's hits, and a great deal of excellent material that's only been heard by those who own the original 7" singles. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]"

All their UA 45's without the scratches

Zub | Forks Twp., PA | 08/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Collectors Choice has given us superb original singles collections from the likes of Jan and Dean, and Gary Lewis and the Playboys. Here, in an even larger 3-CD set, come the complete United Artists singles from one of the most consistent hit-making groups of the 60's who not only survived but thrived in the face of the British invasion. In spite of changes in producers, an erratic stylistic approach, periods of disappointing chart performances and even a change in lead singer, Jay and the Americans, fronted first by John "Jay" Traynor, then by Jay Black (nee David Blatt), were rewarded with four top-10 singles over the course of the decade.



Technically, their 1968 remake of the Drifters' "This Magic Moment" was their biggest hit as well as their last top-10 single. However, and while not lacking in instantly recognized songs such as "She Cried" and "Come a Little Bit Closer", the 1965 recording of "Cara, Mia", with Jay Black's soaring operatic performance, has, in many ways, become their signature song. Though overshadowed by the drama of "Cara Mia", "Only in America", "Let's Lock the Door", the Neil Diamond-penned "Sunday and Me" and their remake of the Phil Spector / Ronettes ditty "Walkin' in the Rain" also remain in the musical memories of listeners of 60's a.m. radio.



While there are several good Jay and Americans collections available, the best being the outstanding "Come a Little Bit Closer" piece with its superb sound quality and generous track count, this new 3-disc set goes beyond all others by including every U.A. single issued by the group. And while stirring up the mono purist vs. stereo soundstage debate, the versions here are the original mono mixes as heard on the radio way back when - a definite draw for the avid collector. Accompanying the music is a 20-page liner notes booklet with a history of the group's tenure at United Artists, several illustrations and a discography.



For the avid fan, completist collector or mono purist, this new Collector's Choice set is a welcome addition that goes beyond all that is available up to now on this classic 60's pop group."

Buyer Beware!

J. Galvin | Staten Island, NY United States | 02/10/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I just picked this CD up and all I can say is that CC did not take alot of time with the "Master Tapes"



Just a quick note:

"She Cried" - Bump in the tape or Vinyl that was used right at the start, almost sounds like the tape splice on "hot fun in the summertime"

"Some Enchanted Evening" - Tape Warp at the beginning

"French Provincial & Shanghai Noodle Factory" sound like bad vinyl.



I was happier with the few BGO titles that came out and the bootleg that was pulled

shortly after release.



If you don't mind those imperfections this is an awesome collection, some of it I did not have anywhere else and most of the quality is spot-on! I contacted CC to see if they were aware of these "Problems".



btw, their Paul Revere & The Raiders - Columbia Singles is Amazing!"