North Jersey (Billy Playle)

[PVD]

Billy picked this one up and put his spin on my early memories.  A bit of the Boss feel to me, Billy is extremely capable with a broad talent range.
We hope you enjoy it.

North Jersey

Lyric:  Paul Dempsey
Vocal, Music and Arrangement:  Billy Playle


(v1)
Growing up in North Jersey
Neath the skyline of the City
High above the Jersey shores
Leather jackets and greased hair
On the corner posing
Laying claim to what's yours

(chorus)
The streets were hard
Just like the Jersey girls
Always on guard
It was a different world
And there was no mercy
No mercy in North Jersey
And there was no mercy
In North Jersey

(v2)
Living for the weekend
Day trips to Manhattan
Saturday night at a dance
The girls in their teased hair
The boys in knit shirts
And their mohair pants

(chorus)

(bridge)
And in the summer it was always understood
There was a never ending party
From Seaside Heights down to Wildwood

(chorus)

[Dan]

Wow this is some great lyrics and Billy is one heck of a good singer. Simply beautiful. Awesome guys. 

[PVD]

Dan:

Tks for the listen, yes Billy is a good singer despite his denial.

Paul

[Dan]

You're welcome Paul, well he sure is one good singer, that's for sure.

[jfreed18]

Hi Paul this is a terrific song and you did a terrific job on the lyrics and Billy did a terrific job on the vocals and music. Yep I'm playing this song again  . You both did a fantastic job! Thank you Paul your friend Jimmy.

[PVD]

Jimmy:

Tks, Billy's interpetation of my misspent youth is amazing considering he is in England.

Paul

[jfreed18]

Hi Paul Your welcome. I was just playing this terrific song again  . And I read your great lyrics again to and yep I agree Billy is a great singer. You both did a fantastic job! Thank you Paul your friend Jimmy.

[soulfrontier]

Although Billy is as far as I know a british guy he captured the feeling very well and this song sounds very american. It has a bit of the spirit of the older Bon Jovi ballads but its even better music!

I agree Billy is a very good singer, I'm glad that he sings sometimes!

Congratulations Paul, this is a very nice song and its well produced. Sounds great!

[Billy]

Ok, that's enough gushing for one day, guys 

What would you guys think if I told you I was really trying for a Billy Joel type of thing (him being a native New Yorker). These things have a tendency to morph into something else.

Sometimes it's OK to get nostalgic.... but important to look to the future 

Thanks for listening and for the kind comments. I'm sure I'll be doing more songs with Paul in the future....I hope so.

Billy.

[Mr. Mom]

Jesus Billy!! I was just typing how I thought this reminded me of Bon Jovi singing a Billy Joel song, but you beat me to the punch! 

Really is a nice song and great story. 

[PVD]

Ok, Billy (Joel) Playle, no more gushing, to me it could be Billy Joel or Bruce S..  Bruce S. was from South Jersey, totally different.

Anyway, I love it.

BTW, You can't be where you are, without being where you were.

Paul

[stoman]

Joshua Kadison meets Billy Joel - that's what I was thinking immediately, and then I read the thread. Mission definitely accomplished, Billy!

Great music, very classy.

Damn, I had planned to write music for this lyric too. But it would never have turned out half as nice as yours. That's the difference between a real musician and a hobby tinkerer ...

Regards,
  Steffen

[soulfrontier]

That's the difference between a real musician and a hobby tinkerer ...

off topic:

my first read was "Hobby Trinker" (hobby drunkard)  

[NickT]

Man that was a nice trip. 

I remember Wildwood in the summer. Getting a bucket of clams and some cheesesteaks.  I remember heading into NY to the Winter garden theater to see Beatlemania! I think that was '76.

Great job guys!

Nick

[docmidnite]

Another gem!!!!!!!!!!
Wonderful!!