In a New Jersey State of Mind

I don’t know Jenn nearly as well as Matt does, so I decided to keep my list clearly focused on the Garden State. I tried to pick songs that have multiple, interesting, unexpected ties to Jersey, too — enjoy! and I hope you learn a little something on the way, too. The image? That’s the actual Fountains of Wayne in Wayne, NJ — more on that below:

1. The Monkees, “Pleasant Valley Sunday”
   When I think “The Monkees,” I always think of sunny southern California, so I was pleasantly surprised by this song’s Jersey heritage: songwriters (and spouses) Carol King and Gerry Goffin wrote the song based on their experiences while living in New Jersey, and the title comes from a street called Pleasant Valley Way that runs through West Orange.
2. Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul, “Inside Of Me”
   I know, I know, Little Steven Van Zandt is really a Masshole by birth, but let’s face it: nobody would know this guy if it weren’t for his Jersey connections. He’s a big part of the E Street Band; he was a founding member of the legendary Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes; and he had a starring role in a little TV show centered around the Jersey mafia called The Sopranos. This song, recorded with his own band The Disciples of Soul back in 1982, was featured on the first Sopranos soundtrack album, and it’s solid, soulful rock and/or roll.
3. Bon Jovi, “Born To Be My Baby”
   My proclivity for hair-metal is well-documented, so the inclusion of this couldn’t have come as much of a surprise, right? Jon Bon and Co. have become as synonymous with NJ as the Boss and his band, and this is the most catchy and highly underrated song from their 4th album, New Jersey.
4. Fountains of Wayne, “Hackensack”
   Power-pop like “Stacy’s Mom” got Fountains of Wayne some long-deserved attention, but I’m a bigger fan of their softer side: Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood know their way around a ballad, and this bittersweet number is one of their best. Their name, by the way, is a tribute to Fountains of Wayne, a lawn ornament store in Wayne, NJ. Jenn and Matt have passed the store a number of times, and you can, too: it’s at the intersection of Routes 46 and 23, not far from Montclair.
5. Bruce Springsteen with the Sessions Band, “Atlantic City”
   Adding a song from the Boss was an obvious thing to do, but I decided to make my choice something a little more off the beaten bath than “Born To Run,” which, of course, was once nominated as NJ’s state song. I picked “Atlantic City,” Springsteen’s ode to the Jersey shore’s capital of gambling and broken dreams, but this version comes from his tour behind the Seeger Sessions album, and features a tight, non-E Street, but still mostly Jersey-bred band.
6. Pete Yorn, “On Your Side”
   Yorn is a criminally underrated singer and songwriter, and I’m glad I can give him more due thanks to his Montville, NJ, heritage. His three studio albums are loaded with tuneful rock, and he’s loaned his songwriting chops to The Dixie Chicks, amongst others (”Baby Hold On” from Taking The Long Way is one of his). This version of Musicforthemorningafter’s tender “On Your Side” comes from his Live in New Jersey concert album, recorded at a homecoming gig in Morristown.

Download: The Monkees, “Pleasant Valley Sunday” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul, “Inside Of Me” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Bon Jovi, “Born To Be My Baby” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Fountains of Wayne, “Hackensack” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Bruce Springsteen with the Sessions Band, “Atlantic City” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Pete Yorn, “On Your Side” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)