Customer Reviews

Jay & The Americans - Greatest Hits

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Back in the day, Jay Black & the Americans were ALL OVERNew York top-40 raido, with good reason. ... I could rave on and on about his voice, which comes through wonderfully on this CD.

Most of their biggest hits are here, like the incomparable "Cara Mia" and "Come a Little Bit Closer". Also here is one of my heartfelt favorites, the tragic "She Cried". While not as commercially successful as other songs, this was ... Obsison-like in its tragedy.

I took away one star, though, because another Jay & the Americans collection called "Originals" (also available on Amazon) has a handful more songs. Some, like "Let's Lock the Door" were commercial successes. Others were not as popular, but equally as good.

Either, way, though, you cannot go wrong with these guys or therse collections.

Jay Black has a voice of operatic stature which he applies to popular music. In this collection of ten songs, all feature Jay Balck except for "She Cried," the group's first hit, which had a lead singer named Jay Trainor. "She Cried" is a haunting song which slips into a minor mode. Trainor's voice was also exceptional, a bit grittier than Jay Black's. After the group's first hit, they didn't do well and Jay Trainor quit. They needed a new "Jay" so they found Dennis Black who became "Jay." They then hit it to the big time with "Only in America."

This cd has most of their essential hits but notably missing is "Some Enchanted Evening." This song is from "South Pacific" and Jay's operatic rendition was by far the biggest selling version ever recorded. The most operatic sounding song in the collection is "Cara Mia." I recently heard Jay perform this on a television special. He is in his 60s and he can still hit the notes. Years ago, my wife, a few friends and I saw Jay in oncert. We managed to clue him in that it was my wife's birthday. He called her name and asked where she was sitting. She identified herself and then, jay dedicated "Cara Mia" to her. That was a great moment. Anyway, despite the fact he "Some Enchanted Evening" is missing, at the budget price, I highly recommend this cd.

Jay Black has one of the most operatic voices in rock and roll! Listen to him belt out "Cara Mia"- I believe he holds one note for over fifteen seconds. Jay's powerful voice is reminicint of Roy Orbison's.

This is a stunning collection. It's the kind of music that really pumps you up and gets you going. It energizes!

To me, the best is "Walkin' In The Rain"- the character in the song is lonely- but confident he'll meet the right girl someday, unlike Roy Orbison's lonely boy character that has all but given up.

This is positive stuff- bright, sunny, and full of vim and vigor. Perfect to pop in the walkman and run with!

This collection is a winner- and budget priced to boot!

I have waited a lifetime to say this: The voice of Mr. David Blatt (a.k.a.) Jay Black of "Jay and the Americans" is the richest verbal sound I have ever heard. I saw him perform for the first time in I guess over 30 years on PBS, in November and I was blown away!! He sings just as wonderfully today as he did when I was a pre-teen watching Hullaballoo back in the sixties.I went out immediately and brought the Greates Hits CD. I have had so much pleasure listening to it everyday. In my book Mr. Blatt's voice can be compared to the music of "Yanni". Whoes music is the only music I have brought in over seven years. Between Jay Black's: "Cara Mia", Percy Faith's: "Theme From A Summer Place" and Yanni's: "The End Of August" there are few songs (if any) I love more.

Few groups in the 1960s achieved the fame and fortune of the rapidly rising group fronted by Jay Black. The group, known as "Jay and the Americans", were overnight hits with their first big smash, "Only In America, which was followed in quick succession by such memorable numbers as "Come A Little Bit Closer", "Hushabye", and "She Cried'. Their range was limited, not by Jay's voice, which was close to being operatic in its range and power, but by the lack of good material to record. Unlike many of the other groups, Jay and the Americans suffered from a lack of songwriting talents, so their ability to generate albums quickly enough to stay in the public spotlight suffered from a lack of album-filling material.

Still, their tour at the top was quite breathtaking, including such standards as "Some Enchanted Evening", a cover of the Everly Brothers' "Walking In The Rain", and "This Magic Moment". Their final big hit was with "Cara Mia", which was a precursor of Elvis' "Its Now Or Never", which also showcased his singing range in one of his most memorable vocals. This CD brings all their best work together in a single product, and will bring those of you who remember them back into the fold of "Jay and the Americans" fans. Enjoy!

Jay Black's voice is something else. There's nothing like Cara Mia, California roads, my lady and my beat-up MG midget on a Saturday morning. Buy the cd!

My longtime "oldies" DJ friend has a "guidebook" for making chit-chat about the oldies stars and HIS book says Jay is aka ROBERT Black. Whatever the case, I guess we'll never hear HIM sing "She Cried". The presentation of the group's hits on this piece of work could be better. The hits themselves speak for themselves but a much better album is "Come a Little Bit Closer -The Best of Jay and the Americans", a more complete album for about the same price. Check it out.

CARA MIA is the ultimate sing-in-the-shower song. When ever I sing it or along with it, it chases the blues away. Even though I did not grow up w/ Jay and the Americans, I love this band. Long live Jay and the Americans!

This CD has 3-4 really good songs including "Come A Little Bit Closer", a thoroughly engaging pop song. Unfortunately, the sound quality is terrible, thin and shrill. Wait for a re-master someday.....

Cara Mia has got to be my favorite! The whole CD's 10 songs are just super. Can't say enough about Jay Black's mesmerizing voice.