Bobby Rydell, in a vintage publicity photo.
On Monday, my 350 Jersey Songs selection was “Wildwood Days,” a 1963 hit by Bobby Rydell. Also in ’63, Rydell released “Steel Pier,” an ode to the famous Atlantic City amusement area. It was written by the same team behind “Wildwood Days,” Dave Appel and Kal Mann, and was released as a rare one-sided single.
According to BobbyRydell.com, the single was sold at the Steel Pier for 25 cents. The song was also included, though, on Rydell’s 1963 album, Wild(wood) Days.
The Steel Pier often presented concerts in those days, as well as a diving horse, which led to the song’s not-quite-immortal couplet, “Watch the horses dive from high above/Couldn’t help it, had to fall in love.”
Check it out below.
New Jersey celebrated its 350th birthday in 2014. And in the 350 Jersey Songs series, we marked the occasion by posting 350 songs — one a day, from September 2014 to September 2015 — that have something to do with the state, its musical history, or both. To see the entire list, click here.
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