From September 2014 to September 2015, I wrote about one New Jersey-related song a day in NJArts.net’s 350 Jersey Songs project. The idea was to find one song a day that has to do with Jersey in some way: It was either recorded by a New Jerseyan, or in New Jersey, or has some Jersey content in it (or, in many cases, has two or three of these elements).
One other thing: It had to be a song I like, and thought people will enjoy hearing.
Here is the list of the songs in the project, linked to the song pages. They are listed chronologically. (Click here to see them listed alphabetically.)
1: “Said I Wasn’t Gonna Tell Nobody,” Abyssinian Baptist Gospel Choir.
2: “Tom’s Diner,” Suzanne Vega at Thomas Edison National Historical Park, West Orange.
3: “You Don’t Own Me,” Lesley Gore.
4: “On the Boardwalk (In Atlantic City),” Dick Haymes.
5: “My City of Ruins,” Bruce Springsteen.
6: “Rapper’s Delight,” The Sugarhill Gang.
7: “The Message,” Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five.
8: “Garden State Stomp,” Dave Van Ronk.
9: “Strange Names (New Jersey’s Got ’em),” Steve Forbert.
10: “Over on the Jersey Side,” Billy Murray.
11: “Rock and Roll,” Lou Reed at the Conspiracy of Hope” concert at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford.
12: “Home,” Whitney Houston.
13: “Hackensack,” Thelonious Monk.
14: “To Zion,” Lauryn Hill.
15: “C Jam Blues,” Les Paul, Les Paul, Tal Farlow and Bucky Pizzarelli.
16: “Dawn (Go Away),”The Four Seasons.
17: “I’m So Afraid,” Fleetwood Mac at the Capitol Theatre, Passaic.
18: “Fly Me to the Moon,” Frank Sinatra and Count Basie.
19: “So Jersey,” The Bouncing Souls.
20: “That’s What Friends Are For,” Dionne Warwick, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder and Luther Vandross.
21: “Eyes of the World,” The Grateful Dead at Raceway Park, Englishtown.
22: “Play Some Skynyrd,” John Eddie.
23: “X Offender,” Blondie at Convention Hall, Asbury Park.
24: “Ladies First,” Queen Latifah, featuring Monie Love.
25: “Ballet Mecanique, Part 1,” George Antheil.
26: “This Time It’s for Real,” Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Southside Johnny and Steven Van Zandt at Convention Hall, Asbury Park.
27: “There’s a Small Hotel,” Jack Whiting.
28: “Hey Bartender,” John Belushi with The Allman Brothers at the Capitol Theatre, Passaic.
29: “Speeding Motorcycle,” Daniel Johnston and Yo La Tengo.
30: “The Sharpest Lives,” My Chemical Romance at Maxwell’s, Hoboken.
31: “The Boy From New York City,” The Manhattan Transfer.
32: “Rent Party,” The Cucumbers.
33: “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” Carole King demo.
34: “Slip Away,” David Bowie’s Uncle Floyd tribute.
35: “I Want to Know What Love Is,” Foreigner with the New Jersey Mass Choir.
36: “The Book of Love,” The Monotones.
37: “The Bulrushes,” The Bongos.
38: “Atlantic City (Gonna Make a Million Tonight),” East River Pipe.
39: “Day of the Locusts,” Bob Dylan
40: “Behind the Wall of Sleep,” The Smithereens with Graham Parker
41: “(I Wanna) Testify,” The Parliaments
42: “Frankenstein,” Phish at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City
43: “Halloween,” The Misfits
44: “The Oldest Established (Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York,” Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis and Sammy Davis Jr. in Atlantic City.
45: “Jersey Boy,” Eddie Rabbitt.
46: “I Met Him on a Sunday (Ronde-Ronde),” The Shirelles.
47: “I Shall Be Released,” Grace Potter at Love for Levon concert.
48: “The Weight,” Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band.
49: “Asbury Park (Stone Pony),” They Might Be Giants.
50: “I Will Survive,” Gloria Gaynor and Diana Ross at NJPAC, Newark.
51: “Love Wore a Halo (Back Before the War),” Nanci Griffith.
52: “Stuck Inside New Jersey,” Dave Kleiner and Liz Pagan.
53: “Last Train From Overbrook,” James Moody.
54: “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” Naughty By Nature.
55: “Transit,” Richard Shindell.
56: “New Jersey Wife,” Dion.
57: “Jersey Girl,” Bruce Springsteen with Clarence Clemons & the Red Bank Rockers at Tradewinds, Sea Bright.
58: “A Change Is Gonna Come,” Jon Bon Jovi and Bettye LaVette.
59: “Your Favorite Day,” Tom Brislin.
60: “Song of the Passaic,” Fountains of Wayne.
61: “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss,” P.M. Dawn.
62: “Neptune City,” Nicole Atkins.
63: “New Jersey, New Jersey,” The Consensus Bureau.
64: “Who Will Save New Jersey?”, cast of “Toxic Avenger.”
65: “Gimme Shelter,” The Rolling Stones with Lady Gaga at Prudential Center, Newark.
66: “Kool & the Gang,” Kool & the Gang.
67: “My Hometown,” Neil Young.
68: “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore,” The Walker Brothers.
69: “Exit Number 9,” Glen Burtnik.
70: “Caravan,” Remember Jones (Anthony D’Amato).
71: “Black Friday,” Steely Dan.
72: “Sabre Dance,” Eric Plutz at Princeton University Chapel.
73: “I’ve Got the World on a String,” Sarah Vaughan.
74: “Stand by Me,” U2 with Bruce Springsteen.
75: “Wide Open Wide,” From Good Homes.
76: “Away,” The Feelies.
77: “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker),” Parliament-Funkadelic.
78: “Say Something,” A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera.
79: “Tweeter and the Monkey Man,” The Traveling Wilburys.
80: “Good Lovin’,” The Young Rascals.
81: “Flint Hill Special,” Sleepy Man Banjo Boys.
82: “Jersey Bounce,” Ella Fitzgerald.
83: “Walk Through the Bottomland,” Lyle Lovett and Emmylou Harris.
84: “Hallelujah,” Ernie White and Richie Sambora.
85: “Dedication,” Gary U.S. Bonds.
86: “The Ballad of the Skeletons,” Allen Ginsberg and Paul McCartney.
87: “Roadrunner,” Yo La Tengo.
88: “Lies,” The Knickerbockers.
89: “Welcome to Paradise,” Green Day at City Gardens.
90: “The Hallelujah Chorus,” The Roches.
91: “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus,” Bernie Brausewetter.
92: “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” Bruce Springsteen and Friends.
93: “Do You Hear What I Hear?,” Whitney Houston.
94: “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” Jon Bon Jovi.
95: “Wonderful World,” Southside Johnny and Brian Fallon.
96: “Christmas (I Remember),” The Smithereens.
97: “O Holy Night,” Patti Smith.
98: “Christmas Bells,” John Gorka.
99: “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” Dionne Warwick.
100: “Who’s Sorry Now?,” Connie Francis.
101: “The Devil Glitch,” Chris Butler.
102: “Green Suede Shoes,” Black 47.
103: “Trapped Again,” Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.
104: “That Old Black Magic,” Frank Sinatra.
105: “Hackensack,” Katy Perry.
106: “Back to Jersey,” Billy Hector.
107: “Can’t Go Back to Jersey,” G. Love.
108: “Rock Around the Clock,” Bill Haley and His Comets.
109: “Belly of the Beast,” Lifers Group.
110: “My Boyfriend’s Back,” The Angels.
111: “Ariel,” Dean Friedman.
112: “Atlantic City,” cast of “Ragtime.”
113: “You’re a Friend of Mine,” Clarence Clemons with Billy Preston.
114: “Ocean Avenue,” Christine Martucci.
115: “War Torn,” Nicole Atkins.
116: “You Belong to Me,” The Duprees.
117: “Testify,” The Isley Brothers (with Jimi Hendrix).
118: “Deep in the Heart of Jersey,” “Uncle” Floyd Vivino.
119: “Tenth Avenue Freeze-out,” Bruce Springsteen.
120: “Light of Day,” Joan Jett and Bruce Springsteen.
121: “Going, Going, Gone,” The Broadways.
122: “Jersey City,” Bobby Long.
123: “Pride (In the Name of Love),” U2 at Conspiracy of Hope concert at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford.
124: “The Edison Museum,” They Might Be Giants.
125: “Finger Buster,” Willie “The Lion” Smith.
126: “Johnny B. Goode,” Dave Edmunds and Friends at the Capitol Theatre.
127: “Sun City,” Artists United Against Apartheid.
128: “You Can’t Get There From Here in Jersey,” Jason Didner.
129: “Killing Me Softly,” The Fugees.
130: “Here Comes the Sun,” Nils Lofgren.
131: “Union City Blue,” Blondie.
132: “Jersey Boy,” Norman Seldin and Steel Breeze.
133: “Jersey Devil,” Kevin Welch.
134: “The Star Spangled Banner,” Whitney Houston.
135: “Just the Way You Are,” Bruno Mars at Super Bowl XLVIII at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford.
136: “Jersey Bound,” Mike Sinatra.
137: “The Kid From Red Bank,” Count Basie.
138: “It Was a Very Good Year,” Frank Sinatra.
139: “Back in Hackensack, New Jersey,” Benson Orchestra of Chicago.
140: “Joy,” Bettye LaVette.
141: “Hold Up Wait a Minute (Woo Woo),” Antonique Smith.
142: “Cherries,” Linda Chorney.
143: “I Thought I Told You Not to Tell Them,” Marie Knight.
144: “Work,” Chick Corea Trio, featuring Christian McBride.
145: “Was a Time,” Anthony D’Amato.
146: “Knock on Wood,” Nellie McKay at “American Songbook at NJPAC” series.
147: “Jersey Girl” (“Surfer Girl” parody), Straight No Chaser.
148: “Atlantic City,” The Band.
149: “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” Frankie Valli.
150: “Gloria” Patti Smith Group on “Saturday Night Live.”
151: “Someday,” Lesley Gore.
152: “The Diamond Church Street Choir,” The Gaslight Anthem.
153: “The PBR Song,” The Porchistas.
154: “NJHC,” The Everymen.
155: “R.I.P. Jon Stewart (Why’d Ya Go Ahead & Die?),” Sean Altman.
156: “Our Spirit Is Strong,” Marc Ribler and Friends.
157: “Little Peach From East Orange,” Ray Anthony and His Orchestra.
158: “Bumpy Weather Over Newark,” Raymond Scott Quintette.
159: “It’s Been a Long Time,” Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, with Bruce Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt.
160: “Fifty Checks,” Marc Shaiman.
161: “Keep Off the Grass,” James P. Johnson.
162: “Holland Tunnel,” John Phillips.
163: “Springsteen,” Eric Church.
164: “Bury My Heart on the Jersey Shore,” Shannon McNally.
165: “Like a Rolling Stone,” Bob Dylan with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Al Kooper at Brendan Byrne Arena.
166: “Better Man,” Eddie Vedder with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at Vote for Change concert at Izod Center, East Rutherford.
167: “The Sound of Silence,” Paul Simon at Princeton University.
168: “The Rolling Mills of New Jersey,” John Roberts and Tony Barrand.
169: “These Days,” Foo Fighters with Krist Novoselic at Izod Center, East Rutherford.
170: “Time 4 Sum Aksion,” Redman.
171: “We Bid You Goodnight,” The Grateful Dead at Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford.
172: “We Two Boys,” Moon Trent.
173: “State Trooper,” Bruce Springsteen.
174: “No Sleep Till Brooklyn,” Jay Z at All Points West, Jersey City.
175: “In the Pine Barrens Night,” Paul Evans Pedersen, Jr.
176: “Turnpike Twist,” Garden State Social Club.
177: “I’m From New Jersey,” John Gorka.
178: “Jersey Walk,” Johnny Marvin.
179: “I Love Music (For John Coltrane),” Amiri Baraka.
180: “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” The Shirelles.
181: “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl),” Looking Glass.
182: “Open Up Your Door,” Richard and the Young Lions.
183: “Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas),” Jimmie Rodgers, recorded in Camden.
184: “The Boys on the Avenue,” Bill Chinnock.
185: “Simon Says,” 1910 Fruitgum Co.
186: “Queen City,” The Doughboys.
187: “Down Across the Delaware,” James McMurtry.
188: “Garden State Parkway Blues,” Steel Mill.
189: “Billie’s Bounce,” Clark Terry, James Moody and George Benson.
190: “I Got Rhythm,” Sarah Vaughan.
191: “Behold the Hurricane,” Brian Fallon.
192: “Pompton Turnpike,” Louis Jordan and His Tympany 5.
193: “Garden State Parkway Boogie,” Holme.
194: “Wild Thing,” Sam Kinison, with Bon Jovi, Skid Row and Billy Squier at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford
195: “In Freehold,” Bruce Springsteen.
196: “Gimme Shelter,” Keith Urban and Alicia Keys at Live Earth at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford.
197: “One,” Bono at NetAid at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford.
198: “When You’re Good to Mama,” Queen Latifah.
199: “Ghost Dance,” Patti Smith.
200: “Song for Jersey,” Joel Plaskett.
201: “Brigantine Barrel,” The Brigantines.
202: “Livin’ on a Prayer,” Bon Jovi.
203: “Blood and Roses,” The Smithereens.
204: “I Don’t Want to Go Home,” Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, with Bruce Springsteen.
205: “The Greatest Love of All,” Whitney Houston.
206: “Send Me an Angel,” Alicia Keys.
207: “I Like Jersey Best,” John Pizzarelli.
208: “Jersey Coast Line,” Arlan Feiles.
209: “You’re No Good,” Dee Dee Warwick.
210: “Gov. Chris Christie’s Fort Lee, New Jersey Traffic Jam,” Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Fallon.
211: “My Garden State,” Dave Murphy.
212: “My God Is the Sun,” Queens of the Stone Age live at Vintage Vinyl.
213: “On the Banks of the Old Raritan,” Rutgers Symphony Orchestra.
214: “Hasbrook Heights,” Dionne Warwick.
215: “Last Cigarette,” Dramarama.
216: “Interstate Love Song,” Stone Temple Pilots.
217: “Hello Mountain (Ode to Bearfort Mountain),” Loretta Hagen.
218: “C’mon Caroline,” Bobby Bandiera.
219: “Maggot Brain,” Funkadelic, featuring Eddie Hazel.
220: “Jersey Boy,” The Unlovables.
221: “Say Goodbye to Hollywood,” Ronnie Spector and the E Street Band.
222: “Hurricane,” Bob Dylan.
223: “That’s Enough,” The Drinkard Singers.
224: “Jersey Blues,” Joe Zook & Blues Deluxe.
225: “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy),” Ben E. King.
226: “Boardwalk Angel,” John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band.
227: “Driving Around New Jersey on a Summer Night,” John Trubee and the Ugly Janitors of America.
228: “Flemington,” Danny Federici.
229: “Nobody Ever Died for Dear Old Rutgers,” Phil Silvers.
230: “John Wayne Lives in Hoboken,” The Delevantes.
231: “People Got to Be Free,” The Rascals.
232: “More Abundantly,” Quebec Celebration Gospel Choir at McDonald’s Gospelfest at Prudential Center, Newark.
233: “Dancing in the Dark,” Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
234: “My Mother’s Eyes,” Frankie Valli.
235: “Cherry Hill Park,” Billy Joe Royal.
236: “Talking Yogi Talk,” John McCutcheon.
237: “How High the Moon,” Les Paul and Mary Ford.
238: “More Stuff,” The Dead Exs at Asbury Lanes
239: “The Thrill Is Gone,” B.B. King with Phish at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford.
240: “I Believe in You,” Phoebe Snow.
241: “Statue of Liberty,” XTC.
242: “We’ve Got the Love,” Jersey Artists for Mankind (J.A.M.) charity single.
243: “The ’59 Sound,” The Gaslight Anthem.
244: “Did I Tell You,” Yo La Tengo.
245: “Reunion,” Jon Bon Jovi.
246: “I Need More Love,” Robert Randolph & the Family Band.
247: “The Wall,” Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
248: “Waning Moon,” Peter Himmelman.
249: “Doo Wop (That Thing),” Lauryn Hill.
250: “Gone Till November,” Wyclef Jean.
251: “Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are),” Pras Michael with Mya and Ol’ Dirty Bastard.
252: “Palisades Park,” Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon.
253: “On the Way to Cape May,” Cozy Morley.
254: “Crawfishin’ ” Tab Benoit at Crawfish Fest at Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta.
255: “Negasonic Teenage Warhead,” Monster Magnet.
256: “Crossing the Gap,” Railroad Earth.
257: “Point Pleasant,” The Thousand Pities.
258: “Untitled,” P.M. Dawn.
259: “Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me,” Dirdy Birdies Jug Band.
260: “New York, New York,” “Sinatra Idol” Contestants.
261: “Because the Night,” Patti Smith Group.
262: “Won’t Somebody Sing a Song About New Jersey,” Christopher Paolini.
263: “Belmont Girl Is Mad at Me,” The Trypes.
264: “I Wanna Get Better,” Bleachers.
265: “Paterson Falls,” Life in a Blender.
266: “Book Faded Brown,” The Band.
267: “Ghosts on the Boardwalk,” The Bouncing Souls.
268: “My Heart Is Failing Me,” Riff.
269: “Sugar Nobody Wants,” Tris McCall.
270: “This Old Heart of Mine,” The Isley Brothers.
271: “New Frontier,” Donald Fagen.
272: “You Can’t Catch Me,” Chuck Berry.
273: “I’ve Had the Time of My Life,” Franke Previte and Rachele Cappelli.
274: “Flowers Are Red,” Harry Chapin and Chevy Chase at Capitol Theatre, Passaic.
275: “Sing, Sing, Sing,” Max and Jay Weinberg.
276: “Welcome to the Black Parade,” My Chemical Romance.
277: “LBI Song,” Chip Mergott.
278: “Havin’ a Party,” Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.
279: “No Future Part Three: Escape From No Future,” Titus Andronicus.
280: “One Nation Under a Groove,” Funkadelic.
281: “Wilson, That’s All” (Woodrow Wilson presidential campaign song), Oscar Brand.
282: “My Seaside Brown-Eyed Girl,” Steve Forbert.
283: “Love Is Alive,” Gary Wright.
284: “Wildwood Days,” Bobby Rydell.
285: “Uninvited,” Ruth Ruth.
286: “Steel Pier,” Bobby Rydell.
287: “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree,” Tony Orlando and Dawn.
288: “Born in the USA,” John Mellencamp.
289: “The House I Live In,” Frank Sinatra.
290: “Scarlet Begonias,” The Grateful Dead at Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City.
291: “O.P.P.,” Naughty by Nature.
292: “Clinton Times,” Gregg Cagno.
293: “Restore the Shore,” Lisa Bouchelle and Friends.
294: “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” Bon Jovi, with Jennifer Nettles.
295: “Jungle Boogie,” Kool & the Gang.
296: “Peppermint Twist — Part 1,” Joey Dee and the Starliters.
297: “Great Big World,” Tony Trischka.
298: “I Will Always Love You,” Whitney Houston.
299: “Shake It Off,” Screaming Females.
300: “I Like the Jersey Shore,” Killian and Company.
301: “Night in Tunisia,” Dizzy Gillespie.
302: “Born to Run,” Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
303: “The Cover of ‘Rolling Stone’,” Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show.
304: “The Hindenburg Disaster,” The Two Man Gentlemen Band.
305: “The Rising,” Bruce Springsteen.
306: “Bright Future in Sales,” Fountains of Wayne.
307: “Whiplash,” Metallica
308: “(Everything Is Swell) in Weehawken,” Jim Testa.
309: “Woke Up This Morning (Chosen One Mix),” Alabama 3.
310: “Elegant People,” Weather Report, featuring Wayne Shorter.
311: “Society’s Child (Baby I’ve Been Thinking),” Janis Ian.
312: “Walk Away,” James Gang, featuring Joe Walsh.
313: “In My Yard,” Mr. Reality.
314: “Going to New Jersey,” Commander Cody.
315: “Rock Lobster,” The B-52’s.
316: “Hoboken Lullabye,” Gregg Cagno.
317: “A Fine, Fine Boy,” Darlene Love with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
318: “On Broadway,” George Benson.
319: “That’s Life,” Frank Sinatra.
320: “Funkentelechy,” Bernie Worrell.
321: “Big Casino,” Jimmy Eat World.
322: “Jersey Dinosaurs,” Jason Didner and the Jungle Gym Jam.
323: “Beaches,” Detention.
324: “Racing in the Street,” Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
325: “Sweet Georgia Brown,” Bucky and John Pizzarelli.
326: “Moody’s Mood for Love,” James Moody.
327: “Stones in the Road,” Mary Chapin Carpenter.
328: “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain),” Melanie.
329: “Boozophilia,” Low Cut Connie.
330: “Union City,” Dez Manku.
331: “It’s My Party,” Lesley Gore.
332: “Jersey,” Queen Latifah.
333: “So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star,” Roger McGuinn with R.E.M. at Capitol Theatre.
334: “Lincoln Tunnel Cabaret,” New York Wind Symphony with Joseph Alessi.
335: “One O’Clock Jump,” Count Basie.
336: “Way Out West in Jersey,” cast of “One Touch of Venus.”
337: “Wildwood Fun,” Lefty and the Leadsmen.
338: “C.C. Rider,” John Mayall and Friends at Capitol Theatre.
339: “Come Down Tonight (Asbury Park),” Joe D’Urso and Stone Caravan.
340: “Sherry,” The Four Seasons.
341: “Ol’ Man River,” Paul Robeson.
342: “Pulaski Skyway,” Clutch.
343: “Suburbia,” Adrenalin O.D.
344: “The Twist,” Chubby Checker.
345: “September Song,” Sarah Vaughan and Wynton Marsalis.
346: “The Bridge and Tunnel Song,” Scott E. Moore.
347: “America,” Simon and Garfunkel.
348: “Summer Wind,” Frank Sinatra.
349: “The Wish,” Bruce Springsteen.
350: “Celebration,” Kool & the Gang.
Bonus Songs
351: “Hohokus, NJ,” The Andrews Sisters.
352: “Here’s to the State of New Jersey,” Jim Testa.
353: “Thunder Road,” Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
354: “The 12 Days of Christmas,” Jigs Giglio.
355: “Jersey Style,” Christine Martucci.
356: “Nothing but Time,” Jackson Browne.
357: “I Am a Patriot,” Little Steven.
358: “White Castle Blues,” The Smithereens.
359: “If I Never Get Back to Hackensack,” Tom Rush
CONTRIBUTE TO NJARTS.NET
Since launching in September 2014, NJArts.net, a 501(c)(3) organization, has become one of the most important media outlets for the Garden State arts scene. And it has always offered its content without a subscription fee, or a paywall. Its continued existence depends on support from members of that scene, and the state’s arts lovers. Please consider making a contribution of any amount to NJArts.net via PayPal, or by sending a check made out to NJArts.net to 11 Skytop Terrace, Montclair, NJ 07043.