Jersey Shore Hero James Deely Now One of ‘Nashville’s Finest’

Written By Mike Greenblatt
James-Deely-The-Nashville-Sessions

On The Nashville Sessions (New Shot Records, Milan, Italy), Long Branch singer-songwriter James Deely pours his heart out on 10 songs (including a cover of the 1989 Garth Brooks song, “Much Too Young.”) He has some Major League help:  Producer Doc Holiday (Doug Kershaw/Kentucky Headhunters/Herman’s Hermits), E Street Band bassist Garry Tallent, guitarist Roscoe Ambel (Steve Earle/Nils Lofgren/Joan Jett), Asbury Juke keyboardist Jeff Kazee and singer Layonne Holmes (Bon Jovi). Call it Hard Americana. Or Roots-Rock. Yet his balladry shines, like on “Nashville’s Finest.”

Recorded at Owen Bradley’s Barn and Sony Music in Tennessee with Deely’s voice and acoustic guitar, plus dobro, pedal steel, upright bass, Irish fiddle, organ, piano, tambourine and backing vocals, it’s a work of rare beauty and some honest rockin’.

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Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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