By Bob Makin
originally published: 03/15/2024
“Streets of Dublin” off longtime Jersey Shore rocker James Deely’s latest album, “This Train Is Running Out of Track,” is Makin Waves Song of the Week. ARTWORK BY BOB NICHOL
With a video literally shot on the streets of Dublin, veteran rocker James Deely’s “Streets of Dublin” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.
The clip for one of several singles from J.D.’s latest album, “This Train Is Running Out of Track,” also was shot in Waterford, Ireland, the home of Waterford Crystal.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Streets of Dublin” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on March 15 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and Mixcloud.
For years, J.D. fronted a great Long Beach Island-based band called James Deely & the Valiants, who frequently shared bills with the SBK recording act The Red House at The Green Parrot in Neptune and The Stone Pony in Asbury Park.
Well, “Streets of Dublin” served as a reunion. The Red House singer-songwriter-guitarist Bruce Tunkel once again produced J.D., while Red House drummer Bob Nichol served as graphic designer for the single. As for the Valiants, original drummer James Michael Deveney, laid down the skins.
“So cool to be doing things with them,” J.D. said. “I also did a song with Tony Stives, The Red House’s guitar player, so we are rocking like 1989!“
“Bruce produced the whole record,” he continued. “Anybody who can make this ol’ Irish drunkard sound this good, is a genius! God Bless Ol’ Ireland!“
Family reunions also were involved with “Streets of Dublin.” J.D.‘s cousin Chris Bergen served as the video’s director.
The song and its vid were inspired by a trip to the Emerald Isle J.D. took a few years back with his mom and sister.
“I found myself on the Southern Coast of Ireland in a small port city named Cobh,” he said. “I was on a Bus Coach tour with my Mom and my Sister Mary. In the old days, the town was known as Queenstown, famous for being the last port call for the Belfast-made Titantic before it headed out into the mighty North Atlantic.
“So Me, me Mum and my Sister are there in Cobh, and they have a ship all decked out the way the ships looked back in the day,” J.D. continued. “And my Mom is going around waving this boat manifest, a passenger list she had from when my Great GrandFather, Thomas Deely, boarded one of them ‘Coffin Ships’ bound for America in 1895. Thomas would make his grand entrance into Philadelphia! He, like so many other Irish during that time, headed for distant shores after the Gorta Mor, The Great Hunger.
“So here we are on the tour, and the tour guide is telling us that the people travelling on these ships would have to come to town two days before the ship left so they could confirm that the passengers were there for the voyage ahead. And I got to thinking, my God, here I am walking the same Irish streets that my Great GrandFather walked so many years ago.”
J.D. already has recorded a follow up to “This Train Is Running Out of Track.” A country song, "Nashville’s Finest," was produced at Sony Studios Nashville by Doc Holiday, whose extensive resume includes work with Bruce Springsteen, Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix, and Loretta Lynn. The track features E Street Band bassist Garry Tallent.
J.D. heads back to Nashville next month to record another song, then will return to Ireland for more live dates. In September, he will play the Americana Festival in Nashville, whose WMOT radio station has been giving him a lot of airplay.
For more about J.D., visit him on Instagram.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].
About the author:
New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.
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