The guys auditioned for the seminal music team of Leiber and Stoller, who gave the group its name in 1960. In the manner of the time, Leiber and Stoller wanted to extend this to "Binky Jones and the Americans", but Traynor declined to be known as "Binky Jones" his whole career. He instead offered up "Jay", a family nickname, and it suited everyone.
They first hit the Billboard charts in 1962 with the tune "She Cried". Later covered by several other artists, the track's highest charting was #5, inspiring the group. The next two singles didn't fare nearly as well, however, and John Traynor left the band. David Black (né David Blatt) of The Empires took his place (after first agreeing to adopt the name Jay Black), and Empires guitarist Marty Sanders also joined. Black sang lead for the rest of the group's existence.
They returned to the charts in 1963 with "Only In America", a song originally meant for The Drifters. Other notable hits for the Americans were "Come a Little Bit Closer" in 1964, which hit #3, and "Cara Mia" in 1965, which hit #4. The Americans also recorded a commercial for H.I.S. Slacks, and a public service announcement for the Ad Council, featuring a backing track by Brian Wilson and Phil Spector.
In 1968, they recorded an album of their favorite oldies remade fresh, called Sands of Time, and its single was "This Magic Moment", which also came through the Drifters. That track proved to be the last Top Ten record for the group. However, the band's follow-up album, titled 'Wax Museum', yielded the #19 hit "Walkin' In The Rain". First recorded by The Ronettes, the emotive love song has remained a classic on oldies themed stations along with the group's earlier work.
Their next singles failed to chart, nonetheless, and the band grew apart. The demand for live appearances remained. While the other members moved on to solo musical careers in 1973, Jay Black continued to perform as "Jay and the Americans" or "Jay Black and the Americans" until the 1980s, with a variety of musicians, including Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, who would later found Steely Dan. ."
The group reunited in the 1990s for special performances, most notably the 45 Years of Motown special on PBS.
in 2006, Jay Black filed for bankruptcy due to gambling debts, and his ownership of the name "Jay & The Americans" was sold by the bankruptcy trustee to Sandy Deanne (Yaguda), Black's former band mate and original member of Jay & The Americans for $100,000 to pay Black's debts. With the name purchase, former members Deanne, Howard Kane, and Marty Sanders reunited, and recruited a sound-alike singer from Chicago, coincidentally nicknamed "Jay." Thus, John "Jay" Reincke became the third "Jay" and the band returned to playing both national and international music venues. Their show covers the history of Jay and The Americans, acknowledging all three Jays and featuring all of the top hits in their original arrangements.
David Blatt still tours under his stage name, "Jay Black". Kenny Vance is currently the lead singer of Kenny Vance and the Planotones, a neo-doo wop band that he formed in the 1970s. After leaving the group, John Traynor recorded a handful of songs on the Coral label, including "I Rise, I Fall" in 1964. None were hits, but "I Rise, I Fall" became a minor hit for Johnny Tillotson. The label billed Traynor as "JAY formerly of Jay and the Americans." Traynor now tours with Jay Siegel's Tokens.
This Is It
Jay & The Americans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Ah ah ah) She dosn't want my kisses
I know that this is it for me
(Ah ah ah) She doesn't want me anymore
(Ah ah ah) Somehow my touch just misses
I know that this is it for me
(So turn on the sun) I need the sunlight
Without her, every day is black as night
(And bring out the moon) I need the moonlight
(Ah ah ah) Brighter than it's ever shone
She's gone and I am so alone
(But she cried for me) When she cried for me
(Yes she cried for me) Yes she cried for me
(And she) wo wo oh oh (could've laid down and died for me)
(Ah ah ah) She doesn't love me anymore
(Ah ah ah) She dosn't want my kisses
I know that this is it for me
(This is it) Goodbye
(This is it) and so long, my little girl
(This is it) and I know, I know, I know
(This is it) That this is it for me
The song This Is It by Jay & The Americans is a poignant and melancholic depiction of a man coming to terms with the end of a romantic relationship. The lyrics are filled with desperation and heartache as the singer realizes that the woman he loves no longer wants him or his affections. The imagery of darkness and light, with references to the sun and the moon, is used to convey the depth of his loneliness.
The opening lines ("She doesn't love me anymore / She doesn't want my kisses") set the tone for the entire song, and the repetition of the refrain ("This is it for me") only serves to emphasize the man's sense of finality and hopelessness. He feels that he has reached the end of the road, and there is no way to salvage the relationship. The line "Somehow my touch just misses" suggests a sense of futility and frustration, as if he has exhausted every possible means of winning her back.
However, there is a glimmer of hope in the reference to how she cried for him, and how she "could've laid down and died for me." This suggests that perhaps the woman still has feelings for him, but for some reason, she just can't bring herself to love him anymore. The song ends with a final farewell ("Goodbye / and so long, my little girl"), as the singer accepts that this is the end of the road for him.
Line by Line Meaning
(Ah ah ah) She doesn't love me anymore
The singer's partner no longer loves him and has likely fallen out of love with him.
(Ah ah ah) She dosn't want my kisses
The singer's partner no longer desires intimacy with him and likely is no longer attracted to him.
I know that this is it for me
The singer believes that his relationship with his partner is over and there is no chance of reconciliation.
(Ah ah ah) She doesn't want me anymore
The artist's partner no longer desires his company and wants to be away from him.
(Ah ah ah) Somehow my touch just misses
The artist's partner does not enjoy physical contact with him and may feel uncomfortable or repulsed by it.
I know that this is it for me
The singer is certain that he and his partner cannot continue their relationship and that it is permanently over.
(So turn on the sun) I need the sunlight
The singer is in a dark emotional place and needs the happiness and hope represented by sunlight to improve his mood.
(Ah ah ah) Need its glow to make things bright
The artist requires the positivity and brightness that the sun provides to alleviate his emotional distress.
Without her, every day is black as night
The artist's partner was his source of happiness and positivity, and without her in his life, everything seems dark and negative to him.
(And bring out the moon) I need the moonlight
The artist feels alone and requires the emotional support and comfort that the moon's light represents.
(Ah ah ah) Brighter than it's ever shone
The singer needs the moon's light to be more powerful and comforting than it ever has been before because he is in such a low emotional state.
She's gone and I am so alone
The artist's partner has left him, and he is now lonely without her companionship.
(But she cried for me) When she cried for me
The singer remembers when his partner expressed emotions for him and misses those feelings of love and affection.
(Yes she cried for me) Yes she cried for me
The singer confirms that his partner had feelings for him but acknowledges that those feelings are now gone.
(And she) wo wo oh oh (could've laid down and died for me)
The singer's partner was once very devoted to him and would have done anything for him.
(This is it) Goodbye
The artist realizes that his relationship is permanently over and that he must say goodbye to his partner.
(This is it) and so long, my little girl
The artist bids farewell to his partner using a term of endearment, acknowledging that he has fond memories of their relationship.
(This is it) and I know, I know, I know
The singer accepts that his relationship is over and that there is no chance of it continuing or restarting.
(This is it) That this is it for me
The singer reiterates that he understands his relationship has come to an end, and he is at peace with this realization, albeit somewhat reluctantly.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Missing Link Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Melba Moore, Van Mccoy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tyson Curtis
As a guy from a younger generation, I've always had an appreciation for older music. I had started listening to Jay and the Americans sometime back in the early 90's when I had heard their hits on an oldies station. I soon bought one of their greatest hits albums and coincidentally, "This is it" stuck out as my favorite. The way Jay's voice carries and the range delivers such emotional vibrance. I love to sing this song when I'm on my own, sometimes after a failed relationship. Thank you Jay Traynor for all your talent. Your voice is a gift to all of us that will be enjoyed at least until the twilight of my days and hopefully, long after. Rest in Peace!
Rhonda Sorrow
Can't believe this was not a hit! It's absolutely beautiful!
lijoed51
How can a song like this not chart. A beautiful song
DinoTuned1
About the same time that this great song was being almost-totally ignored, Elvis Presley hit #1 with "Good Luck Charm". Where's the justice? Author!! Author!!! Thank you so much for posting this phenomenal song!
Tony Powers
Thanks for liking our song, Dino. You win some, lose some, eh? peace, tp
Tony Powers
To all who have said these nice things about "This is It"...I wrote it with Ellie Greenwich when we worked in the Brill Building office of the great duo Leiber and Stoller. peace, t.
dunepaul9999
Beautiful song Tony. Thank you for for sharing this. 5 stars.
Tony Powers
@dunepaul9999 Thanks DP. peace, tp
notenoughtas
I wonder if this was only released regionally as opposed to nationally because there is no way this song couldn't have been a hit with wide exposure and all the talent invested into the song. Thank you for sharing and RIP Mr. Traynor.
Bill White
Jay told me that this was his favorite song and couldn't believe that it wasn't a chart buster....RIP My Friend.........