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.
Yellow Forest
Jay & The Americans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dancing for a living in blue light
You took a glance at me, we overlooked it
My eyes were searching for the secret
As to whether we'd fit and I said
"We'll meet in the Yellow Forest
(We'll meet)
We'll meet in the Yellow Forest
(We'll meet)
There's a world that's made for you and me"
Time went racing on as the month passed
I caught you once again in your dance act
Your attitude has changed, you smiled at me
Now I can tell where we both should be
We'll meet in the Yellow Forest
(We'll meet)
(Yellow Forest)
There it will be where we both can see
We'll meet in the Yellow Forest
(We'll meet)
There's a world that's made for you and me
We'll meet in the Yellow Forest
(We'll meet)
(Yellow Forest, Yellow Forest)
There it will be where we both can see
We'll meet in the Yellow Forest
(We'll meet)
(Yellow Forest, Yellow Forest)
There's a world that's made for you and me
We'll meet in the Yellow Forest
(We'll meet)
(Yellow Forest, Yellow Forest)
There it will be where we both can see
The lyrics of "Yellow Forest" by Jay & The Americans describe a chance encounter between the singer and a dancer whom he saw in a cloud one night. There is a sense of mutual attraction, but the singer is unsure whether they would be a good fit for each other. He suggests that they "meet in the Yellow Forest," a place where they will be able to see whether they belong together. As time goes by, the dancer's attitude changes, and she becomes friendlier towards the singer, leading him to believe that the Yellow Forest may indeed be the place where they can be happy together.
The Yellow Forest seems to represent a kind of ideal world, a place where people can find happiness and fulfillment. It is unclear whether the Yellow Forest is a real place or a metaphor for something else, but it is clear that the singer believes it to be a place of great importance. Whether or not the dancer shares his belief remains unclear, but there is a sense of hope and possibility in the lyrics that suggests that the Yellow Forest could be a place where they can find happiness, although it is not guaranteed.
Overall, the lyrics of "Yellow Forest" are open to interpretation, but they seem to be about the search for love and happiness in a world that can sometimes seem dark and uncertain. The Yellow Forest represents a kind of sanctuary, a place where people can go to find the love and happiness they seek.
Line by Line Meaning
Saw you in the cloud late one night
I saw you in a dreamlike state one night
Dancing for a living in blue light
You were living out your passion for dancing in a beautiful atmosphere
You took a glance at me, we overlooked it
You briefly noticed me, but we didn't dwell on it
My eyes were searching for the secret
I was searching for a deeper connection
As to whether we'd fit and I said
Wondering if we were a good match, I spoke up and said
"We'll meet in the Yellow Forest
"We'll come together in a magical place
(We'll meet)
There it will be where we both can see
We will find a place where we can clearly see each other and our true selves
Time went racing on as the month passed
As time quickly went by over the course of a month
I caught you once again in your dance act
I saw you dancing once more
Your attitude has changed, you smiled at me
Your demeanor had shifted and you smiled warmly at me
Now I can tell where we both should be
I understand now where we belong
We'll meet in the Yellow Forest
We will come together in that same enchanted place
(We'll meet)
(Yellow Forest)
There's a world that's made for you and me
We are destined for a world that is meant to include us both
We'll meet in the Yellow Forest
We will find each other once again
(We'll meet)
(Yellow Forest, Yellow Forest)
There it will be where we both can see
We will have a place of clarity and understanding
We'll meet in the Yellow Forest
Once again, we will come together in that enchanted place
(We'll meet)
(Yellow Forest, Yellow Forest)
There's a world that's made for you and me
Our destiny lies in a world that is meant to include us both
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: BILLY CARL, REID S. WHITELAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
petee19
One of their best,and I think the only one that made the charts in the UK.
John Robertson
in what chart, maybe radio london...smashing band and song
Ken Danna
This song came out a year after 'Yellow Submarine', and I'll just bet that the songwriters wanted to add 'yellow' to a random noun would translate into pop success, like the song 'Yellow Baloon' did a few months earlier.
madarch52
another great song what a voice
thewillismon
Good song and first time hearing it. Probably as close to psychedelic as this group ever got. But, hey it came out in Aug 67, the summer of love!
IDLERACER
Not everything that was released in '67 was psychedelic. This could just as easily have been released anytime between '65 and '69. It has more of an upbeat M.O.R. vibe about it.
lord summerisle
Fantastic..
madarch52
listen to this one a lot but only on u tube as i dont have it on cd.
sharon wrijil
I agree!
john smith
in reply to Petee they never had a uk chart hit which with all the songs they recorded it was a shame (Blame United Artists)