James Deely is prolific. Over the last eight years, the Jersey-born singer-songwriter has released seven albums either solo or as front man for his band, the Valiants. Since 2023 when he recorded both “Songs for an Irish Funeral” and “This Train Is Running Out of Track,” he has been travelling back and forth from Los Angeles to Nashville, taking care of business at home to be able to record with producer Doc Holiday. He’s excited to be playing with former E-Street band bassist, Garry Tallent. “I know Garry from the old days,” Deely recalled, “from when he owned Shore Fire Recording Studios in Long Branch, NJ back in the late ’80s. To be doing a record with Garry on bass is just amazing!”
He has written enough new tunes for the album, if not two albums, considering his productivity. His emails are at times disjointed leading one to think he’d gotten up from his chair mid-sentence to grab his guitar and work on one of the songs when the creative whim strikes him. He is very excited about the new songs and given his upward trajectory in the quality of songwriting, you would expect this album (“Nashville’s Finest”) to be his strongest to date.
“Well, as a songwriter, I am an observer of those little moments in life that others might miss, and some of these memories have a huge impact on me,” Deely asserted. “They keep rattling around my head, and eventually find their way into songs, otherwise, the memories just fester and disturb me, like walking with a small pebble in your shoe.”
There is a single out called “Nashville’s Finest,” comparing the country music capitol city to a woman: “She knows every word to every song she hears / She ain’t got no time for no lonely, lonely tears / And now Nashville’s finest / is only a kiss away.” But at heart, he’s an album guy. “My old buddy Norman Nardini said to me the other day, ‘People don’t listen to albums anymore,’ and I said, ‘well it’s all I know.'”
Deely now calls Ashland, Wisconsin home after three decades in Los Angeles, but he’s been making music longer, 40 years and counting. Last year he toured Ireland and had the great guitarist Johnny “Showtime” Waken from Jonathan Byrd’s band accompany him. “And I just played a gig back on Long Beach Island in New Jersey with a full band, including original Valiant drummer, James Devaney,” Deely added.
No slouch himself on the guitar, like most axe-wielders, Deely owns a few. “My main acoustic guitar is a Danny Ferrington JS-2 that I got from Henry Vaccaro when they owned Kramer Guitar, I also have a Martin LX-1 parlor guitar, which I ‘borrowed’ from a famous guitar player.” That will certainly be a question for our next conversation.
He recorded this exclusive AUK Mini-Gig at his house on Beaser Street in Ashland. Like many independent artists, “I go for the low-budget vibe.” He actually had been looking to slow things down when Holiday called and persuaded him to come to Nashville and make some music. “So, off I went,” Deely responded. “The main thing now, is I just can’t believe I am still doing this and getting recognised here and in Europe. RTE1 Radio in Dublin has been playing my songs as is WMOT in Nashville. Who knows what is yet to come?”
His songs are like diamonds in the rough, but upon hearing them you’ll see how they sparkle. Should you wish to find his music, Bandcamp is the place to start. “We have moved everything to the Bandcamp site and it’s all there: merch, t-shirts, CDs, digital downloads,” he stated, claiming, “Bandcamp treats artists the best.”
Deely has given us some insight into the three songs he has chosen for his Mini-Gig. All are from his fine “Songs for an Irish Funeral” album. He invites you all (as do we at AUK) to press play and let your ears be aroused.
- A Harder Road – I read this book by Anthony Scaduto about Bob Dylan and based my story loosely around my two grandfathers, James P. Deely, Sr and Henry Bergen, and the lives they lead back in the day, how much harder their lives were and no one ever complained. It was all in a heroic effort to provide better lives for their children and grandchildren.
- Custom Made – This is a coming-of-age song, I look back to my dad giving me driving lessons, and me looking out the windshield at the glory and adventure that “the highway surely held” knowing my father knew that same adventure. And also how some of the best things in life, we may complain here and there, but whether it be your car, your lover or your life, a lot of things are naturally “Custom Made”.
- Heartbreaker Blue – This is the story of a famous strip club in Asbury Park back in the day, Many of my friends had been trying to get me to go see this fantastic oasis of sin, and when I finally went, I looked next to me and saw this older gentleman drinking gin and watching 25 year old gals dance to Van Halen songs. It was a wee bit sad, and pathetic, how this was the old guy’s big thrill for the day. So, the story unfolded in a “Blue Velvet” voyeuristic B-movie scenario.
“Slainte!” – James Patrick
The songs that James Deely writes are timeless in my view. He sings of his own experiences and of those around him. I can sense his pain, his joy, his wonderment and so much more. I always enjoy hearing his new songs as well those that have been around for many years. Keep on rockin’ JD.