Both have beaches, sure, but which place has better music?
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The Garden state has been the home of Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra, Yo La Tengo and Patti Smith. Long Island is the cradle of Public Enemy, The Ramones, Billy Joel and Pat Benatar. Both the Island and the Garden State have beaches, but which place harbors better musicians? We debate NJ vs. LI in today's Soundcheck Smackdown.
Representing New Jersey is Pseu Braun, a music host at WFMU in Jersey City; and Glenn Gamboa, pop music writer for Newsday, defends The Island.
Weigh in: Long Island or New Jersey?
Comments [77]
Don't wanna forget Joe Satriani and Steve Vai!Carle Place, L.I.
It all started with Bugs Bunny. He's from Perth Amboy. Or as he says `Poith Amboy.'
I was surprised Twisted Sister & Stray Cats weren't mentioned as LI bands, and Pat Benetar & Joan Jett were barely mentioned in passing. More LI non-mentions: Debbie Gibson & Taylor Dayne. I'm sure Jersey had its share of one album wonders as well.
Springsteen. End. Of. Story.
You know where I come down on this. Don't forget N.J.'s Young Rascals -- one of the greatest performing rock bands.
But really, with Sinatra and Springsteen west of the Hudson, there's no argument. (Sorry for Bon Jovi, btw)
Love ya, L.I.
John Coltrane was from North Carolina. He spent a lot of time in Philly, then moved to Long Island. He should not be in this debate.
Lets see, NJ also has:
Count Basie, Regina Belle, Gloria Gaynor, Lauryn Hill, My Chemical Romance members, James P Johnson, Queen Latifah, Rah Digga, Redman, Richie Sambora, Sarah Vaughan...
Should I continue?
And contrary to what others may say, most still live in NJ, along with a load of NY transplants that feel NJ offers a better lifestyle than NY.
It's cool Pseu, I'm sure you just got caught up in the narrow confines of hipsterdom Schaefer style. Which would indulge thinking like - I mean the Isleys wrote the Beatles '"Twist and Shout" but what have they done lately eh?
And JS loves hip-hop (at least some, blacks as street thugs is a comfortable fit) but why honor the people (P-Funk) whose music was sampled to create the beats, let alone acknowledge the funkiest musicians on the planet...maybe it's brcause they play their instruments with virtuosity, not something cool ion JS's world unless it's in a jazz or classical framework.
Some more contemporary musicians you forgot to mention include Robert Randolph, Lauryn Hill and the RnB pop producer Rodney Jerkins.
Jersey--The Gaslight Anthem
Jersey hands down has the better music history and current scene.
L.I. is just where rich people go to vacation.
New Jersey had and has some truly great jazz artists. Tal Farlowe used to play in Sea Girt, Dick Hyman, Kenny Davern used to live in Manasquan, many more as well.
Billy Joel is very talented, so no need to knock Long Island.
LI is a place, Jersey is a much bigger place, so the comparison might be biased.
If the music is great, who cares where the artists' reside?
Why would anyone possibly care? We're supposed to feel strongly about Jersey and Lawngiland?
Nah, forgetaboudit.
Blondie is from Jersey
Jersey rocks
Much respect for all artists of color -- George Clinton was on top of my list along with his accomplishments for sure, just did not have enough time and say to give props to so many important artists. I had more rap artists to mention as well, although in a smack-down Public Enemy slays! The list of ladies of NJ from all the genres would have been another several minutes if given the chance.
And, might I just say to Jack in Brooklyn: I have a feeling you have no idea what the kids listen to either, nor are you sounding very informed with quotes like "Indie rock via WFMU doesn’t count since it doesn’t reflect the larger music world in any way". What does that even mean? Eesh.
and the Isley Brothers!! Jeeez.
I generally avoid your show due to it's lack of interest in any new forms of black music. It seems that in John and his producers world all good things come from Williamsburg and black music stopped being good in 1974 except when it's sung by a white girl from the UK. A terrible misfortune, and on public radio a crime really that a show that claims to be interested in new music, has never booked any indie musicians of color...when there are so many.
BUT, I did think Schaefer and his cronies know some history and have some respect for past black music...oh to be dissapointed...yet again. A whole discussion of music from NJ and no mention of George Clinton, Bernie Worrell (hey he plays with some of the 'cooool' bands these days) or the majority of the Parliament crew who hail from Plainfield. Ignorant or racist? I don't know..you be the judge.
No song energizes a room (in NJ) as when Livin on Prayer (bon jovi) is played. It's the official beginning of the night. Things get crazy from there. LI?
LI...I LOVE YOU...genetically we are cojoined twins. NJ wins this one.
Sincerely,
Your neighbor
RE: [56] Hey Jay: What was in Dee Snyder's grocery cart?
After the smack down, one more long island tidbit. During the 40's, Rachmaninoff lived at an estate on the water in Centerport (on the old grounds of which we later lived.) He composed Symphonic Dances there, and older locals recall dropping anchor just off shore to listen to him playing from behind large, open windows....
It is still a lovely spot, just north of the Vanderbilt estate....
A Baldwin, N.Y. native called up Soundcheck to shout out Long Island rap and hip hop: LL Cool J (who has connections to both Long Island and Queens); Busta Rhymes (Uniondale); and De La Soul (Amityville).
Vanilla Fudge- L.I - Pattie Smith - NJ
Suffolk Cty has Twisted Sister (or at least Dee Snyder, who my aunt used to run into at the grocery store...)
Yeah, that Billy Joel apologist on the phone was out of his ever-lovin' mind! NJ wins for Springsteen alone.
I'm not sure I can forgive you for exposing my ears to the Jonas Brothers; I was happily enjoying my ignorance.
My above comment meant to say that's like comparing Michaelangelo with Rodin....
Not DaVinci.
Billy Joel a better songwriter than Springsteen? Okay, maybe if you like poppy little ditties, but every single song on "Greetings From Asbury Park" is stronger than anything Joel has ever written.
ARE YOU KIDDING???? BILLY JOEL OR BRUCE????
PLEASE... Bruce continues to be the man. There is no one in LI who can even come close... is Billy still performing, selling out the Garden??? who will we remember??? Give me a break!
PS what about Bon Jovi??
TWISTED SISTER!!!!!!!
joan jett! joan jett!
Dalek, Screaming Females, Vivian Girls, The Feeles, Yom La Tengo...
There's no way any one can put Joel against Springsteen. There's just no comparison.
That's like comparing DeVinci with Rodin
Springsteen is master
There's no way any one can put Joel against Springsteen. There's just no comparison.
That's like comparing DeVinci with Rodin
Springsteen is master
I think Billy Joel's cousin just called in. Billy Joel always WISHED he was Bruce!
Franki Valli and the Four Seasons...
I don't mean to be the jerk from Manhattan here, but this whole conversation is like arguing colon cancer is better than prostate cancer. Except for a select few, there's a reason why most of the people you're talking about moved someplace else as soon as they could.
Nobody. And I mean nobody who is a “kid” listens to “Ted Leo” or “Yo La Tengo”...
Indie rock via WFMU doesn’t count since it doesn’t reflect the larger music world in any way.
Also... LONG ISLAND!!!!!!!
chrisette michelle is one more for long island!
For all the chatter of Long Island it's not even a state! Jersey all the way! Misfits, Thursday and the Bouncing Souls just some of the influenitial punk NJ has.
The Burnt from Midland Park. They rocked even more than the Jonas Brothers!!!!
Who could 'survive' without Gloria Gaynor....
NJ All Day!
In addition to the big names, NJ has indie rockers like the Parlor Mob and My Chemical Romance, as well as metal bands like E-Town Contrete and Dillinger Escape Plan. Hip Hop legend Queen Latifah is from NJ, too.
And lets not forget the Thomas Edison invented the phonograph in NJ.
Jersey boys?
I'm not partisan (despite having inlaws from Freehold, The Boss's home town), but I just want to mention Bettye LaVette (the amazing R&B comeback story of recent years) and the Isley Brothers. I think NJ's might just have the edge...
Keith Jarrett is a long time resident of New Jersey. End of debate. Unless you want to counter with Tiffany, the shopping mall diva!
Also from Jersey:
Wyclef Jean
Fugees
Celia Cruz (lived in NJ)
Queen Latifah
Whitney's cousin, Dionne Warwick....
What about Frank Sinatra NJ
Is Donald Fagan from NJ or NJ
Nassau county has the great rock band Blue Oyster Cult.
More cowbell!
If where someone chooses to live is the criteria Paul McCartney has lives and owns in Amagansett, LI for decades.
Am a transplanted NJ resident, but it's just common sense that Bruce Springsteen walks all over Billy Joel. After all, Billy Joel is a man who stoops to using sound effects in his songs. Examples: the car engine in Moving Out, and that's just one. There's the shattering glass sound at the beginning of "You May Be Right".
How obvious and literal and pedestrian. But really, Billy Joel is just a dork.
Jersey has Danzig.
harry chapin! harry chapin!
How about Southside Johnny????
Hey dont forget Whitneys mother Cissy.
honestly lets just stay with England, thats where the good stuff comes from.
if we need to stay in the states Detroit wins.
Jerry
You have to give it to NJ, even on clubs - the Stone Pony and Maxwell's and LI has what?
If your NJer doesn't mention that both George Clinton and Bill Evans come from Plainfield she's as unqualified as she sounds.
PS Yes Mariah has outsold Whitney, it's better to marry the boss than be the favorite...
Oh gawd, you're playing the Bodyguard theme? Please make it stop!
Billy Joel built a piano shaped house at the Jersey shore. Which to be fair he never lived in...
Even he thought it was better at least once upon a time.
I will always love Jerz, ooooohhhhhhhhahhhh.
will always love Jerz.
About Sarah Vaughn??? If the commentator from Jersey wasn't such a snot, I would give Jersey the prize hands down.
Billy Joel is a strike against Long Island. But then Whitney Houston is a strike against NJ.
My vote goes for Jersey, which also had The Feelies.
has anyone mentioned Count Basie?
NJ has it sewn up on guitarists: Tony Mattola, Bucky Pizarelli and most of all, the man to whom we owe the solid body electric guitar and R&R as we know it: the late LES PAUL.
New Jersey can claim Dave Murphy - a great indie folk singer songwriter - winner of various folk music festival awards and check out 'My Garden State' an funny ode to NJ. Although his bio lists Brooklyn he's a Jersey man!
www.murphyworld.com
Comparing New Jersey and Long Island is like arguing over which stinky filthy armpit stinks less.
You must be kidding! New Jersey goes way even back before Long Island was invented.
You guys are too young to remember Wildwood in the '50s and '60s when it was Mecca to rock and roll. Where else could you see Chubby Checker, Fats Domino, and Frank Sinatra on the same night within 4 blocks of each other. Musical density was never so good, not Las Vegas, not West 52nd Street.
Gimmeabreak.
What's going on over there?! Dizzy is from South Carolina! You guys are giving this show no credibility!
Long Island has better hip hop for sure, but everything else in Jersey is better (Bruce, Whitney, Bon Jovi, Colbert)...relatively speaking of course (I mean it is NJ for pete's sake)
Living legend, crooner Tony Bennett is a product of Astoria, Queens. Check out the new Frank Sinatra School of the Arts on 35th Ave there, founded by Tony. With the Astoria Performing Arts Center nearby and performance space at the Frank Sinatra School, music galore!
It's a running family joke that my first words were: "The Piano Man" and "The Boss". Since these were my Dad's favorites at the time, I am hard pressed to choose between them. I guess I lean a little towards the "The Piano Man".
In the New Jersey column, you forgot Rick Nelson.
It's a running family joke that my first words were: "The Piano Man" and "The Boss". Since these were my Dad's favorites at the time, I would be hard pressed to choose between them.
Public Enemy hails from Roosevelt, Long Island -- Chuck D still has a house there, in fact. John Coltrane lived in Dix Hills, but only from 1964 until his death in 1967. And, you're right, David, the Ramones are from Forest Hills, Queens. Yet all three artists are in the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. We'll explore the "blurry borders" of Long Island on the show today.
The Ramones are from Queens. I think Forest Hills? I thought Public Enemy was from Queens too? I think you guys are cheating.
How about Eric B and Rakim, I think L.I.
None of them compete with Staten Island. Shaolin stand up.
Dave B
It's actually WFMU, not WMFU.
Not to be a stickler..but I'm pretty sure John Coltrane was from North Carolina originally-- and then moved to Philadelphia. I wasn't aware he was hanging out with Billy Joel on Long Island! You should correct your homepage.
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.