Jersey Bounce

"Jersey Bounce" is a song written by Tiny Bradshaw, Eddie Johnson and Bobby Plater with lyrics by Buddy Feyne who used the nom de plume Robert B. Wright (as this song was written during an ASCAP strike). It hit #1 for four weeks in 1942 as an instrumental recorded by Benny Goodman and his orchestra, and also charted that same year by Jimmy Dorsey (#9) and Shep Fields (#15) . It was covered by numerous bands and swing orchestras including Glenn Miller, Harry James, Jan Savitt and Red Norvo. Artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Ella Mae Morse and The King Sisters also recorded it. Fitzgerald recorded it on her two albums Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! and again on All That Jazz. The King Sisters and Ella Mae Morse versions were singles.

The tune was popular as the source of aircraft nicknames during World War II. One of the first examples was a B-24D Liberator that served in the Eighth Air Force with the 93rd Bomb Group at Alconbury, England, in 1942 and 1943 (pictured). It was also the name of two B-17 Flying Fortress bombers in the 303rd Bomb Group stationed at Molesworth, England during World War II. In fact, this plane flew 14 combat missions and was labeled "the hardest hit ship of the 358th Bomb Squadron (VK-K)". After it was taken out of commission, the "Jersey Bounce 2" replaced it. At least four other Bombardment Groups had B-17 bombers named "Jersey Bounce".

Assigned to the 91st Bomb Group, 324th Squadron (DF-H) at Bassingbourn, England, another B-17F (4124515) was named “Jersey Bounce”, by pilot, Lt. Phillip Fischer, when the bomber was assigned to him in September 1942. Subsequently, replacement pilot, Lt. J.S. Jackson, renamed this aircraft the “Marie Jane”, after Fischer was temporarily blinded on the January 23, 1943, mission to bomb the U-Boat facilities at Lorient, France.. The aircraft was lost on the May 21, 1943, mission to Wilhelmshaven with Fischer in the left seat again. It was his first mission after returning to duty.

Another example was from the 336th Fighter Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group, where LtCol Donald F. Pierini named all three of his P-51(B,C,&D) fighters were named "Jersey Bounce". "Jersey Bounce I" was destroyed in a middair collision in 1944. "Jersey Bounce II" was retired after a number of missions. "Jersey Bounce III" was shot down in 1945 but under a different pilot.

"Jersey Bounce" has been used in various movies, including big band film The Benny Goodman Story, Carnal Knowledge, The Electric Horseman, and Starsky & Hutch.

The lyrics begin:

They call it the Jersey Bounce A rhythm that really counts The temperature always mounts Whenever they play the funny rhythm they play It started on Journal Square And Somebody heard it there They put it right on the air And now you'll hear it everywhere...