Jan & Dean

[Jeff]

Anyone listen to these guys?  I’m amazed at the amount of interaction between the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean—from Dean Torrance singing lead on Barbara Ann to BW’s co-author credits on several of J&D’s best tunes.

J&D definitely had their share of duff tracks, and Dean seemed to have an unfortunate ability to sing off-key.  But even apart from the surf hits, J&D had some brilliant songs that would have made BW proud—Like a Summer Rain, Mulholland, a great cover of Summertime, Summertime, etc.  And their version of Vegetables blows away BW’s Smiley Smile version.

[LittleSurferGirl]

I love Jan & Dean... Great surf music!

[grillo]

Yeah, aside from the BB and Neil Young, it's Jan & Dean all the way!!! I'm even wearing a Bel-Air Bandits T-shirt right now
I bet Mark Moore has a thing or two to say on the subject.
Just for the record, idid not one, but two, yes two reports on Jan & Dean in 8th grade. My English teacher's only comment ws "You sure a know a lot about Jan & Dean!"

[MBE]

I love them myself and have all their vinyl LP's. I have a liking for their early tracks with the heavy echo. Great off beat humor on some of those.

[phirnis]

While they don't strike a chord with me as much as The Beach Boys, some of their best material comes pretty close. I used to virtually hate the occasional off-key singing but nowadays I'm mostly fine with it.

Hope we're going to hear Carnival of Sound in pristine sound quality one day.
Really enjoyed The Complete Liberty Singles compilation, which certainly is among my most-played records of recent years. Some of their best songs I hadn't even heard before, like "A Surfer's Dream" or "It's As Easy As 1-2-3".

[Jay]

I gew up on Jan and Dean as well as The Beach Boys. My cousin and I were surf music freaks. I have great memories of us listening to them. Jan's death hit me like a brick to the face.

On a side note; the "Save For A Rainy Day Theme" is probably the all time greatest "lost" instrumentals/"themes" of the 1960's or any other era.

[Mark A. Moore]

Hope we're going to hear Carnival of Sound in pristine sound quality one day.

Carnival of Sound is coming out officially this fall . . . with the "pristine quality" you're hoping for . . . and those familiar with the crappy acetate bootlegs are in for a real treat.

It's enlightening to compare what Jan Berry was working on in '67-'68, at the same time Brian Wilson was working on Smile and other material.

I'll post the specifics here when I get the OK.

M.

[MBE]

Hope we're going to hear Carnival of Sound in pristine sound quality one day.

Carnival of Sound is coming out officially this fall . . . with the "pristine quality" you're hoping for . . . and those familiar with the crappy acetate bootlegs are in for a real treat.

It's enlightening to compare what Jan Berry was working on in '67-'68, at the same time Brian Wilson was working on Smile and other material.

I'll post the specifics here when I get the OK.

M.

I really hope there is an LP release.

[Mark A. Moore]

Hope we're going to hear Carnival of Sound in pristine sound quality one day.

Carnival of Sound is coming out officially this fall . . . with the "pristine quality" you're hoping for . . . and those familiar with the crappy acetate bootlegs are in for a real treat.

It's enlightening to compare what Jan Berry was working on in '67-'68, at the same time Brian Wilson was working on Smile and other material.

I'll post the specifics here when I get the OK.

M.

I really hope there is an LP release.

That's the plan.

[phirnis]

GREAT news!    Really looking forward to this.

[Rocker]

Awesome news !!


J&D were great. Many people don't take them serious, but listening to Jan's songs and arrangements you'll find a lot of complex, fantastic stuff. Brian was very inspired and influenced by Berry's productions. Say what you want, but Jand & Dean were a great musical act. Unfortunately for far too short a time.
"Batman" has got to be one of the best albums of '66 imo and "Carnival of sound" would've been even one step higher. 

[MBE]

Hope we're going to hear Carnival of Sound in pristine sound quality one day.

Carnival of Sound is coming out officially this fall . . . with the "pristine quality" you're hoping for . . . and those familiar with the crappy acetate bootlegs are in for a real treat.

It's enlightening to compare what Jan Berry was working on in '67-'68, at the same time Brian Wilson was working on Smile and other material.

I'll post the specifics here when I get the OK.

M.

I really hope there is an LP release.

That's the plan.

Wonderful!

[grillo]

Hope we're going to hear Carnival of Sound in pristine sound quality one day.

Carnival of Sound is coming out officially this fall . . . with the "pristine quality" you're hoping for . . . and those familiar with the crappy acetate bootlegs are in for a real treat.

It's enlightening to compare what Jan Berry was working on in '67-'68, at the same time Brian Wilson was working on Smile and other material.

I'll post the specifics here when I get the OK.

M.

Holy Moly! Tell me 1Jan1 is next!

[doc smiley]

 

how about some info on "Hang 50"

[Surfer Joe]

My favorite track of theirs (among many) is "I Found A Girl", by Phil Sloan and Steve Barri.

[Don't Back Down]

Surfer Joe: Oh yeah! That's been on of my favorites as well. I've always loved that guitar intro, & Jan's vocal on that is great

That's exciting to hear about Carnival of Sound!!

[Alex]

The only reservation I have about Carnival of Sound is that it includes the song "Only A Boy"...unless that song was meant to be taken ironically.

[phirnis]

The only reservation I have about Carnival of Sound is that it includes the song "Only A Boy"...unless that song was meant to be taken ironically.

I don't think it was meant to be taken ironically at all.

[Rocker]

The only reservation I have about Carnival of Sound is that it includes the song "Only A Boy"...unless that song was meant to be taken ironically.

I don't think it was meant to be taken ironically at all. To me it always seemed like Jan thought he could outdo Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler.

Well, wtf, you can take it ironically or not. The production is very good and the music isn't that bad either.

[Alex]

The only reservation I have about Carnival of Sound is that it includes the song "Only A Boy"...unless that song was meant to be taken ironically.

I don't think it was meant to be taken ironically at all. To me it always seemed like Jan thought he could outdo Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler.

Well, wtf, you can take it ironically or not. The production is very good and the music isn't that bad either.

I like the rest of the album...I just think a pro-war song is a little out of place on a 60s psychedelic pop album.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Forgive me for stating the obvious, but.....I think Jan & Dean (especially Jan) suffer(ed) from the same problem that plagued Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys, which is the subject matter of the majority of their best songs. It's hard for the casual listener, or actually most listeners, to look past the lyrics - because they're so visual and entertaining - and to focus on the brilliant arrangements and production. Therefore, Jan & Dean and their music never got the credit they deserved. Yeah, they sold their share of records, but in particularly Jan, never got the credit or recognition he should've.

For example, listen to "Horace, The Swingin' School Bus Driver", one of my favorite Jan & Dean songs. There's so much going on in that record! How did Jan write something like that? But, the humorous lyrics somehow deflect the attention away from the music and toward a wacky bus driver. Oh well....

BTW, a Jan & Dean song that everytime I listen to it I think should've been a hit - and still wish The Beach Boys would cover - is "You're Blowin' My Mind". That's a special tune.

EDIT: I completely forgot why I posted in the first place. Jan & Dean should be in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.

[Surfer Joe]

Jan & Dean should be in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.

They're Not???!!!!

[Rocker]

Jan & Dean should be in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.

They're Not???!!!!

No, although they had more hits than many others who are in there. And their influence especially on the californian music scene can't be denied. But oh well, record business and J&D have a long and hard relationship..... 

Forgive me for stating the obvious, but.....I think Jan & Dean (especially Jan) suffer(ed) from the same problem that plagued Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys, which is the subject matter of the majority of their best songs. It's hard for the casual listener, or actually most listeners, to look past the lyrics - because they're so visual and entertaining - and to focus on the brilliant arrangements and production. Therefore, Jan & Dean and their music never got the credit they deserved. Yeah, they sold their share of records, but in particularly Jan, never got the credit or recognition he should've.

Right on. And the fact that Jan didn't get some of his writing credits didn't help neither (the credits were restored in the 90s I believe). Plus because of Jan's accident and the trouble surroundig "Save for a rainy day" "Carnival of sound" and all the contractual stuff closed the dorr for Jan&Dean to step ito the psychedelic or "serious" rock music.

I also think that the last decades of being a nostalgia act, trying too hard to cover the Beach Boys doing the same, were destroying too, to their legacy. But it kept Jan going and that was a good thing

[Sheriff John Stone]

I also think that the last decades of being a nostalgia act, trying too hard to cover the Beach Boys doing the same, were destroying too, to their legacy. But it kept Jan going and that was a good thing

I'm mixed on this. As viable recording artists, yeah, it didn't add anything. But there was something about those comeback years, something so real, heartbreaking yet inspirational at the same time, that ADDED to the legend. They were living that movie. It made the legend become REAL. And they have to be given credit for it. I thought "the comeback" would give them the credit that would catapault them into the Hall Of Fame. I still think they'll get in some day....

[Rocker]

I also think that the last decades of being a nostalgia act, trying too hard to cover the Beach Boys doing the same, were destroying too, to their legacy. But it kept Jan going and that was a good thing

I'm mixed on this. As viable recording artists, yeah, it didn't add anything. But there was something about those comeback years, something so real, heartbreaking yet inspirational at the same time, that ADDED to the legend. They were living that movie. It made the legend become REAL. And they have to be given credit for it. I thought "the comeback" would give them the credit that would catapault them into the Hall Of Fame. I still think they'll get in some day....

I see what you mean, but I think it would've been much greater with a class act. You know, playing Jan & Dean stuff like "I found a girl" "You really know how to hurt a guy" and of course the surf and car-songs. But imo they were way to heavy on the Beach Boys/surf-cover-tribute-band from a point on.
Ever heard Jan's "How how I love her"? One of the most beautiful things. I think they should've continued making records (which also can be a therapy, like touring) and playing some of the tunes live.

As for the Hall Of Fame, I don't think it will happen without some big J&D-revival or people asking for them to be included.