Jan & Dean - Norwegian Wood - Brian Wilson BV's?

[Andrew G. Doe]

I've had Carnival Of Sound tapes from way back in the late 70s/early 80s, and for the life of me I've never seen/heard what all the fuss is about. Masterpiece ? Not even close: might have been great therapy for Jan but, and this may be unpalatable to some, it sounds like what it is... the product of someone in Jan's condition. The sitar is straight from a cheesy mid-late 60s sitcom where the producer was trying desperately to appear hip and some of the arrangements are way too top heavy. There's some nice pop songs in there - "Fan Tan", "Girl You're Blowing My Mind" - but overall it's just... mediocre. Their work from 1963-1965 was orders of magnitude better.

[Mitchell]

While I don't disagree that it's not a wall-to-wall masterpiece, the songs you mention plus several others (Hawaii, Love and Hate) are great, regardless of the circumstances. I have a soft spot for the spurting sitar, which I feel adds to the mood and feel of several tracks (again, don't disagree that it wasn't an attempt to ape the sound of the day), but where it's used to mimic the sound of a bee buzzing on a hazy summer day it's interesting and effective. The circumstances just make for a better story and personal triumph for Jan.

I've often wondered how Brian reacted/responded to Jan's accident... Did he lose a friend and competitor, in a practical sense? Again I go back to Meet Batman's influence on Smile...

[Mikie]

Over here, there's a car bumper sticker that I've seen that says, "Play an accordian, go to jail".

I think they should make a bumper sticker that says, "Play a Sitar, go to jail".

Agree with pretty much all of what AGD said regarding Carnival of Sound and the Jan Berry/J&D singles. Collectibles in the late 70's, those original singles were considered somewhat rare. The original "Save For A Rainy Day" vinyl was very much a collectible back in the 70's - 90's. Good that Sundazed eventually re-released the album (and EP) on CD and vinyl, even though it's pretty much all Dean and musicians. Carnival of Sound was released on CD a couple of years ago on Rhino and is great for the hardcore J&D fan and collector, but for the average listener........not.......really........a masterpiece.

[Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll]

never heard anything to get excited about on Carnival of Sound or come to think of it anything from J&D..also there not very good singers are they? Is that weird to say for a vocal heavy group from that period? sorry if this offends any j&d fans, maybe just need to be pointed in the right direction though I have listened to a lot of their stuff.

[?]

I'm not really a Jan and Dean fan but I can at least appreciate Jan's talent as a producer on the pre-accident stuff.  I don't get Carnival of Sound at all.  That album is a mess but I think the Davy Jones part of In the Still of the Night is hysterical.  Is it supposed to be funny?  I don't really know.

[MBE]

I've had Carnival Of Sound tapes from way back in the late 70s/early 80s, and for the life of me I've never seen/heard what all the fuss is about. Masterpiece ? Not even close: might have been great therapy for Jan but, and this may be unpalatable to some, it sounds like what it is... the product of someone in Jan's condition. The sitar is straight from a cheesy mid-late 60s sitcom where the producer was trying desperately to appear hip and some of the arrangements are way too top heavy. There's some nice pop songs in there - "Fan Tan", "Girl You're Blowing My Mind" - but overall it's just... mediocre. Their work from 1963-1965 was orders of magnitude better.

I hate to agree but that's basically how I feel. I think from Jenny Lee to SFARD much of their work has a keen satirical nature. They had their gimmicks but they were sincere about them. They were two (three counting Arnie) guys who had fun with what they did. Comparing them with the Beach Boys as vocalists is unfair, so few are in the same class. They weren't Caruso's but they had a cool sound.

[EgoHanger1966]

never heard anything to get excited about on Carnival of Sound or come to think of it anything from J&D..also there not very good singers are they? Is that weird to say for a vocal heavy group from that period? sorry if this offends any j&d fans, maybe just need to be pointed in the right direction though I have listened to a lot of their stuff.

I don't mean to offend anyone, but I just can't stand the way they sing. There's no passion there, just monotone delivery most of the time. I think they had some excellent songs, and I have tried to get into them with several albums...but geez, I just can't do it. Pat Boone is a more exciting singer.

[halblaineisgood]

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[smilethebeachboysloveyou]

never heard anything to get excited about on Carnival of Sound or come to think of it anything from J&D..also there not very good singers are they? Is that weird to say for a vocal heavy group from that period? sorry if this offends any j&d fans, maybe just need to be pointed in the right direction though I have listened to a lot of their stuff.

I don't mean to offend anyone, but I just can't stand the way they sing. There's no passion there, just monotone delivery most of the time. I think they had some excellent songs, and I have tried to get into them with several albums...but geez, I just can't do it. Pat Boone is a more exciting singer.

I felt the same way until I listened to The Complete Liberty Singles in its entirety, and their vocals haven't bothered me since.  I'm not entirely sure why that is.

[halblaineisgood]

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[smilethebeachboysloveyou]

Is that the complete liberty singles in mono?

Yes.

[halblaineisgood]

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