Jan & Dean

[Ed Roach]

BTW found this pic of J&D and Dennis on the official Jan Berry-site. Shot by Ed Roach:

Yikes!  How odd for you to come up w/this one, Rocker, right in the midst of this Roman Polanski fiasco...
Reminds me how quickly I had to pry Dennis away from those pretty young things!

[Rocker]

Jan & Dean's personal relationship and problems weren't rooted in politics. And Dean is currently a Republican who lives in Right Wing Orange County . . . a Republican enclave in Blue-state California.

Aha, so that's why Mike likes him so much!

In a perfect world, the Beach Boys would have traded Mike and a performer to be named later (Bruce) for Jan in '62 or '63.  Jan would have been working away on Good Vibrations in April 1966, thereby avoiding his car crash.  Jan's compositional and production talents would have taken some of the pressure off Brian, allowing Smile to be completed and released.  And Mike, Dean and Bruce would have put together an entire album of songs about how cool the kids in Utah are, including Tears for Taylorsville and Provo Is the (Nearest Faraway) Place.

I thought about this too. Jan's voice was very much like Mike's, even Brian mentioned this somewhere. But I don't think it would've turned out good. Brian and Jan both were great artists but also leaders and none would let the other take over complete as they both did on their individual acts. Brian would never let anybody else produce his music and Jan wouldn't listen to anyone telling him what to do.

Yikes!  How odd for you to come up w/this one, Rocker, right in the midst of this Roman Polanski fiasco...
Reminds me how quickly I had to pry Dennis away from those pretty young things!

Well, until now it was just a cool picture to me.... 

[Mark A. Moore]

BTW found this pic of J&D and Dennis on the official Jan Berry-site. Shot by Ed Roach:

Yikes!  How odd for you to come up w/this one, Rocker, right in the midst of this Roman Polanski fiasco...
Reminds me how quickly I had to pry Dennis away from those pretty young things!

Haha! . . . Hey Dennis, we're over here, man !! 

[Ed Roach]

Not just Dennis, Mark.  Check out the girl in front of Dean, checking out The Wood....

[Mark A. Moore]

Not just Dennis, Mark.  Check out the girl in front of Dean, checking out The Wood....

LMAO !

[Jay]

Hey Mark, I have a Jan and Dean question, and I figured you'd probably be the best person to ask. In the DeadMan's Curve movie, there is a scene with a post accident Jan trying to record a song in the studio. I was hoping you could tell me the name of the song. Is it an actual song he did? Or is a made up song, like they did with the Dennis Wilson charactor in Summer Dreams?

[MBE]

It was a made up song. I think they wanted to use Tinsel Town but couldn't.

[Mark A. Moore]

Hey Mark, I have a Jan and Dean question, and I figured you'd probably be the best person to ask. In the DeadMan's Curve movie, there is a scene with a post accident Jan trying to record a song in the studio. I was hoping you could tell me the name of the song. Is it an actual song he did? Or is a made up song, like they did with the Dennis Wilson charactor in Summer Dreams?

That song was completely fictional.

Just like you never see Jan producing the music . . . another blatant falsehood spread by the movie.

[Rocker]

Mark, another question. On the Batman-single, there's one voice that totally sounds like Brian's to me. It's the "no why"-spoken bit after "did you see that strange car?". Is this indeed Brian or does it just sound like him?

[Ian]

Mark- I am sure this has been discussed before-but based on your listening to the tapes-1) What are the sessions that Brian was at and took part in? (as compared to just co-writing the song but not singing on it)  2) Brian is listed on the Nov 14 1963 AFM sheet for "Deadman's Curve" (which was re-produced in Dumb Angel 4)-does this mean he actually played on the song, as compared to just vocals? And is this the single version or the album version? Is he on both or only one?  3) Did he play on any post 1963 sessions other than that Vegetables version?  By the way-my favorite Jan and Dean song is "Easy as One Two Three"...very pretty melody and nice singing by Jan and his girlfriend.

[Mr. Wilson]

Yea its weird how Dean used to be part of BW posse + in 80"s becomes close to Mike..If you check out the pic takin at airport in 67 with all of BW friends
Dean is in the pic along with Mark Volman..As far as Orange County goes still a great place to live..I dont care about politics.. Both sides are bought + sold..The recession is over ?? ...They are opening a new winco supermarket here in Hemet..10 000 people applied for 230 jobs..My wife got lucky + got one..And she has a degree in accounting....And ended up there..Dont buy what talkin heads are sayin..Ill get off my soapbox now..LOL..

[Mark A. Moore]

Mark- I am sure this has been discussed before-but based on your listening to the tapes-1) What are the sessions that Brian was at and took part in? (as compared to just co-writing the song but not singing on it)  2) Brian is listed on the Nov 14 1963 AFM sheet for "Deadman's Curve" (which was re-produced in Dumb Angel 4)-does this mean he actually played on the song, as compared to just vocals? And is this the single version or the album version? Is he on both or only one?  3) Did he play on any post 1963 sessions other than that Vegetables version?  By the way-my favorite Jan and Dean song is "Easy as One Two Three"...very pretty melody and nice singing by Jan and his girlfriend.

Brian could have played on DMC, or Jan could just have decided to add BW to the AFM contract. The 11-14-63 session was for the "Drag City" album version of DMC. Brian contributed to backing vocals on that version.

Brian doubled the lead vocal with Jan on "Surf City" in '63 and "Ride the Wild Surf" in '64. Brian also contributed to backing vocals on both, and a little falsetto.

Brian contributed to the harmonies on "Gonna Hustle You" and "Drag City."

Jan's arrangement for "Ride the Wild Surf" knocked Brian out completely. Well documented on session tapes. High praise from Brian, warm and effusive. Brian comes across as very relaxed and comfortable working with Jan.

M.

[Alex]

BTW found this pic of J&D and Dennis on the official Jan Berry-site. Shot by Ed Roach:

Yikes!  How odd for you to come up w/this one, Rocker, right in the midst of this Roman Polanski fiasco...
Reminds me how quickly I had to pry Dennis away from those pretty young things!

Haha! . . . Hey Dennis, we're over here, man !! 

Is that Danny Hutton on the left?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Jan. Berry.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Brian doubled the lead vocal with Jan on "Surf City" in '63 and "Ride the Wild Surf" in '64. Brian also contributed to backing vocals on both, and a little falsetto.

A little falsetto ?    On "Surf City" he's all over the chorus. Just like Dean said.

[grillo]

Brian doubled the lead vocal with Jan on "Surf City" in '63 and "Ride the Wild Surf" in '64. Brian also contributed to backing vocals on both, and a little falsetto.

A little falsetto ?    On "Surf City" he's all over the chorus. Just like Dean said.

I thought that was Vic from the Matadors...?

[Mark A. Moore]

Brian doubled the lead vocal with Jan on "Surf City" in '63 and "Ride the Wild Surf" in '64. Brian also contributed to backing vocals on both, and a little falsetto.

A little falsetto ?    On "Surf City" he's all over the chorus. Just like Dean said.

I thought that was Vic from the Matadors...?

It's supposedly Tony Minichiello of the Matadors. When I listen to Matadors/Dories tracks featuring falsetto, I can hear it and make the connection . . . (or can I?)

Even isolated, the "Two girls for every boy" just doesn't sound like Brian to me.

But the subtle falsetto on "Surf City, here we come" hits me as Brian 100 percent.

But our ears can play tricks on us . . . and we have to accept this reality, because I've experienced it myself . . . (and I'm not tone deaf, by any means).

Having heard the session tapes, I now know that Brian contributed some falsetto (along with Dean) to "Ride the Wild Surf" . . . in addition to BW doubling the lead vocal with Jan.

Vic Diaz (Matadors) has told me more than once that Dean never sang on "Surf City." Vic stands by that assertion today. And Vic was at those (often) after-midnight vocal sessions.

Jan swore that Dean was never on "Surf City" . . . and Dean confirmed that fact in multiple public interviews over the years (all documented) . . . But now, in the present era, Dean swears he sang on "Surf City."

Gonna Wrestle You . . .

M.

[Jay]

Hey Mark, I have a Jan and Dean question, and I figured you'd probably be the best person to ask. In the DeadMan's Curve movie, there is a scene with a post accident Jan trying to record a song in the studio. I was hoping you could tell me the name of the song. Is it an actual song he did? Or is a made up song, like they did with the Dennis Wilson charactor in Summer Dreams?

That song was completely fictional.

Just like you never see Jan producing the music . . . another blatant falsehood spread by the movie.

Thanks for the info!  One more question for you. Did the whole ending scene in the movie ever actually happen? I'm talking about the scene where they lipsync to a backing tape that stops working, and all hell breaks loose.

[MBE]

It happened in 1973 but they were booed off the stage and it wasn't that happy ending.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Brian doubled the lead vocal with Jan on "Surf City" in '63 and "Ride the Wild Surf" in '64. Brian also contributed to backing vocals on both, and a little falsetto.

A little falsetto ?    On "Surf City" he's all over the chorus. Just like Dean said.

I thought that was Vic from the Matadors...?

It's supposedly Tony Minichiello of the Matadors. When I listen to Matadors/Dories tracks featuring falsetto, I can hear it and make the connection . . . (or can I?)

Even isolated, the "Two girls for every boy" just doesn't sound like Brian to me.

But the subtle falsetto on "Surf City, here we come" hits me as Brian 100 percent.

But our ears can play tricks on us . . . and we have to accept this reality, because I've experienced it myself . . . (and I'm not tone deaf, by any means).

Having heard the session tapes, I now know that Brian contributed some falsetto (along with Dean) to "Ride the Wild Surf" . . . in addition to BW doubling the lead vocal with Jan.

Vic Diaz (Matadors) has told me more than once that Dean never sang on "Surf City." Vic stands by that assertion today. And Vic was at those (often) after-midnight vocal sessions.

Jan swore that Dean was never on "Surf City" . . . and Dean confirmed that fact in multiple public interviews over the years (all documented) . . . But now, in the present era, Dean swears he sang on "Surf City."

Gonna Wrestle You . . .

M.

Researchers golden rule #47(b) - if someone in recent times contradicts what they've been saying for decades, they're probably mistaken. Memories were fresher, more reliable some 45 years ago.

And Mark is spot on - sometimes we hear what we want to hear. Guilty myself... 

[LostArt]

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.

Is there any more word on this release? 

[Mark A. Moore]

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.

Is there any more word on this release? 

In the pipeline and on track . . . Still finalizing the liner notes . . . and photos/images have been submitted.

No other specifics yet.

M.

[adamghost]

With respect to Dean being in the Mike camp in the '80s...IIRC Dean was one of the moving forces in prying Brian away from Eugene Landy in the late '80s.  Which, if you think about it, is pretty badass of him, considering he wasn't even in the family or the group.  Mark or someone else can correct me if I'm wrong.

[MBE]

Dean to me has said some really kind things about all of them. I think he liked all the Beach Boys in different ways. Brian musically, Al and Carl as performers, Mike to chase girls with, Dennis to race with etc. He has some very good insights on the group.

[Jay]

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.

Is there any more word on this release? 

In the pipeline and on track . . . Still finalizing the liner notes . . . and photos/images have been submitted.

No other specifics yet.

M.

Is this a vinyl only release, or will there be a CD version?