Search - Jan & Dean :: The Very Best of Jan & Dean

Sixties surf music

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 08/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jan Berry and Dean Torrence made music that was very similar in many ways to the early Beach Boys music. Actually Jan often collaborated with Brian Wilson on songwriting - Surf city, Drag city, Dead man's curve and Ride the wild surf being among the songs they wrote together. Further evidence of their close ties is provided here by the inclusion of several covers of Beach Boys classics. Although not included here, Barbara Ann (originally released on the Beach Boys Party album) features one member of Jan and Dean as lead singer - I've seen different reference source naming Jan or Dean so I can't say which one.



Jan and Dean's music was about more than just surfing as some of their other recordings (Linda, Heart and soul, a cover of Norwegian wood) but if you don't enjoy surf music, you won't find much to get excited about here. The duo's career ended abrubtly when Jan nearly died in a horrific accident. He recovered sufficiently to be able to record again in the seventies but was unable to recapture past glories. Meanwhile, Dean quit music and established a successful career in graphics design, though Jan and Dean re-united to provide the support act for the 1978 Beach Boys tour.



If you enjoy the early music of the Beach Boys, you'll probably enjoy this too, especially as Brian Wilson contributed so much tothese recordings."

More than Surf City

Edward Rasen Jr. | Maui | 06/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jan Barry and Dean Torrence met at University High School in West Los Angeles during the mid-1950s and by June 1958 broke in the national Top 10 chart as Jan and Arnie with their single "Jennie Lee." The following year as Jan and Dean, they again entered the Top 10 chart with "Baby Talk" which inspired Brian Wilson to write "Surfin" which became the first hit from the Beachboys.



Jan and Brian Wilson during the winter of 1963 wrote "Drag City." Jan produced the song with a group of session musicians which included Glen Campbell.



Jan and Dean more than the Beachboys were the early heralders of the Southern California lifestyle and were the seminal messengers of the idyllic sun, fun and cars lifestyle.



This is a great album which features more than the hits and includes songs later hits for groups such as the Beatles, Four Seasons, Beachboys, and the McCoys.



More than Surf City, this is Southern California in the late 50s and early 60s. Enjoy.

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