In the Studio . . .
"Norwegian Wood" and "Popsicle": What Really Happened in 1966
David Beard published an interview with Dean Torrence in the Summer 2006 issue of ESQ.
This abridged version of the interview was followed by a more expansive version in the August 2006 issue of Discoveries Magazine (street date mid-July).
This interview covers the story of how "Popsicle" (a Jan Berry produced song from 1963) became a hit for Jan & Dean in the summer of 1966, after Jan's debilitating auto accident.
In the interview, Dean Torrence makes a few misleading statements about circumstances surrounding "Norwegian Wood" . . . a Lennon-McCartney song scheduled for release as a Jan & Dean single in March 1966:
Basically, Dean laughs and pointedly says that Jan & Dean would never have released "Norwegian Wood," becasuse it was embarrassing . . . and furthermore, the Liberty Records executives were morons. Dean questions the wisdom of covering a Beatles song, saying it made no sense . . . even though Jan & Dean had certainly covered Beach Boys songs in the past, after the Beach Boys had recorded them.
 POPSICLE LP 1966 |
However, these statements by Dean (SEE ESQ FOR THE ACTUAL QUOTE) reveal a lack of understanding and knowledge of Jan Berry's true plans for "Norwegian Wood" in 1966. (Jan Berry was the one who was signed to Screen Gems and Liberty as a record producer and songwriter). Dean's view of this matter stems from his personal dislike of Jan's production of "Norwegian Wood." Personal opinion aside, however, it's clear that Dean was not privy to what was actually happening on the business end.
Here then, is what happened with the "Norwegian Wood" - "Popsicle" situation . . . from Jan Berry's perspective as the company-signed producer . . . based on hardcore record company and legal documentation from 1966:
- March 1966 . . . The next single on deck to be released? . . . "Norwegian Wood" backed with "Gonna Hustle You." [An odd choice for a B-side in 1966, to say the least].
- March 16 . . . two weeks before Jan & Dean's Liberty Records contract is set to expire . . . Liberty executives inform Jan Berry that "Norwegian Wood" will not be released. Phil Skaff [Liberty exec] tells Jan that the reason for the cancellation is because the J&D contract is ending . . . and if "Norwegian Wood" becomes a hit . . . it will put Jan in too good a bargaining position, if he chooses to negotiate a new contract with Liberty (through Screen Gems). Jan promptly gets angry. And through his attorneys, he threatens breach of contract, and demands that "Norwegian Wood" be released, and exploited to the fullest extent possible.
- Al Bennett [Liberty Head] denies the reasoning behind the single's cancellation. But Jan insists that Skaff and other Liberty executives blame the cancellation on the impending conclusion of the contract.
- April 5 . . . Jan makes it clear that he wants the single, and is willing to purchase the master of "Norwegian Wood" from Liberty . . . "for release by another record company." So Jan makes it clear that if Liberty will not release the single, or re-sell the master to him . . . he will simply re-record "Norwegian Wood" and release it on "another label." (Jan could have gone to any other record company. But who was trying to start his own record company at the time? . . . Jan Berry).
- April 12 . . . Black Tuesday. (Jan's auto accident)
- April 18 . . . Jan's attorneys stick to their positions (and Jan's) regarding "Norwegian Wood." They also question Liberty's books regarding Jan's and Jan & Dean's royalties, and they demand that Jan's accountings be modified.
- May 3 . . . A sudden change of heart! . . . Phil Skaff informs Jan's attorneys that "arrangements are proceeding as rapidly as possible" to release "Norwegian Wood" . . . and that "Liberty will use its utmost efforts to make the release as successful as possible."
- May 12 . . . Jan's attorneys get confirmation from Phil Skaff that "'Norwegian Wood' b/w 'Popsicle'" has been released. (Official release date May 3). Skaff tells Jan's attorneys that "Popsicle" . . . "was a tape that Liberty had unreleased and which they liked better than the suggested other side." . . . Skaff also tells Jan's attorneys that "all the indicators point to a hit record . . . with the emphasis being on 'Popsicle'" . . . Thus, it was a short nine-day period between the record's release and Liberty's being confident of a hit with "Popsicle" (but of course, the song didn't peak at #21 until two months later in July).
These documentable facts confirm that Jan Berry expended a lot of energy in trying to wrestle "Norwegian Wood" away from Liberty . . . and it's a good indication of how strongly he felt about the song. (He spent a lot of time on it in the studio, recording several different versions). And it's proof that Jan did intend to release "Norwegian Wood," one way or another.
Liberty did take the credit for "Popsicle" and its eventual hit status (not unusual) . . . regardless of Dean's shenanigans in the mail room.
"Popsicle" is one of Jan Berry's best productions. Whatever role Dean Torrence played in getting the side switched was a good call. The song was a great fit for the summer of '66. The sound was still relevant.
Mark A. Moore
Jan Berry Biographer (a work in progress)
Updated April 12, 2007