JB's Production Standout

[NateRuvin]

If you had to pick one song to prove Jan Berry's production genius to someone what would it be?

Mine would be Ride The Wild Surf. The harmonies, dynamics, tempo, strings, guitar, everything is just genius. It totally rocks, but it's also beautiful. A close second of mine would be When It's Over because of the unique percussion, and I think an English Horn that plays that very somber melody.

[Admin]

If you had to pick one song to prove Jan Berry's production genius to someone what would it be?

Mine would be Ride The Wild Surf. The harmonies, dynamics, tempo, strings, guitar, everything is just genius. It totally rocks, but it's also beautiful. A close second of mine would be When It's Over because of the unique percussion, and I think an English Horn that plays that very somber melody.

Hard to pick just one, but "Anaheim, Azusa" would be up there . . .

[NateRuvin]

Great song, Mark. I didn't think of that one. There is so much going on in that track, yet it's not cluttered. Great production and arranging.

[jdman]

I would say Deadmans Curve. But there are so many great ones. By the way. Artie Kornfeld posted on Facebook his accomplishments. He said he produced and wrote Deadmans Curve. I'm really starting to not want to hear old rock stars memory of the way it was. They all just want to over promote themselves

[NateRuvin]

Yeah, Deadman's Curve is incredible. I love how dissonant the main guitar/horn melody is with the melody in the key of F# minor against the F# major chord. Very fitting.

And Artie was one of the writers. I believe the song was mostly written by Brian Wilson and Artie Kornfield, but I don't remember where I read that. It is without a doubt, a Jan Berry production though.

[jdman]

You read that from an Artie Kornfeld post. He and Brian started the process apparently. But I'm not sure how much was done. Jan definitely wrote the intro and probably the music behind the spoken word part. Roger was in there. Artie says Roger was not, but there is evidence that Roger contributed. In fact, whatever Artie and Brian did, apparently it was Jan and Roger that finished it. We've always heard that Roger wanted it to end in a tie but Jan wanted it to be tragic. It's hard to know who wrote what and how much. The memories of these people tend to get distorted.

[Admin]

The initial copyrights for "Drag City" and "Dead Man's Curve" were filed with Jan Berry and Roger Christian as the only writers. Brian Wilson's name was added a bit later. And Artie Kornfeld's name was added to "Dead Man's Curve" at the same time Brian's was added. Make of that what you will.

[1Jay1]

only a boy. Listen to the backing track, way its arranged and produced, I love the drumming on this song.

[NateRuvin]

Yeah, Only A Boy is an incredible song. I love the two part harmonies on the chorus a lot. The arrangement is genius.