1966 — Jan & Dean Meet Batman

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1966

JAN & DEAN MEET BATMAN — LIBERTY LRP-3444 (M); LST-7444 (S) (March)


• Batman
(Jan Berry - Don Altfeld - Fred Wieder)

• The Origin of Captain Jan  & Dean the Boy Blunder
(Don Altfeld - Fred Wieder)

• Robin the Boy Wonder
(Jan Berry - Don Altfeld - Jill Gibson)

• A Vi-Ta-Min A Day
(Don Altfeld - Fred Wieder)

• Mr. Freeze {I}
(George Tipton)

• The Doctor's Dilemma
(Don Altfeld - Fred Wieder)

• A Stench In Time
(Don Altfeld - Fred Wieder)

• Batman Theme (from "Batman") {I}
(Neal Hefti)

• A Hank of Hair and a Banana Peel
(Don Altfeld - Fred Wieder)

• The Fireman's Flaming Flourish
(Don Altfeld - Fred Wieder)

• The Joker Is Wild
(Jan Berry - Don Altfeld - Jill Gibson - Fred Wieder)

• Tiger, Tiger, Burning
(Don Altfeld - Fred Wieder)

• Flight of the Batmobile
(George Tipton)

• A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight
(Arr. & Adpt. Don Altfeld - Fred Wieder)
_________________________________

Produced by Jan Berry for Screen Gems, Inc.

Arranged by Jan Berry and George Tipton

Engineers: Bones Howe, Lanky Linstrot, Henry Lewy, Chuck Britz, Wally Heider, and "Joe."

{I} = Instrumental Cut

VOICES PROVIDED BY JAN BERRY, DEAN TORRENCE, ROGER CHRISTIAN, JILL GIBSON, DON ALTFELD, AND FRED WIEDER

Liner Notes: Bruce Roberts

Art Direction: Woody Woodward

[Ban n Bean]

Does the original, first recording (multi-track masters) of this album still exist?

Is there a reason the original released cover is not pictured?  (Copyright reasons?)

[ripplewine]

I think most of it does--the skits that use the Batman and Robin names.  Again, as with Filet of Soul, they're on bootleg CDs. From what I've read, right after Liberty forced Jan & Dean to re-record the album, someone dug 90% of the original tapes out of the trash at the studio.

[Mark A. Moore]

Does the original, first recording (multi-track masters) of this album still exist?

Is there a reason the original released cover is not pictured?  (Copyright reasons?)

The album cover image was omitted here by mistake . . . and has been added.

[Ban n Bean]

Thank you!  Given that One Way was denied permission to print the original cover on their CD artwork, this classic cover needs to be seen!

[Rocker]

This is a great (!) album ! First, the parody-theme is very good and fitting that whole Batman-thing. There's also very much (an partly strange) humour going on and self-parody (for example when the kids call out for the Beach Boys instead of J&D).
Second, the music is fantastic. Great production an very clever use of the Batman-theme in many songs. My favorite part probably is the chorus in "Flight of the batmobile". Such a great melody. In fact the whole song is very strong.
This album shows what could've waited for the music-world in '66 had Jan not have had his accident. He was right on top with this and I seriously can't understand how this wasn't a hit. J&D wee top stars and Batman was a hit on TV, so everything fits. Why didn't anybody buy it?
I'd love to hear the monomix, as the titletrac on the Liberty-singles-collection sounds much more powerful in mono

BTW I wonder how the credits would look like if Jan got his credits

[ripplewine]

I like this one too--Don Altfeld and Fred Wieder should be commended for their work on it as well as Jan & Dean--I think Don and Fred wrote most of the skits; the Garbage Man installments are my favorites! 

I suspect that at the time the record-buying public was becoming more interested in groups like The Association and The Mamas and the Papas.  The Marketts did a good instrumental Batman LP too, but theirs wasn't nearly as creative as Jan & Dean's.  But given how popular the TV series was, I'm surprised that these Batman concept albums didn't do better.

[Rocker]

BTW, I don't know if it was posted before, but "Joker is wild" is used on this compilation:
http://www.amazon.com/Batmania-Songs-Inspired-Batman-TV/dp/B00000151C/ref=pd_krex_fa_t


Thought that was cool

[Kentucky Surfer]

The musical snippets that Jan arranged and recorded for this LP are great.  I especially like the use of 12-string guitar, whcih moves Gotham City to the West Coast!

The vocals on Batman are yet another parody of "Surf City" (Gotham City, here we come!).

[joshferrell]

This one is a funny album that I like to listen to from time to time..it looks like Jan was heading for more comedy stuff before the accident

[Rocker]

While listening to the original Batman & Robin snippets, I wondered who wrote these? Did Jan and his guys create these stories or were they based on Batman comis already released?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxrS0u0CEu8



This album absolutely needs a deluxe release. The original mono version plus a new stereo mix, and the Batman & Robin parts (see above) added as a bonus.
Mark, do we now what else is left in the archives regarding this album?