Jan's compositions

[jdman]

Surferbee made a good point about Jan's voice. I'd like to add another thing that Jan doesn't get enough credit for. His compositions. People are starting to learn that he was a great arranger and producer. That's what made Jan & Dean records great! But what about the songs he wrote. It seems that because he shared writing credits with the great Brian Wilson( I say that with respect, Brian is great), people assume that Brian wrote that stuff. Why would Brian need help? Well, when it comes to Jan & Dean records, I really believe that Brian was just a friend that made suggestions and enjoyed working with Jan. There's no doubt that Jan wrote his share of those songs. The proof is that Jan wrote so many songs without Brian. People don't realize that Jan(without Brian) wrote songs that were Billboard Hot 100 hits for 7 different artists between 1958-1964. Jan & Arnie, Jan & Dean, Billy Ward, the Angels, the Rip Chords, Ronnie and Daytonas, and Johnny Crawford. Also, the Beach Boys covered a Jan Berry composition on their Number 1 Concert Album. So not only was he a good singer, arranger and producer. But Jan knew how to write a great song!!

[Admin]

Brian has always acknowledged that he and Jan wrote together as collaborators, often with Roger Christian.

Brian Wilson fanatics, and Beach Boys fanatics, get hung up on the fact that "Surf City" originated with Brian . . . without wanting to hear that it was an unfinished song. Most of them have a desperate need to believe that Brian just handed over a completed song . . . and most of them also believe the same thing about the rest of Jan and Brian's collaborations.

Such fanatics are delusional about their favorite artist, as many fans are. It's that simple.

Brian Wilson is a major figure in rock music history (rightly so) . . . and many of his fans have quite a superiority complex.

[jdman]

Fans with a superiority complex. I'm very familiar with that. Reminds me of Alabama Football fans. lol
Like you said before, Surf City and Gonna Hustle You originated from Brian(although Gonna Hustle You is just a reworking of an old Shirelles song I Met Him on a Sunday). But hearing the Brian Wilson interview you posted, it appears Jan had a major impact on the writing of Surf City. He deserves half credit. He also came up with the instrumental and intro to Gonna Hustle you. Outside of those 2 songs, Jan may have written more than half of the other collaborations. From what I've read, Brian may have just made suggestions on songs like Drag City, but Jan came up with the bulk of the music. I may be wrong about that, but at the very least, those were all equal collaborations.
By the way, I saw Love and Mercy. I envy Brian's talent but not his life. It was a rough one.

[2dean2]

I can't remember where . But a guy wrote if Brian walked through while you were writing he wanted writing credit.

[Admin]

I can't remember where . But a guy wrote if Brian walked through while you were writing he wanted writing credit.

I don't believe that at all . . . but because of Brian's dad (Murry Wilson), Mike Love had to sue to get writing credits that were due him.