Jan & Dean: Official Message Board for Jan Berry

Corvette enthusiasts have shown interest in Jan's cars over the years.

Jerry Bramlett and one of the Corvette societies helped me run the VIN number for Jan's demolished '66 'Vette to see if the frame was still in circulation. It was not, which was consistent with the documentation I have indicating the car was sold for scrap in the fall of '66.

And of course Jim Blanchard has owned Jan's 1958 Corvette since 1963. He published an article about it and has displayed the car in multiple shows over the years.

David, as the publisher of a fan magazine, you rely on people’s memories for the interviews you conduct. You ask questions and print the answers verbatim. You don’t have any other significant context. Consequently, you don’t know if the person is giving you an accurate account, a personal agenda, or both. Those firsthand accounts are one of the main things you publish in ESQ. I get that, and it’s important.

Dean’s firsthand accounts will always be important. But relying solely on Dean’s memories, especially after 50-some years, is unacceptable. For one thing, Dean has muddied the waters significantly by telling differing stories over the years (and I’ve broached that subject with him).

The documentary record that was generated in the ‘50s and ‘60s, hardcore historical evidence that still exists today, especially as it relates to Jan’s career, will almost always trump Dean’s memories or personal agenda. The majority of the business and legal correspondence for Jan & Dean was not addressed to Dean, nor was it generated by Dean, and he didn’t have a major say in how things unfolded. That’s just the way it was.

At the same time, however, the documentary record can in many cases corroborate Dean’s accounts. On the whole, I do think it all meshes together quite well—more often than not.

Dean will always have insight that we don’t have. But Dean’s insight does not exist in a vacuum. Putting it all together is crucial.

Question for mark. Just listened to california lullaby, there's violins on this track, its track 3 stereo on sfard cd, Do you have any info for this in jan files, about any arrangment.

It's detailed in my book. The string session was led by George Tipton in June 1966. Unfortunately for Dean, he wasn't authorized to book sessions or produce music for Jan & Dean, and Jan's account was billed for it. This session, and Dean's subsequent self-releases using the Jan & Dean name, led to Screen Gems completely shutting down Dean's effort to use the name for new music after Jan's car accident. Screen Gems killed Dean's J&D Record Co. label endeavor.

Since he wasn't allowed to use the Jan & Dean name, Dean issued "Vegetables" under a new band name . . . The Laughing Gravy.