November 4, 2024

JAN & DEAN – Jan Berry Official Site

Life can have a higher meaning in a Carnival of Sound

History — 1963

Surf City

“JAN BERRY — A SELECTED TIMELINE,” 
By Mark A. Moore
Author of Dead Man’s Curve: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Life of Jan Berry

1963

January 1963 — Liberty Records released “Linda.”

Liberty Records Label Logo

Jan & Dean

Linda, Disc Label, 1963

Jan Arranges and Produces for Judy & Jill

February 1963 — Jan commissioned a pressing of his production of “Come On Baby” for Judy & Jill on the custom Festoon Records label. Other tracks Jan produced for the ladies included “What’s It Gonna Be” and “Just For Tonight.” The Judy & Jill sessions began in 1962 . . . Judy Lovejoy and Jan’s girlfriend Jill Gibson. Label design by Dean Torrence.

March 1963 — Jan produced a session for “Surfin'” and “Surfin’ Safari” with members of the Beach Boys.

Jan & Dean with members of the Beach Boys
JAN & DEAN with BRIAN WILSON, MIKE LOVE, and DAVID MARKS of the BEACH BOYS, 1963. From FRED VAIL,  published in “THE LOST BEACH BOY.”

“Surf City” — Jan’s First Collaborations with Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys

March-April 1963 — Jan arranged and produced “Surf City” and “Gonna Hustle You,” original compositions he co-wrote with friend Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. These sessions marked the beginning of Jan’s dense production style and signature sound, using two drummers, multiple guitars, and multiple basses.

April 1963 — Liberty released the Jan & Dean Take Linda Surfin’ LP. This was the duo’s final release for Nevins-Kirshner.

Jan & Dean Take Linda Surfin'
“JAN & DEAN TAKE LINDA SURFIN'” LP, 1963

Jan & Dean  Sign with Screen Gems

April 1963 —When music entertainment giant Screen Gems-Columbia Music acquired Nevins-Kirshner Associates, the company  absorbed and renewed Jan & Dean’s artist contract. It also renewed the duo’s agreement Liberty Records.

May 1963 “Linda” peaked on the national charts: #26 Cash Box and #28 Billboard.

May 1963 — Liberty released “Surf City.”

Surf City
“SURF CITY” Picture Sleeve, 1963

Surf City Disc Label

Jan Signs with Screen Gems as a Songwriter and Record Producer

June 1963 Screen Gems absorbed Jan’s Nevins-Kirshner contracts, updating and extending his production and songwriting agreements. It was a smooth transition and Jan was now backed by a powerful corporation. Lou Adler became head of the West Coast office of Screen Gems, where Jan and Lou served as the California extension of a heavy-weight team of writers, arrangers, and producers. Jan’s contracts allowed him to write, arranger, and produce for other artists in the Screen Gems family.

Hal Blaine
Legendary Drummer HAL BLAINE, with His Custom Double-Bass Drum Kit,  Backing JAN & DEAN at the Hollywood Bowl

July 1963 — The Jan & Dean Take Linda Surfin’ LP peaked on the national charts: #71 Billboard.

Surf Music’s First #1 Record

July 1963 “Surf City” peaked on the national charts: #1 Billboard, #1 Cash Box, and #3 R&B . . . the Surf genre’s first #1 record.

July 1963 — Liberty released the Surf City and Other Swingin’ Cities LP.

Surf City LP
“SURF CITY and OTHER SWINGIN’ CITIES” LP, 1963

Jan Arranges and Produces for the Matadors

July 1963 —Colpix Records released “Perfidia” / “Ace of Hearts” by the Matadors — Tony Minichiello, Vic Diaz, and Manuel Sanchez.  All three had been classmates of Jan’s at University High School. Both sides were arranged and produced by Jan Berry. Jan co-wrote “Ace of Hearts” with Gary Zekley and sang bass on “Perfidia,” which became a massive hit in the Philippines. The Matadors sang the distinctive harmonies on Jan & Dean’s Surf City and Drag City LPs in 1963, and part of the Dead Man’s Curve LP in 1964.

The Matadors
THE MATADORS — TONY MINICHIELLO (R), VIC DIAZ (L), and MANUEL SANCHEZ (C)

The Matadors, Jan Berry, 1963

August 1963 — Liberty released “Honolulu Lulu.”

Honolulu Lulu
“HONOLULU LULU,” 1963

September 1963 — The Surf City and Other Swingin’ Cities LP peaked on the national charts: #21 Cash Box and #32 Billboard.

September 1963“Surf City” peaked on the UK charts: #26.

Jan Enters Medical School

September 1963 — Having been accepted in March, Jan began classes at the California College of Medicine (now the UC-Irvine School of Medicine). When Jan attended, the campus was located on Griffin Avenue, northeast of downtown Los Angeles.

Jan Arranges Music for Sonny Curtis

September 1963 — Dimension Records released “Last Song I’m Ever Gonna Sing (Nashville)” / “So Used To Loving You” by Sonny Curtis. Both sides were arranged by Jan Berry, with label credit.  “Last Song I’m Ever Gonna Sing (Nashville)” was co-written by Jerry Allison, formerly of Buddy Holly & the Crickets. Curtis played and sang with the Crickets after Holly’s untimely death in 1959. Curtis’s songwriting credits include “I Fought the Law,” “More Than I Can Say,” and “Love Is All Around” (the latter from the Mary Tyler Moore Show).

Sonny Curtis
SONNY CURTIS

So Used to Loving You

Surf Scene — Jan & Dean’s First Television Pilot

September-October 1963 — Jan & Dean starred in their first television pilot titled Surf Scene, an independent production for Desilu co-starring Dale Davis. Produced by Lew Irwin and directed by John Orloff.

Surf Scene
“SURF SCENE” Television Pilot, 1963

October 1963 “Honolulu Lulu” peaked on the national charts: #10 Cash Box and #11 Billboard.

October 1963 — Jan & Dean performed at the Hollywood Bowl.

Jan Writes Music for the Angels

October 1963 — Smash Records released “I Adore Him” by the Angels, co-written by Jan Berry and Artie Kornfeld at the historic Hotel St. George in New York City.  Under the auspices of Screen Gems, the song was written specifically for this “girl group,” whose previous big hit had been “My Boyfriend’s Back.”

The Angels
The ANGELS . . . “I ADORE HIM,” 1963

November 1963 — Liberty released “Drag City.”

Drag City
“DRAG CITY” Picture Sleeve, 1963

November 1963 — Liberty released the Drag City LP.

November 1963 — Jan & Dean guest starred in the dramatic television series Redigo, with fellow guest star Chad Everett (later of Medical Center fame).

Drag City LP
“DRAG CITY” LP, 1963

November 1963 — Jan & Dean performed with the Beach Boys at the grand opening of Wallichs Music City in Redondo Beach.

November 1963 — Jan & Dean appeared on the television program Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Celebrity Party.

“I Adore Him” by the Angels — Jan’s Second “Outside” Hit as a Songwriter

November-December 1963 “I Adore Him” by the Angels, co-written by Jan Berry, peaked on the national charts: #13 R&B, #23 Cash Box, and #25 Billboard.

December 1963 —Colpix Records released “I’ve Gotta Drive” / “La Corrida” by the Matadors.  Both sides were arranged and produced by Jan Berry, and “La Corrida” was co-written by Jan.

Jan Writes, Arranges, and Produces for Johnny Crawford

December 1963 —Del-Fi Records released “Judy Loves Me” by Johnny Crawford, co-written and arranged by Jan Berry. Produced by Jan Berry and Artie Kornfeld.

Johnny Crawford, Judy Loves Me
JOHNNY CRAWFORD, Sheet Music (Fake) for “JUDY LOVES ME”

© Mark A. Moore. All rights reserved.

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