It’s As Easy As 1, 2, 3 – Jan & Dean – Authentic Sheet Music

Jan Berry’s original music score, used by Wrecking Crew studio musicians to record the original track in 1964.

Released on Jan & Dean’s Dead Man’s Curve and Little Old Lady from Pasadena albums in 1964, and as the B-Side of Top-30 hit “You Really Know How to Hurt a Guy” in 1965. Also released as a single by Jill Gibson (with alternate lyrics) in August 1964. Both versions were arranged and produced by Jan Berry, featuring one of his best horn arrangements.

Transcribed by Mark A. Moore from Jan Berry’s music archive, in association with his estate. Moore is the author of Dead Man’s Curve: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Life of Jan Berry (McFarland 2021) and The Jan & Dan Record (McFarland 2016).

Perfect for high school and college ensembles, or any combo interested in tackling this summer classic.

Note: “It’s As Easy As 1, 2, 3” (credited to Jill Gibson and Don Altfeld) was co-written by Jan Berry. The song was identified by Screen Gems in their 1964 lawsuit—against Jan, Lou Adler, and others in Jan’s creative orbit—as being among those they knew that Jan had co-written but had deliberately withheld his name from in an attempt to place the publishing with a firm outside of Screen Gems. They were right, and the lawsuit was settled out of court (but Jan lost his writing credit as a result). When Jan’s songwriting credits were legally restored in 2002, he could have taken a co-writing credit for “It’s As Easy As 1, 2, 3.” But he chose not to, in deference to Jill Gibson, because the vocal melody originated with Jill. In 1964, Jan took Jill’s original melody and morphed it into his final version. Don Altfeld contributed to the lyrics.

Note: This arrangement is labeled “Jazz Ensemble” because it is the closest category offered by the Hal Leonard Corporation’s ArrangeMe service. See instrumentation below.

Audio Preview:

The video recording is a sound font audio preview, generated by music notation software, that allows potential sheet music buyers to get an idea of what the notes on paper will convey when played by real musicians.

Studio Backing Track Arrangement:

WOODWINDS: Baritone Sax.

BRASS: Trumpet; Flugelhorn; French Horn.

RHYTHM: Guitar 1; Guitar 2; Guitar 3 (Danelectro 6-String Bass Guitar); Bass 1 (Fender); Bass 2 (Upright); Drums; Piano.

Vocal Arrangement:

VOCALS: Lead; Soprano; Alto, Tenor; Bass.

Publication Includes:

(1) Illustrated cover page; (2) Introductory text with context for the music and the musicians who performed it; (3) Song chronology with recording session details; (4) Full music score; (5) Individual charts for each part in the music score; and (6) Illustrations, including images from Jan Berry’s music archive.

14 Distinct Chords.

Size: 11″ x 17″
Length: 40 pages.

Distributed by: ArrangeMe and the Hal Leonard Corporation.
Licensed from: Screen Gems-EMI Music, Inc.
Available from: Sheet Music Direct, Hal Leonard’s premier outlet for digital sheet music. Also available from Sheet Music Plus.
Published: October 4, 2022 (Fiji Printing #5).

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