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| From | "Billy G. Spradlin" <bgspradlin@cablelynx.com> |
| Subject | Re: Jan and Dean (One Last Ride) |
| Date | Fri, 14 Feb 2003 03:34:36 -0600 |
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>
>"Jennie Lee" was credited to Jan & Arnie Ginsburg (though Dean almost
>certainly sang on the track). Neither Jan & Arnie nor Jan & Dean were
>close to being the first California act to break nationally. In 1958
>alone--the year "Jennie Lee" hit #8 in May--Hollywood's Four Preps had
>already had Top 5 hits with "26 Miles" and "Big Man."
The Four Preps were a vocal group like the Four Freshman, or the Stone
Kirby Four producing Mom & Pop MOR friendly music - definitely old hat. "26
Miles" is a great record (I love what sounds like a theremin wailing away
in the background) but it's NOT Rock and Roll.
Jennie Lee, IS a a raw trashy 50's rock record. It's probably the first
home demo in rock history (after studio overdubs) to be commercially
released. and I bet it drove those same adults who loved the Preps smooth
sound up the wall when their teenagers cranked it up on their home
phonographs and radios.
> >>Surf Music had a huge influence on California punk rock and on
> skateboard culture (J&D cut the first skateboarding anthem in 1963!)<<
>
>You can't equate surf music's influence on other genres with Jan &
>Dean. They clearly modeled themselves after the Beach Boys, from 1963 on,
>with Brian Wilson writing many of their hits and singing on their
>records. That skateboarding anthem, 1964's "Sidewalk Surfin'," was just
>Brian's "Catch A Wave" with new lyrics. Steve Barri, who contributed
>songs and vocals to J&D's albums with partner Phil Sloan, has said that
>"Phil and I were writing for whoever needed songs and, like everyone else,
>copying what the Beach Boys were doing."
I agree - they were hangers-on, copycats, fad jumpers and didn't have the
Beach Boys talent. I doubt the two would have been that good had Lou Adler,
Sloan/Barri, Chuck Britz, Bones Howe, and the Wrecking Crew weren't helping
them make those records. But I doubt Surf music would have had the same
impact nationwide and worldwide had records like "Surf City" and "Drag
City" never hit the charts. They helped put that sound on the map and
that's why I feel they are important.
Jan & Dean gave Surf Music and early 60's Rock music in general a
Californian satirical edge that the Beach Boys never had at the beginning
of their career. And that satirical edge from those highly crafted 45's
trickled down to artists like Frank Zappa, The Turtles, Firesign Theatre to
the Dickies and Surf Punks, to Blink 182 and Nerf Herder. I never meant a
direct Jan & Dean - to - Blink 182 line of influence.
Billy
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