In memory of Jan Berry (1941-2004): What's your favorite JAN & DEAN song?

[NightTrain]

[flamingyouth]

1. Jan Berry died?

I didn't know that! :-(

On edit: Surf City!

[NightTrain]

2. Yeah; some time last night.

Haven't heard the details yet, but Jan Berry has indeed passed away. He was 62.

[flamingyouth]

3. What a drag

Sad news. I'll get flamed, but Jan & Dean were always my fave surf group, over the Beach Boys.

[NightTrain]

5. Yeah, they made some good records. And some not-so-good ones.

Whatever the case, I've always enjoyed the occasional Jan & Dean song. RIP, Brother Berry!

[flamingyouth]

6. I don't find anything on the web about his death, except his site

Hopefully by the end of the day we will read more.

Actually, I'm not a big surf fan, but my dad sure is. He has a great collection of singles and memorabilia from that era and is a huge Beach Boys fan.

[Norbert]

11. I heard he suffered a seizure on Friday

and aparently passed away from it.

I've heard his health was going down recently. They almost cancelled their concert tour last year.

I voted for Dead Mans curve. What a foreshadowing.

[bubblesby2002]

4. Oh that makes me so sad

I loved Jan and Dean, when I was young they were both so hot. I voted for Dead Man's Curve (even though I could have voted for all of their songs) because it is just so prescient with the car accident and everything. His official website has a beautiful essay in response to a question from Larry King.
http://www.jananddean-janberry.com/main.html

[5thGenDemocrat]

8. I voted for Dead Man's Curve, too

Every year on FUNDAY RADIO, by tradition, we play back-to-back songs from those musicians who died in the past year. Warren Zevon, Johnny Cash, now Jan Barry -- death sucks but the music keeps on getting better. Which, when you think about it, is probably as it should be. One of the coolest things about art is that it makes the artist immortal.
John
It is now 83 days, 18 hours and 55 minutes to FUNDAY.

[johnnie]

7. Link

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=718&e=3&u=/ap/20040327/ap_on_re_us/obit_berry

I listened to them a bit when I was younger. I believe that Jan's car accident was the result of him being drafted and he went out of control. That's what I remember anyway.

[flamingyouth]

9. Thanks for the link, Johnnie!

:kick:

[Whitacre D_WI]

10. Dead Man's Curve

Not just because of the serendipity of Jan Berry's '66 accident. I just really dig that song. "Well, the first thing I remember, doc, we started to swerve. Then I saw the Jag slide into the curve. I know I'll never forget that terrible sight. I guess I found out for myself that everyone was right: WON'T COME BACK FROM DEAD MAN'S CURVE!"

Ooh! And the sound effects!

[newyawker99]

12. This news makes me sad.

Rest in peace Jan.


My fave Jan & Dean song is "Little Old Lady From Pasadena"


:-(

[FarLeftRage]

13. Two girls for every boy...

I bought a pretty cool wagon and we call it a woody
(Surf City, here we come)
You know, it's not very cherry, it's an oldie but a goody
(Surf City, here we come)
Well, it ain't got a backseat or a rear window
But it still gets me where I wanna go
Chorus:
And we're goin' Surf City, 'cause it's two to one
You know we're goin' Surf City, gonna have some fun
Yeah we're goin' Surf City, 'cause it's two to one
You know we're goin' Surf City, gonna have some fun, now
They say they never roll the scoops, because there's always
something goin'
(Surf City, here we come)
You know, they're either out surfin' or they got a party growin'
(Surf City, here we come)
Well it's two swingin' honey for every guy
And all you gotta do is just wink your eye
(chorus)
And if my woody breaks down, I'll get somewhere as a surfer
(Surf City, here we come)
I'll strap my board to my back and hitch a ride in my wet-suit
(Surf City, here we come)
And when I get to Surf City, I'll be shootin' the curl
And checkin' out the parties for surfer girls
(chorus)

[ewagner]

14. RIP Jan

and thanks for some wonderful songs enjoyed on warm summer evenings at the beach.

You gave us something precious. Our youth.