ithaka

5y

we can’t forgive dead mans curve a brian song written for jan & dean

it was part of the short lived teenage tragic sensation going on at that time and is an emblem of that era

One day, Brian and I were chilling and trying out this tiny Honda that the company had sent him as a thank you for writing the Hondells "Little Honda." (the song was not yet released, but Wilson had already written it for a Honda commercial) We were cruisin' about three miles from his ex-wife, Marilyn's mom's house. Brian, as he was known to do, was pushing two hundred pounds way over what a 60 cc Honda could handle. I said Bry you should slow down, as in Santa Monica there is a lot of sand on the streets. We went over and the bike and were torn apart. We carried half a Honda each three miles, bleeding like crazy, to an open door in an empty house. We noticed a piece of blank paper on the piano and Bry sat down and I pulled up a chair and, I guess because of recent events I wrote down the words, "Dead Mans Curve."

Brian started a two four piano rhythm but I don't have any idea for the lyric... except I always envied Jan's Corvette, sang to Brian's chords" I was crusin' in my Sting Ray late one night and an XKE pulled upon the right…" Bran repeated what I wrote down with the melody and I almost finished the lyric in about 30 minutes with me writing the words, some with Brian, as being a New Yorker after I put us on Sunset Blvd.
I had no idea what landmarks we would pass to that curve after Doheny where it turns right and heads into Beverly Hills.

We were laughing and Brian said, lets hear what we have, laughing at the whole trip and tripping on our wipeout still. I jumped up and said Brian stop, "I think we need an accident here." He responded, "You are nuts Artie," but stopped and hit a chord, for some reason at that moment I thought of Robert Frost Poem about two roads in the woods and went metaphoric putting in an accident.

In my mind symbolic with the point we make those decisions that may change or end our lives. I wrote something like it says on the record and Brian Started a Kick Ass chorus. In walks the ever great loving talented Jan Berry who with Bry and a little me worked out the complete song. As Jan tightened up the song for a Jan and Dean Record, he was already hearing a finished product. Jan sat down at a table, hardly touched the piano, except to find the changes and as only Jan with Brian there could do…wrote out the entire arrangement, that as I remember, and was not a note off when we went in with it to play for Lou Adler. It just seems like moments but it was really days later when we went in and recorded it. The reason we had to put DJ Roger Christians name on the song, Lou Adler would know more than I.

The musicians on the date included Glen Campbell, then a tough T-shirted ass kicker on guitar, and Leon Russell (wearing a suit). Then there was Earl Palmer and Hal Blaine, the only drummers you could put together, and it came out great. Of course being about 19 or 20 I could not help but notice Lou's Fiancée Shelly Faberes, in a very tight sweater. Dean did not show. I did stand behind Bry to get a falsetto sound that was a little different.

When the record came out it was the B-side to "New Girl in School." I guess I did my first promotion as for reasons so few know I reversed the Charts and "New Girl in School" stopped shooting up the charts and "DEAD MANS CURVE" RULED! Brian, Jan and I all lived "Dead Mans Curve" in our separate lives.

covered by carpenters

and blink 182

Elric

5y

teenage tragedy sensation hit its zenith next year with the shangri las

that was a great tune

"Well, the last thing I remember, Doc, I started to swerve
And then I saw the Jag slide into the curve"

Elric

5y

another goat enters the fray Neil Youngs first single was released with his surf band The Squires. you can definitely hear shades of his later work on the b-side

Elric

5y

i assume youve checked out Neils surf phase since were on the topic @Ithaka

ithaka

5y

you dam right wish he would’ve brought some surf back during his run tbh some crazy horse surf lick would’ve been insane mix

Elric

5y

he must have at some point or another surprised he dive all the way in to rockabilly for Everybodys Rickin but never touch surf again even though its his roots

ithaka

5y

I KNOW RIGHT

but yeah maybe it flew over my head i would have to revisit some records but ive never ever heard any instrumental part that was deadass surf infused in one way or another and that bums me out - he could and should still try to do it! who else trying to do surf and bring it back outside us kids? show us how its done papi neil

Elric

5y

its not too late

Elric

5y

final Beach Boys post for '63

Brian finally got around to approximating his hero Phil Spector's trademarked Wall-Of-Sound production style on this instrumental he recorded for The Castells in late '63.. which was nice but the Boys version that got shelved could and should have been a hit

ithaka

5y

100%

remains one of my fav beach boys early song and still inspired me melodically today

something about the chorus man

rvi

5y

definitely a strong resemblance

i never was able to get into muse much but i respect the talent

Elric

5y

dionne warwicks clutch of singles this year bacharach hadnt gone soft yet

rvi

5y

1. The Ronettes - Be My Baby
2. The Beach Boys - In My Room
3. Roy Orbison - In Dreams
4. Bob Dylan - Don't Think Twice It's All Right
5. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There
6. Charles Mingus - Solo Dancer
7. Martha and the Vandellas - Heat Wave
8. Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire
9. Sam Cooke - Twistin' the Night Away (Live)
10. The Beach Boys - Surfer Girl

HM:
The Impressions - It's All Right
The Kingsmen - Louie Louie
The Beatles - She Loves You
The Beatles - I Want to Hold Your Hand
The Surfaris - Wipe Out
The Rolling Stones - I Wanna Be Your Man
The Drifters - On Broadway
Elvis Presley - Devil in Disguise

ithaka

5y

i don’t think ive ever heard any bad doowop song?

my go to music with soul, rap and power pop

ithaka

5y

1963 marks the second album release of françoise hardy

Elric

5y

Well dang you missed the whole doo wop era too convert me in not that crazy about it. Lacks guitars and drums usually.

50s rock one of the main go-to's for me nothing better that that Chuck, Elvis, Bo, Richard, Fats, Buddy, Everly, Ricky wave

ithaka

5y

im not that all about rock