JAN BERRY — A SELECTED TIMELINE
By Mark A. Moore
Author of Dead Man’s Curve: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Life of Jan Berry
1964
Jan Writes Music for Shelley Fabares
• January 1964 — Colpix Records released “Football Season’s Over” / “He Don’t Love Me” by Shelley Fabares. “He Don’t Love Me” was co-written by Jan Berry.
• January 1964 — “Drag City” peaked on the national charts: #10 Billboard and #10 Cash Box.
“Judy Loves Me” by Johnny Crawford — Jan’s Third “Outside” Chart Record as a Songwriter
• January 1964 — “Judy Loves Me” by Johnny Crawford peaked on the national charts: #95 Billboard. Co-written and arranged by Jan Berry. Produced by Jan Berry and Artie Kornfeld.
• February 1964 — The Drag City LP peaked on the national charts: #17 Cash Box and #22 Billboard.
• February 1964 —Liberty Records released “Dead Man’s Curve” / “The New Girl In School.”
Dunhill Productions Is Established
• March 1964 — Lou Adler founded Dunhill Productions with Pierre Cossette and Bobby Roberts. Jan & Dean were now managed through the Dunhill office.
• April 1964 — “The New Girl In School” peaked on the national charts: #26 Cash Box and #37 Billboard.
• April 1964 —Columbia Records released “Three Window Coupe” by the Rip Chords, co-written by Jan Berry.
• April 1964 —Liberty released the Dead Man’s Curve / The New Girl In School LP.
• April 1964 — Jan & Dean performed at the Honolulu International Center Arena in Hawaii. “A Million Dollar Party.”
• May 1964 — “Dead Man’s Curve” peaked on the national charts: #8 Billboard and #9 Cash Box.
• May 1964 — Columbia released the Three Window Coupe LP by the Rip Chords, featuring the Title Track, “Gas Money,” and “Surf City,” co-written by Jan Berry.
• June 1964 —Liberty released “The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena).”
“Three Window Coupe” by the Rip Chords — Jan’s Fourth “Outside” Chart Record as a Songwriter — (Cover)
• June 1964 — “Three Window Coupe” by the Rip Chords, co-written by Jan Berry, peaked on the national charts: #28 Billboard and #29 Cash Box.
• June-August 1964 —The Dead Man’s Curve / The New Girl In School LP peaked on the national charts: #42 Cash Box and #80 Billboard.
Music In Film — The New Interns
• July 1964 — Colpix released “Come On Let Yourself Go, Part 1” / “Come On Let Yourself Go, Part 2” by the Matadors. Both sides were co-written, arranged, and produced by Jan Berry. The song was featured in the Columbia Pictures film The New Interns, produced by Robert Cohn.
• July 1964 — “The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)” peaked on the national charts: #3 Billboard and #5 Cash Box.
• July 1964 — Jan & Dean performed at the Honolulu International Center Arena, and at Bloch Arena and Schofield Barracks at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. “A Million Dollar Party.”
Jan Arranges and Produces for Jill Gibson
• August 1964 —Imperial Records released “It’s As Easy As 1, 2, 3” by Jill Gibson, arranged and produced by Jan Berry.
Music In Film — Ride the Wild Surf
• August 1964 — Columbia Pictures released the film Ride the Wild Surf, featuring the title track by Jan & Dean, co-written, arranged, and produced by Jan Berry. Starring Fabian, Tab Hunter, Peter Brown, Shelley Fabares, Barbara Eden, and Susan Hart. Produced by Art and Jo Napoleon.
• August 1964 —Liberty released the Ride the Wild Surf LP.
• August 1964 —Liberty released “Ride the Wild Surf” / “The Anaheim, Azusa, & Cucamonga Sewing Circle, Book Review and Timing Association.”
• September —Liberty released The Little Old Lady from Pasadena LP.
• October 1964 — “Ride the Wild Surf” peaked on the national charts: #16 Billboard and #23 Cash Box.
• October 1964 — “The Anaheim, Azusa, & Cucamonga Sewing Circle, Book Review and Timing Association” peaked on the national charts: #50 Cash Box and #77 Billboard.
• October 1964 — Jan & Dean performed at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. The concert was recorded and became the basis for the Command Performance LP.
• October 1964 —Liberty released “Sidewalk Surfin’.”
The TAMI Show — Concerts
• October 1964 — Jan & Dean hosted The TAMI Show (Teenage Awards Music International, also known as Teen Age Command Performance). The duo also performed as part of an all-star lineup filmed in Electronovison for theatrical release. Performers: the Barbarians, the Beach Boys, Chuck Berry, James Brown and the Famous Flames, Marvin Gaye (backed by the Blossoms), Gerry & the Pacemakers, Lesley Gore, Jan & Dean, Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, the Rolling Stones, and the Supremes. Members of the Wrecking Crew served as the house band, conducted by Jack Nitzsche. Musicians: Hal Blaine, Jimmy Bond, Lou Blackburn, Glen Campbell, Roy Caton, Steve Douglas, Frank De Vito, Virgil Evans, Mike Henderson, Don Peake, Lyle Ritz, Leon Russell, and Tommy Tedesco.
• November 1964 —Mala Records released “Bucket ‘T'” by Ronny and the Daytonas, co-written by Jan Berry.
• November 1964 —The Ride the Wild Surf LP peaked on the national charts: #26 Cash Box.
• November 1964 —The Little Old Lady from Pasadena LP peaked on the national charts: #40 Cash Box.
• December 1964 — “Sidewalk Surfin'” peaked on the national charts: #25 Billboard and #28 Cash Box.
The TAMI Show — Theatrical Release
• December 1964 — The TAMI Show. The historic concert film was released theatrically, distributed by American International Pictures. Directed by Steve Binder and produced by Bill Sargent.
Billboard Magazine’s Top Singles Artists of 1964
• December 1964 —Jan & Dean placed at #6 on Billboard’s list of Top Singles Artists of 1964 —one spot above Marvin Gaye and one behind Elvis Presley (published December 26, 1964). The Beach Boys placed at #4 with the Beatles holding the top spot.
Cash Box Magazine’s Best Artists of 1964
• Jan & Dean placed at #3 on Cash Box’s list of Best Artists of 1964 on Singles in the “Vocal Groups” category. The Beach Boys tied for first place with the Four Seasons and the Impressions placed at #2. The Beatles held the top spot in the “Best Newcomers” category . . . Jan & Dean placed at #10 on the magazine’s Best Artists of 1964 on Albums in the “Vocal Groups” category. The Beach Boys placed at #2 behind Peter, Paul & Mary. The Beatles took the top spot for albums under “Best Newcomers” (published December 26, 1964).
Number One Vocal Duo of 1964
• December 1964 —Music Business magazine named Jan & Dean the Number One Vocal Duo of 1964 in the “Single Records” category. Peter & Gordon placed at #2 with Chad & Jeremy at #4. “Double Value Holiday Issue,” December 31, 1964. Jan Berry was pictured on the cover of the magazine.
© Mark A. Moore. All rights reserved.
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