Jan Berry’s Work Outside of Jan & Arnie and Jan & Dean, 1958-1966
By Mark A. Moore
Author of Dead Man’s Curve: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Life of Jan Berry
When Jan & Arnie’s “Jennie Lee” debuted in April 1958 it made a big splash in the R&B community, and it was quickly covered by Billy Ward & His Dominoes. Both versions of the song were on the charts at the same time, and they both reached their peak chart positions in June 1958. The original Jan & Arnie version was a Top-10 smash.
As Jan Berry’s career progressed, other artists continued to record his compositions. After three years in the business, having learned the ropes from the likes of Joe Lubin, Ernie Freeman, Lou Adler, and Herb Alpert, Jan became an official arranger and producer in his own right. In September 1961 he signed separate contracts as a songwriter and record producer with Nevins-Kirshner Associates, a New York City firm led by Al Nevins and Don Kirshner. Jan’s original compositions were then published by Aldon Music, which made him a West Coast extension of the Brill Building music scene (and Lou Adler became head of Nevins-Kirshner’s West Coast office).
As Jan began officially arranging the music of Jan & Dean—with label credit—under the auspices of Nevins-Kirshner, he also wrote, arranged, and produced music for other artists under the company’s umbrella.
The stellar “I’m Dying To Give You My Love,” which Jan wrote, arranged, and produced in 1961 for an artist named Pixie, was a bellwether achievement in Jan’s career. Though originally unreleased, it featured many of the arrangement and production hallmarks that later became commonplace on Jan’s biggest productions for Jan & Dean. And the song’s opening bars were a direct influence on the iconic intro to “Dead Man’s Curve.”
In April 1963 Nevins-Kirshner was acquired by corporate entertainment giant Screen Gems-Columbia Music, also based in New York City. Jan’s Nevins-Kirshner songwriting and producer contracts were absorbed and renewed by Screen Gems, setting the stage for the height of his career with Jan & Dean.
The list below highlights the artists who covered Jan Berry’s compositions between 1958 and 1966, and the “outside” arrangements and productions he did for Nevins-Kirshner and Screen Gems. ¹
1958
JENNIE LEE
(Jan Berry – Arnie Ginsburg)
#46 Cash Box — #55 Billboard
Liberty F-55136
Produced by Billy Ward
Artist: BILLY WARD & HIS DOMINOES
JENNIE LEE
(Jan Berry – Arnie Ginsburg)
Coral 9-61994
Produced by Owen Bradley with the Anita Kerr Singers
Artist: MOON MULLICAN
1960
CHERISH MY LOVE
(Jan Berry – Don Altfeld)
Laitini M-6666
Re-issued 1961 (Sudden 104)
Artist: THE GLENS
1961
JUMP IN THE LINE
(Tony Minichiello – Charles Anderson – Manuel Sanchez)
WHY DO I LOVE HER
(Tony Minichiello – Manuel Sanchez)
Liberty 55332
Both Sides Arranged by Jan Berry
Produced by Lou Adler
Both sides published by Fiji Music in conjunction with Ultra Music, the personal publishing companies of Jan Berry and Lou Adler, respectively.
Artist: THE GENTS
I’M DYING TO GIVE YOU MY LOVE
(Jan Berry – Don Altfeld)
Slated for Epic Records
Completed but Unreleased
Arranged and Produced by Jan Berry for Nevins-Kirshner
Supervision: Lou Adler
Artist: PIXIE
1962
QUEEN OF THE ANGELS
(Deane Hawley – Lou Adler)
YOU CONQUERED ME
(Lou Stallman – Sid Jacobson)
Liberty 55446
Both Sides Arranged & Conducted by Jan Berry
Produced by Lou Adler for Nevins-Kirshner
Artist: DEANE HAWLEY
WONDERFUL GUY
(Hal Davis – Marie Gregory)
Girl Group (possibly Blossoms related)
Arranged by Jan Berry for Nevins-Kirshner
Unreleased
Acetate Demo Exists
HE’S THE GUY FOR ME
(Hal Davis – Vince Love)
Girl Group (possibly Blossoms related)
Arranged by Jan Berry for Nevins-Kirshner
Unreleased
KEY TO YOUR HEART
Girl Group (possibly Blossoms related)
Arranged by Jan Berry for Nevins-Kirshner
Unreleased
Acetate Demo Exists
1963
COME ON BABY
(Bodie Chandler)
JUST FOR TONIGHT
(Jan Berry – Jerry Fuller)
Festoon F-001 (custom pressing)
Disc label designed by Dean Torrence
Both Sides Arranged and Produced by Jan Berry
Artist: JUDY & JILL
WHAT’S IT GONNA BE
Arranged and Produced by Jan Berry for Nevins-Kirshner
Unreleased
Acetates Exist
Artist: JUDY & JILL
EVERYBODY’S SOMEBODY’S FOOL
(Gladys Hampton – Reginia Adamas – Ave Adamas)
Arranged and Produced by Jan Berry for Nevins-Kirshner
Unreleased
Piano and vocal demo exists
Artist: RONNIE HEIGHT
YOU’D BETTER PUT AN END TO THIS
Arranged and Produced by Jan Berry for Nevins-Kirshner
Unreleased
Piano and vocal demo exists
Artist: RONNIE HEIGHT
PERFIDIA
(Milton Leeds – Borras Dominguez)
ACE OF HEARTS
(Gary Zekley – Vic Diaz – Jan Berry)
#1 in the Philippines (“Perfidia”)
Colpix CP-698
Both Sides Arranged and Produced by Jan Berry for Screen Gems, Inc.
Jan sang bass on “Perfidia”
Artist: THE MATADORS
NICE GUYS FINISH LAST
(Barry Mann – Mike Anthony)
Completed but Unreleased
Arranged and Produced by Jan Berry for Screen Gems, Inc.
Artist: THE MATADORS
LAST SONG I’M EVER GONNA SING (NASHVILLE)
(Sonny Curtis – Jerry Allsion)
SO USED TO LOVING YOU
(Sonny Cuirits)
Dimension D-1017
Both Sides Arranged by Jan Berry for Screen Gems, Inc.
Artist: SONNY CURTIS
I ADORE HIM
(Jan Berry – Artie Kornfeld)
#13 R&B — #23 Cash Box — #25 Billboard
#8 WLS Silver Dollar Survey (Chicago)
#16 KFWB Fabulous Forty Survey (Los Angeles)
#46 KRLA Tune-Dex (Los Angeles)
Smash S-1854
A Halo To You LP, Smash MGS 27048 (M); SRS 67048 (S)
Arranged and Conducted by Alan Lorber
Produced by Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, and Richard Gottehrer
Artist: THE ANGELS
I’VE GOTTA DRIVE
(Barry Mann – Roger Christian)
LA CORRIDA
(Tony Minichiello – Vic Diaz – Manuel Sanchez – Jan Berry)
Colpix CP-718
Both Sides Arranged and Produced by Jan Berry for Screen Gems, Inc.
Jan sang lead on “I’ve Gotta Drive”
Artist: THE MATADORS
SURF CITY
(Jan Berry – Brian Wilson)
Surf City LP, Del-Fi DFLP-1237
Produced by Bob Keene
Artist: THE LIVELY ONES
1964
HE DON’T LOVE ME
(Jan Berry – Don Altfeld – Jill Gibson)
Colpix CP-721
More Teenage Triangle LP, Colpix CP-468
Produced by David Gates
Artist: SHELLEY FABARES
JUDY LOVES ME
(Jan Berry – Artie Kornfeld – Don Altfeld)
#95 Billboard
Del-Fi 4231
Arranged by Jan Berry
Produced by Jan Berry and Artie Kornfeld for Screen Gems, Inc.
Artist: JOHNNY CRAWFORD
MOVE OUT, LITTLE MUSTANG
(Jan Berry – Roger Christian – Brian Wilson) *
Bucket Seats
(Jan Berry) *
Imperial 66036 (“Rally-Packs”)
The Little Old Lady from Pasadena LP, Liberty LRP-3377 (M); LST-7377 (S) (Jan & Dean), 1964
Arranged and Produced by Jan Berry
“A Dunhill Production”
Artist: “RALLY-PACKS”
* For a discussion of “Move Out, Little Mustang” and Jan’s writing credit, see “Jan Berry and Brian Wilson: The Songwriting Collaborations“
THREE WINDOW COUPE
(Jan Berry – Roger Christian)
#28 Billboard — #29 Cash Box
#10 WLS Silver Dollar Survey (Chicago)
#32 KFWB Fabulous Forty Survey (Los Angeles)
#42 WABC All American Survey (New York City)
Columbia 4-43035
Three Window Coupe LP, Columbia CL 2216 (M); CS 9016 (S)
Produced by Terry Melcher
Artist: THE RIP CHORDS
SURF CITY
(Jan Berry – Brian Wilson)
Three Window Coupe LP, Columbia CL 2216 (M); CS 9016 (S)
Produced by Terry Melcher
Artist: THE RIP CHORDS
GAS MONEY
(Jan Berry – Arnie Ginsburg)
Three Window Coupe LP, Columbia CL 2216 (M); CS 9016 (S)
Produced by Terry Melcher
Artist: THE RIP CHORDS
DRAG CITY
(Jan Berry – Roger Christian – Brian Wilson)
Hey Little Cobra and Other Hot Rod Hits LP, Columbia CL 2251 (M); CS 8951 (S)
Produced by Terry Melcher
Artist: THE RIP CHORDS
SKATEBOARDING
(Jan Berry – Jill Gibson)
SHOOT THE CURB
(Jan Berry – Jill Gibson)
Surf S-101 (a custom label created by Jan)
Both Sides Arranged and Produced by Jan Berry
Both were later released by Jan & Dean (“Shoot the Curb” became “Walk On the Wet Side”)
Artist: THE SIDEWALK SURFERS
IT’S AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3
(Jill Gibson – Don Altfled)
JILLY’S FLIP SIDE
(Phil Sloan – Steve Barri)
Imperial 66068
Both Sides Arranged and Produced by Jan Berry for Screen Gems, Inc.
Artist: JILL GIBSON
COME ON LET YOURSELF GO, PART 1
(Artie Kornfeld – Jan Berry)
COME ON LET YOURSELF GO, PART 2
(Artie Kornfeld – Jan Berry)
Colpix CP-741
Arranged by Jan Berry
Produced by Artie Kornfeld and Jan Berry for Screen Gems, Inc.
From the Columbia Pictures film The New Interns, produced by Robert Cohn, directed by John Rich
Artist: THE MATADORS
THE LITTLE OLD LADY (FROM PASADENA)
(Jan Berry – Roger Christian – Don Altfeld) **
Beach Boys Concert LP, Capitol TAO-2198; STAO-2198
#1 Billboard — #1 Cash Box
Produced by Brian Wilson
Artist: THE BEACH BOYS
** Reflects Jan’s legally restored songwriting credit as of January 2002.
DRAG CITY
(Jan Berry – Roger Christian – Brian Wilson)
Boss Drag LP, Liberty LRP-3346 (M); LST-7346 (S)
Arranged by Bunny Botkin (Perry Botkin Jr.)
Produced by Dave Pell
Artist: THE T-BONES (Wrecking Crew)
DRAG CITY
(Jan Berry – Roger Christian – Brian Wilson)
Wheels LP, RCA Victor LSP-2886
Arranged & Conducted by Artie Butler
Produced by Hugo & Luigi (Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore)
Artist: THE TOKENS
1965
BUCKET “T”
(Roger Christian – Jan Berry) ***
#54 Billboard — #61 Cash Box
Mala 492
G.T.O. LP, Mala 4001
Produced by Bill Justis
Artist: RONNY AND THE DAYTONAS
*** Reflects Jan’s correct original writing credit.
SURF CITY
(Jan Berry – Brian Wilson)
HONOLULU LULU
(Jan Berry – Roger Christian – Lou Adler)
DRAG CITY
(Jan Berry – Roger Christian – Brian Wilson)
RIDE THE WILD SURF
(Jan Berry – Roger Christian – Brian Wilson)
The Surfing Songbook LP, Dunhill DS-50001
Orchestra Conducted by Hal Blaine
Produced by Phil Sloan and Steve Barri
Artist: THE RINCON SURFSIDE BAND (Wrecking Crew)
SURF CITY
(Jan Berry – Brian Wilson)
RIDE THE WILD SURF
(Jan Berry – Roger Christian – Brian Wilson)
Annette Sings Golden Surfin’ Hits LP, Buena Vista 3327
Produced by Camarata
Artist: ANNETTE FUNICELLO
1966
BUCKET “T”
(Jan Berry – Don Altfeld – Roger Christian – Dean Torrence) **
Ready Steady Who EP
#1 UK Record Mirror EP Charts
Reaction 592001
Produced by Kit Lambert
Artist: THE WHO
** Reflects Jan’s legally restored songwriting credit as of January 2002.
¹ Numerous knock-off releases from the period 1958-1966 are not included in this list.
© Mark A. Moore. All rights reserved.
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