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Post by gremashlo on Oct 9, 2010 8:08:07 GMT -5
Okay--I know that I've already DONE a Jan and Dean "B" side ("Norwegian Wood"), but this one is too good to pass up...
One of the greatest unsung combinations was the on and off contributions between the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean. While supposedly competitors on the "surf music" scene (and on different labels to boot), a friendship and partnership developed between Jan Berry and Brian Wilson, which led to several co-written songs that wound up giving Jan and Dean their first true success ("Surf City", in particular). Dean Torrence would return the favor, singing the falsetto lead on "Barbara Ann". Eventually, the mutual assistance would fade, primarily because the Beach Boys' manager/father/abuser Murry Wilson dang near killed Brian for "giving away hits".
But, none of that explains...this...
It is only fair and just that the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean would combine on the ultimate "car song" parody. Nothing is sacred--right down to the nasty mood and atmosphere. On this flip to the legitimately great car song, "Drag City", the Beach Boys sing background (and I presume also help with the various "dropped parts" solos) as Berry and Torrence trade lyrics about how cool their "keen" olive green '48 Buick is, and how "those six extra tail lights sure look good". References to raccoon-tailed antennas, mail-order parts and other "sins" of the driving set abound.
Dean Torrence has said in interviews that it is songs like these--where the two simply enjoyed themselves--were the most memorable. You can tell that this was a labor of love--in fact, an extended version is found on the "Drag City" album, hence the "Pt. #1"--here is the "Pt. 2", as the saga continues...
You also can tell from this that they were torn from making straight music (the route Jan was wanting to take) to making musical comedy (the route Dean wanted to go--remember that J & D were referred to as the "Laurel and Hardy" of rock, and did record a legit comedy/music hybrid album, "Batman")...sadly, Jan's car accident in 1966 would make the point moot.
I dare you not to laugh at "Mickey Mouse...squeak-squeak". I dare you.
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Post by H2IZCOOL on Oct 9, 2010 9:04:10 GMT -5
These are great, Grem. I've heard at least Part 1 before as I have the 45 of Drag City, but back then as a mere youth, I didn't appreciate the humor, and also never knew that the Beach Boys were backing them up. You know, they need to erect a special R&R Hall of Shame for the likes of Murray Wilson.  |
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Post by m c dornan on Oct 10, 2010 1:52:53 GMT -5
It made me think of the old classic that went
"I like peanut butter, you like peanut butter, we like peanut butter too!"
And the Drag City LP seems to have a song called "Surfin Hearse". Probably another classic too! ;D
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Post by H2IZCOOL on Oct 10, 2010 8:36:18 GMT -5
It made me think of the old classic that went "I like peanut butter, you like peanut butter, we like peanut butter too!" And the Drag City LP seems to have a song called "Surfin Hearse". Probably another classic too! ;D Of course, the old Classic "Peanut Butter" by the Marathons was a direct, shameless ripoff of The Olympics' "The Hully Gully." |
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Post by gremashlo on Oct 10, 2010 21:29:36 GMT -5
It made me think of the old classic that went "I like peanut butter, you like peanut butter, we like peanut butter too!" And the Drag City LP seems to have a song called "Surfin Hearse". Probably another classic too! ;D Of course, the old Classic "Peanut Butter" by the Marathons was a direct, shameless ripoff of The Olympics' "The Hully Gully." Ya got me curious...here's the face off-- and..in the other corner... Hmmm. Somebody's not gettin' royalties! |
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Post by m c dornan on Oct 10, 2010 22:34:41 GMT -5
It made me think of the old classic that went "I like peanut butter, you like peanut butter, we like peanut butter too!" And the Drag City LP seems to have a song called "Surfin Hearse". Probably another classic too! ;D Of course, the old Classic "Peanut Butter" by the Marathons was a direct, shameless ripoff of The Olympics' "The Hully Gully." Somehow, it was the Olympics' lot to get ripped off. They did "Big Boy Pete", which became the Kingsmen's "Jolly green Giant". And they can't even get into the RRHOF. |
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Post by H2IZCOOL on Oct 11, 2010 10:21:52 GMT -5
Of course, the old Classic "Peanut Butter" by the Marathons was a direct, shameless ripoff of The Olympics' "The Hully Gully." Somehow, it was the Olympics' lot to get ripped off. They did "Big Boy Pete", which became the Kingsmen's "Jolly green Giant". And they can't even get into the RRHOF. You beat me to the punch on this one, MC. I made a CD mix of plagiarized songs (both victim and villain) a year or so ago, and included both Olympics songs and their plagiarizers. The level of plagiarism of both The Hully Gully and Big Boy Pete is astonishing, compared to say, the more famous case of George Harrison's My Sweet Lord being copied from The Chiffons "He's So Fine." When you listen to those two songs you say "yeah, I guess they're somewhat similar," but with both Olympics songs you say "OMG. They are the same song!" |
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Post by Ken on Oct 13, 2010 12:20:38 GMT -5
lol! I remember hearing this for the first time, when I found a copy of the Drag City 45 back in the 80's. I always wondered if there really was a "part 2" and now I know!  Murry was a shmuck  I remember talking with a fellow record collector a couple of years back at one of our record shows, I noticed that he had bought a copy of Murry's album (I was surprised he found a copy). I asked him if he was going to actually listen to it and he said "oh god no!" and that he was a huge Beach Boys fan and wanted it to complete his vinyl collection.  |
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Post by m c dornan on Oct 13, 2010 12:39:12 GMT -5
lol! I remember hearing this for the first time, when I found a copy of the Drag City 45 back in the 80's. I always wondered if there really was a "part 2" and now I know! Murry was a shmuck I remember talking with a fellow record collector a couple of years back at one of our record shows, I noticed that he had bought a copy of Murry's album (I was surprised he found a copy). I asked him if he was going to actually listen to it and he said "oh god no!" and that he was a huge Beach Boys fan and wanted it to complete his vinyl collection. That Murry Wilson was one fine looking woman! |
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Post by Ken on Oct 14, 2010 13:43:39 GMT -5
lol! I remember hearing this for the first time, when I found a copy of the Drag City 45 back in the 80's. I always wondered if there really was a "part 2" and now I know! Murry was a shmuck I remember talking with a fellow record collector a couple of years back at one of our record shows, I noticed that he had bought a copy of Murry's album (I was surprised he found a copy). I asked him if he was going to actually listen to it and he said "oh god no!" and that he was a huge Beach Boys fan and wanted it to complete his vinyl collection. That Murry Wilson was one fine looking woman! lol! |
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Post by gremashlo on Oct 15, 2010 6:19:05 GMT -5
Somehow, it was the Olympics' lot to get ripped off. They did "Big Boy Pete", which became the Kingsmen's "Jolly green Giant". And they can't even get into the RRHOF. You beat me to the punch on this one, MC. I made a CD mix of plagiarized songs (both victim and villain) a year or so ago, and included both Olympics songs and their plagiarizers. The level of plagiarism of both The Hully Gully and Big Boy Pete is astonishing, compared to say, the more famous case of George Harrison's My Sweet Lord being copied from The Chiffons "He's So Fine." When you listen to those two songs you say "yeah, I guess they're somewhat similar," but with both Olympics songs you say "OMG. They are the same song!" One of the many times my wife has surprised me with her musical acumen was at a dance I was DJ-ing...I was playing "I Want Candy" by the Strangegloves, and Michelle IMMEDIATELY said, "That's 'Hand Jive'!" Another reason why I love her. |
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Post by H2IZCOOL on Oct 15, 2010 7:48:15 GMT -5
You beat me to the punch on this one, MC. I made a CD mix of plagiarized songs (both victim and villain) a year or so ago, and included both Olympics songs and their plagiarizers. The level of plagiarism of both The Hully Gully and Big Boy Pete is astonishing, compared to say, the more famous case of George Harrison's My Sweet Lord being copied from The Chiffons "He's So Fine." When you listen to those two songs you say "yeah, I guess they're somewhat similar," but with both Olympics songs you say "OMG. They are the same song!" One of the many times my wife has surprised me with her musical acumen was at a dance I was DJ-ing...I was playing "I Want Candy" by the Strangegloves, and Michelle IMMEDIATELY said, "That's 'Hand Jive'!" Another reason why I love her. Youu are, I assume, referring to "Willie and the Hand Jive", I assume, Grem? Man, that is SUCH a rip opff, I'm ashamed I never thought of it! |
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Post by gremashlo on Nov 14, 2010 23:11:50 GMT -5
One of the many times my wife has surprised me with her musical acumen was at a dance I was DJ-ing...I was playing "I Want Candy" by the Strangegloves, and Michelle IMMEDIATELY said, "That's 'Hand Jive'!" Another reason why I love her. Youu are, I assume, referring to "Willie and the Hand Jive", I assume, Grem? Man, that is SUCH a rip opff, I'm ashamed I never thought of it! H2---that Johnny Otis clip is THE reason why YouTube exists...beyond cool! |
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