Customer Reviews

Dead Man's Curve and Back: The Jan & Dean Story

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The hit musical duo Jan & Dean, known for their surfing tunes in the '50s, '60s and beyond, are still recognized as two superstars of their time. However, many people don't know their inspiring off-stage story. Author Mark Thomas Passmore tells Jan Berry and Dean Torrence's complete story, including their discovery as teenagers, their numerous hits and the devastating car crash that left Jan (the creative arm of the group) near death in DEAD MAN'S CURVE AND BACK: THE JAN & DEAN STORY.

Jan and Dean rocketed to super stardom after they were discovered in the late 1950s. Their California good looks brought a new image to the industry, and their consistent hits won the hearts of thousands of fans. With early hits such as "Baby Talk," "Heart and Soul," "We Go Together" and "Linda", they quickly gained celebrity status.

Jan's songwriting abilities and his talent for producing got the duo noticed, and soon they began collaborating with stars such as Lou Adler, Herb Alpert, Shelly Fabares and Brian Wilson (often sharing vocals with The Beach Boys). Both college students (Jan in pre-med at UCLA and Dean studying commercial art at USC), they continued to climb the ladder of fame, recording hits like "Drag City," "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena," "The New Girl in School," "Ride the Wild Surf," "Sidewalk Surfin'" and "Surf City."

One hit song of theirs - "Dead Man's Curve"- would later become all too prophetic! Only days after his 25th birthday in 1966, Jan plowed his Corvette Stingray into a parked truck at 90mph, putting himself in a coma for a month and partially paralyzing him. Brain damaged, Jan had to relearn how to read, write and talk from scratch. His recovery was grueling, but his determination to make music again was strong. Dean attempted to keep the Jan & Dean name going, but decided to utilize his college training and opened a graphic design business specializing in album packaging, winning a Grammy Award for his work in 1972.

By the mid-1970s, Jan was back. He began making music again and could sing better than he could talk. A 1978 TV movie brought their story into the limelight once again and the duo got back together, but they faced a new "Dead Man's Curve." Their musical relationship had changed, and Dean was now in the driver's seat.

A story of success, tragedy and recovery, Passmore's book offers a rare glimpse into the lives of these music legends. DEAD MAN'S CURVE AND BACK provides captivating inside information about the duo's lives both before and after Jan's accident. Both Jan and Dean are presented as "real" people who made mistakes just like you or me. It is hard not to get emotional at certain parts of the book when Jan is struggling with his recovery and Dean tries to move on. I felt like cheering out loud at the section where the duo successfully appeared on stage again in 1978 after a 12-year absence from the public eye!

Equally entertaining are the stories behind their music. The origins of many of Jan & Dean's songs are often whimsical and the recording information offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of pop record production in the 1950s and '60s. I now listen to their records with a whole new outlook and appreciation of the skills that went into the making of them.

DEAD MAN'S CURVE AND BACK has hundreds of black & white photographs, reproductions of original hand-written song lyrics, photos of every album and single record picture sleeve, shots from "lost" TV appearances and rare trade ads interspersed throughout, rather than a separate section. This layout is very effective as you read about incidents and the photos often back up the text. I feel the years move by with Jan & Dean because of the photos. The book also contains a complete discography with production information on all of the duo's records. I was amazed at how much they actually recorded both together and apart!

I was both entertained and emotionally touched by this book. Although Jan and Dean may feel that they are just ordinary people, the stories in this book about how friends and musical collaborators have stood behind them, as well as Mr. Passmore's touching introduction explaining how he came to write the book, show that the duo are indeed "very special people" to inspire such love!

I have to admit, I was never a Jan & Dean fan before I saw the TV movie called "Deadman's Curve" on a Saturday afternoon in the late 1980s. Whenever I heard one of their songs on the radio, I thought they were the Beach Boys!

The title of the movie and this book, "Dead Man's Curve and Back", originates from the song "Dead Man's Curve" which Jan & Dean had a hit with back in 1964. In a weird case of life imitating art, Jan had a car accident in 1966 very similar to the one in the song and it pretty much ended his and Dean's career. Jan was left partially paralyzed and brain damaged and had to relearn how to read, speak and write. It was his drive to make music again that helped him overcome the odds and appear on stage with Dean again. The movie made me cry!

This book tells the whole story of Jan Berry and Dean Torrence growing up in Los Angeles and the early influences on their music. Jan and Dean began singing with a group of football friends in the school shower room which eventually led to Jan and one of those friends having a hit single with "Jennie Lee" while Dean was in the Army. The story of how Jan and his buddies helped "boost sales" of the record is a funny one and I don't want to spoil it here!

The book documents how Jan and Dean began making records together with none other that Herb Alpert, before the Tijuana Brass! In fact, sometimes the book reads like a "who's who" artists the duo worked with "before they were famous." It's kind of sad to know that the general public still remember these people, but not Jan & Dean.

Anyway, Jan and Dean started out with a bunch of mediocre hits before hitting it big with songs like "Surf City", "Ride the Wild Surf" and "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena". These songs and others kept the duo on the top of the charts from 1963-65 and also gave them lots of opportunities to show off their Laurel & Hardy style humor on TV and in concerts. They were so big, that they hosted the TAMI Show, which was the 1964 equivalent of Woodstock!

I was surprised to learn about how much work went in to recording each of their songs. Jan was the creative force behind Jan & Dean. He wrote and produced most all their records. Jan didn't use a band to make the music, he conducted full orchestras! I can listen to their songs now and appreciate how far ahead of his time Jan really was.

The TV movie made a lot of the conflict between the singers because of Jan's creative control and bossy attitude. It seems that a lot of that was true. But the book goes in to far more detail than a 2 hour movie can and you can understand their differences and appreciate what they each gave to the "act" of Jan & Dean. Dean was the on-stage humor guy and Jan was the creative force. When combined, they had far more success together than when apart.

The chapters dealing with Jan's 1966 accident and the first few years afterwards are a bit depressing. I never knew that they were on the verge of becoming so big. They had a TV series ready to start on ABC and had produced one of the first "concept" albums and were forming their own record company. All things that other people did after Jan's accident! And Jan's accident was worse than I previously knew. He was lucky to survive and what he went through to recover was more than I could have handled!

But as they 1970s progress, things begin looking up for the duo. The TV movie in 1978 revives their career, much to everyone's surprise. Jan and Dean began touring and recording again, but Jan gets involved with drugs and the duo split up for a few years. When they get back together, things seem better than before, but it still seems like every time they are on the verge of a real comeback, something happens to hold them back. Did you know that Jan & Dean were the first US rock and roll act to play in the Republic of China? Everyone might know if the video tape had been released!

I have seen Jan & Dean in concert once and they put on a real good show. They really care about the performance compared to the Beach Boys and many other `60s acts who seem to just walk though the numbers. The look of joy on Jan's face as he performs is something I will never forget. This book backs up what I felt seeing them on stage. Jan & Dean are very special people.

The pictures in the book are incredible! There are pictures of every record release, advertisements for records, publicity shots and everything. It really helps with a book like this in setting the mood of whatever decade the action is taking place in. There are even hand-written pages of early versions of their songs! The pictures from their TV shows and their unfinished movie (a train derailed, hurting Jan and many others) are incredible.

I'm not a record collector, but the discography is still interesting. There is a lot of trivia there and it helps you see how big Jan & Dean really were when you see all the records they released. Again, some cool pictures.

"Dead Man's Curve and Back" was a lot of fun. I've gotten some of Jan & Dean's CDs that I wouldn't have bothered to buy before because of the stories in the book. This book mentions that Jan is writing his full life story with the help of someone. I can't wait!

I bought this book a few weeks ago, and I am glad I did. I've been a fan of Jan and Dean's music since I was about 12, however, it has greatly intensifed recently, which is why I purchased this book. If you're a fan of Jan and Dean, this is THE book to buy. It covers all of the aspects and details of the duo's lives and careers, up to 2003. Since Jan passed away the following year, that is not featured. Speaking of Jan, I never knew how talented and brilliant he was as an arranger, producer, and songwriter. He was right up there with Brian Wilson, Phil Spector, and Stevie Wonder. The unfortunate thing is hardly anyone knows about it. He truly was a genius, yet it remains in the dark, which is a shame. Had his tragic accident never occured, he would have gone on to do more groundbreaking, innovative things, both in the field of music, and as a doctor (he was in medical school.) The book gradually describes in detail Jan's accident, which left him partially paralyzed and brain damaged, plus the long, challenging recovery that followed, and his eventual return to live performing and songwriting. His life would never be the same, but I greatly admire his determination, tenacity, and strong will. Jan Berry's story is truly inspiring. If I'm not mistaken, one previous reviewer of this book said Jan was "overrated." I disagree. The book simply tells the truth. As for the claim they "rode the coattails of the Beach Boys," that is also false. Jan and Dean were already an established act at the time the Beach Boys first came on the scene. As for the claim all they did was "remake other people's songs," every artist/group of the day did that. Covering one another's songs was commonplace at the time. The book includes numerous photos, details of their childhoods, behind the scenes info on their recordings, stories from those who knew them, as well as Jan and Dean themselves, who gave the author, a fan since seeing their biopic in 1978, their blessing. Photocopies of their personal documents are also included. This is a balanced, fair book, showcasing both the good and not so good, in a respectful, mature, honest light. Lists of their recordings on album and CD are included towards the back. Even websites concerning the duo are listed. All in all, it is the consummate book (so far,) and I cannot stop looking through the pages.

Fact filled book. Endless detail. But WAY TOO much for all but the most ardent fan.

The quality of the book was not bothersome to me. (It is not published by a "major" book publisher.) But that is OK, because of all the info.

One quibble (and this has been written in other reviews) is that the grammar, etc. is not always up to par. Greater fact/spell checking is in order. To wit: Bill Ramble? How about Bill Randle? Not a life-threatening error, but it should not have been printed like that. And "stationery" is what you write on, not "stationary". To a large extent these criticisms are very minute and ridiculous. But they are the errors that distinguish a "5" star review from a "4" star review.

A significantly better book written about Jan/Dean is Bob Greene's When We Get to Surf City When We Get to Surf City: A Journey Through America in Pursuit of Rock and Roll, Friendship, and Dreams. Greene can write. He is a pro.

And while we are at it, take a look at the 1983 J/D concert captured on DVD. Jan and Dean...One Last Ride. While unintended, that is a great companion piece to either book.

After hearing of Jan Berry's death last week at the age of 62, I haven't been able to stop thinking about him, or about this book. What a marvelous and courageous person Jan was - as well as an enormous and gifted talent! I bought and read this book several months ago, but didn't feel compelled to write a review on it until now.

It is nice to finally have a book with so much information about this great '60s singin' & surfin' duo, and shy of Jan & Dean writing it themselves, I thought it was extremely informative. I only THOUGHT I knew a lot about them! The descriptions are very accurate - showing Jan and Dean as "Stars" - as well as fallible human beings with good sides and faults. And everything in the book was totally believable. It's amazing how the entertainment industry can affect people - the stress, pressure, the loss of your own self to the "image", - all of it! I've often wondered how some entertainers hold up for years on end.

This is a very good book on content and for getting to know Jan & Dean and their Career. The book could have been polished better with another "edit," but it portrays a REAL emotional connection to who Jan was, and what he went through after his accident. I know Jan is now in Rock 'n Roll Heaven - God bless him! Condolences to his wife Gertie, to his partner Dean Torrence and to all of Jan's family and many friends. He will be missed - but his MUSIC lives on!

I appreciate all of Passmore's hard work and determination in getting this book out - and most of all his desire to "finish what he started" so that Jan & Dean fans like me could finally have the book we've always looked for!

I only became aware of Jan & Dean and their music last month when TRUE aired the old TV movie about their story. Searching on the internet for more information about the duo, I found this book and ordered it. I had only just finished reading the book when I heard on the news that Jan Berry had died.

The book was an excellent overview of Jan & Dean's life and career going much more in depth than the TV movie. I loved all the pictures, music lyrics, and record covers, although it would have been nice if some were in color. Jan's accident and struggle to recover is told with great detail and makes you really appreciate one's own good health.

I am anxiously awaiting delivery of some of Jan & Dean's CDs to hear some of the music that the book detailed the making of. I recommend the book to anyone hoping to learn more about this highly under-rated music duo from the `60s.

Passmore did a fine job of collecting many pieces of information about Jan and Dean, and then putting those pieces together to form a cohesive and interesting book. Speaking of "the book," the quality is Neanderthal, what with it being paperback and containing ONLY black and white photographs. Come on, folks. For 26 bucks, one would at least expect a nice collection of color photos! The reading material is a must for Jan and Dean fans, but the esoteric quality of the book, itself, leaves much to be desired.

A book with many interesting facts, saddled with writing techniques heavily borrowed from the 'Tiger Beat' School of Journalism. The reader is almost compelled to put the book down, fire up the word processor, and begin a major rewrite-it's that bad.

Some of the facts are questionable: Dante and the Evergreens recorded "Alley-Oop" in 1960. Who are they? I thought the group responsible for "Alley Oop" was The Hollywood Argyles. And where is Piko Boulevard? Did the author misspell Pico Boulevard? And the street, Whittier Boulevard is not in Beverly Hills-there's a North Whittier Drive in that city. That must be the street where Jan smashed his Corvette Stingray into the gardeners truck.

Jan, strangely enough, comes out resembling our current President: A rich, right-wing kid that used to have everything go his way. No one questions his genus. He supports the War in Vietnam, but doesn't want to participate in the conflict. In other words, he's a typical spoiled brat who gets his in the end.

Dean, on the other hand, seems more like the average California rock 'n roll artist of that era, very much like Richie Vallens. Trying to do the best he can musically, while surrounded by egomaniacs and wheeler-dealers. And in the end he triumphs and even outlives Jan. Didn't the Bible say something about types like Dean inheriting the Earth?

Not a bad book, if you are a fan of Jan & Dean. Their story is an interesting one in the fact that they were around during the early days of California Rock. The story of Jan Berry's accident and recovery is truly inspiring. But who really cares?

No one remembers Jan & Dean except for the accident and recovery. This book and some of the web sites recommended in the book, such as the Official Jan Berry Web Site, go overboard with the opinion that Jan Berry was a musical genius. These are total revisionist histories. Jan & Dean only became popular by riding the coat-tails of The Beach Boys by using songs written by the Beach Boys.

As the "creative head" of Jan & Dean, Jan Berry mearly copied trends established by others and never really did anything original outside of the "Pop Symphony" album which both the book and Jan's official web site go into great detail on. You can say that this song or that song was "genius", but history has shown that this isn't true.

The information is well put together and some of the pictures and items inside ARE great to look at, but you have to be a fan to enjoy this book.