We're way behind, but here's a Summer Record of the Week as we work to catch up.
We listen to a lot of surf music during the summer here at the Adventurers Club and Jan and Dean make pretty frequent appearances in that playlist.
Honolulu Lulu is a song that Dean isn't very fond of, but it was a big hit for Jan and Dean, reaching number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Jan and Dean - Honolulu Lulu
A lot of people consider Jan and Dean just another Beach Boys clone, but the truth is they were having hits long before Brian and the gang. That's not to say that Jan and Dean didn't benefit from their relationship with the Beach Boys, because they did. After all, it was Brian Wilson that wrote Jan and Dean's only number one record, Surf City.
Of course in a unique twist Jan and Dean returned the favor. After walking out of a Jan and Dean session he didn't like, Dean Torrance went down the hall to where the Beach Boys were recording the "Party" album and sat in on the recording of Barbara Ann. That's Dean singing the high part, and the lead, on the track which would peak at number two and become one of the Beach Boys biggest hits.
Now you know.
'til Summer Ends
Keep the Adventure Alive,
