Search - Jan & Dean :: Jan & Dean - Greatest Hits

Lukewarm, unfortunately (three and one-half stars)

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 05/24/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Jan & Dean - Greatest Hits is a budget priced CD from Curb Records that really doesn't make the grade as a true "greatest hits" collection. There are only ten songs here and that could never be enough to encompass every hit that Jan & Dean ever had. There's a lot to like -but there's too much missing and that irks me. However, the sound quality is good and the artwork is nicely done.



"Linda" starts the CD off with a number that showcases the fine vocal talents of Jan & Dean. They really harmonize wonderfully, much better than I've heard in quite a while. "Linda" has a pretty melody and the percussion sounds terrific, too. Great! "Surf City" may sound like something The Beach Boys would have turned out; but make no mistake about it--this is Jan & Dean's number, and it all works very well. The lyrics are great and the way they superimposed the harmonizing over the lyrics is very impressive. "Surf City" is just about my very favorite Jan & Dean tune because it is so optimistic and it celebrates the joys of youth as they have great times at the beach.



"Honolulu Lulu" has essentially the same type of sound as "Surf City;" and Jan & Dean perform this very well. The musical special effects evoke those Hawaiian images in your mind as you listen to this song. It's easily a major highlight of this CD. "Dean Man's Curve" wasn't a number I heard before but I liked it much more than I thought I would--after all, "Dead Man's Curve" doesn't sound like it's going to be a serious hit from a duo like Jan & Dean. This fine tune about a car race really sounds good and it grows on you--trust me!



"The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena)" was definitely a huge hit for Jan & Dean; "The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena)" has a great beat and the melody is rather memorable. This fun tune about a little old lady who loves to speed along in her car proves just how well Jan & Dean could sing about a wide diversity of topics and make them all sound great! "Ride The Wild Surf" continues that classic Jan & Dean sound and the percussion enhances the number; and there's also "Sidewalk Surfin'." "Sidewalk Surfin'" is another California surfing number that is irresistible and it makes you want to hear it over and over again! That's some horn solo, too! The CD ends with Jan & Dean performing "You Really Know How To Hurt A Guy;" "You Really Know How To Hurt A Guy" is a song that will tug at your heartstrings and move you as Jan & Dean sing of a love that has gone wrong.



Jan & Dean are worthy of so much more than just what we get here on this budget priced CD. Sure, it enables people in all income brackets to have a CD by Jan & Dean; but for just a few dollars more you can find more substantial CDs by this duo. Three and one-half stars for this rather mediocre effort at making a "greatest hits' album.

"

Excellent variety of J&D music

katkimmom2 | ABERNATHY, TEXAS United States | 04/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For anyone who is curious about the Jan and Dean era or about their music in general, this would be a excellent CD to own because it give a listener the feel for their type of music, a taste of this duo's very diverse talent and just some plain old great rock and roll oldies music! I am a Beach Boys fan by admission but I can see a great deal of influence on Brian Wilson by Jan and Dean! I highly recommend this CD...really excellent!"

Classical hits

katkimmom2 | 12/21/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This Jan and Dean album show the rock n' roll. This is stocked with classics like "Little Old Lady from Pasadena" and "Sidewalk Surfing." these songs share the same theme with the Beach Boys, but are equally great."