SANTA ANA, Calif. (Wireless Flash) – Monday might be a good day to hang ten or polish up your Woody because it’s the 35th anniversary of the day Jan & Dean hit No. 1 on the charts with “Surf City.”
Amazingly, the song topped the charts just two weeks after its release. But even though “Surf City” was popular from the git-go, it wasn’t Jan & Dean’s first choice as a single.
Dean Torrence says when “Surf City” songwriter Brian Wilson first offered them the song, he had only written a verse and a chorus. At the time, Jan and Dean were more interested in two other songs: “Surfin U.S.A.” – which Brian was saving for the Beach Boys – and a ditty titled “(When Summer Comes) I’m Gonna Hustle You.”
It turns out Jan & Dean’s record company weren’t thrilled about releasing “Gonna Hustle You” so Jan helped Brian finish writing “Surf City” and the duo released that instead.
It was the duo’s only No. 1 hit but, these days, when Jan & Dean perform live, “Little Old Lady From Pasadena” always gets a bigger crowd response.
CONTACT: Dean Torrence, ****; Arrange through Bill Hollingshead; Santa Ana, CA; (714) ***-****
Copyright © 1998 Wireless Flash News Service. All rights reserved.
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