Jan & Dean Save for a Rainy Day

It was a Hollywood music publicist's fondest dream and worst nightmare, all at the same time. Jan Berry, the lead vocalist, composer and producer of famed surf/hot rod duo Jan & Dean had crashed his Corvette on the Sunset Strip late at night on April 19, 1966, almost killing himself. Jan remained in a coma for some time afterwards, and his rehab would take years rather than months. The hitmaking partnership of Jan & Dean, an act that had launched 14 winners into the national Top 40 over the previous six years, had come to a screeching halt. Or had it? Dean Torrence, singer of the duo's ozone-scraping high parts, its specialist in vocal-stacking and its idea man when it came to personal presentation, decided to carry on single-handed while his partner was incapacitated. With the assistance of a few celebrated friends and session men who were regulars in Phil Spector's Wrecking Crew--bassist Joe Osborn, pianist Larry Knechtel, guitarist James Burton and drummer Mickey Jones--Dean