"Jennie Lee" is a song whose music was composed and written by Jan Berry and Arnie Ginsburg, which was recorded by Jan and Arnie. Jan & Arnie were the precursor to Jan & Dean. The song was recorded and released as the band's first single in April, 1958. The B-side of the single is "Gotta Getta Date". "Jennie Lee" reached No. 3 on the Cash Box charts on June 21, 1958, and No. 8 on the Billboard charts on June 30, 1958. This is generally regarded as the earliest example of elements that would become instrumental in the famous California sound of surf pop in the '60s.
After being inspired by a poster featuring a local Hollywoodburlesque performer, Virginia Lee Hicks, who was then performing as Jennie Lee, the "Bazoom Girl", at the New Follies Burlesk at 548 S. Main Street, Los Angeles,[1] Ginsburg wrote a tribute song, "Jennie Lee", that he brought to Berry and Torrence. Arnold P. Ginsburg, from Wisconsin, grew up in West Los Angeles, and was a school friend of Jan Berry. He is sometimes confused with the Boston radio DJ Arnie "Woo Woo" Ginsburg, but is unrelated.[2]
Berry adapted the Civil War tune "Aura Lea" and arranged the harmonies. After weeks of practice, Berry, Ginsburg, and Torrence planned to make a demo recording in Berry's garage, but Torrence was conscripted into the United States Army Reserve, forcing Berry and Ginsburg to record "Jennie Lee" without Torrence,[3] with Berry's friend and fellow University High student Donald J. Altfeld (born March 18, 1940, in Los Angeles, California)[4] "belting out the rhythm on a children's metal high chair". The next day Berry took their recording to Radio Recorders, a small recording studio, to have it transferred to an acetate disc.[5] Joe Lubin, Vice President and Head of A & R of Doris Day and Martin Melcher's Arwin Records, was impressed and offered to add instruments and to release it through Arwin.[3] In March 1958 the fathers of Berry and Ginsburg signed contracts authorizing Lubin to produce, arrange, and manage their sons.[6][7]
Berry and Ginsburg, now christened "Jan & Arnie", re-recorded their vocals on a professional recording system.[5] Produced by Lubin, "Jennie Lee" (Arwin 108), backed with "Gotta Get a Date" (credited to Ginsburg, Berry & Lubin), became a surprise commercial success. According to Berry's biographer Mark A. Moore, "The song (with backing vocals, plus additional instruments added by the Ernie Freeman combo) had a raucous R&B flavor, with a bouncing bomp-bomp vocal hook that would become a signature from Jan on future recordings."[8] Distributed by Dot Records,[9] "Jennie Lee" was released in mid-April,[10] entered the charts on May 10, 1958, the same day they appeared on ABC's Dick Clark Show. "Jennie Lee" peaked at No. 3 on the Cash Box charts on June 21, 1958,[11] No. 4 on the R&B charts,[citation needed] and No. 8 on the Billboard charts on June 30, 1958. Billy Ward and his Dominoes's R&B cover of "Jennie Lee" reached No. 55 in the Pop charts in June 1958,[12] while other cover versions including that of Moon Mullican (Coral 9-61994) and Bobby Phillips & the Toppers (Tops 45-R422-49), released in 1958 failed to chart.[12]
Shortly after Jan and Arnie's version was released, Billy Ward and his Dominoes came out with a cover that charted at number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100,[15] and placed at 14 on the US R&B charts.
In 1962 Jan & Dean recorded a version of the song on their album Jan & Dean Golden Hits.
Referencesedit
^. Jananddean-janberry.com. Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
^Mark A. Moore, "Arnie Ginsburg: The Original Dean", Jan Berry Official Site, February 7, 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2021
^ abBen Marcus, Surfing USA!: An Illustrated History of the Coolest Sport of All Time (MVP Books, 2005):89.
^Ancestry.com. U.S. Public Records Index, Vol. 1 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
^ abKent Hartman, The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret, 64.
^. Jananddean-janberry.com. Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
^. Jananddean-janberry.com. Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
^Administrator. . Jananddean-janberry.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
^. Jananddean-janberry.com. Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
^. Jananddean-janberry.com. Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
^ ab"Cash Box Top Singles 6/21/58". Cashboxcountdowns.com. 24 July 2012. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
^ ab. Jananddean-janberry.com. Archived from the original on 2014-09-12. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
^Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 292.
^Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 896.
January 01, 1970
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Jennie Lee is a song whose music was composed and written by Jan Berry and Arnie Ginsburg which was recorded by Jan and Arnie Jan amp Arnie were the precursor to Jan amp Dean The song was recorded and released as the band s first single in April 1958 The B side of the single is Gotta Getta Date Jennie Lee reached No 3 on the Cash Box charts on June 21 1958 and No 8 on the Billboard charts on June 30 1958 This is generally regarded as the earliest example of elements that would become instrumental in the famous California sound of surf pop in the 60s Jennie Lee Single by Jan and ArnieB side Gotta Getta Date ReleasedApril 1958GenrePop California soundLength2 01LabelArwin RecordsSongwriter s Jan Berry Arnie GinsburgProducer s Don Ralke s MusicJan and Arnie singles chronology Jennie Lee 1958 Gas Money 1958 Contents 1 Composition 2 Charts 3 Covers 4 ReferencesComposition editAfter being inspired by a poster featuring a local Hollywood burlesque performer Virginia Lee Hicks who was then performing as Jennie Lee the Bazoom Girl at the New Follies Burlesk at 548 S Main Street Los Angeles 1 Ginsburg wrote a tribute song Jennie Lee that he brought to Berry and Torrence Arnold P Ginsburg from Wisconsin grew up in West Los Angeles and was a school friend of Jan Berry He is sometimes confused with the Boston radio DJ Arnie Woo Woo Ginsburg but is unrelated 2 Berry adapted the Civil War tune Aura Lea and arranged the harmonies After weeks of practice Berry Ginsburg and Torrence planned to make a demo recording in Berry s garage but Torrence was conscripted into the United States Army Reserve forcing Berry and Ginsburg to record Jennie Lee without Torrence 3 with Berry s friend and fellow University High student Donald J Altfeld born March 18 1940 in Los Angeles California 4 belting out the rhythm on a children s metal high chair The next day Berry took their recording to Radio Recorders a small recording studio to have it transferred to an acetate disc 5 Joe Lubin Vice President and Head of A amp R of Doris Day and Martin Melcher s Arwin Records was impressed and offered to add instruments and to release it through Arwin 3 In March 1958 the fathers of Berry and Ginsburg signed contracts authorizing Lubin to produce arrange and manage their sons 6 7 Berry and Ginsburg now christened Jan amp Arnie re recorded their vocals on a professional recording system 5 Produced by Lubin Jennie Lee Arwin 108 backed with Gotta Get a Date credited to Ginsburg Berry amp Lubin became a surprise commercial success According to Berry s biographer Mark A Moore The song with backing vocals plus additional instruments added by the Ernie Freeman combo had a raucous R amp B flavor with a bouncing bomp bomp vocal hook that would become a signature from Jan on future recordings 8 Distributed by Dot Records 9 Jennie Lee was released in mid April 10 entered the charts on May 10 1958 the same day they appeared on ABC s Dick Clark Show Jennie Lee peaked at No 3 on the Cash Box charts on June 21 1958 11 No 4 on the R amp B charts citation needed and No 8 on the Billboard charts on June 30 1958 Billy Ward and his Dominoes s R amp B cover of Jennie Lee reached No 55 in the Pop charts in June 1958 12 while other cover versions including that of Moon Mullican Coral 9 61994 and Bobby Phillips amp the Toppers Tops 45 R422 49 released in 1958 failed to chart 12 Charts editChart 1958 Peakposition U S Cash Box Top 100 11 3 US Billboard Hot 100 13 8 U S Billboard Most Played By R amp B Jockeys 14 4Covers editShortly after Jan and Arnie s version was released Billy Ward and his Dominoes came out with a cover that charted at number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100 15 and placed at 14 on the US R amp B charts In 1962 Jan amp Dean recorded a version of the song on their album Jan amp Dean Golden Hits References edit Jan amp Dean Photo Galleries Jan amp Arnie Jennie Lee The Bazoom Girl Jananddean janberry com Archived from the original on 2014 01 03 Retrieved 2014 08 23 Mark A Moore Arnie Ginsburg The Original Dean Jan Berry Official Site February 7 2018 Retrieved 28 February 2021 a b Ben Marcus Surfing USA An Illustrated History of the Coolest Sport of All Time MVP Books 2005 89 Ancestry com U S Public Records Index Vol 1 database on line Provo UT USA Ancestry com Operations Inc 2010 a b Kent Hartman The Wrecking Crew The Inside Story of Rock and Roll s Best Kept Secret 64 Jan amp Dean Photo Galleries Jan amp Arnie Jan amp Arnie Jananddean janberry com Archived from the original on 2014 01 03 Retrieved 2014 08 23 Jan amp Dean Photo Galleries Jan amp Arnie Jan amp Arnie Jananddean janberry com Archived from the original on 2014 01 03 Retrieved 2014 08 23 Administrator Jan amp Dean Official Jan Berry Website 1958 1962 Barons amp Bomps Jananddean janberry com Archived from the original on 28 October 2017 Retrieved 28 October 2017 Jan amp Dean Photo Galleries Jan amp Arnie Jennie Lee Jananddean janberry com Archived from the original on 2014 08 26 Retrieved 2014 08 23 Jan amp Dean Photo Galleries Jan amp Arnie Jan amp Arnie Jananddean janberry com Archived from the original on 2014 01 03 Retrieved 2014 08 23 a b Cash Box Top Singles 6 21 58 Cashboxcountdowns com 24 July 2012 Archived from the original on 24 July 2012 Retrieved 28 October 2017 a b Jan amp Dean Jan Berry Official Website Jananddean janberry com Archived from the original on 2014 09 12 Retrieved 2014 08 23 Jan Arnie Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Whitburn Joel 2004 Top R amp B Hip Hop Singles 1942 2004 Record Research p 292 Whitburn Joel 2013 Joel Whitburn s Top Pop Singles 14th Edition 1955 2012 Record Research p 896 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jennie Lee song amp oldid 1158406689, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
