Introduction

Among American composers of pop music, Jeff Barry occupies an outstanding place due to the significant contribution that this musician made to the development of pop music in the 1960s. The listeners enjoy catchy tunes created and produced by Jeff Barry.

From Brooklyn to Brill Building

Born on April 3, 1938, in Brooklyn, Jeff Barry became active as a musician at the time when pop music was produced, performed and sold mostly in New York. At first, Jeff Barry tried himself as a performer, but having changed the field to songwriting and producing, he showed his true talents. Thus, Barry entered the world of Brill Building songwriting and understood that he had to work in teams of songwriters.

Jeff Barry's most creative and influential collaboration was with his colleague and girlfriend Ellie Greenwich. These two distinguished themselves by their sense of melody and teenage emotion. Jeff Barry's songs could be either comic or dramatic, but in any case emotion remained their main feature. Thus, Barry is considered to be one of the most reliable songwriters.

Signature records

There are many singles in the list of best and everlasting songs of pop music repertoire. However, some of the records became signatures of other performers rather than Barry's performances.

  • Be My Baby (1963), very characteristic record of the Ronettes that defined girl-group pop sound;
  • River Deep – Mountain High (1966), big production associated with the names of Tina Turner, Phil Spector and Jeff Barry as its writer;
  • I'm a Believer (1966), characteristic record of the Monkees that proves Jeff Barry's skills in writing songs for television performers;
  • Sugar, Sugar (1969), record of the Archies, which defined the bubblegum-pop sound of the second part of the decade.

Thus, it is possible to state that Jeff Barry created records, which show his abilities from all sides. The song "Be My Baby" unites all characteristics of Jeff Barry's songs and the pop music of early 1960s. The record "River Deep – Mountain High" develops the mentioned characteristics by means of bigger arrangement and higher ambition. The song "I'm a Believer" proves that Jeff Barry knew how to make a funny and powerful song at the same time – the song that sounds effortless and stays in one's memory. Finally, "Sugar, Sugar" shows melodic skills of the author – the song, which consists of clear lines, easy language and an unforgettable chorus.

Lasting influence

The importance of Jeff Barry's contribution lies in the fact that the author united several important epochs of pop music in one work. They include the girl-group era, the tradition of Brill Building, the development of television performers and the bubblegum sound of the end of the decade. Jeff Barry knew how to make his songs sound topical, but not short-lived. This quality makes Jeff Barry's songs live after many years since their creation.

Conclusion

For the lovers of the classical pop music Jeff Barry's songs serve as an example of how the commercial song can be also musical at the same time.