The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group’s original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Distinguished by their vocal harmonies, adolescent-oriented lyrics, and musical ingenuity, they are one of the most influential acts of the rock era. They drew on the music of older pop vocal groups, 1950s rock and roll, and black R&B to create their unique sound. Under Brian’s direction, they often incorporated classical or jazz elements and unconventional recording techniques in innovative ways. (wikipedia)
Surfin’ U.S.A. is the second studio album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released March 25, 1963 on Capitol Records. It reached number 2 in the US during a chart stay of 78 weeks, eventually being certified gold by the RIAA, and brought the group newfound national success. It was led by one single, its title track with the B-side “Shut Down”. In the UK, the album was released in late 1965 and reached number 17.
The majority of the album’s recording commenced in the first week of 1963, three months after the release of Surfin’ Safari. Like the group’s debut album, production was credited ostensibly to Capitol’s representative for Artists and Repertoire, Nick Venet, although bandleader Brian Wilson was heavily involved in the album’s composition. The album marks the beginning of his practice to doubletrack vocals, resulting in a fuller sound.
In 1990, Brian Wilson reflected on Surfin’ U.S.A. in liner notes which accompanied its first CD issue:
By the time I got to the album, Surfin’ USA, I was more experienced at producing. The album Surfin’ Safari was practice for me. … This album showcased our voices. We were just kids, but we were serious about our craft. The point being that when you are given the chance, you do your best. … I think that I was a good coach for the boys. I didn’t like second-rate vocals. It was either the best or nothin’, in my opinion. The boys picked up. We had a good understanding between us and I was their leader. We got it done relatively fast in the studio. … On this album, we had gotten into a fast pace: almost athletic in nature. It was because “Surfin’ USA” was such a smash hit on the radio. It was the big time for us. … Production-wise, this album was an early Brian Wilson production. (wikipedia)
The real breakthrough, as Brian Wilson asserts himself in the studio as both songwriter and arranger on a set of material that was much stronger than Surfin’ Safari. Besides the hit title track and its popular drag-racing flip side (“Shut Down”), this has a lovely, heartbreaking ballad (“Lonely Sea”) and a couple of strong Brian Wilson originals (“The Noble Surfer” and “Farmer’s Daughter”). There are also a surprisingly high quotient of instrumentals (five) that demonstrate that, before session musicians took over most of the parts, the Beach Boys could play respectably gutsy surf rock as a self-contained unit. Indeed, the album as a whole is the best they would make, prior to the late ’60s, as a band that played most of their instruments, rather than as a vehicle for Brian Wilson’s ideas. The LP was a huge hit, vital to launching surf music as a national craze, and one of the few truly strong records to be recorded by a self-contained American rock band prior to the British Invasion. (by Richie Unterberger)
Personnel:
Mike Love (vocals)
David Marks (guitar, vocals)
Brian Wilson (bass, vocals, organ)
Carl Wilson (guitar, vocals)
Dennis Wilson (drums, background vocals)
Tracklist:
01. Surfin’ U.S.A. (Berry/Wilson) 2.32
02. Farmer’s Daughter (Wilson/Love) 1.53
03. Misirlou (Roubanis/Wise/Leeds/Russell) 2.07
04. Stoked (Wilson) 2.03
05. Lonely Sea (Wilson/Usher) 2.26
06. Shut Down (Wilson/Christian) 1.54
07. Noble Surfer (Wilson/Love) 1.56
08. Honky Tonk (Doggett/Sheperd/Scott/Butler) 2.06
09. Lana (Wilson) 1.45
10. Surf Jam (Wilson) 2.15
11. Let’s Go Trippin’ (Dale) 2.02
12. Finders Keepers (Wilson/Love) 1.42
More from The Beach Boys in this blog:
The official website: