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{{About|the album|the song of the same name|Surfin' Safari (song)}}
'''''Surfin’ Safari''''' was released on Wednesday, October 1st, ], and was the first album released by ]. The twelve songs present on the album were recorded between Monday, April 10th ] and Saturday, September 6th 1962.
{{use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Surfin' Safari
| type = studio
| artist = ]
| cover = Surfin'SafariCover.jpg
| alt =
| released = October 1, 1962<ref name="DoeBellagioGS61-62">{{cite web |last1=Doe |first1=Andrew G. |title=Gigs & Sessions 1961-1962 |url=http://www.bellagio10452.com/gigs6162.html |website=Bellagio10452 |access-date=July 23, 2023}}</ref>
| recorded = November 1961;<ref name="DoeBellagioGS61-62"/> April 19, August 8, September 5–6, 1962<ref name="DoeBellagioGS61-62"/>
| venue =
| studio = *] (Hollywood)<ref name="DoeBellagioGS61-62"/>
*Hite Morgan (Los Angeles)<ref name="DoeBellagioGS61-62"/>
*] (Los Angeles)<ref name="DoeBellagioGS61-62"/>
| genre = ]<ref name="blend"/>
| length = 24:49
| label = ]
| producer = ]
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = ]
| next_year = 1963
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = The Beach Boys UK
| type = studio
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| title = Surfin' Safari
| year = 1963
| next_title = ]
| next_year = 1964
}}
{{Singles
| name = Surfin' Safari
| type = studio
| single1 = ]
| single1date = November 1961
| single2 = ]" / "]
| single2date = June 4, 1962
| single3 = ]" / "]
| single3date = November 26, 1962
}}
}}


'''''Surfin' Safari''''' is the debut studio album by the American ] band ], released October 1, 1962 on ]. The official production credit went to ], though it was ] with his father ] who contributed substantially to the album's production; Brian also wrote or co-wrote nine of its 12 tracks.<ref name="Leaf1990">{{cite AV media notes| title = Surfin Safari / Surfin U.S.A. | others= ]| year = 1990| first = David| last = Leaf|author-link=David Leaf|publisher=]|type=CD Liner|url=http://albumlinernotes.com/Surfin_Safari_Surfin_USA.html}}</ref> The album reached number 32 in the US during a chart stay of 37 weeks.
The album was credited as being produced by Nick Venet, who as Capitol Records' A & R man, initially signed the band to the label after the album's eponymous single entered the American charts. Additionally, track 7 was produced by Hite and Dorinda Morgan.


The album was preceded by two singles: "]" and "]", which charted at numbers 75 and 14, respectively. The success of "Surfin' Safari" helped secure a full album for the group while an additional single, "]", was issued, charting at number 49.
The front cover sleeve of the album was photographed by Ken Veeder of the Capitol Photo Studio. It shows the five constituent group members of that time, ], ], ], ], and sometime guitarist, the young ], the latter being a mainstay of the early group's constitution, an acquaintance of younger Wilson brother Carl, and a seemingly necessary acquisition to their recordings, both onstage and studio.


==Background==
On the reverse, images of the band's rehearsals and other assorted recording sessions are accompanied by an iconic visual of a trailer of surfboards being driven down a seemingly endless road.
{{blockquote|The group is mainly {{sic|comprised|hide=y| of}} people from Hawthorne, California, named Wilson … there’s Brian, Dennis, Carl, and their Dad, Murry Wilson, a long-time songwriter who acts as manager for the outfit. Then there's the boys' talented cousin, Mike Love … who sings both the lead tenor and deep bass parts in their unusual vocal arrangements. … young David Marks, a neighbor of the Wilsons who plays a driving rhythm guitar. Brian, the oldest of the Wilson boys, is the group's leader and vocal arranger. Carl is the very accomplished lead guitarist, while brother Dennis sings and plays the drums. None of them, incidentally, had any formal training, but they all grew up in an atmosphere where music was a regular part of their lives|excerpt taken from the album's original liner notes<ref name="Leaf1990"/> }}


==Production==
Text appearing on the back cover of the album gives an overview of the naissance of the band and accompanies it below with an explanation of the water pursuit for which their debut single was representative, that of surfing. Also shown are the tracks along with the album's production credit.
Recording sessions for ''Surfin' Safari'' took place in ] in the ] in August.{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=26}} During the sessions, Brian Wilson fought for, and won, the right to helm the production – though this fact was not acknowledged with an album liner notes production credit.{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=26}} David Marks remembered, "Brian did everything. Played, did the arrangements, screwed up the lead sheets himself. He didn't need any help to do that. You listen to those first albums and they sound campy and corny but Brian was dead serious."{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=25}}


==Track listing== ==Songs==
===Side one===
"County Fair" was inspired by Gary Usher and Brian Wilson visiting a ] in ]. The song was written in about ten minutes. "Ten Little Indians" saw the group trying to emulate the style of the song "]".<ref name="Leaf1990"/> "Little Miss America" features a ] style,<ref name="AM2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/surfin-safari-surfin-usa-mw0000203289|title=Surfin' Safari/Surfin' U.S.A. - The Beach Boys|via=www.allmusic.com}}</ref> and according to biographer ], is about "the ideal southern California ]".<ref name="Leaf1990"/>


In "Chug-a-Lug", written by Brian and Usher, the lyrics refer to Usher, Marks, Carl, and Dennis, as well as a Larry. The latter was possibly Larry Lennear, a saxophonist who played and recorded with Brian at the time.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=273eCQAAQBAJ&q=larry+lennear+beach+boys&pg=PA227|title=Becoming the Beach Boys, 1961-1963|first=James B.|last=Murphy|date=June 8, 2015|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9780786473656|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sLEMdjRhDgQC&q=brian+wilson+larry+chug-a-lug&pg=PA29|title=The Beach Boys: The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band, on Stage and in the Studio|first=Keith|last=Badman|date=August 15, 2004|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=9780879308186|via=Google Books}}</ref> "409" was written about Usher's obsession over ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/409-mt0000107032|title=The Beach Boys: 409|work=allmusic|publisher=]|access-date=10 December 2012}}</ref> The car sound effects were recorded by Usher driving his car past the home of the Wilsons, who had set up a tape recorder outside using a 100-foot extension cord.<ref name="Leaf1990"/>
'''Track 1:''' "Surfin' Safari" (Brian Wilson, Mike Love)


===Side two===
:*Lead vocal: Mike Love<br/>
Brian stated that the song "]" was composed after Dennis told him "surfing’s getting really big. You guys ought to write a song about it."<ref name="Leaf1990"/> "Heads You Win, Tails I Lose" was written because of Usher and Brian Wilson's frequent use of ] to decide things. The group wanted to make contemporary expressions into songs.<ref name="Leaf1990"/>
:*Released as single: Monday June 4th 1962<br/>
:*Record number: Capitol 4777<br/>
:*Peak US chart position: #14<br/>
:*Backed with: "409"<br/>
:*Recorded: Wednesday June 13th 1962<br/>


The instrumental "Moon Dawg", originally performed by ], was considered the first ] record.<ref name="Leaf1990"/> The Beach Boys became the first group to cover the song, exposing it to a much wider audience.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=273eCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA230|title=Becoming The Beach Boys, 1961-1963|author=Murphy, James B.|publisher=McFarland Publishing|year=2015|page=230|isbn=9780786473656}}</ref> "The Shift" was presented as a "] statement" from Brian and Love.<ref name="Leaf1990"/>
This song, the group's first venture into the national top 20, was the follow up to "Surfin'", and was therefore the second song to be recorded by the Beach Boys concerning this topic. This was one of four songs handed to Nick Venet in order to secure the group a recording contract. The other three songs being, "409" (which also makes its emergence clear on this record before later resurfacing); "Lonely Sea" (recorded at this same session, but not making its path until ]), and an unreleased track named "Judy" (after Judy Bowles, Brian Wilson's first serious girlfriend).


==Release and reception==
This song was recorded and aided by Chuck Britz, the man who Brian implicitly trusted to act as his second ear.
{{Music ratings
|title = Retrospective professional ratings
|rev1 = ]
|rev1score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="allmusic"/>
|rev2 = '']''
|rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="blend">{{cite web |first=Douglas |last=Wolk |url=http://blender.com:80/guide/reviews.aspx?id=2253 |title=The Beach Boys ''Surfin Safari/Surfin U.S.A.'' |magazine=] |date=October 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060630150125/http://blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=2253 |archive-date=June 30, 2006 |access-date=June 2, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| rev3 = '']''
| rev3Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|year=2007|publisher=]|edition=4th|isbn=978-0195313734|title-link=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music}}</ref>
| rev5 = '']''
| rev5Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="RSAG">{{cite book |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=with Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |year=2004 |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |edition=4th |location=New York, NY |publisher=Fireside/Simon & Schuster |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |page= |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/46 }}</ref>
}}
The album was released through Capitol on October 1, 1962, and peaked at No. 32.<ref name="Leaf1990"/> Lead single, "]", was later credited with creating the genre of ], a music aesthetic primarily revolving around surfing, hot rod culture, and youthful innocence.<ref>{{cite book|last=Starr|first=Kevin|author-link=Kevin Starr|title=Golden Dreams: California in an Age of Abundance, 1950-1963|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZWy4TexzsScC|year=2009|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-515377-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Howard|first=David N.|title=Sonic Alchemy: Visionary Music Producers and Their Maverick Recordings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y4Sk0FNXkjcC|year=2004|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=978-0-634-05560-7|page=57}}</ref> "409" was similarly credited with starting the ] craze of the 1960s,<ref name="HotRod">{{cite book|last=Breitenstein|first=Jeff|title=Ultimate Hot Rod Dictionary: A-Bombs to Zoomies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OtKWmLLiuTgC|publisher=MotorBooks International|isbn=978-1-61059-235-2|page=107}}</ref> According to Usher, Capitol chose "Ten Little Indians" as the second single due to thinking that surf music was a ].<ref name="Leaf1990"/>


Richie Unterberger, in a retrospective review for AllMusic, felt that most of the songs on ''Surfin' Safari'' are substandard, but that as the album was recorded by the Beach Boys themselves rather than session musicians, it offered an opportunity to hear what the band sounded like in the studio.<ref name="allmusic">{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1405}} Allmusic review</ref>
'''Track 2:''' "County Fair" (B. Wilson, Gary Usher)


==Track listing==
:*Lead vocal: Mike Love<br/>
All lead vocals by Mike Love, except where noted.
:*Released as single: Monday November 26th 1962<br/>
{{track listing
:*Record number: Capitol 4880<br/>
| headline = Side one
:*Peak US chart position: #49<br/>
| all_writing =
:*B-side of: "Ten Little Indians"<br/>
| extra_column = Lead vocals
:*Recorded: Friday 5th September 1962
| title1 = ]

| writer1 = {{hlist|]|]}}
Based on the spirited ides of San Bernardino county fair, this track, three months newer in recording than the record's predecessor, is interesting for its spoken middle section. It is the first track to appear on a Beach Boys album to be co-written by onetime collaborator Gary Usher, public and private nemesis of then-manager, Brian's erratic father Murry Wilson.
| length1 = 2:06

| title2 = ]
'''Track 3:''' "Ten Little Indians" (B. Wilson, Usher)
| writer2 = {{hlist|Wilson|]}}

| length2 = 2:16
:*Lead vocal: Mike Love<br/>
| title3 = ]
:*Released as single: Monday November 26th 1962<br/>
| writer3 = {{hlist|Wilson|Usher}}
:*Record number: Capitol 4880<br/>
| length3 = 1:29
:*Peak US chart position: #49<br/>
| title4 = ]
:*Backed with: "County Fair"<br/>
| writer4 = {{hlist|Wilson|Usher|Love}}
:*Recorded: Wednesday 8th August 1962
| length4 = 2:00

| title5 = ]
Influenced by the popular tune with the same theme, this was released as a single after Surfin' Safari, on the grounds that the thought that the surf theme had already run its course. It became the lowest charting single until Bluebirds Over The Mountain hit the charts nearly six years later, perhaps signalling the beginning of the end of The Beach Boys' zenith.
| writer5 = {{hlist|]|Vincent Catalano}}

| extra5 = ]
'''Track 4:''' "Chug-A-Lug" (B. Wilson, Love, Usher)
| length5 = 2:06

| title6 = ]
:*Lead vocal: Mike Love<br/>
| writer6 = {{hlist|Wilson|Usher|Love}}
:*Recorded: Wednesday 8th August 1962
| length6 = 2:00

}}
This was the single which Brian most wanted to follow "Surfin' Safari" into the chart, with lyrics rivalling those of their best earlier material. It contains a fascinating guitar solo and a lyric which personalizes each member of The Beach Boys. It also boasts some of the most intuitive background parts appearing throughout the album.
{{track listing

| headline = Side two
'''Track 5:''' "Little Girl (You're My Miss America)" (Catalano, Herb Alpert)
| extra_column = Lead vocals

| title1 = ]
:*Lead vocal: Dennis Wilson<br/>
| writer1 = {{hlist|Wilson|Love}}
:*Recorded: Saturday 6th September 1962
| length1 = 2:12

| title2 = ]
This song, Dennis Wilson's first recorded vocal, was co-written by Herb Alpert, co-founder of A&M Records. Only one other song was recorded during this session which made it through to the final album, that being "Summertime Blues". This early material really explains the appeal of Dennis' voice and personality to the makeup of The Beach Boys, notwithstanding his status as the only real surfer within the group.
| writer2 = {{hlist|Wilson|Usher}}

| length2 = 2:19
'''Track 6:''' "409" (B. Wilson, Love, Usher)
| title3 = ]

| writer3 = {{hlist|]|]}}
:*Lead vocal: Mike Love<br/>
| extra3 = {{hlist|]|]}}
:*Released as single: Monday June 4th 1962<br/>
| length3 = 2:11
:*Record number: Capitol 4777<br/>
| title4 = ]
:*Peak US chart position: #76 (as single in own right)<br/>
| writer4 = {{hlist|Wilson|Usher}}
:*B-side of: "Surfin' Safari"<br/>
| extra4 = Brian Wilson
:*Recorded: Wednesday 13th June 1962
| length4 = 2:11

| title5 = Moon Dawg
This song, to resurface on ], was the flip-side of hit single Surfin' Safari, and was named for the dream car of co-writer Gary Usher.
| writer5 = ]

| extra5 = instrumental
'''Track 7:''' "Surfin'" (B. Wilson, Love)
| length5 = 2:03

| title6 = The Shift
:*Lead vocal: Mike Love<br/>
| writer6 = {{hlist|Wilson|Love}}
:*Released as single: December 1961<br/>
| length6 = 1:56
:*Peak US chart position: #75<br/>
| total_length = 24:49
:*Backed with: "Luau"<br/>
}}
:*Recorded: Wednesday 4th October 1961
{{Track listing

| headline = ''Surfin' Safari / ]''
As the first hit single written to be concerned with this topic, The Beach Boys would set a trend which would typify many of their early releases both on album and on single. It was this track which got the band into writing songs about water pursuits more than any other, as Dennis insisted.
1990/2001 CD reissue bonus tracks

| extra_column = Lead vocals
The B-side of this original single, "Luau", was most importantly featured on an eight-track compilation CD of the first songs recorded by The Beach Boys, released in 1996.
| title13 = ]

| writer13 = {{hlist|]|Burt Long}}
'''Track 8:''' "Heads You Win - Tails I Lose" (B. Wilson, Usher)
| extra13 = B. Wilson

| length13 = 2:10
:*Lead vocal: Mike Love<br/>
| title14 = The Baker Man
:*Recorded: Friday 5th September 1962
| writer14 = Wilson

| extra14 = B. Wilson
As this song was being written, at the same time was being written a song by the same Wilson/Usher team named "Timber, I'm Falling In Love With You", and this track was one of the first to have brought in a contemporary expression and made it their own in song.
| length14 = 2:37

| title15 = Land Ahoy
'''Track 9:''' "Summertime Blues" (Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capeheart)
| writer15 = Wilson

| length15 = 1:38
:*Lead vocal: Mike Love and Brian Wilson<br/>
| total_length = 31:14
:*Recorded: Saturday 6th September 1962
}}

'''Notes'''
"Summertime Blues", one of the few cover versions on this first release, had previously been recorded by co-author Cochran in 1958 and was somewhat of a staple recording for a band in its formative years.
* Mike Love was not originally credited for "]" and "]". His credits were awarded after a ].<ref name="Doe">{{cite web|last1=Doe|first1=Andrew G.|title=Album Archive |url=http://www.esquarterly.com/bellagio/albumarchive1.html|website=Bellagio 10452|publisher=Endless Summer Quarterly}}</ref>

* Some reissue pressings omit "Surfin'" and "Cuckoo Clock", and move "Chug-A-Lug" to the beginning of side two.<ref name="Doe"/>
'''Track 10:''' "Cuckoo Clock" (B. Wilson, Usher)

:*Lead vocal: Brian Wilson<br/>
:*Recorded: Friday 5th September 1962

The song, with interesting falsetto bird-sounds courtesy of Brian, has been lost in the course of memory, but still interests from a melodic and percussive point of view, as one of the more frantically tempoed tracks present in the early Beach Boys repetoire.

'''Track 11:''' "Moon Dawg" (Derry Weaver)


==Personnel==
:*Instrumental<br/>
:*Recorded: Friday 5th September 1962


Partial credits compiled from the original album liner notes plus additional information from David Leaf,<ref name="Leaf1990"/> Jon Stebbins,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Stebbins|first=Jon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YM-GDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT95|title=The Beach Boys FAQ: All That's Left to Know About America's Band|date=2011-09-01|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-1-4584-2918-6|language=en}}</ref> and James Murphy.{{sfn|Murphy|2015|p=5}}
Another cover version, of a song originally recorded by The Gamblers, considered by many to be the very first example of a surfing record, and was a very active way for Carl to make people take notice of his guitar skills as a young musician.


'''The Beach Boys'''
'''Track 12:''' "The Shift" (B. Wilson, Love)
*] – vocals, ] (except "Surfin'"), organ on “Cuckoo Clock”,<ref>Doe, Andrew G. & Tobler, John: "Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys: The Complete Guide to their Music", page 10. Omnibus Press, 2004.</ref> snare drum tapped with pencil on "Surfin'", additional production (uncredited)
*] – vocals; ] on "Ten Little Indians"
*] – vocals and ] on "Surfin'"
*] – vocals, electric lead guitar (except "Surfin'"), acoustic guitar on "Surfin'"
*] – vocals; drums (except "Surfin'")
*] – vocals and rhythm guitar (except "Surfin'")
;Additional musicians and production staff
*] – car sound effects on "409"
*] – producer
*] – additional production (uncredited)


==Charts==
:*Lead vocal: Mike Love<br/>
{|class="wikitable"
:*Recorded: Wednesday 8th August 1962
|-
!Year
!Chart
!Position
|-
| 1963
| US ]<ref>{{cite web |url =http://www.allmusic.com/album/surfin-safari-mw0000625284/awards| title =Surfin' Safari - The Beach Boys: Awards| publisher = AllMusic}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|32
|}


==References==
This song has propulsive drums from Dennis, and interesting lyrics from Mike Love about the latest fashion statement.
{{Reflist}}


==Footnote== ==External links==
*{{Discogs master|type=album|246896|name=Surfin' Safari}}
* {{Cite web|ref=none|url=https://www.rockaway.com/catalog/product/view/id/9457/s/the-original-beach-boys-surfboard/category/10/|title=THE ORIGINAL BEACH BOYS SURFBOARD|website=www.rockaway.com|language=en|access-date=2019-11-08}}


{{Surfin' Safari}}
It should be noted that there is an obvious error printed in the liner notes for this CD, that "Surfin' Safari" backed with "409" seemingly entered the charts nine days before its release.
{{The Beach Boys main}}


{{Authority control}}
A ] reissue of this album coupled it on compact disc with the second album, ] and included three bonus tracks from this era of the band's recording career.


]
'''Previous album:''' None<br/>
]
'''This album:''' Surfin' Safari<br/>
]
'''Next album:''' ]<br/>
]
]

Latest revision as of 21:07, 18 October 2024

This article is about the album. For the song of the same name, see Surfin' Safari (song).

1962 studio album by the Beach Boys
Surfin' Safari
Studio album by the Beach Boys
ReleasedOctober 1, 1962
RecordedNovember 1961; April 19, August 8, September 5–6, 1962
Studio
GenreGarage surf
Length24:49
LabelCapitol
ProducerNick Venet
The Beach Boys chronology
Surfin' Safari
(1962) 		Surfin' U.S.A.
(1963)
The Beach Boys UK chronology
Surfin' Safari
(1963) 		Shut Down Volume 2
(1964)
Singles from Surfin' Safari
  1. "Surfin'"
    Released: November 1961
  2. "Surfin' Safari" / "409"
    Released: June 4, 1962
  3. "Ten Little Indians" / "County Fair"
    Released: November 26, 1962

Surfin' Safari is the debut studio album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released October 1, 1962 on Capitol Records. The official production credit went to Nick Venet, though it was Brian Wilson with his father Murry who contributed substantially to the album's production; Brian also wrote or co-wrote nine of its 12 tracks. The album reached number 32 in the US during a chart stay of 37 weeks.

The album was preceded by two singles: "Surfin'" and "Surfin' Safari", which charted at numbers 75 and 14, respectively. The success of "Surfin' Safari" helped secure a full album for the group while an additional single, "Ten Little Indians", was issued, charting at number 49.

Background

The group is mainly comprised of people from Hawthorne, California, named Wilson … there’s Brian, Dennis, Carl, and their Dad, Murry Wilson, a long-time songwriter who acts as manager for the outfit. Then there's the boys' talented cousin, Mike Love … who sings both the lead tenor and deep bass parts in their unusual vocal arrangements. … young David Marks, a neighbor of the Wilsons who plays a driving rhythm guitar. Brian, the oldest of the Wilson boys, is the group's leader and vocal arranger. Carl is the very accomplished lead guitarist, while brother Dennis sings and plays the drums. None of them, incidentally, had any formal training, but they all grew up in an atmosphere where music was a regular part of their lives

— excerpt taken from the album's original liner notes

Production

Recording sessions for Surfin' Safari took place in Capitol's basement studios in the famous tower building in August. During the sessions, Brian Wilson fought for, and won, the right to helm the production – though this fact was not acknowledged with an album liner notes production credit. David Marks remembered, "Brian did everything. Played, did the arrangements, screwed up the lead sheets himself. He didn't need any help to do that. You listen to those first albums and they sound campy and corny but Brian was dead serious."

Songs

Side one

"County Fair" was inspired by Gary Usher and Brian Wilson visiting a county fair in San Bernardino. The song was written in about ten minutes. "Ten Little Indians" saw the group trying to emulate the style of the song "Running Bear". "Little Miss America" features a doo-wop style, and according to biographer David Leaf, is about "the ideal southern California dream girl".

In "Chug-a-Lug", written by Brian and Usher, the lyrics refer to Usher, Marks, Carl, and Dennis, as well as a Larry. The latter was possibly Larry Lennear, a saxophonist who played and recorded with Brian at the time. "409" was written about Usher's obsession over hot-rods. The car sound effects were recorded by Usher driving his car past the home of the Wilsons, who had set up a tape recorder outside using a 100-foot extension cord.

Side two

Brian stated that the song "Surfin'" was composed after Dennis told him "surfing’s getting really big. You guys ought to write a song about it." "Heads You Win, Tails I Lose" was written because of Usher and Brian Wilson's frequent use of coin flipping to decide things. The group wanted to make contemporary expressions into songs.

The instrumental "Moon Dawg", originally performed by the Gamblers, was considered the first surf record. The Beach Boys became the first group to cover the song, exposing it to a much wider audience. "The Shift" was presented as a "fashion statement" from Brian and Love.

Release and reception

Retrospective professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
Blender
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
The Rolling Stone Album Guide

The album was released through Capitol on October 1, 1962, and peaked at No. 32. Lead single, "Surfin'", was later credited with creating the genre of California Sound, a music aesthetic primarily revolving around surfing, hot rod culture, and youthful innocence. "409" was similarly credited with starting the hot rod music craze of the 1960s, According to Usher, Capitol chose "Ten Little Indians" as the second single due to thinking that surf music was a fad.

Richie Unterberger, in a retrospective review for AllMusic, felt that most of the songs on Surfin' Safari are substandard, but that as the album was recorded by the Beach Boys themselves rather than session musicians, it offered an opportunity to hear what the band sounded like in the studio.

Track listing

All lead vocals by Mike Love, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Surfin' Safari" 2:06
2."County Fair" 2:16
3."Ten Little Indians"
  • Wilson
  • Usher
 1:29
4."Chug-A-Lug"
  • Wilson
  • Usher
  • Love
 2:00
5."Little Girl (You're My Miss America)"Dennis Wilson2:06
6."409"
  • Wilson
  • Usher
  • Love
 2:00
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Surfin'"
  • Wilson
  • Love
 2:12
2."Heads You Win–Tails I Lose"
  • Wilson
  • Usher
 2:19
3."Summertime Blues"2:11
4."Cuckoo Clock"
  • Wilson
  • Usher
Brian Wilson2:11
5."Moon Dawg"Derry Weaverinstrumental2:03
6."The Shift"
  • Wilson
  • Love
 1:56
Total length:24:49
Surfin' Safari / Surfin' U.S.A. 1990/2001 CD reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
13."Cindy, Oh Cindy"B. Wilson2:10
14."The Baker Man"WilsonB. Wilson2:37
15."Land Ahoy"Wilson 1:38
Total length:31:14

Notes

  • Mike Love was not originally credited for "Chug-A-Lug" and "409". His credits were awarded after a 1994 court case.
  • Some reissue pressings omit "Surfin'" and "Cuckoo Clock", and move "Chug-A-Lug" to the beginning of side two.

Personnel

Partial credits compiled from the original album liner notes plus additional information from David Leaf, Jon Stebbins, and James Murphy.

The Beach Boys

Additional musicians and production staff

Charts

Year Chart Position
1963 US Billboard 200 32

References

  1. ^ Doe, Andrew G. "Gigs & Sessions 1961-1962". Bellagio10452. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  2. ^ Wolk, Douglas (October 2004). "The Beach Boys Surfin Safari/Surfin U.S.A.". Blender. Archived from the original on June 30, 2006. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  3. ^ Leaf, David (1990). Surfin Safari / Surfin U.S.A. (CD Liner). The Beach Boys. Capitol Records.
  4. ^ Badman 2004, p. 26.
  5. Badman 2004, p. 25.
  6. "Surfin' Safari/Surfin' U.S.A. - The Beach Boys" – via www.allmusic.com.
  7. Murphy, James B. (June 8, 2015). Becoming the Beach Boys, 1961-1963. McFarland. ISBN 9780786473656 – via Google Books.
  8. Badman, Keith (August 15, 2004). The Beach Boys: The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band, on Stage and in the Studio. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780879308186 – via Google Books.
  9. "The Beach Boys: 409". allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  10. Murphy, James B. (2015). Becoming The Beach Boys, 1961-1963. McFarland Publishing. p. 230. ISBN 9780786473656.
  11. ^ Surfin' Safari at AllMusic Allmusic review
  12. Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
  13. Brackett, Nathan; with Hoard, Christian, eds. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). New York, NY: Fireside/Simon & Schuster. p. 46. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  14. Starr, Kevin (2009). Golden Dreams: California in an Age of Abundance, 1950-1963. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-515377-4.
  15. Howard, David N. (2004). Sonic Alchemy: Visionary Music Producers and Their Maverick Recordings. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-634-05560-7.
  16. Breitenstein, Jeff. Ultimate Hot Rod Dictionary: A-Bombs to Zoomies. MotorBooks International. p. 107. ISBN 978-1-61059-235-2.
  17. ^ Doe, Andrew G. "Album Archive". Bellagio 10452. Endless Summer Quarterly.
  18. Stebbins, Jon (September 1, 2011). The Beach Boys FAQ: All That's Left to Know About America's Band. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4584-2918-6.
  19. Murphy 2015, p. 5.
  20. Doe, Andrew G. & Tobler, John: "Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys: The Complete Guide to their Music", page 10. Omnibus Press, 2004.
  21. "Surfin' Safari - The Beach Boys: Awards". AllMusic.

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