Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Bobo192 (talk | contribs) at 20:49, 27 October 2004. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Surfer Girl was released on Monday, September 23rd, 1963 and was the third album officially released by The Beach Boys. The twelve songs present on this album were recorded between June 12th, 1963 and July 16th, 1963.

This was the first album by The Beach Boys to which Brian Wilson was given full production credit. The front cover features (from right to left), Dennis Wilson, David Marks, Carl Wilson, Mike Love and Brian Wilson holding a surfboard and the list of all twelve tracks on the album (curiously with onetime hit single and onetime B-side Little Deuce Coupe highlighted and not the title track).

The back of the album features a similar grayscale picture of this cover, along with text about the album which amongst other things, compliments its content.

Track Listing

Track 1: "Surfer Girl" (Brian Wilson)

• Lead vocal: Brian Wilson
  
• Released as single: Monday July 22nd 1963
  
• Peak US Chart Position: #7
  
• Backed with: “Little Deuce Coupe”
  
• Recorded: Wednesday June 12th 1963

Widely credited as the first song that Brian Wilson wrote, the melody and concept for the song was based upon Walt Disney's "When You Wish Upon A Star", from Jiminy Cricket. This was the first exposure to listeners and critics alike of the sound which would initially make the group famous, a bed of harmony underneath a Brian Wilson falsetto vocal.

Track 2: "Catch A Wave" (B. Wilson)

• Lead vocal: Mike Love
  
• Recorded: Tuesday July 16th 1963
  

Later recorded with the same tune, but altered lyrics (as written by Roger Christian) by Jan And Dean, thus hitting the top 30 with "Sidewalk Surfin'", this original version of the song contains prominent harp-playing from Mike Love's sister Maureen. These were the songs for which Brian continuously plugged Dennis, the surfer, for information and inspiration.

Track 3: "The Surfer Moon" (B. Wilson)

• Lead vocal: Brian Wilson
  
• Recorded: Tuesday July 16th 1963
  

This was one of the first songs to be bestowed with the label "Produced by Brian Wilson", and is notable for being the first Beach Boys song with a string arrangement. This track also contains double-tracked harmony vocals of Brian Wilson harmonizing with himself in the second verse and beyond.

Track 4: "South Bay Surfer" (B. Wilson/Carl Wilson/Alan Jardine)

• Lead vocal: Brian Wilson and Mike Love
  
• Recorded: Tuesday July 16th 1963
  

Addressing the competition for surfing that The Beach Boys felt was present in the early days of their arrival, this song contains perhaps more unison vocals between any two members than any other in the whole Beach Boys catalogue.

Track 5: "The Rocking Surfer" (Trad, arr. B. Wilson)

• Organ and guitar instrumental
  
• Recorded: Tuesday July 16th 1963
  

Originally with the title "Good Humor Man", this contains a guitar solo courtesy of Carl Wilson.

Track 6: "Little Deuce Coupe" (B. Wilson/Roger Christian)

• Lead vocal: Mike Love
  
• Released as single: Monday July 22nd 1963
  
• Peak US Chart Position: #7
  
• B-side of: Surfer Girl
  
• Recorded: Wednesday June 12th 1963
  

This song, later to appear on its eponymous album of automotive Beach Boys songs, established Mike Love as the lead voice within The Beach Boys.

Track 7: "In My Room" (B. Wilson/Gary Usher)

• Lead vocal: Brian Wilson
  
• Released as single: Monday October 10th 1963
  
• Peak US Chart Position: #23
  
• B-side of: Be True To Your School
  
• Recorded: Tuesday July 16th 1963
  

Co-written by Gary Usher, this song was to come in for praise from Brian Wilson's father, Murry, and was later to be remembered as the source for "the nicest thing.. ..ever said to me." (Gary Usher).

Track 8: "Hawaii" (B. Wilson/Mike Love)

• Lead vocal: Brian Wilson and Mike Love
  
• Recorded: Tuesday July 16th 1963
  

This song features falsetto vocals from Brian, and a falsetto line which would resurface in later Beach Boys tracks "Be True To Your School" (from Little Deuce Coupe) and "Kona Coast" (From M.I.U. Album) later on in their career.

Track 9: "Surfers Rule" (B. Wilson/Love)

• Lead vocal: Dennis Wilson
  
• Recorded: Tuesday July 16th 1963
  

This song, which samples The Four Seasons' "Walk Like A Man", is sung by Dennis Wilson, the brother who was the only member of the group who engaged in surfing as a hobby, and displays the social imperfections and guidance from which Brian drew inspiration.

Track 10: "Our Car Club" (B. Wilson/Love)

• Lead vocal: Brian Wilson and Mike Love
  
• Recorded: Tuesday July 16th 1963
  

Originally entitled "Rabbit's Foot", this is one of the first appearances on a Beach Boys record of drummer Hal Blaine and is musically similar to "Watermelon Man", the 1963 Mongo Santamaria hit.

Track 11: "Your Summer Dream" (B. Wilson/Bob Norberg)

• Lead vocal: Brian Wilson
  
• Recorded: Tuesday July 16th 1963
  

With a double-tracked Brian Wilson vocal, this song is the prelude to the music which Brian would write and perform later in his career, melodically and harmonically.

Track 12: "Boogie Woodie" (Traditional, arranged Brian Wilson)

• Instrumental
• Recorded: Tuesday July 16th 1963
  

This track, the last on the album, is an instrumental based upon "The Flight Of The Bumble Bee" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and exhibits Brian's interest in boogie-woogie piano music.

• 1963 albums
• The Beach Boys albums