| Surfin' Safari |
 |
| Studio album by The Beach Boys |
| Released |
October 1, 1962 |
| Recorded |
October 3, 1961; April 19, August 8, September 5–6, 1962,
Capitol & Hite Morgan Studios, California |
| Genre |
Surf rock |
| Length |
24:53 |
| Label |
Capitol |
| Producer |
Hite Morgan, Nick Venet and Murry Wilson |
| The Beach Boys chronology |
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|
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| Singles from Surfin' Safari |
- "Surfin'"
Released: November 1961
- "Surfin' Safari"
Released: June 4, 1962
- "Ten Little Indians"
Released: November 26, 1962
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Surfin' Safari is the debut studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys, released on October 1, 1962 on Capitol. Surfin' Safari peaked at number 32 in its 37-week run on the US charts and would be the lowest charting Beach Boys album until Smiley Smile in 1967.
History[edit]
In the autumn of 1961, cousins Brian Wilson and Mike Love composed a song on surfing, titled "Surfin'" at the behest of Brian's younger sibling, Dennis Wilson. They quickly formed a band, bringing in the youngest Wilson brother Carl on lead guitar and Brian's high school friend Al Jardine on rhythm guitar. Brian took up bass, Dennis the drums and Mike would be the frontman, while they all would harmonize vocals arranged by Brian. Released that December, produced by Hite Morgan, and backed by "Luau", "Surfin'" made number 75 in the US Top 100 in early 1962.
Father Murry Wilson became the band's manager. He submitted a professionally-recorded demo tape to Capitol Records that spring. The Beach Boys were signed and "Surfin' Safari" b/w "409" (from the April 1962 demo tape) was released as a single that June. Al Jardine left the band before the demo session, to be replaced by a friend of Carl's, David Marks, until the fall of 1963. With both "Surfin' Safari" and "409" becoming hits (the former reaching US number 14), Capitol Records approved a full album. Brian Wilson, who regularly collaborated with Mike Love and Gary Usher, contributed the songs that made up the bulk of the LP.
Surfin' Safari, despite the official credit to Nick Venet, was reportedly produced by Brian Wilson.[citation needed] The second single, "Ten Little Indians", was less successful, reaching only number 49, with Brian feeling that "Chug-A-Lug" would have made a far better follow-up. Though Mike and Brian are the most prominent singers, Dennis makes his first vocal appearance on "Little Girl (You're My Miss America)".
In the UK, the album was not released until April 1963, and failed to chart.
Front cover artwork[edit]
The front sleeve features the five-piece band on the beach at Paradise Cove, north of Malibu. The picture was taken by in-house Capitol photographer Ken Veeder.
Track listing[edit]
All songs written and composed by Brian Wilson/Gary Usher except where noted.
|
|
| 13. |
"Cindy, Oh Cindy" (B. Barons/B. Long) |
B. Wilson |
2:10 |
| 14. |
"The Baker Man" (B. Wilson) |
Love |
2:37 |
| 15. |
"Land Ahoy" (B. Wilson) |
Love |
1:38 |
Personnel[edit]
- The Beach Boys
- Additional musicians and production staff
Sales chart positions[edit]
- Albums
| Year |
Chart |
Position |
| 1963 |
US Billboard 200 Albums Chart |
32[3] |
- Singles
| Year |
Single |
Chart |
Position |
| 1962 |
"Surfin' Safari" |
US Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart |
14 |
| 1962 |
"409" |
US Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart |
23 |
| 1962 |
"Surfin'" |
US Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart |
76 |
References[edit]
Sources[edit]
- Surfin' Safari/Surfin' USA CD booklet notes, David Leaf, c.1990.
- "The Nearest Faraway Place: Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys and the Southern California Experience", Timothy White, c. 1994.
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Surfin' Safari
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