Surfin' U.S.A. (album)

Untitled

Surfin' USA is the second album released by The Beach Boys and was released in early 1963. This was the group's second album to be credited with production from Capitol's Nick Venet, Capitol Records' representative for Artists and Repertoire.

Surfin' USA is notable for breaking The Beach Boys' career wide open with its title track, and for Brian Wilson's increasing prowess in songwriting, as well as vocal arrangement. The fuller-sounding vocals were achieved simply by doubling them, creating The Beach Boys' own unique sound. As with Surfin' Safari, some have speculated that it was not Nick Venet, the officially-listed producer, but Brian who produced Surfin' USA.

What is also interesting about this particular album is that five of its twelve tracks are surf instrumentals, "Stoked" being Brian Wilson's first of many instrumental songs he'd composed over the years for The Beach Boys. In addition, "Surf Jam" marks the first time Carl Wilson, aged 16 at the time, gets a songwriting credit.

While the title track of the album was the center of attention (with its B-side "Shut Down" receiving some notice in the process), there were other highlights to be found. "Farmer's Daughter", the first of many Brian Wilson falsetto lead vocals, was affecting enough that Fleetwood Mac covered it live in 1980, while "Lonely Sea" (an outtake from the Surfin' Safari sessions and the first song Wilson wrote with Gary Usher) is the earliest glimpse we have of Brian Wilson's melancholic side. "Lana" and "Finders Keepers" (with its Four Seasons-esque hook) are also acclaimed tracks from Surfin' USA.

The title track, "Surfin' USA", became The Beach Boys' first big hit in the US and took its parent album into gold record status and the Top 10, peaking at #2. In 1965, upon re-release in the UK, Surfin' USA would reach #17. The song so closely resembled Chuck Berry's Sweet Little Sixteen that the threat of a lawsuit gave Berry cowriting credit on the album.

The song "Surfin' USA" is part of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list.

Front cover artwork

The photograph that adorns the front sleeve was taken by artist/photographer/surfer John Severson during January 1960, showing California-based waverider Leslie Williams riding the winter swell at Sunset Beach in Hawaii. Intended for the front cover of Severson's legendary 'Surfer' magazine, the original negative was damaged during the color separation process and never appeared in print, until Capitol Records requested a suitable photograph for the new Beach Boys album. Severson fixed the damaged image and sold it to Capitol ...

Track listing

Side one

1. "Surfin' USA" (Brian Wilson/Chuck Berry) – 2:27
   • Features Mike Love on lead vocals
2. "Farmer's Daughter" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 1:49
   • Features Brian Wilson on lead vocals
3. "Misirlou" (Roubanis/Wise/Leeds/Russell) – 2:03
   • Instrumental
4. "Stoked" (Brian Wilson) – 1:59
   • Instrumental
5. "Lonely Sea" (Brian Wilson/Gary Usher) – 2:21
   • Features Brian Wilson on lead vocals
6. "Shut Down" (Brian Wilson/Roger Christian) – 1:49
   • Features Mike Love on lead vocals

Side two

1. "Noble Surfer" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 1:51
   • Features Mike Love on lead vocals
2. "Honky Tonk" (Doggett/Scott/Butler/Sheper/Glover) – 2:01
   • Instrumental
3. "Lana" (Brian Wilson) – 1:39
   • Features Brian Wilson on lead vocals
4. "Surf Jam" (Carl Wilson) – 2:10
   • Instrumental
5. "Let's Go Trippin' " (Dick Dale) – 1:57
   • Instrumental
6. "Finders Keepers" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 1:38
   • Features Mike Love on lead vocals

Singles

• "Surfin' USA" b/w "Shut Down" (Capitol 4932), 4 March 1963, US #3; #34 UK
  ("Shut Down" US #23)

Surfin' USA is now paired on CD with Surfin' Safari, with bonus tracks from that period.

Surfin' USA (Capitol (S) T 1890) reached #2 in the US, lasting 78 weeks in the charts. It reached #17 in the UK in late 1965.

Personnel

• Brian Wilson - Vocals, bass, keyboards
• Mike Love - Vocals, saxophone
• Dennis Wilson - Vocals, drums
• Carl Wilson - Vocals, lead guitar
• David Marks - Rhythm guitar

Sources

• 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.
• "Wouldn't It Be Nice - My Own Story", Brian Wilson and Todd Gold, c. 1991.
• "Top Pop Singles 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
• "Top Pop Albums 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
• All Music Guide.com

External links

• Greg Panfile's musical analysis of "Lonely Sea"
• Surfin' USA lyrics
• The Beach Boys Album Covers Site