'' is the second album released by
The Beach Boys and was released in
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 intrumental 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, and a gorgeous recording. "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.
#"
Surfin' USA " (
Brian Wilson /
Chuck Berry ) - 2:27
- ''Features Brian Wilson on lead vocals''
#" Misirlou " (Roubanis/Wise/Leeds/Russell) - 2:03
- ''Instrumental''
#" Stoked " (Brian Wilson) - 1:59
- ''Features Mike Love on lead vocals''
#" Noble Surfer " (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) - 1:51
- ''Features Mike Love on lead vocals''
#" Honky Tonk " (Doggett/Scott/Butler/Sheper/Glover) - 2:01
- ''Instrumental''
#" Lana " (Brian Wilson) - 1:39
- ''Features Mike Love on lead vocals''
- "Surfin' USA" b/w "Shut Down" (Capitol 4932), 4 March 1963, ; '''#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 in the US, lasting 78 weeks in the charts. It reached '''#17''' in the UK in late
1965 .
- ''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
