Amusement Parks U.S.A.
| "Amusement Parks U.S.A." | |
|---|---|
Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!) | |
| Released | July 5, 1965 |
| Recorded | April 14 – May 5, 1965 |
| Length | 2:29 |
| Label | Capitol |
| Songwriter(s) | Brian Wilson, Mike Love |
| Producer(s) | Brian Wilson |
"Amusement Parks U.S.A." is a song written by
The lyrics mention such amusement parks as Palisades Park in Cliffside Park, New Jersey; Salisbury Park in Salisbury, Massachusetts; Euclid Beach Park in Cleveland; Riverview Park in Chicago; Disneyland and Pacific Ocean Park in the Los Angeles area; and Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey. All but Disneyland and Steel Pier ceased operation within a few years of the song's release.
Alternate releases
"Amusement Parks U.S.A." was released as the B-side to "
Critical opinion
AllMusic critic Richie Unterberger described the track as a "subpar effort" and as one of the "throwbacks to the empty-headed summer filler of previous days" on Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!).[3] Author Jim Fuselli called the track a throwback "to the group's happy-go-lucky days," after also describing the album that it first appeared on as lacking "a coherent lyrical theme."[4]
Personnel
Personnel sourced from Craig Slowinski.[5]
The Beach Boys
- Al Jardine – harmony and backing vocals
- Mike Love – lead and bass vocals
- Brian Wilson – lead, harmony, and backing vocals, grand piano, laughter
- Carl Wilson – harmony and backing vocals
- Dennis Wilson – harmony and backing vocals
Session musicians and production staff
- Charles Berghofer – upright bass
- Hal Blaine – drums, castanets, tambourine, carnival barker
- Carol Kaye – bass guitar
- 6-string bass guitar
- Steve Douglas– tenor saxophone
- Jay Migliori – baritone saxophone
- Hammond B-3 organ
- 12-string guitar
- Julius Wechter – vibraphone
References
- ^ "The Beach Boys 1960s U.S. promos". beachboys45.nl.
- ^ "The Beach Boys Japanese singles 1964-1965". beachboys45.nl.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!)". allmusic.com.
- ^ Fuselli, Jim. The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds.
- ^ Slowinski, Craig. "Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)". Retrieved April 8, 2019.
