Surfin' Safari (song)
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"Surfin' Safari" | ||||
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Surf rock | ||||
Length | 2:05 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Murry Wilson | |||
The Beach Boys singles chronology | ||||
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"Surfin' Safari" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys,[1] written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. Released as a single with "409" in June 1962, it peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2] The song also appeared on the 1962 album of the same name.
Background
The song was inspired by Chuck Berry's method of combining simple chord progressions with lyrical references to place names (for example, in "Back in the U.S.A." and "Sweet Little Sixteen"). "Surfin' Safari" includes several references to Southern California surfing locations (Malibu, Rincon, the Channel Islands, Huntington, and Sunset Beach). The sites and surfing-related terms featured in the song were provided to Brian and Mike by surfer Jimmy Bowles, brother of Brian's then-new flame Judy Bowles, who he had met one afternoon while helping a buddy coach little league.[3]
Wilson referred to "Surfin' Safari" as "a silly song with a simple-but-cool C-F-G chord pattern that I came up with one day while trying to play the piano the way Chuck Berry played his guitar."[4]
"Surfin' Safari" was the first recording to display the distinctive counterpoint harmonies for which the group became famous.[5]
Recording
The Beach Boys first recorded the song at World Pacific Studios on February 8, 1962, in what was the band's second ever recording session. However, the recordings from that session, engineered by Hite Morgan, would ultimately remain unreleased until the late Sixties. The only difference instrumentally on this early version as opposed to the officially released version was the presence of
The instrumental track as well as the vocals for the officially released version were recorded at Western Recorders on April 19, 1962. The session, produced by Brian, featured David Marks and Carl Wilson on guitar; Brian Wilson on bass guitar and Dennis Wilson on drums. The song features Mike Love on lead vocals with backing vocals by Brian, Carl & Dennis Wilson and Mike Love. Also recorded during that session were "409", "Lonely Sea" and "Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring". This session was recorded and given to Capitol Records as a demo tape. The label was impressed and immediately signed the band to their first major label contract. "Surfin' Safari" and "409" would be the band's first single to be issued under Capitol Records.
Release and reception
"The beach scene gets a rolling, rocking treatment on this side by the boys. Tune swings along neatly on lead singer's talent and support of the rest of the group. "
★★★★ (strong sales potential)
The "Surfin' Safari" single backed with "409" was the band's second single and the first single to be released on the band's new label Capitol Records
The single peaked at the number 14 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart,[9] with "409" also charting at number 76,[10] making it the band's first double-sided hit single. It placed at number 10 on the Cash Box sales chart, and number 5 on UPI's national weekly survey used by newspapers. According to English pop music statistician Joseph Murrells in The Book of Golden Discs, 1978 edition, it placed number 3 on one of the four major national charts then recognised, probably Variety. Certainly its regional sales backed up these higher placings (than Billboard). As well as its Capitol-record sales in New York, it was No. 1 in Los Angeles, San Diego, Dallas, Minneapolis, Buffalo and Hartford; and top five in Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix, Tucson, Nashville, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Springfield MA.
Capitol A&R executive Nick (Nik) Venet, who signed the group and is listed as producer on their first two albums, is quoted in the Steven Gaines book as saying regarding the release that "The biggest order Capitol had from a single market all year [1962] was from New York City - where there was no surfing. It sold approximately nine hundred thousand records, but not enough for a gold."
In October 1962, the "Surfin' Safari" single was the first to be released by the band in the United Kingdom. However, given mediocre reviews at best, the single failed to make any impact on the charts. It did qualify as the Beach Boys' first international chart-topper, however. By the end of September it had peaked at number seven in Australia's Music Maker chart — only reaching the Billboard top 20 the following week — then in November spent three weeks at number one in Sweden (both charts cited by contemporary issues of Billboard). In Germany, the World Pacific Studios recording of the song was used as the single release instead of the more well-known version. The single failed to chart.
In January 1970, the World Pacific Studios sessions recording of the song was issued on Trip Records as the B-side of a "Surfin'" single re-issue. The single however failed to make any impact on the charts.
Album and alternate releases
The song was first released on a single 45 RPM record and then later, it was released on the band's debut Surfin' Safari album, and on a number of later 'greatest hits' compilations. The song's appearance on the 1993 Good Vibrations box set is sourced from the original demo tape master, lacking the fade-out added before its release as a single.
Three takes of the early World Pacific Studios recordings of the song were eventually released on CD in 1991 on the archival release
Personnel
- Brian Wilson – backing vocals; bass guitar
- Dennis Wilson – backing vocals; drums
- Carl Wilson – backing vocals; lead guitar
- Mike Love – lead and backing vocals
- David Marks– backing vocals; rhythm guitar
Other versions
Charts
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In popular culture
- The Beach Boys' recording of "Surfin' Safari" was featured in the soundtrack of the 1973 film American Graffiti.
- The Beach Boys' recording of "Surfin' Safari" was featured in season 2 episode 11, "‘Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas", of The Golden Girls.
- The Beach Boys' recording of "Surfin' Safari" was featured in the 1987 teen romantic comedy, Can't Buy Me Love.
- This song was sung in the 1995 Disney's Sing Along Songs home video, Mickey's Fun Songs: Beach Party at Walt Disney World.[citation needed]
References
- ^ a b Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 20 - Forty Miles of Bad Road: Some of the best from rock 'n' roll's dark ages. [Part 1]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 50.
- ISBN 0-8050-2266-X.
- ISBN 0-06-018313-6.
- ^ Songfacts. "Surfin' Safari by The Beach Boys - Songfacts". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ "Reviews of New Singles". Billboard. Vol. 74, no. 23. June 9, 1962. p. 40. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
- ^ Beach Boys - Surfin' Safari / 409, June 4, 1962, retrieved February 1, 2023
- ^ "Billboard Music Week - Page One Records - Singles - Regional Breakouts" (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. Billboard. July 14, 1962. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ "Surfin' Safari / The Beach Boys". billboard.elpee.jp. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ "409 / The Beach Boys". billboard.elpee.jp. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ The Hot Doggers - Surfin' USA, 1963, retrieved February 1, 2023
- ISBN 9163021404.
- ISBN 919727125X.