Surfin' USA

For the song of the same title, see Surfin' USA (song).

Surfin' USA
Studio album by The Beach Boys
Released	25 March 1963
Recorded	5 January - 12 February 1963 Except: "Lonely Sea": 13 June 1962
Genre	Surf rock
Length	24:15
Label	Capitol
Producer	Nick Venet
The Beach Boys chronology
Surfin' Safari (1962) Surfin' USA (1963) Surfer Girl (1963)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

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

Surfin' USA (Capitol (S) T 1890) reached #2 in the US, lasting 78 weeks on the albums chart. It reached #17 in the UK in late 1965. Surfin' USA is now paired on CD with Surfin' Safari, with bonus tracks from that period.

Impact, details and featured instrumentals

Surfin' USA is notable for giving The Beach Boys their first widespread success with its title track, and for Brian Wilson's increasing prowess in songwriting, as well as vocal arrangement. The fuller-sounding vocals were achieved using double tracking, 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 rather Brian, who produced Surfin' USA. The title track, "Surfin' USA", credited as composed by Brian Wilson, was an almost note-for-note cover of Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen". A lawsuit officially granted Berry writing credit and royalties from the record.^[2] Additionally, the lyrics seem inspired by the Bobby Rydell 1959 hit "Kissin' Time" (mentions various cities across the USA), which melodically also borrows liberally from Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen."^[3]

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 composed over the years for The Beach Boys. In addition, "Surf Jam" marks the first time Carl Wilson, aged 16 at the time, received a songwriting credit.

Notable vocal tracks

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 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 "Surfin' USA" is part of the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list.^[4]

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 (Oahu) in Hawaii. Intended for the front cover of Severson's legendary Surfer magazine, the original negative was damaged during the color separation process and couldn't appear in print. When Capitol Records requested a suitable photograph for the new Beach Boys album Severson fixed the damaged image and sold it to them.

Track listing

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead Vocals	Length
1.	"Surfin' USA"	Brian Wilson/Chuck Berry	Mike Love	2:27
2.	"Farmer's Daughter"	B. Wilson/Love	B. Wilson	1:49
3.	"Misirlou"	Nick Roubanis/Fred Wise/Milton Leeds/Bob Russell	Instrumental	2:03
4.	"Stoked"	B. Wilson	Instrumental	1:59
5.	"Lonely Sea"	B. Wilson/Gary Usher	B. Wilson	2:21
6.	"Shut Down"	B. Wilson/Roger Christian	Love	1:49

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead Vocals	Length
1.	"Noble Surfer"	B. Wilson/Love	Love	1:51
2.	"Honky Tonk"	Bill Doggett/Clifford Scott/Billy Butler/Shep Sheperd/Henry Glover	Instrumental	2:01
3.	"Lana"	B. Wilson	B. Wilson	1:39
4.	"Surf Jam"	Carl Wilson	Instrumental	2:10
5.	"Let's Go Trippin'"	Dick Dale	Instrumental	1:57
6.	"Finders Keepers"	B. Wilson/Love	Love	1:38

Singles

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

Personnel

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

Notes

1. ^ Allmusic review
2. ^ "SURFIN USA". BMI Repertoire. Broadcast Music Incorporated. http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=1434720&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID. Retrieved 16 November 2008. 
3. ^ http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1771
4. ^ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame "500 songs that shaped rock and roll" [1]

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.
• The Lost Beach Boy, Jon Stebbins and David Marks, 2008
• http://www.Allmusic.com