Choose Category
| Surfin' Safari - Notes |
|---|
The seminal Beach Boys album, Surfin' Safari was first transferred from analog tape to digital format in 1989 with the release of the
MFSL twofer (see Twofers category).
Although previously released on the 1990 twofers, Capitol re-issued the Beach Boys back catalog in 1994 as single album CDs. The masters were transferred to 16-bit density - the
No Noise system was applied during the remastering process to eliminate tape hiss and noise.
The 1994 CD series was skeletal in nature; no liner notes, no additional pictures, no re-mastering notes or track details.
In 1992 Mike Love sued Brian Wilson for writing credits and retrospective royalty payments. After success in the courts, Mike Love’s name started to
appear on the writing credits on new CD releases and may partly explain the issue of single album CDs by Capitol records in 1994, and the discontinuation of the 1990 twofers.
The CD art is a replica of the original US album inner label and incorporated the outer rainbow coloured ring.
History: The album is dominated by tracks written by Brian Wilson and Gary Usher. The two men met in
early 1962, and the partnership yielded a clutch of hit singles throughout the early 60s. Although the partnership ended circa. 1963, Wilson-Usher would re-join in 1986 and compose a number of songs prior to the release of Brian Wilson's first solo album.
The first US LP release, the album entered the chart on November 24th, 1962. It peaked at no.32 in 1963 and spent a total of 37 weeks on the Billboard chart. The LP was released in the UK in April, 1963, but did not chart.
The Beach Boys were: Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Mike Love and David Marks.
Capitol Records released two singles in the US: Surfin’ Safari (released before the album), reached no.14 in 1962, while the B-side, 409, peaked at no.76. The second single, Ten Little Indians/County Fair, peaked at no.49 (1962). Both US singles were also released in the UK, but neither charted.
| Surfin' Safari - The Beach Boys | |
|---|---|
| CD release date: | June 28th 1994 |
| Record label: | Capitol |
| CD code: | CDP 724382966128 |
| Media format: | CD (remastered, 16 bit) |
| Audio: | mono | Album History |
| First Release Date: | US:10/62 -- UK:4/63 |
| Serial No: | US - T/TD 1808 |
| Chart #pos(weeks): | US - #32(37) UK - DNC |
| Surfin' Safari - Review |
|---|
Background: It is Summer 1962, just after Capitol Records releases the first Beach Boys single on the label: 409/Surfin’ Safari, and Brian Wilson and the group which includes David Marks (replacing Al Jardine who has decided to continue his studies) find themselves in the Capitol Tower recording studios to make their first album. Brian Wilson has been writing songs with fellow group member Mike Love and Gary Usher (an established songwriter who had met Brian Wilson after the Beach Boys initial single Surfin’ on the Candix label had been a major hit in Los Angeles).
The album production is credited to Capitol’s Nick Venet, but in reality it is Brian Wilson who is in charge (with some ‘help’ from Murry). He teaches the boys all their instrument and vocal parts, but is not entirely happy with the sound of the Capitol studios which were built to record large orchestras. The photo shoot (on a dull day) for the first album cover will result in the now iconic image of The Beach Boys carrying the longboard at Paradise Cove, Malibu.
Review: Side one opens with the re-recorded Surfin’ Safari which is quite a polished performance of what will become a familiar Brian Wilson shuffle beat. As with many of his early leads, Mike’s voice sounds strained on the high notes.
The next three songs County Fair, Ten Little Indians and Chug-A-Lug have to be judged in the context of the simplistic popular music in the early 1960s. Co-written with Usher they use naïve lyrics to relate American cultural experiences and values. Little girl (You’re My Miss America) one of three tracks not written by Brian features Dennis Wilson on lead vocal. As 409 roars out of the speakers (an recording of Gary Usher car engine) you can just imagine standing on the corner of West119th and Kornblum as it goes by - over 40 years later, it’s still a great track.
The original Surfin’ recording starts side two with its bare instrumentation and great bass vocals from Mike. The inspiration for Heads You Win Tails I Lose seems to be no more than a coin toss! Like the other tracks it serves as a vehicle for the soon to be trademark Beach Boys block vocal sound - but here it is not as dense as we expect. Eddie Cochrane’s Summertime Blues follows and is a workmanlike effort. Cuckoo Clock is nothing less than bizarre; and something only Brian Wilson could get away with because… he was actually serious about doing it! Moon Dawg was reputed to be the first ‘Surf’ record and gave Carl a chance to showcase his lead guitar skills. The album closes with The Shift written by Brian and Mike and has another Brian shuffle beat with a Mike narrative.
Surfin’ Safari is an album that you must have for what it means, rather than for what it is. Brian Wilson had taken his first steps on the ladder, and he was on his way…
Highlights: 409
© GV Team 2006 All Rights Reserved
