The beach Boys is undoubtedly one of the most representative bands of the sixties music scene. His iconic style and laid-back songs managed to grab the public’s attention on this second album that we’ll talk about next.
Although the band matured into melancholy and seriousness, undergoing experimentation in works such as animal soundswhat we will hear on this album is still this first seed which, little by little, will germinate.
Surfing in the United States It’s an iconic and memorable album. In this article, we tell you how it was achieved, as well as listening to and enjoying their songs.
Let’s talk a bit about Surfing in the United States
Surfing in the United States is the second studio album by the American band beach boys. It was released on March 25, 1963 under the label Capitol Recordsreaching high chart positions, such as number two in the United States, and lasting seventy-eight weeks.
In other countries like the UK, the album was released in late 1965, reaching number seventeen on the charts.
Three months after the publication of his first book, surf safari, beach boys they began recording this new album during the first week of 1963. Production was handled by Nicolas Venetrepresentative of Capitoleven if Brian Wilson He was also very involved in this process.
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On the album we hear backing vocals doubling the lead vocals, something the band members decide to start putting into practice. beach boys, acquiring a more complex sound. We also found a great level in the instrumental part, showing that the band could play surf rock in a very respectable way. This album, as a whole, is one of the best works they would do in the 1960s.
Brian Wilson thus spoke in 1990 of Surfing in the United States in the notes that accompany the first edition of the album on CD:
“When we started the album, surf UNITED STATES, had more production experience. The Scrapbook surf safari it was convenient for me. At that time, we were almost children, but we took our work very seriously. When you have the chance, you do your best. I think I was a good adviser to the rest of the band, we understood each other well and I was their leader. We work relatively quickly in the studio, at a frenetic pace because the only It had been a big hit on the radio.
the music critic Richie Unterberg is of the opinion: “The album as a whole is what they would do best, before the end of the Sixties, as a group which played most of their instruments, rather than as a vehicle for the ideas of Brian Wilson.”
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Luis Sancheza writer, thus spoke about the impact which the album had on the culture of the moment and how the image of the beach boys has been affected:
“And Surfing in the United States It didn’t literally turn America into an endless beach, it added a living dimension to the California mythos and pushed it further than anyone thought. One could say that the music of beach boys it’s corny, but what’s really important is that it captured a lack of self-awareness, an authenticity that set it apart from other bands of the time. It is also what defines the work of brian as the group evolved and grew.
The reality is that the album was a huge hit and managed to generate a national surf music craze, a truly powerful work before the ‘invasion of British music’.
Let’s talk about the songs from the album
Initially mike love he was not credited on any of the tracks on the album. However, after a trial in 1994, he managed to appear in the credits of farmer’s daughter, noble surfer there Researchers Guardians.
SURFIN’ USA
It is truly the most important song on the record, ranking the band in the US top 10.
It is a preamble to this voice game that the group will develop so much in the next albums. brian commented: “We developed an elegant sound that became our sound. It was the first time that we recorded our voices twice on a single disc, reinforcing them.
brian He also comments on the creation of the theme:
I started humming sweet little sixteen of chuck berry and I thought I might try putting some surf lyrics to the melody of this song. The concept I had in mind was “they surf in town”, just like Twistin’ USA of chubby checkerthat’s why i thought about calling this song Surfing in the United States. Also, at that time I was with a girl (Judy Bowles) whose brother (jimmy) was a surfer and knew all the surf spots. jimmy He made me a list with all these places for the song.
It’s a happy song, with an innocent intention that meets all the standards of surf music. It will become one of the band’s best-known songs.
THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER
In 1982, the group MacFleetwood I would cover this song again. Lindsay Buckinghamband member, always quoted brian as one of his main musical influences.
Listening to the song, we find lovely panning choruses to the left and the song’s instrumentation to the right, all supporting the strong, high-pitched lead vocal in the center.
MISIRLOU
beach boys they were the first surf band to give prominence to vocals. However, they also had a solid instrumental repertoire, as this version of the classic by Dick Dale.
The guitar intro generates a very powerful opening. This power will continue throughout the piece, thanks also to the contributions of the bass. We are faced with a rather dark theme compared to the two previous tracks on the album.
STOKED
This is the first of nearly a dozen instrumental pieces by Brian Wilson that the band recorded. The others will appear in future albums.
It follows the dark scheme of the previous song, but with a more laid back character. The guitar is the real protagonist, with a few vocals that only seem to mention the title of the song. The bass gives movement, doubled by the guitar at the end.
LONELY SEA
Gary Usher (producer) remember that he and brian they wrote this song just hours after they met: “The day I met him, we hit it off right away. He had some letters for lonely sea and a basic chord pattern that I liked.
While much of the music from the early albums of the beach boys been dismissed as insignificant, this song looks to the future and shows what is to come. For the first time, emotion is a key element in a song by the group.
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It’s a beautiful and melancholic song, a character that is reflected very well in the voice and its melody. The backing vocals also add a dramatic touch.
CLOSE
With this subject brian discover how to assemble the sound beach boys with the purest rock.
On the saxophone we find mike love.
It’s another upbeat song like the ones we found at the beginning of the album.
NOBLE SURFER
This theme was written on a mythical figure of surfing, and represents the fashion of the moment.
With a playful character, there is a nice voice acting and a metallophone solo in the middle of the song.
HONKYTONK
It was the first instrumental rock ‘n’ roll hit, being the beach boys one of the first surf groups to cover the theme.
The guitar takes control of the melody in this happy and carefree song.
LANA
We find in this song really catchy phrases that evoke the Hawaiian dream of a surfer.
The high voices and the theme of love make us escape and travel in these worlds of American surfing.
SURF SETUP
It was the first original theme of Carl Wilson appearing on an LP.
The beginning is quite powerful, the electric guitar taking over. With a fairly fast pace, there is hardly any main melody, but rather background music and a few instrumental solos at times.
LET’S GO TRIPPIN
An instrumental song composed by the king of surf guitar: Dick Dale.
Similar to the previous song but with more emphasis on the guitar part.
GUARDIANS OF THE FINDERS
It’s one of the best songs we found on the album. The chorus is based on Big girls don’t cry of Four Seasons.
It’s a nice way to end the album. We find beautiful choruses which complete the main voice as well as sudden silences which bring more movement and agility to the track.
Did you know this album beach boys? What do you think? Give your opinion in comments!
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