Track Archive

    The track archive is a collaborative effort. The information has been entered by Andrew Gladwin and Rob McCabe. The scripts were written by Mike Wheeler. If you have any comments, please notify us by e-mail: cabinessencequestions@hotmail.com.

    Surfin' U.S.A.

    Written by: Chuck Berry/Brian Wilson
    Produced by: Nik Venet
    Recording date: January 31, 1963
    Take Number:
    Master Number: 38062
    Time: 2:28
    Lead Vocal by: Mike
    Originally appeared on: Surfin' U.S.A.
    Subsequently appeared on: Best of the Beach Boys; Endless Summer; Made In U.S.A.; Good Vibrations Boxed Set; 20 Good Vibrations

    Notes:
      Brian took Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen" and (with "research help" from his then-girlfriend's brother, Jimmy Bowles) added surf lyrics and came up with this song.

      The first really great Beach Boys track.

      Because Brian "plaugarized" SLS, Chuck Berry's publishers sued for the writer's credit of SUSA; the initial settlement was that Berry would get full credit for the song. On the track's subsequent appearences, Chuck Berry would get full writing credits until the 1993 Good Vibrations box set and the 1995 20 Good Vibrations CD, whcih would carry the "Berry/Wilson" credit.

      One song that people identify with the Beach Boys the most.

      Good Vibrations Box Set starts with Brian's original piano demo of SUSA.

      Live versions of SUSA are included on 1973's In Concert album and on CD 5 of the Good Vibrations box set (that track was an outtake from 1964's Concert album).

    Noises:
      2:02, 2:08, 2:14, 2:20 Brian yells "good" after every "Everybody's gone surfin', surfin' U.S.A."

    Single:

    Capitol 4932
    A-side with: Shut Down
    Released on: 3/4/63
    Charted on: 3/23/63
    Reached: 3
    Surfin' USA-demo
    Concert Intro/Surfin' USA (live 1964)




    Link to lyrics for this track.

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