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.

    Surf's Up

    Written by: Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks
    Produced by: Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys
    Recording date: December 1966/vocal overdubs added early 1971
    Take Number:
    Master Number:
    Time: 4:08
    Lead Vocal by: Carl, Brian, and Al
    Originally appeared on: Surf's Up
    Subsequently appeared on: Ten Years of Harmony; Good Vibrations box set

    Notes:
      Originally written for the legendary SMILE album; this would have been to the Beach Boys what "A Day In The Life" is to the Beatles and SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND.

      This album was to be called LANDLOCKED, until "Surf's Up" was rescurrected.

      Original backing track was recorded in 1966. After a disastrous 1966/67 vocal overdub session for this song, Brian then recorded a solo demo rendition of "Surf's Up" with just his voice and piano. The Beach Boys took the original track, which ended after the first verse ("Are you sleeping, Brother John") and overdubbed a 1971 lead vocal from Carl. Brian's solo version was added on as the second half with some minor vocals, bass, and synth overdubs. For the coda, the Beach Boys added a 1971 rendition of the still-unreleased SMILE song, "Child Is Father Of The Man" on to Brian's "aaahhh" vocal, leading one to believe that at one time during the SMILE sessions, Brian intended CIFTTM to be part of the original "Surf's Up.

      The lyrics foreshadow Brian's fall from grace ("the music hall a costly bow, the music all is lost for now to a muted trumpter's swan, columnated ruins domino") and his remergence ("I heard the word, wonderful thing, a children's song").

      Quite a mind-blowing track.

    Single:

    Brother/Reprise
    A-side with: Don't Go Near The Water
    Released on: November 1971
    Charted on: Did Not Chart
    Reached:
    Surf's Upfrom SMiLE





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