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The Beach Boys Surfin' Safari Release Date: 1962 10 29 Label: Bellaphon The Beach Boys' debut album, recorded in an era in which little was expected of rock groups in the way of strong LP-length statements, is mostly thin and awkward in both the songwriting and production departments. The title track, their first true smash, is great, as is its flip side ("409"), which was not only a hit in its own right, but was the first vocal hot rod classic. "Surfin'," their debut single (and small national hit), is also good, and one of the few Beach Boys tracks that could be said to have a garage-like quality. Unfortunately, most of the other cuts (most of which are group originals) are substandard ditties, as Brian Wilson had a way to go before honing his compositional genius. It does, however, afford a glimpse of the group as they sounded when they were a true band in the studio, before most of their parts were played by session musicians. Two of the better cuts, "The Shift" and the instrumental "Moon Dawg," have a grittier-than-usual surf rock base that would flower on 1963 hits like "Surfin' U.S.A." [Surfin' Safari/Surfin' U.S.A, a Capitol two-fer CD, combines this and Surfin' U.S.A. onto one disc, with the addition of three rare bonus cuts from the same era.] Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide Tracks: Title Composer Time 1 Surfin' Safari Wilson, Love 2 County Fair Wilson, Usher 3 Ten Little Indians Wilson, Usher 4 Chug-A-Lug Wilson, Love, Usher 5 Little Girl (You're My Miss America) Alpert, Catalano 6 409 Wilson, Love, Usher 7 Surfin' Wilson, Love 8 Heads You Win, Tails I Lose Wilson, Usher 9 Summertime Blues Cochran, Capehart 10 Cuckoo Clock Sternberg 11 Moon Dawg Weaver 12 Shift Wilson, Love Releases: Year Type Label 1985 CD Bellaphon 1994 CD Capitol 2001 CD EMI 2008 CD EMI Japan 1998 CD Import 1998 CD Import 2008 CD Toshiba Emi CS Capitol 1994 CS Capitol 1963 LP Capitol 1994 LP Capitol

Group Members: Ricky Fataar David Marks Blondie Chaplin Bruce Johnston Dennis Wilson More >> Similar Artists: The Turtles The Beatles The Four Seasons The Mamas & the Papas The Hollies More >>

Influenced By: Phil Spector Chuck Berry The Four Freshmen The Everly Brothers The Hi-Lo's More >> Followers: Huey Lewis The Heavy Blinkers Veronica Lake The High Llamas Henry Gross More >>

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