Surfin' U.S.A. (1963)

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By: The Beach Boys, formed in 1961 by Brian Wilson (born June 20, 1942 in Hawthorne, California); his brothers, Dennis Wilson (born December 4, 1944, died December 28, 1983) and Carl Wilson (born December 21, 1946, died February 6, 1998); their cousin Mike Love (born March 15, 1941 in Los Angeles, California), and friend Alan Jardine (born September 3, 1942 in Lima, Ohio).

The Beach Boys are one the most influential groups in rock and pop music history, with 36 US Top 40 hits (including four #1 singles) and many million-selling albums
                                   
"Surfin’ U.S.A." was written by Brian to the tune of Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen". It was released as a single and it also appeared on the 1963 album of the same name. The B-side of the single was "Shut Down". The song features Mike Love on lead vocals.

According to Brian, the song was also influenced by Chubby Checker's "Twistin' U.S.A.".

Wilson was aided by his then-girlfriend Judy Bowles' little brother Jimmy, who came up with the list of sixteen surfing spots included in the song.

Chart position: #3 (US), #34 (UK).

The Top Ten Songs: May 25, 1963 (US Billboard Hot 100).

1. "If You Wanna Be Happy" (Jimmy Soul)
2. "I Will Follow Him" (Little Peggy March)
3. "Surfin' U.S.A." (Beach Boys)
4. "Foolish Little Girl" (Shirelles)
5. "I Love You Because" (Al Martino)
6. "Losing You" (Brenda Lee)
7. "Two Faces Have I" (Lou Christie)
8. "Take These Chains From My Heart" (Ray Charles)
9. "It's My Party" (Lesley Gore)
10. "Another Saturday Night" (Sam Cooke)

Written by: Brian Wilson and Chuck Berry.

When the song was released in 1963, the original pressing listed Brian Wilson as the sole composer of the song.

As soon as the song became a hit, Chuck Berry claimed the melody was his (which was true, as it was a copy of "Sweet Little Sixteen".) However, Brian’s father, Murry Wilson, gave Berry the copyright without ever informing his son. Brian Wilson didn't know, for more than twenty-five years, that Murry also gave away Brian’s lyric royalties, which clearly weren't Berry's.

Despite there being tensions over the incident at the time, Chuck Berry later claimed that he actually liked the song. Carl Wilson later said the Beach Boys ran into Berry while on tour in Copenhagen, and told the Beach Boys that he loved "Surfin' USA".

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Dance, Dance, Dance (1964)

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• The Beach Boys - Dance, Dance, Dance (MP3)

By: The Beach Boys.

Formed in 1961 by Brian Wilson (born June 20, 1942 in Hawthorne, California); his brothers, Dennis Wilson (born December 4, 1944, died December 28, 1983) and Carl Wilson (born December 21, 1946, died February 6, 1998); their cousin Mike Love (born March 15, 1941 in Los Angeles, California), and friend Alan Jardine (born September 3, 1942 in Lima, Ohio.)

The Beach Boys are one the most influential groups in rock and pop music history, with 36 US Top 40 hits (including four #1 singles) and many million-selling albums.

"Dance, Dance, Dance" was released as a single in 1964, and later on their on their 1965 album The Beach Boys Today!. It featured a variety of instruments, including sleigh bells, triangle, tambourine, castanets, tenor and baritone saxophone, accordion, two bass guitars, and three guitars.

The 12-string electric guitar solo was performed by Glen Campbell.

The instrumental backing track was released on the 1993 box set Good Vibrations: Thirty Years Of The Beach Boys.

Chart position: #8 (US), #24 (UK).

The B-side was the ballad "The Warmth of the Sun".

The Top Ten Songs: December 19, 1964 (US Billboard Hot 100).

1. "Come See About Me" (Supremes)
2. "I Feel Fine" (Beatles)
3. "Mr. Lonely" (Bobby Vinton)
4. "She's Not There" (Zombies)
5. "Ringo" (Lorne Greene)
6. "Time Is On My Side" (Rolling Stones)
7. "Goin' Out Of My Head" (Little Anthony and the Imperials)
8. "Dance, Dance, Dance" (Beach Boys)
9. "I'm Gonna Be Strong" (Gene Pitney)
10. "You Really Got Me" (Kinks)
    

Written by: Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, and Mike Love.

In November 1969, the Wilson brothers' father Murry Wilson sold the rights to the Beach Boys' songs to Irving Almo for approximately $700,000.

In April 1992, after Brian Wilson had won a lawsuit to recover many of the copyrights to his songs, Mike Love filed a lawsuit against him claiming that he hadn't been given credit and hadn't received royalties on ove 30 Beach Boys songs. The list included "Dance, Dance, Dance".

The song was originally credited to Brian and Carl, but Mike Love claimed that he helped write the lyrics. Love won the lawsuit and the credits were amended, ensuring future royalties on all songs he had claimed he had a hand in writing.

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• The Beach Boys - Dance, Dance, Dance (MP3)

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The Warmth Of The Sun (1964)

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• The Beach Boys - The Warmth Of The Sun (MP3)

By: The Beach Boys.

Formed in 1961 by Brian Wilson (born June 20, 1942 in Hawthorne, California); his brothers, Dennis Wilson (born December 4, 1944, died December 28, 1983) and Carl Wilson (born December 21, 1946, died February 6, 1998); their cousin Mike Love (born March 15, 1941 in Los Angeles, California), and friend Alan Jardine (born September 3, 1942 in Lima, Ohio.)

They are one the most influential groups in rock and pop music history, with 36 US Top 40 hits (including four #1 singles) and many million-selling albums.

"The Warmth of the Sun" was released on their 1964 album Shut Down Volume 2 and as the B-side of "Dance, Dance, Dance", which charted at #8 (US) and #24 (UK).

Written by: Mike Love and Brian Wilson.

On November 22, 1963, the Beach Boys were scheduled to perform a concert at the Marysville Auditorium in Marysville, California. On that same day, the news came from Dallas, Texas: President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated.

Murray Wilson, the father of the three Wilson brothers in the Beach Boys, was concerned as to whether they should go on with the performance. Fred Vail, the band's manager and promoter, quickly contacted those connected with the show. Local radio stations, record shops, city government, and police had no problem with the Beach Boys' planned performance.

That evening, Fred Vail introduced the group as normal, but considering the situation, asked the audience for a moment of silence in honor of President Kennedy. Vail later said, "It seemed like hours standing out there, head bowed, while the audience was totally - and respectfully - quiet."

The show was success, not only breaking the existing attendance record, but with no incidents by a very well-behaved audience. After the concert, from 1:00 AM to 2:00 AM at a hotel in Sacramento, inspired by the shock felt over the assassination of Kennedy, Love and Wilson finished a song they had begun writing earlier that day: "The Warmth of the Sun".

Also by: Vince Gill, who performed a version of the song (featured in An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson) at Radio City Music Hall on March 29, 2001; Willie Nelson.

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• The Beach Boys - The Warmth Of The Sun (MP3)