The Summer of Love Countdown no.10

Posted by James G

It's The Beach Boys archetypal classic at number 10, and their first song to chart in the UK - "Surfin' USA".



Surfin' U.S.A." is the title of a song with lyrics written by Brian Wilson for The Beach Boys, set to the melody from Chuck Berry's Sweet Little Sixteen. "Surfin' USA" was recorded by The Beach Boys released as a single on March 4, 1963 and it also appeared on the 1963 album of the same name.

At the time that the song was written, Brian Wilson was dating a girl named Judy Bowles. Her brother, Jimmy Bowles, was an avid surfer. Brian thought to himself "what about doing surf lyrics and mentioning every surf spot in the state? They're doing it here, there, in this city and that, like Chubby Checker's 'Twistin' U.S.A.'." According to Brian, "I asked [Jimmy] to make a list of every surf spot he knew, and by God he didn't leave one out."

Frank Sidebottom recorded a verion as Surfin Timperley (Timperley being nowhere near the sea, and therefore not a place where surfing is possible). Redgum parodied this track as "Servin' USA". Alvin and the Chipmunks also released a cover version of the song. Pennywise have also covered the song at various live performances.

In the song the following surfing spots are mentioned, the majority of places being situated in California, two in Hawaii and one in Australia:

  • "Del Mar" - Del Mar, San Diego County, California
  • "Ventura County Line" - Ventura County, California
  • "Santa Cruz" - Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, California
  • "Trestles" - San Onofre State Park, San Diego County, California
  • "Australia's Narrabeen" - Narrabeen, New South Wales
  • "Manhattan" - Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles County, California
  • "Doheny" - Doheny Beach, Dana Point, Orange County, California
  • "Haggerty's" - Haggerty's, Torrance, Los Angeles County, California
  • "Swami's" - Swami's Beach, Encinitas, San Diego County, California
  • "Pacific Palisades" - Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles County, California
  • "San Onofre" - San Onofre State Park, San Diego County, California
  • "Sunset" - Sunset Beach, Oahu, Hawaii - or - Sunset Beach, Orange County, California
  • "Redondo Beach" - Redondo Beach, Los Angeles County, California
  • "LA" - Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
  • "La Jolla" - La Jolla, San Diego County, California
  • "Waimea Bay" - Waimea Bay, Hawaii

 

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