Beach Boys Concert
Encyclopedia
Beach Boys Concert is a live album by The Beach Boys
, released in 1964. It is their seventh album in all, and their third alone in the same year. What is perhaps most notable about the album is that it provided The Beach Boys with their first #1 album in the US, remaining at the top for four weeks and becoming another gold seller.
Beach Boys Concert proves to be a timely release because leader and producer Brian Wilson
was about to vacate his position in the live group, and would only perform sporadically with them over the course of the next three decades. It is also the only live document of the original five members of The Beach Boys
in officially released LP form. It was recorded live at the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento, CA.
The album includes several songs that The Beach Boys regularly performed live but had not previously included on an album, such as "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow", "The Wanderer" and "Monster Mash". "The Little Old Lady from Pasadena" was actually a Jan & Dean hit. Alongside those were a sampling of their favorites, such as "Hawaii", "In My Room", "Fun, Fun, Fun", and "I Get Around".
Studio doctoring on Beach Boys Concert is very evident, from the overdubbed vocals, and the fact that the concert also featured recordings from December 1963 (also where announcer Fred Vail's introduction comes from). Most obviously, Brian Wilson used the original music tracks for both "Fun, Fun, Fun" (which was sped up) and "I Get Around", both of which had elements removed to make them appear as though they were new performances.
Despite the shady circumstances surrounding its post-production (as is the case with many live albums), Beach Boys Concert is still an edgy live document and a missing link in their early discography, which captured The Beach Boys in a context that was about to change forever.
A truncated version was released on Pickwick Records
as Wow, Great Concert!
Beach Boys Concert (Capitol (S)TAO 2198) is now paired on CD with Live in London
, with bonus tracks from both periods.
Beach Boys Concert hit 1 in the US during a 62 week chart stay.
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, released in 1964. It is their seventh album in all, and their third alone in the same year. What is perhaps most notable about the album is that it provided The Beach Boys with their first #1 album in the US, remaining at the top for four weeks and becoming another gold seller.
Beach Boys Concert proves to be a timely release because leader and producer Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
was about to vacate his position in the live group, and would only perform sporadically with them over the course of the next three decades. It is also the only live document of the original five members of The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
in officially released LP form. It was recorded live at the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento, CA.
The album includes several songs that The Beach Boys regularly performed live but had not previously included on an album, such as "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow", "The Wanderer" and "Monster Mash". "The Little Old Lady from Pasadena" was actually a Jan & Dean hit. Alongside those were a sampling of their favorites, such as "Hawaii", "In My Room", "Fun, Fun, Fun", and "I Get Around".
Studio doctoring on Beach Boys Concert is very evident, from the overdubbed vocals, and the fact that the concert also featured recordings from December 1963 (also where announcer Fred Vail's introduction comes from). Most obviously, Brian Wilson used the original music tracks for both "Fun, Fun, Fun" (which was sped up) and "I Get Around", both of which had elements removed to make them appear as though they were new performances.
Despite the shady circumstances surrounding its post-production (as is the case with many live albums), Beach Boys Concert is still an edgy live document and a missing link in their early discography, which captured The Beach Boys in a context that was about to change forever.
A truncated version was released on Pickwick Records
Pickwick Records
Pickwick Records was an American record label and distributor known for its budget album releases of sound-alike recordings, bargain bin reissues and repackagings under the brands Design, Bravo , Hurrah, Grand Prix, and children's records on the Cricket and Happy Time labels.The label is also...
as Wow, Great Concert!
Side one
- "Fun, Fun, FunFun, Fun, Fun"Fun, Fun, Fun", written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, was a hit single by The Beach Boys that was released in 1964 on the band's album Shut Down Volume 2.- Composition :...
" (Brian WilsonBrian WilsonBrian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
/Mike LoveMike LoveMichael Edward "Mike" Love is an American singer/songwriter and musician with The Beach Boys. He was a founding member of the band along with his cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, and continues to perform with the band to the present day...
) – 2:26 - "The Little Old Lady from PasadenaThe Little Old Lady from Pasadena"The Little Old Lady from Pasadena" is a song written by Don Altfeld, Jan Berry and Roger Christian, and recorded by 1960s American pop singers, Jan and Dean. The song reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1964...
" (Don Altfeld/Jan Berry/Roger Christian) – 3:00 - "Little Deuce CoupeLittle Deuce CoupeLittle Deuce Coupe is The Beach Boys' fourth album, and third overall LP release in 1963. Almost unintentionally, the album was rush-recorded and compiled when leader Brian Wilson sought to protect his band from exploitation from Capitol Records....
" (B. Wilson/Christian) – 2:27 - "Long, Tall Texan" (Henry Strezlecki) – 2:32
- "In My Room" (B. Wilson/Gary UsherGary UsherGary Usher was an American surf rock musician, songwriter, and record producer.-Biography:Usher's early life was spent in Grafton, Massachusetts. He attended Norcross Grammar School with his sister, Sandra, who was in the same class and was likely his twin. Gary was kiddingly called "Chicken Feed"...
) – 2:25 - "Monster MashMonster Mash"Monster Mash" is a 1962 novelty song and the best-known song by Bobby "Boris" Pickett. The song was released as a single on Gary S. Paxton's Garpax Records label in August 1962 along with a full-length LP called The Original Monster Mash, which contained several other monster-themed tunes...
" (Boris Pickett/Lenny Capizzi) – 2:27 - "Let's Go Trippin'Let's Go Trippin'"Let's Go Trippin" is an instrumental by Dick Dale and the Del-Tones. It is often regarded as the first surf rock instrumental. First played in public on May 31, 1958 at the Rendezvous ballroom in Balboa, Ca...
" (Dick DaleDick DaleDick Dale is an American surf rock guitarist, known as The King of the Surf Guitar. He experimented with reverberation and made use of custom made Fender amplifiers, including the first-ever 100-watt guitar amplifier.-Early life:Dale was born in South Boston, Massachusetts and lived in nearby...
) – 2:34
Side two
- "Papa-Oom-Mow-MowPapa-Oom-Mow-Mow"Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" is a 1962 novelty nonsensical doo-wop song by The Rivingtons. The song peaked at #48 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #35 on the Cashbox charts.-Cover versions:...
" (Carl White/Al Frazier/Sonny Harris/Turner Wilson Jr.) – 2:18 - "The Wanderer" (Ernest Maresca) – 2:00
- "Hawaii" (B. Wilson/Love) – 1:51
- "Graduation Day" (Joe Sherman/Noel Sherman) – 3:29
- "I Get AroundI Get Around"I Get Around" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love for The Beach Boys. The song features Love on lead vocal for the verse, and Wilson for the chorus. It is noteworthy for its back-to-front structure - it starts with a chorus and has two short verses...
" (B. Wilson/Love) – 2:42 - "Johnny B. GoodeJohnny B. Goode"Johnny B. Goode" is a 1958 rock and roll song written and originally performed by American musician Chuck Berry. The song was a major hit among both black and white audiences peaking at #2 on Billboard magazine's Hot R&B Sides chart and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song is one of Chuck Berry's...
" (Chuck BerryChuck BerryCharles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
) – 1:56
Beach Boys Concert (Capitol (S)TAO 2198) is now paired on CD with Live in London
Live in London (The Beach Boys)
Live in London is a live album by The Beach Boys, initially released by EMI in the UK in May 1970, and in the US via Capitol Records on November 15, 1976.-Background:...
, with bonus tracks from both periods.
Beach Boys Concert hit 1 in the US during a 62 week chart stay.
Sources
- Beach Boys Concert/Live in London CD booklet notes, David Leaf, c.1990.
- "The Nearest Faraway Place: Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys and the Southern California Experience", Timothy White, c. 1994.
- "Wouldn't It Be Nice - My Own Story", Brian WilsonBrian WilsonBrian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
and Todd Gold, c. 1991. - "Top Pop Singles 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
- "Top Pop Albums 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
- Allmusic.com