Surf City (song)
Encyclopedia
"Surf City" is a surf song which, as recorded by Jan and Dean
, was a #1 hit record
in July 1963 for two weeks.
The first draft of the song, with the working title "Goody Connie Won't You Come Back Home", was written by Brian Wilson
of The Beach Boys
. He gave it to Jan Berry and Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean
who finished writing and recording it with Wilson in the early 1960s. Although Torrence contributed several important phrases to the song and kept the original lyrics, which were scanned and appear on the official Jan and Dean website, Torrence never insisted that his name should be recognized on the label as one of the authors of the song and his contribution is often overlooked. "Surf City" became the first surf song to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
in 1963. The song also crossed to #3 on Billboard's R&B charts.
In 1991, after moving to the city of Huntington Beach, California
, Torrence went on to help convince elected officials that his new home town should be officially nicknamed "Surf City". The name was embraced and, as of 2009, more than 65 businesses in the city include "Surf City" as part of their name.
The Ramones
covered "Surf City" on their album Acid Eaters
. The Go-Go's
sang a cover version at An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson (2001). They substituted the lyrics "Two girls for every boy" with "Two boys for every girl". The Meteors
sang a cover version as well.
The Beach Boys has also covered the song in their live concerts.
Jan and Dean
Jan and Dean were a rock and roll duo, popular from the late 1950s through the mid 1960s, consisting of William Jan Berry and Dean Ormsby Torrence...
, was a #1 hit record
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
in July 1963 for two weeks.
The first draft of the song, with the working title "Goody Connie Won't You Come Back Home", was written by 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...
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...
. He gave it to Jan Berry and Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean
Jan and Dean
Jan and Dean were a rock and roll duo, popular from the late 1950s through the mid 1960s, consisting of William Jan Berry and Dean Ormsby Torrence...
who finished writing and recording it with Wilson in the early 1960s. Although Torrence contributed several important phrases to the song and kept the original lyrics, which were scanned and appear on the official Jan and Dean website, Torrence never insisted that his name should be recognized on the label as one of the authors of the song and his contribution is often overlooked. "Surf City" became the first surf song to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in 1963. The song also crossed to #3 on Billboard's R&B charts.
In 1991, after moving to the city of Huntington Beach, California
Huntington Beach, California
Huntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County in Southern California. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 189,992; making it the largest beach city in Orange County in terms of population...
, Torrence went on to help convince elected officials that his new home town should be officially nicknamed "Surf City". The name was embraced and, as of 2009, more than 65 businesses in the city include "Surf City" as part of their name.
The Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
covered "Surf City" on their album Acid Eaters
Acid Eaters
Acid Eaters is the thirteenth studio album by the American punk band The Ramones.Recorded in 1993 , towards the end of the Ramones' career, the album is often set apart from other Ramones releases in that it is entirely composed of covers...
. The Go-Go's
The Go-Go's
The Go-Go’s are an all-female American rock band formed in 1978. They made history as the first all-female band that both wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to top the Billboard album charts....
sang a cover version at An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson (2001). They substituted the lyrics "Two girls for every boy" with "Two boys for every girl". The Meteors
The Meteors
The Meteors are an English psychobilly band formed in 1980. Originally from London, England, they are often credited with giving the psychobilly subgenre—which fuses punk rock with rockabilly—its distinctive sound and style...
sang a cover version as well.
The Beach Boys has also covered the song in their live concerts.