Surfin Safari [Import]

Track Listings
1. Surfin' Safari    
2. County Fair    
3. Ten Little Indians    
4. Chug-A-Lug    
5. Little Miss America    
6. 409    
7. Surfin'    
8. Heads You Win Tails I Los    
9. Summertime Blues    
10. Mocuckoo Clock    
11. Moon Dawg    
12. Shift    

Editorial Reviews
Album Details
Japanese Digitally Remastered Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.

Surfin Safari, Music, Beach Boys, Pop
Surfin' Safari/Surfin' U.S.A.
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Where the Beach Boys all began
  • Knock it off.
  • WELL, WELL WORTH BUYING
  • Come On A Safari With Us!
  • Prototype Beach Boys
Surfin' Safari/Surfin' U.S.A.
The Beach Boys
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Surf RockSurf Rock | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Surfer Girl/Shut Down, Vol. 2
  2. Little Deuce Coupe/ All Summer Long
  3. Today/ Summer Days (and Summer Nights)
  4. Friends/20/20
  5. Smiley Smile/Wild Honey

ASIN: B00005A1MT
Release Date: 2001-03-13

Tracks:

  1. Surfin' Safari - (mono)
  2. County Fair - (mono)
  3. Ten Little Indians - (mono)
  4. Chug-a-Lug - (mono)
  5. Little Girl (You're My Miss America) - (mono)
  6. 409 - (mono)
  7. Surfin' - (mono)
  8. Heads You Win Tails I Lose - (mono)
  9. Summertime Blues - (mono)
  10. Cuckoo Clock - (mono)
  11. Moon Dawg - (mono)
  12. Shift, The - (mono)
  13. Surfin' U. S. A. - (stereo)
  14. Farmer's Daughter - (stereo)
  15. Misirlou - (stereo)
  16. Stoked - (stereo)
  17. Lonely Sea - (stereo)
  18. Shut Down - (stereo)
  19. Noble Surfer - (stereo)
  20. Honky Tonk - (stereo)
  21. Lana - (stereo)
  22. Surf Jam - (stereo)
  23. Let's Go Trippin' - (stereo)
  24. Finders Keepers - (stereo)
  25. Cindy Oh Cindy - (mono, bonus track)
  26. Baker Man, The - (mono, bonus track)
  27. Land Ahoy - (stereo, bonus track)

Amazon.com

Seeking to Capitol-ize on their local L.A. indie-label novelty hit, "Surfin'," the Beach Boys and their nascent sound (tales of innocent SoCal hedonism set to equal parts doo-wop vocal influences and Chuck Berry licks) were produced on these initial releases by the A&R exec who signed them, Nik Venet. But if Brian Wilson's production genius was yet untapped, his songwriting knack, trademark arrangements, and soaring falsetto were already coming to the fore, even on Surfin' Safari, the band's hastily recorded, low-budget debut album--"Surfin'," "Surfin' Safari," and "409" are ample testament to his hitmeister potential. Released just five months later, Surfin' USA both insured the band's national appeal and testified to the rapid development of their harmonies on cuts such as "Farmer's Daughter" and "Lana." The band sounds more confident throughout, and Wilson hints at the greatness to come with the moody ballad "The Lonely Sea." The flip side to Wilson's fragile emotionalism is, of course, Mike Love's nasal, fun-seeking twang; those voices revolving--often tensely--around a hub of incomparable harmony became one of rock's most indelible archetypes. These are the humble, charmingly awkward beginnings of that legend. Three unreleased bonus cuts are also featured: "Cindy, Oh Cindy," "The Baker Man" (a nursery rhyme take on the Olympics' "Hully Gully"), and the nautical "Land Ahoy." The latter two tracks are notable as Brian's official producing debut. This twofer edition features comments by Brian and the astute liner notes of music historian David Leaf. --Jerry McCulley

Amazon.com

Beach Boys Photos

More from The Beach Boys

Little Deuce Coupe/ All Summer Long

Pet Sounds

20 Good Vibrations, The Greatest Hits

Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of The Beach Boys

Endless Harmony

Today/ Summer Days (and Summer Nights)

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Where the Beach Boys all began.......2007-01-19

Again, it is wonderful to have these classic LP's re-mastered with the sound fresh and vibrant, minus all of the snap, crackle, and pop of an old record. When you listen to these CD's you are reminded that these guys started off as a bunch of fresh-faced, young high school boys. Basically a super-talented local garage band that rented equipment to make a demo. They came from a musically talented family, but no one then knew exactly what a genius Brian Wilson would ultimately turn out to be. In addition to the hit singles, you will recognize there are some songs that are slightly rough musically & vocally. But the potential is clear and the talent shines through the immaturity. With every new album they made you could hear the quantum leaps they were making in musical maturity. It is fun to remember where their journey began back in the early 60's, and it is a reminder to all of us that were fortunate to grow up in So. California back then, of great times past. Get it as an essential part of your collection and fondly remember.

3 out of 5 stars Knock it off........2006-09-11

This CD features the Beach Boys first two albums.

Surfin' Safari was their first album, released in the wake of "Surfin' Safari" being a hit single. It also features "Surfin' Safari"'s great b-side "409", as well as the group's legendary first single "Surfin'" (although the track was sped up for the album). Some other good songs include "County Fair", "Ten Little Indians" and "Chug-a-Lug". The rest of the album isn't all that great.

Surfin' USA was their second album, released after the title song became a smash hit. It's b-side "Shut Down", which was a hit in it's own right, is naturally included on the album. Oddly, five of the twelve tracks on the album are instrumentals. They are decent, but the Beach Boys weren't the best surf instrumental group around. As for the rest of the songs with lyrics, "Farmer's Daughter" and "Lonely Sea" are pretty good, the rest aren't so good.

The CD adds three bonus tracks of songs recorded at the same sessions as their first two albums. These songs weren't good enough to be included on the albums, which is obvious once you hear them. This CD doesn't feature the Beach Boys at their best, but it does show them on their way to becoming one of the all time great rock and roll groups. If you want to hear where the legend began, check it out.

5 out of 5 stars WELL, WELL WORTH BUYING.......2005-10-09

Don't listen to any of the clowns on here giving these albums a low rating. There are some real gems on here that were not hits and you will hear Brian's genius in it's rawest form from Denis singing Miss America to Mike on County Fair. I now have all of the Beach Boys albums and each one is a treasure with a lot of hidden surprises on them and these are no exception.

5 out of 5 stars Come On A Safari With Us!.......2005-04-29

This is where it all began. Having tasted local success on the Candix label (following a few weeks on "X"), Hawthorne California's favorite sons were now ready to take on America.

Surfin' Safari, their first Capitol Records album is unlike any other Beach Boys record. Take away the classics: Surfin', Surfin' Safari and 409 - and you are still left with better than average fillers for a rock 'n' roll album from 1962. What is unusual is we hear the Beach Boys performing songs that might have just as easily been recorded by Randy & The Rainbows, the Tokens, or the Duprees. They are not uniquely "Beach Boys".

Since The Beach Boys seem to have always been with us, it's easy to forget that they ranged in age from 13 to 20 when they recorded these songs. A remarkable accomplishment.

An even greater accomplishment is that they recorded the Surfin' U.S.A. album less than a year later. The Beach Boys sound is cemented with Surfin' U.S.A. and Shut Down. The vocals are crisp and confident - and Brian is at the helm. It's summer magic.

But is this really a 5-star two-fer CD? You bet yer burd! The Beach Boys were as far ahead of the curve as Berry Gordy was with Motown, and Brian Wilson would prove to be a greater genius than his idol, Phil Spector. There was nothing in American rock & roll that even approached what these guys were doing in this pre-Beatles era.

3 out of 5 stars Prototype Beach Boys.......2005-03-19

Throughout 2001 Capitol Records went through the Beach Boys catalogue re-issuing them all in re-mastered sound using the best-available masters, with extensive liner notes and usually two albums plus bonus tracks on each release. In the early years, Capitol managed to squeeze a large number of albums out of the group and there is a steep learning curve as the group became more proficient and mature, and Brian Wilson's songwriting, arranging and production skills evolved.

Surfin' Safari (1962) was the band's first album, rushed out in the wake of the success of the title track as a hit single and its hot-rod B-side, 409, replete with the sound effects of a 348 Chevy as they couldn't afford a 409. Surf, hot-rods and girls are the preoccupations of most of the songs, mainly original compositions, though there is a stab at Summertime Blues, and the Gamblers' Moon Dawg, considered to be the first surf record. It includes some of the demo recordings that got the band signed in the first place, and their first single, Surfin', from 1961, which had first been released on the tiny X Records label and then on Candix. The version here is the Candix version speeded up, despite the "production notes" in the liner. Most of the lead vocals are by Mike Love, though Brian sings Cuckoo Clock and Dennis Wilson, the Ringo Starr of the group, debuts as lead singer on Little Miss America. Ten Little Indians was also released as a single from the album, against Brian Wilson's wishes (his choice was Chug-A-Lug).

At this stage the Beach Boys were strong vocally and harmonically but their instrumental skills were rudimentary. Although some of the tracks have previously appeared in 3-track stereo (vocals left and right, instruments at centre), they are all in mono here, although Land Ahoy!, an outtake included as a bonus track, is stereo.

Surfin' USA (1963) was similarly built around the hit title track which really put the Beach Boys on the map, a surf lyric re-write of Chuck Berry's Sweet Little Sixteen that defined their vocal sound. Again the B-side was a hot-rod song, Shut Down, on which Brian collaborated for the first time with DJ and drag racing enthusiast Roger Christian. Apart from being in stereo, this album is mostly more of the same, though Brian takes three lead vocals, including Lonely Sea, a ballad that prefigures the wistful melancholia of his later productions, and the instrumental Surf Jam marks Carl Wilson's first released composition
Jenny McCarthy's Surfin' Safari
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Surf
  • Has most of the Essentials, worth a buy
  • Best Single-Disc Surf Music Compilation Ever.
  • best 50-60' surf or beach party compilation, + jenny pics!
  • IF YOU LIKE SURF MUSIC THESE ARE THE ORIGIONALS...
Jenny McCarthy's Surfin' Safari
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Interscope Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
1960s1960s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Surf RockSurf Rock | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music
1960-19691960-1969 | Decades | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Back to Black

ASIN: B000001Y2D
Release Date: 1996-07-02

Tracks:

  1. Misirlou - Dick Dale & His Del-Tones
  2. Surfin' USA - The Beach Boys
  3. Walk, Don't Run - The Ventures
  4. Tequila - The Champs
  5. Rumble - Link Wray
  6. Bongo Rock - Preston Epps
  7. Surf City - Jan And Dean
  8. Pipeline - The Chantays
  9. Surfin' Bird - The Trashmen
  10. Let's Go Trippin' - Dick Dale & His Del-Tones
  11. Wipeout - The Surfaris
  12. Surf Rider - The Lively Ones
  13. Hawaii 5-0 - The Ventures
  14. Surfin' Safari - The Beach Boys

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Surf.......2006-10-17

Surprisingly enough this is really an excellent surf music compilation. It contains classics by the beach boys (surfin USA), as well as Jan and Dean (Surf City) plus the trashmen.

4 out of 5 stars Has most of the Essentials, worth a buy.......2005-12-29

I was looking for a bunch of instumentals and when I would type in a name of a surf instrumental, this would always pop up with other albums, I kept skipping over it because Jenny McCarthy was on the front so I thought it's probably rehashed crap, that MTV spit out. Well I was wrong, although this is not a definitive surf compilation disc, it does have alot of the essentials on one disc and they are the ORIGINAL RECORDINGS, just don't expect linear notes or a correct timeline (order they were released on the disc). Defintely worth the purchase price, and a great disc to throw in your Stereo when you go to the beach. 4 1/2 stars

5 out of 5 stars Best Single-Disc Surf Music Compilation Ever........2002-02-22

I loved surf music even before "Pulp Fiction" brought it (and John Travolta) back in a big way. I'm still trying to figure out how they managed to leave "Rumble" (the all-time coolest instrumental tune in the history of pop music) by Link Wray & his Wray Men off the "Pulp Fiction" soundtrack (it was played during Vincent & Mia's "uncomfortable silence" bit in Jackrabbit Slim's, as all true movie geeks know).
>
Fortunately it and ever other surf tune you've ever heard to the point of cliche' nausea is on this collection. Every guitar player from the age of 33-45 was probably taught half the tunes on this CD when they were first starting out (especially "Wipeout" and the infinitely cool "Pipeline").
>
The standard Dick Dale tunes are also included, as are a couple of Beach Boys/Jan & Dean tunes for good measure...but the strength of this CD are the instrumentals. If you're a fan of the genre at all, or even mildly interested in it, this is easily the best CD you can get in terms of all-inclusive, deadly cool tunes.

5 out of 5 stars best 50-60' surf or beach party compilation, + jenny pics!.......1999-02-09

If you're on your 30's and you don't enjoy this cd, you're dead or you've never heard radio in your life.

There are great songs in this cd I heard as a kid, but didn't know their names or who played them, like 'Walk dont run' and the Tarantino-movie-famous 'Misirlou'(Pulp Fiction), others by Beach Boys and Ventures.

I played this cd for the 1st time at the computer center of my university (I am studying a MBA in Peru) and my mates made me play the whole album for three times in a row. Enuff said

4 out of 5 stars IF YOU LIKE SURF MUSIC THESE ARE THE ORIGIONALS..........1998-11-05

HAVING A VACATION THEME PARTY AND THIS WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT SAID ORIGIONAL ARTISTS. GOOD TUNES--EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD THINK.HONESTLY THOUGH I DON'T APPRECIATE SEEING JENNY'S BUT EVERY TIME I PUT ON THE CD.OH YEA THERE IS A FREE POSTER IN THE CD CASE-- ANYONE WANT A POSTER? END
Best Of: Surfin Safari
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Best Of: Surfin Safari
    Jan & Dean
    Manufacturer: Bmg
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
    Surf RockSurf Rock | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music
    CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Surf Rock | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Surf Rock | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
    ASIN: B000008561
    Release Date: 1998-02-05

    Album Details

    Tracks Include: Surfin' Safari, California Girls, I Get Around, Surfer Girl, Little Old Lady from Pasedena, Drag City, Indian Lake, Summer Rain and More.
    Surfin' Safari/Surfin' USA
    Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    • Great CD
    • The first and the worst Beach Boys albums
    Surfin' Safari/Surfin' USA
    Beach Boys
    Manufacturer: Pid
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
    Classic RockClassic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
    ASIN: B00000I94X
    Release Date: 1999-03-09

    Tracks:

    1. Surfin' Safari
    2. County Fair
    3. Ten Little Indians
    4. Chug-A-Lug
    5. Little Girl(You're My Miss America)
    6. Surfin'
    7. "Heads You Win, Tails I Lose
    8. Summertime Blues
    9. Cuckoo Clock
    10. Moon Dawg
    11. The Shift
    12. Surfin' USA
    13. Farmer's Daughter
    14. Misirlou
    15. Stoked
    16. Lonely Sea
    17. Shut Down
    18. Noble Surfer
    19. Hony Tonk
    20. Lana
    21. Surf Jam
    22. Let's Go Trippin'
    23. Finders Keepers
    24. "Cindy, Oh Cindy
    25. The Baker Man
    26. Land Ahoy

    Album Description

    Two of the group's original hit LPs for Capitol digitally remastered & together on one CD with the original cover art of each, a 24 page booklet with extended liner notes, previously unreleased photos and track-by-track annotations & the bonus tracks 'Cin

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Great CD.......2001-07-08

    This CD has a lot of great Beach boy songs. Many of my favorites! Of course you can read the listings of all the songs...but perhaps you don't know all of them. I personaly am not a fan of slow songs, and this one does have a few, but not many. It has more fast songs, great to sing along with!!

    2 out of 5 stars The first and the worst Beach Boys albums.......2000-05-13

    On their first album Surfin' Safari The Beach Boys could sing a bit and couldn't play almost at all. Brian Wilson wrote a few not bad songs but he wasn't a real genius yet. The arrangements are bad. The best song on the album is Cuckoo Clock. On the second album Surfin' USA The Beach Boys still couldn't play but their attitude was completely different. Brian wrote a few good songs, and the title track (actually a cover version of Chuck Berry's Sweet Little Sixteen) is excellent. It's quite amazing that these albums were made only about three years before the great Pet Sounds.
    The Beach Boys Do It Again
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      The Beach Boys Do It Again
      THE BEACH BOYS
      Manufacturer: EMI CAPITOL MUSIC-SPECIAL MARKETS
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
      ASIN: B000LOXQDI

      Product Description

      CALIFORNIA GIRLS-I GET AROUND-THIS CAR OF MINE-FUN,FUN,FUN-WENDY-GRADUATION DAY-DO IT AGAIN-THE LITTLE GIRL I ONCE KNEW-SURFIN'SAFARI
      Surfin' Safari/Surfin' U.S.A.
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • Tack it up.
      • 3.5 stars - Where it all began
      • Raw, primitive Beach Boys
      • The Genesis Of America's Band
      • Welcome re-issue of early Beach Boys albums.
      Surfin' Safari/Surfin' U.S.A.
      The Beach Boys
      Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      PunkPunk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
      Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
      Surf RockSurf Rock | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
      Classic RockClassic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
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      Similar Items:
      1. Surfer Girl/Shut Down, Vol. 2

      ASIN: B000008DA0
      Release Date: 1999-05-04

      Tracks:

      1. Surfin' Safari
      2. County Fair
      3. Ten Little Indians
      4. Chug-A-Lug
      5. Little Girl (You're My Miss America)
      6. 409
      7. Surfin'
      8. Heads You Win - Tails I Lose
      9. Summertime Blues
      10. Cuckoo Clock
      11. Moon Dawg
      12. Shift
      13. Surfin' U.S.A.
      14. Farmer's Daughter
      15. Misirlou
      16. Stoked
      17. Lonely Sea
      18. Shut Down
      19. Noble Surfer
      20. Honky Tonk
      21. Lana
      22. Surf Jam
      23. Let's Go Trippin'
      24. Finders Keepers
      25. Cindy, Oh Cindy [*]
      26. Baker Man [*]
      27. Land Ahoy [*]

      Album Details

      Two Releases on One CD. Includes Original Artwork, Extensive Booklet with Liner Notes and Previously Unreleased Photos. Digitally Remastered from the Original Master Tapes.

      Customer Reviews:

      3 out of 5 stars Tack it up........2006-09-11

      This CD features the Beach Boys first two albums.

      Surfin' Safari was their first album, released in the wake of "Surfin' Safari" being a hit single. It also features "Surfin' Safari"'s great b-side "409", as well as the group's legendary first single "Surfin'" (although the track was sped up for the album). Some other good songs include "County Fair", "Ten Little Indians" and "Chug-a-Lug". The rest of the album isn't all that great.

      Surfin' USA was their second album, released after the title song became a smash hit. It's b-side "Shut Down", which was a hit in it's own right, is naturally included on the album. Oddly, five of the twelve tracks on the album are instrumentals. They are decent, but the Beach Boys weren't the best surf instrumental group around. As for the rest of the songs with lyrics, "Farmer's Daughter" and "Lonely Sea" are pretty good, the rest aren't so good.

      The CD adds three bonus tracks of songs recorded at the same sessions as their first two albums. These songs weren't good enough to be included on the albums, which is obvious once you hear them. This CD doesn't feature the Beach Boys at their best, but it does show them on their way to becoming one of the all time great rock and roll groups. If you want to hear where the legend began, check it out.

      3 out of 5 stars 3.5 stars - Where it all began.......2004-12-18

      Surfin' Safari (1962.) Beach Boys' first album.
      Surfin' USA (1963.) Beach Boys' second album.

      The Beach Boys were one of the finest American pop-rock groups of the sixties, no questions asked. The band has even become dubbed "The American Beatles" due to their success in the sixties. Their pop tunes from that era have more than stood the test of time. The Wilson brothers and all the others had the ability to make extremely catchy pop tunes, the first one of which was Surfin'. The band used the success of the track to launch their first album, Surfin' Safari. The following year, the band released their sophomore LP, Surfin' USA. Read on for my review.

      Surfin' Safari was the first full-length LP that the Beach Boys ever recorded. Rather obviously, the big hit to emerge from this album was Surfin' which was actually released as a single at the end of 1961 (before the full-length album got released.) A series of other hits also emerged from this album, including the title track and 409. The big hits on this album are by far the best songs on it. Many of the lesser tracks are subpar, although some of them get the job done well. I'm not too crazy about County Fair or the band's rock and roll take on the children's song Ten Little Indians, but Heads You Win, Tails I Lose is one of the finest songs by the band that I have ever heard. It's a shame this one didn't become a bigger hit, because it's probably the best non-hit here. My rating for the Surfin' Safari LP is three stars out of five.

      Surfin' USA, the band's sophomore LP, was released the following year, 1963. The title track of this record would become its most popular and most successful track - and arguably the biggest hit of the band's career. Shut Down, one of the band's many drag racing numbers, also became pretty popular, and with good reason. And, much like the previous LP that the band had released, the big hits on this one are the best songs. Some of this stuff can come off seeming like "filler" material (the instrumentals, for example), but in the end this is a better LP than the previous one. My rating for the Surfin' USA LP is three and half out of five stars.

      In addition to the two full-length albums, there are some bonus tracks featured on the album. These don't really do anything to enhance the albums, but they are fine addition nonetheless, due to their rarity.

      Overall the first two Beach Boys LPs are good, but not great. Although these were decent releases, it was obvious that the band hadn't fully developed their sound yet. Take my advice and don't buy this CD unless you're a die-hard fan of the band. If you're anything less, get the new Sounds Of Summer hits compilation.

      5 out of 5 stars Raw, primitive Beach Boys.......2001-11-14

      I really enjoy these albums. True, the songwriting isn't there, for the most part (several covers), and the sound is pretty raw for the Beach Boys. However, there's an energy and enthusiasm that's quite evident, and it convinces me that these are recordings made by kids who were excited and having a lot of fun doing what they were doing. There's not a bad song (well, okay, Little Girl (You're My Miss America) is pretty goofy, but it's fun, and you can picture Dennis being packaged as a teen idol) and there are some really good ones that you'll never hear on the radio (Cuckoo Clock, Ten Little Indians, Chug-a-Lug, The Lonely Sea). If you like the B.B.'s at all, you'll enjoy this one (or these two).

      4 out of 5 stars The Genesis Of America's Band.......2000-06-20

      How ironic that Brian Wilson--the fragile genius behind the Beach Boys--is the only one of the Wilson brothers to survive into the new millennium. While this virtually eliminates any chance of new Beach Boys' product (although I thought the same thing of the Beatles before the Anthology series), this two-fer offers newcomers and longtime fans a chance to re-examine the Beach Boys' legacy beginning with their first two albums released in 1962 and 1963.

      Like a lot of albums of the era, both albums contain some filler among the chart singles. What you need to keep in mind while listening to these recordings almost forty years after they were first recorded is that the Beach Boys sound and Brian Wilson's songwriting would not be fully developed until at least 1964.

      Their first album, Surfin' Safari (tracks 1-12), contained their first Top 40 hit "Surfin' Safari" (No. 14) and its b-side "409," which would establish two of the Beach Boys' principal topics--surfing and cars. You also get the minor hit "Ten Little Indians" (No. 49) and a re-recording of their first hit "Surfin'" (No. 75). Brian co-wrote nine of the twelve songs, including all of the hits, but some of the songs are fairly lightweight. "County Fair" with its carnival barker is a annoying after a few listens. "Cuckoo Clock" is a bit goofy. "The Shift" isn't about cars at all, but rather refers to an anrticle of clothing. Of the non-originals, "Moon Dawg" is a surf instrumental which allows Carl to show off his chops. Perhaps the biggest surprise is Denis's vocal on "Little Miss America." It's a wonder he wasn't given more songs over the course of the Beach Boys' history.

      Their second album, Surfin USA (tracks 13-24), marked a huge change in that the Beach Boys were now given complete control over song selection, contrary to a long-standing industry practice of having an A&R person select all the songs. As a result, there were fewer covers this time out, and all the covers were instrumentals--the Dick Dale classics "Misirlou" and "Let's Go Trippin'," and Bill Doggett's "Honky Tonk." They would also record "Stoked," one of the few instrumentals Brian ever composed, and Carl's "Surf Jam." [Five instrumentals may seem excessive, but keep in mind the popularity at the time of instrumental acts like Dick Dale, the Ventures and others.]

      The highlight of their second album was the Chuck Berry-influenced "Surfin' U.S.A." (hence the Berry songwriting credit). It also gave the band its first Top Ten hit. The flip side, "Shut Down," was also a modest hit at No. 23. With the artistic freedom he now enjoyed, Brian would show his more introspective side on the melancholy "Loney Sea." [This would lead directly to songs like "In My Room," which would appear on their third album, Surfer Girl.]

      The bonus tracks (25-27) are not especially revelatory, but the cover of "Cindy, Oh Cindy" shows off the group's harmony singing to nice effect. "The Baker Man" is an obvious rewrite of the Olympics' "Hully Gully." The final bonus track, "Land Ahoy," will sound familiar to fans. The melody was recycled for the album Little Deuce Coupe where it appeared as "Cherry Cherry Coupe."

      All told, three stars for the music and an additional star for the opportunity to listen to the musical evolution of one of pop music's most inspired bands. RECOMMENDED

      4 out of 5 stars Welcome re-issue of early Beach Boys albums........1999-09-23

      What a pleasure to see the "twofer" (two albums on one disc plus bonus tracks) CDs available again! Having been issued in 1990 and very quickly deleted, the series of 8 "twofers" discs have recently reappeared. With the earlier disappearance of these albums I was sure I would never be able to complete my Beach Boys collection......but here they are! Make sure you don't miss out this time round as they are good value for money. The albums are probably more suitable for the keen fan but are, nevertheless, a valuable insight into the prolific song-writing of Brian Wilson and family. This disc, covering their first two albums SURFIN' SAFARI and SURFIN' USA, includes the hit "Surfin' USA". One little gem you'll come across is "Farmer's Daughter", a Wilson original, that was later covered by Fleetwood Mac. When you consider that at this stage only two members of the group were out of their teens, the harmonies are great - a sign of what was to follow. Yes, I am a fan of this stuff but this music re-creates an era when the only important things seemed to be sun, beach, surfing, girls and hot-rods.....and not necessarily in that order. Put on your headphones, close your eyes and drift down the California coastline with these tunes. Wonderful stuff.
      Surfin' Safari
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Great Surf Guitar
      Surfin' Safari

      Manufacturer: Avalon
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD
      ASIN: B0002BGQX2

      Product Description

      15 Tracks: 1. Pipeline 2. Surf Rider 3. Out Of Limits 4. Surfin' Safari 5. California Sun 6. Surfin' USA 7. Summertime Blues 8. Fun Fun Fun 9. Help Me Rhonda 10. Penetration 11. Surfer Girl 12. Wipeout 13. Wouldn't It Be Nice 14. Miserlou 15. I Get Around

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Great Surf Guitar.......2004-09-26

      Using Fender Stratocasters combined with great percussions, these selections really rock. California Sun is the best version I have every heard. I found this CD by accident and hope the group cuts another album soon
      Surfin' Safari
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • Surfin standby
      Surfin' Safari
      The Beach Boys
      Manufacturer: Capitol
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
      Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
      Surf RockSurf Rock | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
      CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Pop Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
      All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Pop Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
      All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Oldies | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
      All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
      CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Surf Rock | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
      All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Surf Rock | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
      ASIN: B000002TRJ
      Release Date: 1994-06-28

      Tracks:

      1. Surfin' Safari
      2. County Fair
      3. Ten Little Indians
      4. Chug-A-Lug
      5. Little Girl (You're My Miss America)
      6. 409
      7. Surfin'
      8. Heads You Win, Tails I Lose
      9. Summertime Blues
      10. Cuckoo Clock
      11. Moon Dawg
      12. Shift

      Amazon.com

      "Last year, when a group of sun-tanned youngsters recorded a song about their favorite sport, they had no idea that the tune was destined to ride a wave of popularity that would rival that of the sport itself." So says the liner notes to this unassuming 1963 debut album from a group of Hawthorne, California, teens (only one them was a surfer, as it turned out). Another trendy music fad destined to shine bright and die a quick commercial death, right? But this was one novelty group, led by the precocious producer-arranger Brian Wilson, destined for greater things--and more cohesive LPs. Surfin' Safari is a baby photograph cut on the quick in Capitol Records' studios (and chaperoned by staff producer Nik Venet, with Wilson actually calling the shots), a typical hits-plus-filler '60s disc, noteworthy for the out-of-the-box sonic sheen and some spot-on vocalizing. In hindsight, the goofy filler tunes ("Ten Little Indians," "Cuckoo Clock," one of five songs cowritten by fellow surf-rock pioneer Gary Usher) and throwaway covers ("Summertime Blues") have an unpretentious charm. --Don Harrison

      Customer Reviews:

      4 out of 5 stars Surfin standby.......2000-03-04

      In 1962 the first of The Beach Boys albums took off and with it their career, right to the top the sounds and songs are great and so are they especially when Mike Love sings, cause he really makes the music come alive . Carl Wilson at the age of only 17 sounds good on the guitar as does Brian on Fender Bass and Denny on the Drums i really think GOD that they came when they did they started the California music saga as i am for certain from the instrumental Moon Dawg to the little ditty 409 they really turn you on
      Surfin' Safari (Limited Edition)
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Surfin' Safari (Limited Edition)
        The Beach Boys
        Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
        Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
        Surf RockSurf Rock | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
        Classic RockClassic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
        RockRock | Imports | Stores | Music
        PopPop | Imports | Stores | Music
        Similar Items:
        1. Surfin' U.S.A. (Limited Edition)

        ASIN: B00000APSO
        Release Date: 2005-10-10

        Tracks:

        1. Surfin' Safari
        2. County Fair
        3. Ten Little Indians
        4. Chug-A-Lug
        5. Little Girl (You're My Miss America)
        6. 409
        7. Surfin'
        8. Heads You Win, Tails I Lose
        9. Summertime Blues
        10. Cuckoo Clock
        11. Moon Dawg
        12. Shift

        Album Details

        Japanese Version featuring a Limited Edition LP Style Slipcase for Initial Pressing Only.
        Surfin' Safari
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Surfin' Safari
          Various Artists
          Manufacturer: Double Play
          ProductGroup: Music
          Binding: Audio CD

          GeneralGeneral | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
          Orchestral PopOrchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
          CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Easy Listening | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
          All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Easy Listening | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
          ASIN: B00008EZV6
          Release Date: 1995-12-12

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