The Things We Did Last Summer

[The_Beach]

Does anyone know what the Beach Boys originally had planned to do with this song in 1963? was it ever planned to be released on album? Was the song only recorded the cover for the Steve Allen Show on March 2 1963. I don't remember ever hearing what the beach boys had planned for this song?

[Jon Stebbins]

Things We Did Last Summer was not recorded for the Steve Allen Show...it was recorded for the Red Skelton Show on April 21, 1963, and didn't air until Sept. 24, 1963. The shooting schedule suggests only Brian, Mike and Dennis pre-recorded the vocals at the CBS TV studio which were lip-synched to during the broadcast by the entire group. This was likely the only version of the song ever performed by the BB's, maybe something softer to balance the rock and roll of Surfin' USA which was also performed on that Red Skelton episode.

[catlag]

Wow! Can this be seen anywhere? Will a compilation of all (or most) TV appearances by the Beach Boys ever see the light of day? What would it take for it to happen? Would it cost too much to make such a production?

[mojoman3061]

This has "Surfin' U.S.A." and "The Things We Did Last Summer": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9JwveKr_Rc

[KDS]

Wow! Can this be seen anywhere? Will a compilation of all (or most) TV appearances by the Beach Boys ever see the light of day? What would it take for it to happen? Would it cost too much to make such a production?

The full clip was released as a bonus feature on the Endless Harmony DVD.

Considering we didn't even get a full concert DVD release from C50 in 2012, I would say the likelihood of a compilation of TV appearances / promo films (ala the recent Beatles 1+ release) would be extremely unlikely. 

[The_Beach]

This has "Surfin' U.S.A." and "The Things We Did Last Summer": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9JwveKr_Rc

this is the same version that was released on Good vibration box set right? So never had any plans on releaseing it on album?

[Jim Murphy]

"On April 21, the group taped an appearance on The Red Skelton Hour at CBS Television City in LA, performing “Surfin’ U.S.A.” and “The Things We Did Last Summer.” Skelton was a jazz aficionado, but saw the appeal that rock ‘n’ roll performers held for a younger audience. This would be the Beach Boys’ first appearance on national television, but it would not air until September 24, the season opener for Skelton’s thirteenth year. It did little to promote “Surfin’ U.S.A.” which was long gone from the charts by then.

At a faux beach party setting without amplifiers or microphones, the guys lip synced their way through “Surfin’ U.S.A.” while a dozen older-looking “teens” in beach attire grooved to the music. Brian played his dark Fender Precision Bass, Marks his Sunburst Fender Stratocaster, and Carl his new Olympic White Fender Jaguar.

The Beach Boys’ national television debut is as memorable for the vintage performance as for the outfits the CBS wardrobe department selected for them. They were dressed identically in three-quarter length sleeved crew-neck shirts with dark, broad horizontal stripes, and three-quarter length white bell bottom pants known as clam diggers. “They looked like sailors,” recalled Jodi Gable. “I think somebody with the show made them wear those outfits. It wasn’t fashionable even then and I think they felt a little silly at the time.”

They looked awkward and self-conscious, a situation exacerbated by the outfits. Their stage moves had not changed much since their appearance on One Man’s Challenge at the Azusa Teen Club nine months earlier—a synchronized rocking back and forth inspired by The Stroll. Mike at least appeared like he was enjoying himself. But during the guitar solo, he stepped out in front to dance with a young woman, his moves resembling those of an injured rooster flailing about. For their second number, they gathered together without instruments, Brian and Mike sitting in front of the other three standing, and lip synced “The Things We Did Last Summer,” a Top Ten hit for Jo Stafford in 1946 and covered that year by Frank Sinatra. The guys would have known Shelley Fabares’s upbeat version from August 1962, which reached #46. The selection of songs was a shrewd move by Murry. “Surfin’ U.S.A.” hooked the kids while “The Things We Did Last Summer” showcased their beautiful vocals, appealing to an older demographic who remembered the Stafford and Sinatra versions.

“The Things We Did Last Summer” was recorded on the CBS soundstage with the house orchestra. The show’s detailed rehearsal schedule indicated Brian, Mike, and Dennis recorded their vocals from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., while Carl and David recorded their vocals 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. However, David remembered only Brian, Mike, and Carl singing on it, while he and Dennis goofed off somewhere.9 Sometime after the taping, an acetate was made at Hite Morgan’s Stereo Masters. Brian recalled they recorded the song for a movie soundtrack, but it was never used. It was finally released on the Good Vibrations box set in 1993. As part of its marketing campaign to promote the set, Capitol paired “The Things We Did Last Summer” with “Be True to Your School” as a jukebox only single."

from Becoming the Beach Boys Boys, 1961-1963 (McFarland 2015)

NB:  I would be remiss not to point out that End Notes in the actual book, which did not reproduce here, cite these sources: Jon Stebbins, Ian Rusten, David Leaf, and my interview with Jodi Gable.

[Rocky Raccoon]

I recall the box set liner notes saying it was intended for the Christmas album.  I'm assuming that's inaccurate?

[Sheriff John Stone]

I recall the box set liner notes saying it was intended for the Christmas album.  I'm assuming that's inaccurate?

I wish it would've ended up on The Beach Boys' Christmas Album. Lyrically it fits, you had Dick Reynolds available for the strings, and the Christmas album was too short to begin with. The only drawback would've been adding another ballad to an album already top-heavy with 'em.

On the recent Alternate Discography thread, I added "Things We Did Last Summer" to my alternate Christmas Album. Hey, the song is just sitting there, buried on an old boxed set. It needs to be heard, shared. I'm holding out hope that it is resurrected and added to the next Beach Boys' Christmas compilation...in a couple of years?

[Alan Smith]

I recall the box set liner notes saying it was intended for the Christmas album.  I'm assuming that's inaccurate?

The liner notes say:
"...is a Christmas song (recorded circa 1963), similar in style to several cuts on The Beach Boys' Christmas LP.  Brian remembers that the Beach Boys recorded it for a movie, but that it didn't make the soundtrack (that last sentence is as per Jim's selection above)."