Original credit for Surfin' USA

[CosmicDancer]

A question for those that are in the know:  What was the original songwriting credit for Surfin' USA?  Was Chuck Berry's name originally on the credit, or was that added later as a result of a lawsuit or threatend lawsuit?  I was under the impression that Chuck was not originally listed.  On another message board, someone posted that Brian, or Murry, had given Chuck Berry credit from the beginning.  I'm just curious.  Thanks!

[Aegir]

It was originally just credited to Brian Wilson.

[Ron]

I think a lot of that was ignorance.  I don't believe Brian and co. ever tried to hide that it was a Chuck Berry song, but didn't realize that they needed to pay him for it.  You'd think Murray would have known, though. 

[mikeyj]

From what I know/have read, the credit went from Brian Wilson > Chuck Berry > Chuck Berry/Brian Wilson.. so basically there has been three "versions" of the credits.

[CosmicDancer]

I think a lot of that was ignorance.  I don't believe Brian and co. ever tried to hide that it was a Chuck Berry song, but didn't realize that they needed to pay him for it.  You'd think Murray would have known, though. 

Murray probably did know and chose not to mention it. 

Thanks everyone.  This confirms what I had thought.

[mikeyj]

You'd think Murray would have known, though. 

Murray probably did know and chose not to mention it. 

Maybe Murry had never heard "Sweet Little Sixteen" because he was too busy listening to "Two Step, Side Step"

[MBE]

I have a mono rainbow label pressing that says Chuck Berry. This must be the second version

[Andrew G. Doe]

The original credit was just "Wilson", until Chuck's lawyers started making noises (ironically, Chuck was in the slammer at the time). A court case was threatened, but the settlement was out of court, with Chuck getting most (if not all) of the royalties and sole label credit for quite a few years. Currently the credit reads "Berry/Wilson" of course, it should read "Berry/Wilson/Bowlles". 

[matt-zeus]

Currently the credit reads "Berry/Wilson" of course, it should read "Berry/Wilson/Bowlles". 

Is that Peter or Judy? 

[mikeyj]

Currently the credit reads "Berry/Wilson" of course, it should read "Berry/Wilson/Bowlles". 

Is that Peter or Judy? 

Jimmy I believe

What makes you so sure that its Jimmy Bowles Andrew. Like did he say so in an interview or something? By the way I wonder what Judy/Jimmy are doing now? Like does anyone know if they are still alive etc..?

[Chris Brown]

Currently the credit reads "Berry/Wilson" of course, it should read "Berry/Wilson/Bowlles". 

Is that Peter or Judy? 

Jimmy I believe

What makes you so sure that its Jimmy Bowles Andrew. Like did he say so in an interview or something? By the way I wonder what Judy/Jimmy are doing now? Like does anyone know if they are still alive etc..?

If I recall, Jimmy (Judy's younger brother) the one who told Brian about all of the different surfing locations listed in the song. 

[Andrew G. Doe]

Currently the credit reads "Berry/Wilson" of course, it should read "Berry/Wilson/Bowlles". 

Is that Peter or Judy? 

Jimmy I believe

What makes you so sure that its Jimmy Bowles Andrew. Like did he say so in an interview or something? By the way I wonder what Judy/Jimmy are doing now? Like does anyone know if they are still alive etc..?

If I recall, Jimmy (Judy's younger brother) the one who told Brian about all of the different surfing locations listed in the song. 

That's it - Brian's said that when he got the idea for "Surfin' USA", he got Jimmy to write down all the surfin' spots. At which point brian usually said "and he didn't miss a goshdarn one !"

[Aegir]

I wouldn't really consider that a co-writing credit.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I wouldn't really consider that a co-writing credit.

Jimmy contributed a list of surf spots, at Brian's request. Those names are sung in the song. Them's what I call lyrics.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I agree 100%, but by that same logic, does Dennis then qualify as a co-writer of "Surfin'"?

[Andrew G. Doe]

I agree 100%, but by that same logic, does Dennis then qualify as a co-writer of "Surfin'"?

Yes. 

[c-man]

I agree 100%, but by that same logic, does Dennis then qualify as a co-writer of "Surfin'"?

Yes. 

Then surely Mike DOES deserve a credit for "Back In The U.S.S.R."!  Let's see him take on the Lennon/McCartney legal team...or the Michael Jackson legal team...

[mikeyj]

I agree 100%, but by that same logic, does Dennis then qualify as a co-writer of "Surfin'"?

Yes. 

Then surely Mike DOES deserve a credit for "Back In The U.S.S.R."!  Let's see him take on the Lennon/McCartney legal team...or the Michael Jackson legal team...

Or of course Dennis with "You Are So Beautiful"... there is plenty of instances where people who contribute ideas or a few words here and there and aren't given credit.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I agree 100%, but by that same logic, does Dennis then qualify as a co-writer of "Surfin'"?

Yes. 

Then surely Mike DOES deserve a credit for "Back In The U.S.S.R."!  Let's see him take on the Lennon/McCartney legal team...or the Michael Jackson legal team...

Not sure about that - for "USA" & "Beautiful" there's independent verification (respectively Brian & Billy) whereas Mike's claim to have inspired the middle-eight to "USSR" derives solely from his own testimony. Don't ever recall Macca nor anyone else at the fabled Rishikesh breakfast table saying anything about it.

[mikeyj]

I agree 100%, but by that same logic, does Dennis then qualify as a co-writer of "Surfin'"?

Yes. 

Then surely Mike DOES deserve a credit for "Back In The U.S.S.R."!  Let's see him take on the Lennon/McCartney legal team...or the Michael Jackson legal team...

Not sure about that - for "USA" & "Beautiful" there's independent verification (respectively Brian & Billy) whereas Mike's claim to have inspired the middle-eight to "USSR" derives solely from his own testimony. Don't ever recall Macca nor anyone else at the fabled Rishikesh breakfast table saying anything about it.

Yeah thats a good point Andrew. I don't know if I can believe Mike's claims, I have always been a bit sceptical when it comes to Back In The USSR. I mean the only one who ever mentions it is Mike and the fact that he mentions it ALL the bloody time is what amazes me. Okay Mike, we've got it, you helped write it... Gee, get over it. I mean I have never heard Dennis go on about how he wrote You Are So Beautiful? Or did he at one point?

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Why wasn't Dennis ever given credit for co-writing that song?

[mikeyj]

Why wasn't Dennis ever given credit for co-writing that song?

No idea. I'm sure AGD or Jon would have an idea though or atleast an opinion on it. Of course Billy Preston is dead now and I think Bruce Fisher is also dead? So Billy Hinsche is the only one who would know (or atleast claim that Dennis had a hand in writing it).

[Dancing Bear]

Yeah thats a good point Andrew. I don't know if I can believe Mike's claims, I have always been a bit sceptical when it comes to Back In The USSR. I mean the only one who ever mentions it is Mike and the fact that he mentions it ALL the bloody time is what amazes me. Okay Mike, we've got it, you helped write it...

If I'd made a little suggestion that made a Beatle song turn out differently on the White Album, I'd sure as hell tell everyone about it. So would everyone here, I'm afraid. 

[Rocker]

I mean I have never heard Dennis go on about how he wrote You Are So Beautiful? Or did he at one point?

I think I remember an interview with Al in which he said that Dennis told him one time he helped writing it. But Al didn't know if Denny was joking or not...

[mikeyj]

Yeah thats a good point Andrew. I don't know if I can believe Mike's claims, I have always been a bit sceptical when it comes to Back In The USSR. I mean the only one who ever mentions it is Mike and the fact that he mentions it ALL the bloody time is what amazes me. Okay Mike, we've got it, you helped write it...

If I'd made a little suggestion that made a Beatle song turn out differently on the White Album, I'd sure as hell tell everyone about it. So would everyone here, I'm afraid. 

Yeah that's true but my point is you or anyone here didn't help write "Good Vibrations", "California Girls", "The Warmth Of The Sun", "Do It Again", "I Get Around" or other lesser known gems like "Please Let Me Wonder", "All I Wanna Do" etc..

My point is if I wrote all of the songs Mike co-wrote as a Beach Boy then who cares if you made a suggestion about a Beatles song? I would much rather write The Warmth of the Sun than just make a suggestion towards a song.