This youtube video claims its the BBs

[Magic Transistor Radio]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlH9HEuXBU8

This doesn't quite sound like the BBs to me. Is this really the BBs?

[Eric Aniversario]

The Surfaris recorded this as well, but this is indeed the Beach Boys. (Sorry about the previous post, which was incorrect)

[Jonas]

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1274814/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_(1964_TV_series)#Theme_song

http://entertainment.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=647&Lot_No=22192&src=pr

http://www.amazon.com/Televisions-Greatest-Hits-Vol-4-Classics/dp/B000000GOU (mentioned on AGD's bellagio site: http://www.btinternet.com/~bellagio/odds.html )

[Magic Transistor Radio]

If one is Surfaris and the other is BBs, I can barely tell the difference. Was this written by Brian? I also find it odd that I have never heard this mentioned in a book or documentary of the BBs anywhere.

[JeffRetro]

Actually both youtube videos are the Beach Boys (go back and listen, Eric).

It's also appeared on some shoewear, but on the TV's Greatest Hits Vol. 4 it's in pristine mono from the production master that was originally supplied to Kayro-Vue (and is now controlled by NBC-Universal).  Of course another Kayro-Vue production, "The Munsters," also featuring a hip teen-oriented theme written by Jack Marshall (who also wrote "Karen"), premiered the same year (1964).

[Malc]

It was written by Jack Marshall and Bob Mosher for the TV series, with the BB's simply providing the vocals. The Surfaris then recorded an 'extended' version in '65 (a full 1 minute 46 seconds worth !) and had a #2 hit in Japan with it, followed by a successful far eastern tour on the strength of it ...

[Andrew G. Doe]

There exists an acetate, with the BB's short version on one side and their long version on the other.

[LeeDempsey]

There exists an acetate, with the BB's short version on one side and their long version on the other.

Andrew have you (or has anyone that you know) heard the "long version?"  I remember when that acetate was up for auction.  I believe BRI bid on it, but did not win.

Lee

[Jon Stebbins]

If one is Surfaris and the other is BBs, I can barely tell the difference. Was this written by Brian? I also find it odd that I have never heard this mentioned in a book or documentary of the BBs anywhere.

Oh its been mentioned plenty through the years. Brad Elliott's BB's book Surfs Up, page 268 and page 316, Timothy White's BB's book Nearest Far Away Place page 213 are two major examples.

[Andrew G. Doe]

It was written by Jack Marshall and Bob Mosher for the TV series, with the BB's simply providing the vocals. The Surfaris then recorded an 'extended' version in '65 (a full 1 minute 46 seconds worth !) and had a #2 hit in Japan with it, followed by a successful far eastern tour on the strength of it ...

Might be misremembering, but didn't the band play the track too ?

[Jon Stebbins]

It was written by Jack Marshall and Bob Mosher for the TV series, with the BB's simply providing the vocals. The Surfaris then recorded an 'extended' version in '65 (a full 1 minute 46 seconds worth !) and had a #2 hit in Japan with it, followed by a successful far eastern tour on the strength of it ...

Might be misremembering, but didn't the band play the track too ?

I'd say the band is definitely on the track, despite the myth that they only provided the vocals, of course that was the case on Monkey's Uncle(that track sounds nothing like the BB's)...but Karen is a different story. This track has late '63 early '64 BB's written all over it. I'd wager this track was recorded a long time before it aired in '65, maybe something Brian had in the can from a year or two earlier and they added new vocals to fit the Karen bill.

[Andrew G. Doe]

It was written by Jack Marshall and Bob Mosher for the TV series, with the BB's simply providing the vocals. The Surfaris then recorded an 'extended' version in '65 (a full 1 minute 46 seconds worth !) and had a #2 hit in Japan with it, followed by a successful far eastern tour on the strength of it ...

Might be misremembering, but didn't the band play the track too ?

I'd say the band is definitely on the track, despite the myth that they only provided the vocals, of course that was the case on Monkey's Uncle(that track sounds nothing like the BB's)...but Karen is a different story. This track has late '63 early '64 BB's written all over it. I'd wager this track was recorded a long time before it aired in '65, maybe something Brian had in the can from a year or two earlier and they added new vocals to fit the Karen bill.

With you re: it being the band playing, Jon... but as Brian didn't write it, why might he have it in the can ?

[Jon Stebbins]

I guess its kind of an odd can then... isn't it? Well, my point is that the track, to my ears, sounds late '63 - early '64(no Rickenbacker 12 string guitar on this baby, this is an all Fender sound, and really sounds like Dave's band, not Al's)...so I'm trying to think of a scenario as to how they recorded the track so early compared to when it was used. Considering my odd can idea can't be right...any ideas?

[Rocker]

I guess its kind of an odd can then... isn't it? Well, my point is that the track, to my ears, sounds late '63 - early '64(no Rickenbacker 12 string guitar on this baby, this is an all Fender sound, and really sounds like Dave's band, not Al's)...so I'm trying to think of a scenario as to how they recorded the track so early compared to when it was used. Considering my odd can idea can't be right...any ideas?

To my ears the vocals sound more like '64 too. Was it written and given to the Beach Boys around that time but the series still needed some time?

BTW here's the Surfaris' version   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paIc_-I_mBk&feature=related

[JeffRetro]

I'm not sure where you guys are suddenly saying the date of the show is 1965, but it premiered on October 5th, 1964 (and continued into 1965)

Regarding the sound of the theme, it may very well have a brief from Jack Marshall to the group that they wanted a Beach Boys/Surf sound, which is precisely what was delivered.

And regarding the acetate, it's possible the "long version" is the 47-second version used as the actual theme and that the "short" version is a 15- or 30-second excerpt/edit for use in broadcast promos for the series.

[Jon Stebbins]

I'm not sure where you guys are suddenly saying the date of the show is 1965, but it premiered on October 5th, 1964 (and continued into 1965)

Regarding the sound of the theme, it may very well have a brief from Jack Marshall to the group that they wanted a Beach Boys/Surf sound, which is precisely what was delivered.

And regarding the acetate, it's possible the "long version" is the 47-second version used as the actual theme and that the "short" version is a 15- or 30-second excerpt/edit for use in broadcast promos for the series.

Even fall '64 is late for this sound. Every time I hear it...its sounding more like Dave Marks era guitars....sounds like a '63 track.

[Aegir]

They didn't record it, like, the day the show premiered. I don't know how the industry worked in the 60s, but shows usually take awhile to get on the air. Isn't it conceivable that they recorded it earlier in the year?

It takes a long time to hire writers, hire actors, hire crewmen, build sets, et cetera. You have to film a pilot, which usually happens months before the actual series airs. It makes complete sense that the theme song could've been recorded in late 63/early 64.

[Daniel S.]

That song sucked.

[Carrie Marks]

I played this for David yesterday and he's fairly certain its not him - but he wouldn't rule it out completely. 

Although I agree with Jon that it sounds more like the earlier stuff David was on, I also agree with this last post, that this song sucks.  To me, it sounds like they were TRYING to sound like '63 but don't quite pull it off.  Personally, I think the BB guitar sound was much better than this in late '63.

[JB Wilojarston]

I played this for David yesterday and he's fairly certain its not him - but he wouldn't rule it out completely. 

Although I agree with Jon that it sounds more like the earlier stuff David was on, I also agree with this last post, that this song sucks.  To me, it sounds like they were TRYING to sound like '63 but don't quite pull it off.  Personally, I think the BB guitar sound was much better than this in late '63.

When could the song have been recorded, the summer of '64 or earlier, right? I'm wondering, how much time did they have to learn and rehearse the song? Did they use their own equipment? Where was it recorded and who was the engineer? Answers to these questions may reveal why the recording and performance sounds the way it does.

To me it sounds low budget and rushed. I like Jack Marshall, he made some nice records for Capitol, but this song is lame.

[Alex]

"Purina Cat Dinners: The saucy new way to feed your cat!"

[Andrew G. Doe]

I played this for David yesterday and he's fairly certain its not him - but he wouldn't rule it out completely. 

Although I agree with Jon that it sounds more like the earlier stuff David was on, I also agree with this last post, that this song sucks.  To me, it sounds like they were TRYING to sound like '63 but don't quite pull it off.  Personally, I think the BB guitar sound was much better than this in late '63.

When could the song have been recorded, the summer of '64 or earlier, right? I'm wondering, how much time did they have to learn and rehearse the song? Did they use their own equipment? Where was it recorded and who was the engineer? Answers to these questions may reveal why the recording and performance sounds the way it does.

To me it sounds low budget and rushed. I like Jack Marshall, he made some nice records for Capitol, but this song is lame.

Well, the acetate has a Western Recorders label, but all that proves is that it was pressed there. Dated 1964, the "long" side looks, from the grooves, to be the actual TV version (it's an 8" 45rpm disc). It was sold for just under $600.

[mrski]

For what it’s worth, (having been acquainted with The Surfaris version years before finally hearing The BBoys version on the Dumb Angel Rarities boot), I love this track. Why? Because of the guitar sound. BUT as time and regular playing passed since that first listen I began to think that it was another case of The BBoys supplying the vocals only...

I’m heading towards the conclusion, (based solely on listening to The BBoys studio albums and hundreds if not thousands of other period ‘surf’ music tracks), that the track itself is not them.

The guitar sound is too raw, too ‘surfy’... There is even a few seconds of  ‘double-picking’ in there to kick the whole thing off.... Aside from the decidedly l-a-m-e, (compared to some other period versions out there), cover version of ‘Miserlou’ I can’t recall Carl ever doing this type of thing on studio stuff.

Listen to the instrumentals on the Surfin USA Lp... Alright, so it may be a Fender sound, the guitars may be played through a Fender reverb unit etc. but where is the ‘double-picking’, the traditional surf style as we hear a few seconds of on ‘Karen’? (Don’t mention that ‘traditional’ bit to Paul Johnston!)

Sure Carl was capable of ‘throwing in’ something like that, but why would he if he’d never had a habit of playing that way?

But it’s not just that, it is the ‘sound’... By comparison  the  BBoys lead guitar on their regular studio Lps is smoother with less of an ‘edge’. (It could be considered more towards Rock & Roll guitar than essentially ‘Surf guitar’.)

 I just think this ‘Karen’ track is noticeably ‘different’... Although granted, the ‘sound’ itself is a product of the musician, the equipment and the studio so depending on where and how this track was cut a variance could have occured in comparion to their other period recordings - so I wouldn’t rule it out completely.

For now I’m filing it under : ‘Unlikely’...   

[Surfer Joe]

I've always wanted to know a date and more details for this, and have raised the question before on this board. Something Badman couldn't come up with.

I agree with whoever said it earlier- the air date isn't much of a clue for what might have been an unsold pilot for any length of time. Look at the "Brady Bunch" pilot- the kids all look at least a year younger. And the "Gilligan's Island" titles were being shot at the exact same time Kennedy was, on November 22, 1963 (supposedly some flags are seen at half-mast from afternoon shots). The "Gilligan" pilot had actually been aired in 1962, according to IMDB, and the show premiered mid-October 1964. (Anyone know the first recording date for "I Wanna Be Free" for the Monkees? Supposedly done with Boyce's and Hart's voices before the show was cast).

Great fun, love this record- really cool to hear the Beach Boys singing lyrics from the co-creator of "Leave It To Beaver". Also great to see the actual titles, pre-dating "Happy Days" with the spinning 45 idea.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

It could be that the Beach Boys did play instruments, but it was produced by someone other then Brian, thus explaining the different sound.