The Smiley Smile Message Board

Who plays on the strings on the Surfer Moon?

Don't know the players, but the arranger was Jan Berry.

wow cool.. I never knew that..

I know who recorded the crickets for the first version.

Buddy Holly? lol..... :lol

That would be when it was originally recorded as "The Summer Moon" ?

Yes, well, that's half-right...technically, Brian originally produced the song as "The Surfer Moon" for Bob and Sheri (Bob Norgerg and Cheryl Pomeroy), released in late '62 (that's the "crickets" version)...then the track was cut for a new version (renamed "Summer Moon") by Bob and Vickie (Kocher) in May '63, for Nevins-Kirshner productions...but that version was not released...so Brian took the backing track, changed the lyrics back to "Surfer Moon" and recorded a solo vocal himself, for inclusion on The Beach Boys' Surfer Girl album. Bob Norberg thought up the string arrangement and Jan Berry transcribed it for him. Bob told Jan exactly how the part was supposed to go, including the plucking of the strings, and Jan wrote the parts out for the musicians. According to Vickie, there were 8 violinists and a cello player, but no AFM sheet providing their names has turned up.

The Sid Sharp Strings ?

Amazing, and thank you for the info, Craig. Threads like this are why this board is still fantastic despite the ridiculous bickering so often seen here.

Great info, thanks c-man. Just want to get clarification on something you wrote.



I believe this would make Bob Norberg the arranger, no?

It would.

Most likely.

Yes, I would probably credit the arrangement to "Bob Norberg, with Jan Berry" or "Bob Norberg, as transcribed by Jan Berry". Kinda like Paul humming a string part to George Martin, who wrote out the charts. And that's how the string parts on 20/20 worked, as well...Bruce and Dennis hummed or sang those parts into Van McCoy's ear, and he wrote them out.

What was the extent of Bruce's contributions to Be With Me, c-man? Was he simply the intermediary between Denny and Van, or did he help out more than that?

I think he meant Bruce's The Nearest Faraway Place.

Oh - got it.

.

While still on the subject of the Surfer Moon, about a year after the version by Bob & Sheri was recorded, a second version of the song was recorded called The Summer Moon. Then the song "The Surfer Moon" was recorded by The Beach Boys (with strings and no crickets). it was recorded at United-Western Recording Studios in Hollywood under the title "The Summer Moon". The Summer Moon was recorded by Vickie Kocher (a.k.a. Victoria Hale).

This was posted on YouTube by Victoria Hale 3 weeks ago:

I hope this will help clarify your questions. Bob and Sheri recorded the first version of "The Surfer Moon". The original record includes the sound of crickets and released on Safari Records. In 1963, I, Vickie Kocher, aka Victoria Hale, was introduced to Brian and Bob by a mutual friend as Brian was looking for a female vocalist. After listening to "The Surfer Moon", I expressed interest in making a NEW recording of the song. I loved the melody and the words so much! Brian rewrote the music which now included violins...his first time adding a string section. "Surfer Moon" now became "The Summer Moon"  and sung by Bob and Vickie. The record was not released. Brian, then using the SAME instrumental track, recorded it and included it on 'The Surfer Girl" album under the original name  "The Surfer Moon". The  Beach Boys fan magazine "Endless Summer Quarterly" spring edition 2011, has an in-depth article about Vickie and interviewed by Lee Dempsey. Bob and Vickie's version was finally released in 2013 on  "The Big Beat Album 1963". and can be purchased on iTunes or Amazon.

Bob Norberg sings on both recordings. However, the instrumental tracks are very different and recorded approximately a year apart.

Jolene Firgins, a friend of Sheri's, remembers Brian holding her legs while she hung out the window with the mic to record the crickets. She indicated that Brian did produce it but she and her partner Bob (Norberg) wrote part of the song too but didn't get any credit for it.

Another titbit I didn't know about. I always wondered who "Bob Norman" was on the label credits for "The Surfer Moon" on the Surfer Girl album. For years I wasn't sure who Bob Norman was, but suspected it was a misprint - that it was indeed Bob Norberg. Sure enough, it turns out the reason "Bob Norberg" wasn't printed on the record label was that Murry Wilson changed it because the name "Norberg" was Jewish. I assume it's true - I don't remember reading that before. 

To go along with your story, it's worth noting that "Jolene Firgins" is Jody Gable, who met the BBs in 62 and proceeded to run their fan club, with Audree, until about 1966.