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Despite being known as a ‘surf’ band to most people, the Beach Boys released just two new songs with the word “surf”, “surfer” or “surfing” in the title in the last 44 years (only "Surf's Up" and "Still Surfin'").

There were just 1105 days between the release of the first and the tenth Beach Boys studio album. Other major acts like U2, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson and Madonna needed more than 20 years to get from their first to the tenth album.

The Beach Boys hold the record for the longest time span between two number one hits (“Good Vibrations” and “Kokomo”).

What about Surfer Girl, Surfin' Safari, Surfin USA, Noble Surfer, The Rockin Surfer, South Bay Surfer, Surf Jam, The Surfer Moon, Sufers Rule, and Surfin?  :afro

Thats why he said the last 44 years

I guess if you don't count reissues, compilations, or live albums it would be true, but would completely rely on semantics. To each his own.

Yeh but if you included live albums etc.. then those aren't exactly "new" songs

The last surf-themed album was Surfer Girl, which is 44 years old now. You can check all the studio albums they released since: just two new songs with 'surf', 'surfer' or 'surfing' in the title (not counting Little Surfer Girl from the GV box set and the 1992 version of Surfin').

But I'll put it differently then: in the last 44 years, the Beach Boys wrote just 2 songs with 'surf', 'surfer' or 'surfing' in the title that made it to any of their albums.  :)

Yeah but how many have the word "wave" or "ocean" or "sand" or "sunshine" or "beach"? The subliminal or less than subliminal connection to surfing is there in many of Mike's lyrics and some of Brian's.

Never mind 'Surf' or 'surfing',how many BB songs have 'California' or 'Californian' in the title?

I could check but I'm too lazy!

 ;D

The Beach Boys have never had a #1 original studio album.

Wonder what acts are runners up in this category?  Can find nothing for US charts info but here is some info I found on the UK Top 40:

Longest Gap Between Number 1s:
31 years 0 months - for George Harrison. "My Sweet Lord" first made the top spot in Jan 1971. A few weeks after his death, it returned to number 1 (Jan 2002).

In second place is the artist who also holds the record for the longest gap between number 1s with different tracks and the record for longest gap between number 1s within the lifetime of the artist; Leo Sayer. In Feb 1977 he hit the top with "When I Need You". He didn't return until Feb 2006 (a day shy of 29 years gap) - with "Thunder In My Heart Again" (a remix of his 1977 hit, as 'Meck featuring Leo Sayer').

The longest run between original number 1s (i.e not a re-release/remix) is 18 years and 3 months for Blondie (Nov 1980, "The Tide is High", to Feb 1999, "Maria").

Biggest run for a female artist is 14 years 6 months by Diana Ross - from the prophetic "I'm Still Waiting" (Sep 1971) til "Chain Reaction" (Mar 1986).

Special mention must be made here of Stevie Winwood. Though not specifically credited, he hit number 1 with The Spencer Davis Group ("Somebody Help Me") in Apr 1966. A barren period then followed before a sample of his solo hit "Valerie" formed the basis of Eric Prydz's chart-topper "Call On Me" in Sep 2004; an hiatus of 38 years and 5 months between appearances, albeit uncredited, at number 1.
 



Endless Summer spent 155 weeks on the Billboard album chart, and peaking at #1, selling over three million copies.   What other band/album compares to the 'highest charting/best selling/longest on the charts' greatest hits album category?

.

Well off the top of my head:

California Girls
California Saga: California
California Saga: Big Sur
California Saga: The Beaks of Eagles
California Dreamin'
California Calling

does California Feelin' count? I guess not

So I guess that makes 6

I know... But it's just a little fact that I like to point out to people who still believe that the Beach Boys did mostly surf songs... On their last 24 studio albums there was exactly ONE song (not counting re-recordings) that was specifically about surfing.

A quick check myself comes up with the same number. I don't include solo stuff.  The BB's always celebrated their Californian links, so it seems surprising there weren't more. More useless BB trivia please!

 :smokin

How many Beach Boys songs mention California or locations in California within the lyrics? Anna Lee the Healer ("California beach house facing towards the sea"), et cetera?

Too Many to count.

There are 7 songs that have been officially released by both The Beach Boys and The Beatles (Tell Me Why, I Should Have Known Better, You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away, With A Little Help From My Friends, Back In The USSR, Johnny B. Goode, Rock And Roll Music).

Interesting one there shelter... In total there has been 41 collaborators with the beach boys on officially released songs by the Beach Boys. I'm not sure about some of them if they are actual collaborators.. but I obviously left out people like Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller because although they are credited on Student Demonstration Time, they weren't exactly collaborating with Mike.

If anyone has any additions/corrections then let me know, here is the list:

Jim Ackley
Tandyn Almer
Ron Altbach
Tony Asher
Randy Bachman
Bob Burchman
Roger Christian
Geoffrey Cushing-Murray
Daryl Dragon
Craig Fall
Rick Henn
Bob House
Gregg Jakobson
Lynda Jardine
Robert White Johnson
Stephen Kalinich
Ray Kennedy
Joe Knott
Steve Korthof
Karen Lamm
Eugene Landy
Steve Levine
Julian Lindsay
Roger McGuinn
Scott McKenzie
Terry Melcher
Alexandra Morgan
Carli Munoz
Bob Norberg
Jon Parks
Van Dyke Parks
John Phillips
Jack Rieley
Lyle Ritz
Diane Rovell
Terry Sachen
Myrna Smith Schilling
Gary Usher
Al Vescovo
Murry Wilson (as Reggie Dunbar)
Gary Winfrey

DoLorean’s most recent album “You Can’t Win” includes an instrumental song called “33-53.9 N, 118-38.8 W.”. This is the location where Dennis Wilson was buried (at sea).

I believe that one of Pink Floyds albums was on the top 100 for 20 or 30 straight years. Dark Side of the Moon probably.

The BB recorded one album in Holland. Have any other bands relocated to another country to record just one album?

That happens all the time.

Bowie cut at least one album in Berlin...

Elton cut an album in France...

REM recorded an album in London...

Many artists from the European mainland record their music in the USA.

Here's a question for you:

How many *females* have sung on Beach Boys albums, over the years?

The obvious ones are The Honeys, of course, but am I correct in listing the following:

Trisha Campo
Toni Tennille
Christine McVie
Audree  Wilson
Karen Lamm
Carnie Wilson
Wendy Wilson
 
 - any more?  Am I right so far?

Lorrie Morgan
Kathy Troccoli

Some of Dennis's songs had female backing vocalists that might not have been mentioned yet.

Hayley Love sings on I Saw Santa Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.

Ok, but what about building their own studio in or near a barn to record an album?

Yeah, like All I Want To Do...?  ;)

Tammy Wynette... her very last recording session.  :'(

It's unreleased so I didn't count her.

Are you talking about IN MY ROOM?  That was released on "Tammy Wynette Remembered."  If not, never mind.  :)

Yeah, it was released, but wasn't it released as by Tammy Wynette & Brian Wilson?

Yes, but I believe it's the same version as on Nashville Sounds (so that one was also released in a way) only minus the Beach Boys' voices.

Its been rumored that it was a Manson girl, but AGD, among others, has refuted that myth in another thread on this board. Turns out it was some prostitute Dennis pulled off the street.

Well Steve Desper has also refuted that myth in his thread.

 :)

Huh ???

"Tammy Wynette Remembered" ain't a Beach Boys album.  ::)

Oh I see what you mean. But I thought that the question "How many *females* have sung on Beach Boys albums, over the years?" was totally un-related to the Tammy Wynette album discussion.

Well, we can at least include Lorrie Morgan and Kathy Troccoli.

The Rolling Stones recorded Exile On Main Street in France.

A Dutch band called Bløf recorded each song on their last album in a different country with local musicians.

Elliott Smith recorded Figure 8 at Abbey Road.

Genesis recorded several albums at the Relight Studios in a small Dutch town called Hilvarenbeek (which is 10 miles from where I live).

Like its mentioned above, loads of bands have recorded in other countries, but I think the Boys are pretty unique in shipping their own studio thousands of miles in hundreds of crates!!!

Thanks for that - I'm going to investigate that track right now......... ;)

MIchael did 17 LP's with his brothers and six solo albums from 1969-1982. Of course those were the years where he was a more or less normal person.

I read that Cream recorded Disraeli Gears in the US in a very brief time.




BeachBoys trivia:

Most songs that began with the word  "well"    ;D

The Baker Man
I Do
All Dressed Up For School
You're Welcome
Fun, Fun, Fun
Don't Worry, Baby
Help Me, Ronda + Rhonda
Then I Kissed Her
California Girls
Hully Gully
That Same Song
Susie Cincinnati
Back Home
Passing Friend
Roller Skating Child
Ruby Baby

That's all I could come up with by checking through all the lyrics. Surprisingly not that many + some weren't officially released (as in till much later so they aren't releases that the band put out on an album or single etc..)

I think you've missed "Little st. Nick" if I remeber the words correctly.

This bit comes before the first verse, so that's why I didn't count it:
"Merry Christmas Saint Nick
Christmas comes this time each year"

Ok, I see...

'Pet Sounds' was seen as "uncommercial", yet it has more US top 40 singles than any other Beach Boys album and it was their highest charting studio album ever in the UK.

BB related...

Michael Jackson's Bad album was recorded in Ocean Way.  :o

'Fraid not - according to the booklet of my original CD, it was recorded at Westlake Audio (which, granted, is where some of The Beach Boys was recorded).

Ah, different studio.

Just one?

Didn't this also happen for the KTSA album? or was that just Al's barn?

There's one song on '20/20' that was written by someone who's been convicted of murdering someone with his own hands. And it's not 'Never Learn To Love', but 'Cotton Fields'!

I hope Jim Gordon didn't play drums on 20/20. What a trifecta that would be. :police:

He probably most certainly did!!!!!

A thought just came to me!!! What if Polanski got extradited to LA and somehow ended up at the same prison as Manson???

The most famous "I'mma make you my bitch" situation in history. Once Polanski would get his hands on Manson, all bets would be off.

Let's also not forget what might be the most famous pre-20th century musician involved in a murder - Don Carlo Gesualdo. He wrote madrigals in between murdering his adulterous wife and her lover.

Trivia question.  Or maybe world record question.  Which song has Mike love performed the most times?  I t has to br approaching 10,000 time for at least a couple of songs.  Medleys don't count.

Surfin' Safari would be my guess. No stats to back-up but his lead, lyric and from early in their career, 1962.


edit
Dang.... After a quick look at Erics setlist site I am now backing Surfin USA. :-\

I'll say "Surfer Girl" or "Surfin' USA".

I think we're talking about hardcore Mike leads!

If this is the case, I'd say California Girls all the way!!!!

Yeah I'd say Surfin' USA but of course there's no way of knowing exactly. Might even be Fun, Fun, Fun? But I'd still bet on Surfin' USA.

"SUSA" has a two year drop on "CG" ! That's maybe 150-200 gigs.

Here's a trivia question: How many cover songs did the group play as part of their regular setlists? Barbra Ann comes to mind, off the top of my head. Student Demonstration Time, doesn't count, since it's a cover song with totally original lyrics by Mike(?). Now, the original version, Riot In Cell Block #9 does count.

Here's some:

Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow
The Monster Mash
Then I Kissed Her
The Wanderer
Your Song
Graduation Day
Bluebirds Over The Mountain
Cottonfields
Let's Go Trippin'
Johnny B. Goode
What'd I Say
Surf City
Little GTO
Happy Birthday
Long Tall Texan
Duke Of Earl
Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Imagine
Sloop John B
The Little Old Lady From Pasadena
Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring
Back In The USSR
Jumpin' Jack Flash
A Casual Look
Rock And Roll Music
Runaway
Buzz Buzz Buzz
Okee From Muskogee
School Days
Shortenin' Bread
Peggy Sue
Come Go With Me
California Dreamin'
Under The Boardwalk
Hushabye
Summertime Blues
Do You Wanna Dance
You Are So Beautiful
Rockin' All Over The World
I Can Hear Music
I Write The Songs :)

I'd say that Barbara Ann has been played the most, followed by Sloop John B. Rock and Roll Music and I Can Hear Music might be the next two. Mike and Bruce have made Do You Wanna Dance a staple in recent years.

Are you referring to the Mike and Bruce era of the band?

I think - though I may be in error here - the words "in recent years" are a small pointer.  ;D

I suppose :P To be honest, I was just skimming through the recent posts and didn't read the second sentence. But even so, he could have been referring solely to Do You Wanna Dance when he said that. ;)

Does anybody know if he did? If so, than '20/20' had creative imput from THREE convicted murderers... That would be something...

I'm finally going to be able to convince everyone the Beach Boys were cooler than the Beatles.

I don't see how that makes them cool :shrug But sadly, I reckon there'd be some people that would find that fact cool.

So sorry, Beatles have the "coolness" factor that the Beach Boys will never have. But the BB go much deeper if you think about it.....

The Beach Boys were the forefathers of gangsta rap... Not only did they hang out with (future) murderers, they were dissing their East Coast rivals in a song before 2Pac and Biggie were even born!

LOL

How many times were the Double Rock Baptist Church Choir used on songs that either the band used  or for solo material ? And we're they compensated for their involvement ? Also whatever happened to them to them since then ????  ???

If the live show at Wembley was " fantastic " when they opened for Elton John, was it ever recorded and would it be the best live show they ever did at that time ???  ???

Compton pastor accused of embezzling $800,000 in church funds
The Rev. E. Joshua Sims of Double Rock Baptist Church has been arrested after an 11-month sheriff's investigation. He allegedly used the money to pay for personal luxuries.
August 20, 2009|Alexandra Zavis

A Baptist minister was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of embezzling more than $800,000 from the church he leads in Compton to pay for personal luxuries, including an expensive car and swimming pool, officials said.

The Rev. E. Joshua Sims, 47, pastor at Double Rock Baptist Church in Compton, was taken into custody without incident about 9:30 a.m. at his home in Corona, said Steve Whitmore, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Sims' arrest concludes an 11-month sheriff's investigation, Whitmore said.

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/20/local/me-church20

OK, I'll bite....

1) Two times; for the performance of "That Same Song" on the 1976 TV special, and for the recording of Dennis Wilson's "River Song"
2) Probably, but it wouldn't surprise me if there were some "accounting" mix-ups, and the check never got there
3) See TheOtherAnonymous' above post

Checking C-Man's website, he lists them as singing on "Pacific Ocean Blues" and puts them as possibly singing on several Bambu cuts

Correction:
Leadbelly wrote Cotton Fields
Phil Spector co-wrote I Can Hear Music
Charles Manson co-wrote Never Learn Not to Love

I would still like to know if Jim Gordon played on anything on '20/20'. Cause that would make it an album made with the help of no less than four convicted muderers. That's pretty bizarre...

20/20 really is a killer album.

Jeezus Christ, this is weird. I never realized it before.

Elton John actually did 3 Albums in France.

Jim Gordon plays on Cabinessence, at least.

Here's a few trivia questions....

-How many times has Brian recorded "Back Home"?

-Who produced "The Beach Boys" and what group was he popular for producing?

1. Too many. ;D

2. Steve Levine, and Culture Club was one of his successes. (IMO, there are some really great Culture Club records like 'Church Of The Poison Mind' and 'Do You Really Want To Hurt Me' and 'Karma Chameleon' that have stood the test of time as well-produced and well-performed records, image and 80's retro scene aside)

If anyone thinks Steve Levine's stock and trade was all about tightly produced 80's pop, here is a link with him discussing and dissecting the sounds and styles of Motown: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/audio/2010/nov/10/music-weekly-motown-special-sound?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/audio/2010/nov/10/music-weekly-motown-special-sound?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487)

Hearing this makes me wish he had used more of the Motown sound when he did Beach Boys '85, but ultimately he wasn't hired to craft that kind of sound for the band and they were looking for a bandwagon-jumping "hit sound", so that's the technique(s) he applied, current to 1984.

The answer to my first question may lead slightly off-topic, but:

-if the Beach Boys (Brian) were not the first self-produced group/artist in rock/pop then who was?

-If Capitol Records presumably thought the SMiLE music too out there, then what was the reaction to the even weirder Smiley Smile?

Elvis was the true producer of all his 50's RCA sides, though he wasn't credited as such.

The Teddy Bears, Eddie Cochran and Jan & Dean are also early examples.

Important to note that the term "producer" has meant different things through the years, and in the 50's and 60's the word "producer" was often not used in favor of "A&R Rep" or something similar. So your label had an A&R Rep who on any given day might be out scouting new acts to sign, listening to stacks of demos from publishing companies trying to place new songs, or sitting in on a session from one of their stable of artists.

The thing about Elvis on RCA - Chet Atkins was assigned to the sessions as an RCA staff producer (or A&R rep, whatever term is preferred). It feels like RCA sent him there to make sure everything was handled professionally and that their money investment was safe. Atkins basically strummed some rhythm guitar and watched as Elvis and his core band tore up the studio in a musical sense. Didn't Chet Atkins even call his wife to the studio to also watch what was happening with Elvis, because he thought he was seeing something really special and different go down?

How about Dylan's early 60's output? Was the producer/A&R rep really affecting the actual songs or performances in the way a Phil Spector was trying to control everything? I don't think so. Apart from the nuts and bolts organization tasks and keeping everything running smooth, many so-called producers were simply not doing anything close to what Brian or Spector were doing.

As far as self-production, how about Buddy Holly? Yes he had a guru in the studio to oversee and make some technical calls that Buddy wouldn't know about, but basically those classic tracks were in a large part due to Buddy himself "self producing" the music in what we'd now call "pre-production". They just went in a banged out the songs that Buddy had built up in the months before in his mind and at whatever rehearsal area the band played.

I agree about Elvis acting as producer, much more in the 50's though. It was Elvis' own call from what I understand whether they had a good take, and he'd work the sh*t out of that band take after take to get what he wanted. It would seem Elvis, like Brian Wilson demanding take after vocal take when everyone else thought the keeper was already on tape, was on a different plane of perception when hearing the music played back, and could sense when something was just a little off in the feel, the performance, or the overall vibe of a song.

Therefore, even in 2012, Elvis' 50's RCA songs are those where you cannot possibly find something a little off that you'd think could have been improved in any way. I'm not saying perfect, but the sounds are exactly what the song called for. And that was ultimately Elvis' call in the studio, from all indications.

Nice post. I think Chet was only at a comparative few early Elvis sessions. Steve Sholes was the main "company man" who was merely a warm RCA body to sit in the control room and take sleeve credit.
With Buddy, I would say that is a case of co-production with Norman Petty, an unfairly overlooked figure in the Holly story. I'd say that situation was similar to mid-period Beatles records, with the band controlling their music overall, but allowing for major contributions from their more trained/seasoned producer.
Eddie Cochran had a setup similar to that of Les Paul. He not only produced his own early hits, but played all the instruments as well.
Good note on Dylan there. John Hammond, Tom Wilson and Bob Johnston definitely took more of a documentary approach to capturing Bob.

Dennis had a bigger c*ck than Ringo.  Try posting that on the Hoffman board and see if you don't get flamed.

Dennis had a bigger schwantz than Ringo?  My God, Ringo is 5'6".  No wonder Dennis was so popular with the ladies.

in that BEACH BOYS & SATAN movie, which I haven't gotten around to seeing yet ....DAMN MY BUSY SCHEDULE!!!
Is the thesis one of a demon possessed Beach Boys?