I was also confused by Lama's credit to Chuck Berry for the Surfin' U.S.A. I
initially thought Jim may have mixed up Jan Berry and Chuck Berry and Brian Wilson. I
knew of some early collaboration of Jan Berry and Brian Wilson and, when I saw the
last name Berry after SUSA, I always thought it was erroneously credited to Jan Berry.
So, during an usually boring day at work today, I dug into the Internet and this is
what I found on Brian Wilson's unofficial website:
Surfin U.S.A.
Written by: Chuck Berry/Brian Wilson
Produced by: Nik Venet
Recording date: January 31, 1963
Take Number:
Master Number: 38062
Time: 2:28
Lead Vocal by: Mike
Originally appeared on: Surfin' U.S.A.
Subsequently appeared on: Best of the Beach Boys; Endless Summer; Made In U.S.A.;
Good Vibrations Boxed Set; 20 Good Vibrations
Notes:
Brian took Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen" and (with "research help"
from his then-girlfriend's brother, Jimmy Bowles) added surf lyrics and came up with
this song. The first really great Beach Boys track.
Because Brian "plaugarized" SLS, Chuck Berry's publishers sued for the
writer's credit of SUSA; the initial settlement was that Berry would get full credit
for the song. On the track's subsequent appearences, Chuck Berry would get full
writing credits until the 1993 Good Vibrations box set and the 1995 20 Good Vibrations
CD, whcih would carry the "Berry/Wilson" credit.
One song that people identify with the Beach Boys the most. Good Vibrations
Box Set starts with Brian's original piano demo of SUSA. Live versions of SUSA are
included on 1973's In Concert album and on CD 5 of the Good Vibrations box set (that
track was an outtake from 1964's Concert album).
Noises: 2:02, 2:08, 2:14, 2:20 Brian yells "good" after every "Everybody's gone
surfin', surfin' U.S.A."
Single:
Capitol 4932
A-side with: Shut Down
Released on: 3/4/63
Charted on: 3/23/63
Reached: 3
Me again: Then on Jan and Dean's official site, Dean recalls in his Jan and Dean
biography:
"About a week later, Jan, Brian, Mike, Carl, Dennis,
David and I all got together at Western Recording
Studios in Hollywood, California and we recorded
the two surf songs and it felt like magic once
again! After the recording session was over, Brian
wanted to give Jan and me a preview of his next
record. He belted out "Surfin' USA". We were
floored, what a totally bitchen song! Jan
immediately tried to talk Brian into giving the
song to Jan & Dean but Brian wasn't about to give
it away but he did say that he had a similar song
that was only partially completed and that he would
be more than happy to give that song to Jan & Dean.
The title of that song was "Surf City". We loved
that song too as well, so we gladly took it."
Me again for the last time: So, Ms. Kakki, you were right, Berry didn't write the
lyrics, and Jim was right as well. For some time, Berry was singularly credited for
the whole song.
Good catch, Lama!
No regrets,
Coyote Rick
Casa Alegre
Hollywood, California
