On this day (June 12) in 1963, The Beach Boys stepped into the studio at United Western Recorders in Hollywood, California, to record a pair of songs, “Little Deuce Coupe” and “Surfer Girl.” Both songs became hits for the band. They were also the first songs by the band on which Brian Wilson received producer credits.
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Penned and produced by Wilson, “Surfer Girl” was the title track and lead single from The Beach Boys’ second album of 1963. They backed it with “Little Deuce Coupe,” co-written by Wilson and Roger Christian. “Surfer Girl” was an international hit for the band. It peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 18 on the publication’s Hot R&B Singles chart. The single was also a top 10 hit in New Zealand and Canada.
[RELATED: 4 of the Most Genius Examples of Songwriting From The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson]
“Little Deuce Coupe” was successful as well. It peaked at No. 15 on the Hot 100, giving The Beach Boys their highest-charting B-side. It was also the soundtrack to the band’s next album, which was released just weeks after Surfer Girl.
The Beach Boys Score Hits with Brian Wilson-Produced Tracks
Today, many remember Brian Wilson as a genius producer and composer. This pair of songs can be looked at as the beginning of his long legacy as a studio wizard. They also happen to fall into two types of songs for which the band is best known: car songs and songs about surfing.
While “Surfer Girl” fits into the same mold as songs like “Surfin’ USA” and “Surfin’ Safari,” it isn’t an uptempo jam about catching waves. Instead, it’s a love ballad in which the narrator imagines his future with the titular surfer girl.
According to Songfacts, “Surfer Girl” was the first song Wilson wrote, years before The Beach Boys formed. Some believe it was about his longtime girlfriend, Judy Bowles, who also inspired “Judy.” However, Wilson gave conflicting answers about the song’s inspiration over the years.
“Little Deuce Coupe” was the beginning of the songwriting duo of Brian Wilson and Roger Christian. The radio DJ and car enthusiast also co-wrote songs like “Cherry, Cherry Coupe,” “Car Crazy Cutie,” and “Dead Man’s Curve” with Wilson.
Featured Image by The Legacy Collection/THA/Shutterstock
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