Surf Music and the British Invasion

Mr. Cowan AMU4EI

California 1950’s and 1960’s saw a huge influx in

people looking for new opportunities in California

Many travelled with the hopes of fun, sun and jobs.

California represented a new music that was bright, fun, and playful

Glorified beaches, bikinis, and hot rods which all promoted this “California Myth”

Surfing U.S.A Originated in Hawaii and became extremely

popular in the 1950’s in California 100,000 teens became surfers virtually

overnight Music sprung up around the surfing

movement and became the soundtrack to their lives

Surf Music Surf music reflected and promoted the

myth of the California wonderland Glorified one of the most attractive

elements of the California myth…. Beaches and Girls….

The Sound of the Surf Surf music originated with Dick Dale

and the Deltones Musician fused his 2 passions in life…

surfing and music During the summer of 1961, Dale was

playing around California at parties and dances

Released records for surfers: › “Surf Beat”, “Surfing Drums”, “Lets go

Tripping”

Dick Dale: Audio Clip, Video from R n R Part 2

The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys Brought surf music to the main stage Consisted of: Brian Wilson, his 2

brothers, a cousin, and a classmate Smoothed out the edges of the rougher

sounding surf music by combining beautiful harmonies and pop music

Within weeks of recording their first single, “surfin” hit the top 100 charts

The Beach Boys

In May of 1963, they released “Surfin’ USA

In 1964, scored a huge hit with “Surfer Girl”

Video: Surfer Girl, Surfin Safari

Sound began to evolve away from the pop surf sound they were famous for

Brian Wilson took control (genius) By 1964, the road became too much

for Wilson and he suffered an anxiety attack and quit touring

Wanted to focus on recording and producing

Sound evolved and was heavily influenced by the psychedelic movement

Released “Pet Sounds” with the hit “Good Vibrations”

Video: Good Vibrations

Brian’s Breakdown Wilson became a frequent user of LSD Led to a nervous breakdown Put the album they were working on

on the shelf

Pet Sounds

Wilson heard the Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” in 1965 and wanted to write a response to it and he was moved by the album

Then wanted to make the “…greatest album ever made!”

Released pet sounds in 1966 Songs were sophisticated and complex

Heavily influences by LSD Complex harmonies Layered instrumentation Experimenting with recording

techniques and instruments Hits included: “Wouldn’t it be Nice,

“God Only Knows” Received praise from critics but album

sales were low

Brian withdrew from touring to complete the album

Beach Boys were touring in Japan and upon their return, the record was nearly complete

Mike Love and the members were strongly against this new approach

Started issues in the band that would never really go away

Good Vibrations Single releases in 1966 Song became the band’s biggest hit Spent more money on this single than

most bands did on entire albums Took over 3 months to record at 3

different studios

Features the theremin

Smile Began recording in late ’66 and early ’67 Wilson solo album band didn’t agree Wilson was under a tremendous amount of

pressure to finish the album He was addicted to a variety of drugs The album was shelved and not released

until 2004

Mental Breakdown Drugs took over his life 1969-1970: healthy, lost weight Following his father’s death in 1973,

Wilson slipped into a deep depression Took a lot of drugs and overate Voice deteriorated (smoking, drugs) Stayed in bed for months