Surf City (song)

"Surf City" is a 1963 song recorded by American music duo Jan and Dean about a fictitious surf spot where there are "two girls for every boy".^[1] Written by Brian Wilson, Jan Berry and Dean Torrence,^[2] it was the first surf song to become a national number-one hit.^[3]

"Surf City"
Single by Jan and Dean
from the album Surf City and Other Swingin' Cities
B-side	"She's My Summer Girl"
Released	May 17, 1963 (1963-05-17)
Recorded	March 20, 1963 (1963-03-20)
Studio	United Western (Hollywood)
Genre	Vocal surf
Length	2:36
Label	Liberty #55580
Songwriter(s)	Brian Wilson, Jan Berry
Producer(s)	Jan Berry
Jan and Dean singles chronology
"Linda" (1963) "Surf City" (1963) "Honolulu Lulu" (1963)
Audio sample
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Background

The first draft of the song, with the working title "Goody Connie Won't You Come Back Home", was written by Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.^[4] While at a party with Jan Berry and Dean Torrence, Wilson played "Surfin' U.S.A." for them on the piano. Berry and Torrence suggested that they do the song as a single, but Wilson refused, as "Surfin' U.S.A." was intended for the Beach Boys. Wilson then suggested that the duo record "Surf City" instead, demoing the opening, verse, and chorus.^[5] Wilson had lost interest in the song and believed he was never going to complete it himself.^[6] Berry later contributed additional writing to the song,^[1] while Torrence also contributed several phrases, but never insisted that he be given writing credit.^[2]

Recording

Hal Blaine, Glen Campbell, Earl Palmer, Bill Pitman, Ray Pohlman and Billy Strange are identified as players for the single per the American Federation of Musicians contract.^[7] According to Beach Boys historian Andrew G. Doe and Jan & Dean historian Mark A. Moore, Brian Wilson also sang on this song.^[8]

Release

Released in May 1963, two months later it became the first surf song to reach number one on national record charts, remaining at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks.^[3][6] The single crossed over to the Billboard R&B Chart where it peaked at number 3.^[9] It also charted in the UK, reaching number 26.^[10] Before the single, Jan and Dean made music which was largely inspired by East Coast black vocal group records. The success of "Surf City" gave them a unique sound and identity which would be followed by five more top ten hits inspired by Los Angeles surf or hot rod life.^[11]

The Beach Boys' manager and Wilson's father Murry was reportedly irate about the song, believing that Brian had wasted a number one record which could have gone to his group, the Beach Boys. Brian later told Teen Beat, "I was proud of the fact that another group had had a number 1 track with a song I had written ... But dad would hear none of it. ... He called Jan a 'record pirate'."^[6]

The single's picture sleeve featured a photo of Jan and Dean with future actress Linda Gaye Scott. (A different photo from the same session appeared on the cover of their "Jan And Dean Take Linda Surfin'" album.)

Legacy

In 1991, after moving to Huntington Beach, California, Dean Torrence helped convince elected officials that the town be officially nicknamed Surf City.^[12] In 2006, the official trademark of "Surf City USA" was registered to Huntington Beach with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office after an extended legal challenge from merchants in Santa Cruz.^[13] As of 2024, more than 90 businesses in the city included "Surf City" as part of their name.^[14]

In popular culture

The song was one of many California related songs played throughout "Sunshine Plaza" in the original Disney California Adventure.^[15]

Chart performance

Chart (1963)	Peak position
Canada (CHUM Chart)[16]	2
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)	26
US Billboard Hot 100	1
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles	3

Other versions

• 1963 – The Delltones, single
• 1964 - The Rip Chords, Three Window Coupe
• 1966 - The Brackets (South African band), single
• 1986 – The Meteors, Surf City
• 1989 – Sonic Surf City, Let's Go Surfin
• 1993 – Ramones, Acid Eaters
• 2001 - The Go-Go's, An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson (DVD)

References

1. Barres, Pamela Des (1996). "Riding the Wild Surf to Deadman's Cove". Rock Bottom: Dark Moments in Music Babylon. St. Martin's Press. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-312-14853-9.
2. Torrence, Dean (2016). Surf City The Jan & Dean Story. New York, New York: Select Books, Inc. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-59079-395-4.
3. Marcus, Ben (2013). Surfing: An Illustrated History of the Coolest Sport of All Time. MBI Publishing Company. p. 92. ISBN 978-1-61058-761-7.
4. Lambert, Philip (19 March 2007). Inside the Music of Brian Wilson: The Songs, Sounds, and Influences of the Beach Boys' Founding Genius. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 81. ISBN 978-1-4411-0748-0.
5. Preiss, Byron (1979). The Beach Boys. Ballantine Books. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-345-27398-7.
6. Badman, Keith (2004). The Beach Boys: The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band, on Stage and in the Studio. Backbeat Books. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-87930-818-6.
7. "Phonograph Recording Contract" (PDF). The Wrecking Crew. American Federation of Musicians. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
8. Doe, Andrew G.; et al. "Guest Appearances". Bellagio 10452. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
9. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 292.
10. UK Official Charts Archive, 21 August 1963
11. Gillett, Charlie (2011). The Sound of the City: The Rise of Rock & Roll. Souvenir Press Limited. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-285-64024-5.
12. Jones, Doug (16 May 2019). "How OC Legend Dean Torrence Put Huntington Beach on the Map". OC Weekly. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
13. "Huntington Beach takes name 'Surf City USA'". NBC News/Associated Press. 14 May 2006. Archived from the original on 7 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
14. "Active Business Licenses Report" (PDF). City of Huntington Beach Business License Look Up. City of Huntington Beach. pp. 471–474. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
15. "Songs from Sunshine Plaza Area". Parktunes. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
16. "CHUM Hit Parade - July 15, 1963".