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Beach Boys Singles Trivia Quiz

Oh No, not another tough Beach Boys quiz. This time I threw in a few softballs and a couple of curveballs to keep you honest. It's mostly Capitol singles and Beach Boy Hits in the USA. These are the "I never thought about that before" questions.

A multiple-choice quiz by TOKENHIPPIE. Estimated time: 8 mins.

Author
TOKENHIPPIE

Time
8 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
367,045

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 15

Plays
343

Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Which Beach Boy Capitol single was released first in the USA? Hint

Surfin' Safari

Ten Little Indians

Surfin' USA

Surfin

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Question 2 of 15

2. Why was Brian Wilson's name removed from the writing credit on the "Surfin' USA" single in the USA and Canada? Hint

Mike Love threatened Brian if he did not get writing credit he(Mike Love) would never perform on stage again. That'll be the day

Arc Music publishing threatened to sue Capitol because the melody of Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen" was being used by Brian Wilson

Murry Wilson bellowed" I'm your father what I say goes, I made this group what it is today , so remove your name and put mine on there instead. If it weren't for me you wouldn't even been born yet". Now that part is true

The executives at Capitol thought Brian should relinquish all rights because he was not 21 years old yet

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Question 3 of 15

3. What Billboard Top 40 single by the Beach Boys did not use drums of any kind? They may have improvised using other non musical instruments. Just use the process of elimination and go thru the Beach Boys discography and eliminate all the Top 40 singles that used drums, then you'll find what you're looking for.
See I told you I'd be helpful.

Answer: (No more clues)

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Question 4 of 15

4. We would all agree The Beach Boys are known for their harmonies. However, in which Capitol "A" side single that made the Top 40 in the USA, did Brian Wilson sing solo without any Beach Boys' backing vocal?

Answer: (Two Words)

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Question 5 of 15

5. In the USA this Capitol song was relegated as the "B" side, though originally Capitol intended it to be the "A" side. Which Billboard Top 40 song was it? Hint

Don't Worry Baby

In My Room

God Only Knows

Shut Down

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Question 6 of 15

6. What was the first Beach Boys' single in the USA to get a Picture Sleeve? Hint

Surfin' USA

Surfin' Safari

Ten Little Indians

I Get Around

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Question 7 of 15

7. Which was the last Beach Boys' Capitol single to make the Top 40 on either Billboard or Cashbox? This excludes the Beach Boys Medley which made the Top 40 in '81. You'll have to put on your thinking caps for this one. They can't be all easy or I would ruin my reputation, such as it is. But it's still not that difficult. Hint

Break Away

Surfin' USA

I Can Hear Music

Surfer Girl

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Question 8 of 15

8. What was Brian Wilson's biggest Billboard hit written in '63, whether he wrote the lyrics or melody, or both?

Answer: (Two Words)

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Question 9 of 15

9. Which Beach Boys' Capitol single did The Honeys first appear on, in the USA? Hint

Surfin' U.S.A.

Be True To Your School

Little Saint Nick

Fun, Fun, Fun

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Question 10 of 15

10. Capitol Records issued a promo only single titled "Salt Lake City" to Salt Lake City, Utah. Why? Hint

To promote Mormonism, so Capitol sent The Beach Boys to Salt Lake City to see how many Mormon wives The Beach Boys could marry

To promote the fun side of Salt Lake City where there is no drinking or partying allowed in public

Salt Lake City is known for their salty lake, so they thought it would be a good idea to promote surfing on a salty lake

The Beach Boys were the Number One group in the State so they wrote a song about Salt Lake City to show their appreciation to their fans

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Question 11 of 15

11. Did Dennis Wilson ever share a writing credit on an "A" side Capitol single in the USA?

Yes

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Question 12 of 15

12. What was the first song Bruce Johnston produced on a Beach Boys' single in the USA? It could be the "A" side or "B" side of the record. Hint

Bluebirds Over The Mountain

The Nearest Faraway Place

Tears In The Morning

Cottonfields

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Question 13 of 15

13. Capitol released a series of Starline singles to promote past hits and keep them alive during the 60s, 70s and 80s. The Beach Boys were no exception, but there was one incongruous Starline single on the green swirl label that did not fit the bill. The "B" side was "She Knows Me Too Well" and the unlikely candidate for the "A" side was what song in the US?
Did I forget the A in US. Oh well, I think you know the country by now. Hint

Ten Little Indians

409

The Little Girl I Once Knew

County Fair

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Question 14 of 15

14. Back in the 60s another genius at Capitol thought it would be a good idea to place the same song on both "Best of the Beach Boys, Vol.2" and "Best of the Beach Boys, Vol.3". It was like the execs at Capitol didn't have enough songs to choose from by '67. Anyway, what song was duplicated on both of these albums in the USA? Hint

The Little Girl I Once Knew

Girl Don't Tell Me

She Knows Me Too Well

409

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Question 15 of 15

15. What was Carl Wilson's first lead vocal on a Beach Boys' single in the USA, either on the "A" side or "B" side of the record? Hint

God Only Knows

Girl Don't Tell Me

Good Vibrations

Darlin'

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Dec 06 2024 : Guest 24: 1/15
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which Beach Boy Capitol single was released first in the USA?

Answer: Surfin' Safari

"Surfin' Safari" was the first on Capitol. Released in June '62
Surfin" was the first release ever, but it was on Candix and the X label in December '61.

2. Why was Brian Wilson's name removed from the writing credit on the "Surfin' USA" single in the USA and Canada?

Answer: Arc Music publishing threatened to sue Capitol because the melody of Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen" was being used by Brian Wilson

Chuck Berry was in jail at the time, so Arc Publishing intervened on his behalf. Arc was concerned about Chuck Berry not getting ripped off, not to mention their own pocketbook.
The other choices were my way of throwing in a little humour, in case this gets too tough for most.

Answer: Barbara Ann

"Barbara Ann" if you listen to it closely you can hear a tambourine, handclapping and Carl's famous ashtray banging on the table. But there were no conventional drums used on the "Party" Album. There were some bongo drums used on some other songs on the album but not on "Barbara Ann".

Answer: Caroline No

Appropriately enough "Caroline No" was released as a solo single under Brian's name, Brian Wilson. Released in January '66.

5. In the USA this Capitol song was relegated as the "B" side, though originally Capitol intended it to be the "A" side. Which Billboard Top 40 song was it?

Answer: Don't Worry Baby

"Don't Worry Baby" was designated as the "A" side on the picture sleeve. "I Get Around" was below it. This is the only way it was released in the US, with "Don't Worry Baby" on top of "I Get Around".
Not a bad position to be in if I was "I Get Around".
Anyway Capitol printed up picture sleeves and sent them to radio stations with "Don't Worry Baby" in the "A" side position and "I Get Around" below it. But some deejays in California played "I Get Around" instead and it took off with the rest of the nation following suit. "I Get Around" made BillBoard's Top 40 charts two weeks before "Don't Worry Baby". Capitol never bothered to change the picture sleeve and left it as is.

6. What was the first Beach Boys' single in the USA to get a Picture Sleeve?

Answer: Surfin' Safari

"Surfin' Safari" received one in June '62. "Surfin' USA" was never issued one in the USA.
"Ten Little Indians" got one in November '62.
"I Get Around" in '64.

Answer: Surfin' USA

"Break Away" made it to Number 38 on Cashbox in July '69.
"Surfin' USA" was a hit twice on Billboard in the US. Once in April '63 and the next time was September '74 at Number 36. This was to capitalise on the "Endless Summer" release in '74.
This was a bit of tricky one which required some thought. I guess I was up to my old tricks on this one. Old habits are hard to break.

8. What was Brian Wilson's biggest Billboard hit written in '63, whether he wrote the lyrics or melody, or both?

Answer: Surf City

"Surf City" wins by the length of a surfboard. Brian wrote the first couple of lines and the melody, then gave it to Jan Berry. Jan finished it and took it to Number One on Billboard with Dean and Brian.
"Surfin' USA" only made it to Number Three.

9. Which Beach Boys' Capitol single did The Honeys first appear on, in the USA?

Answer: Be True To Your School

"Be True To Your School" was the biggest Top Ten hit on Billboard The Honeys were ever on. Released in October '63.

10. Capitol Records issued a promo only single titled "Salt Lake City" to Salt Lake City, Utah. Why?

Answer: The Beach Boys were the Number One group in the State so they wrote a song about Salt Lake City to show their appreciation to their fans

"Salt Lake City" was a tribute to their fans. A thank you for all their support.

11. Did Dennis Wilson ever share a writing credit on an "A" side Capitol single in the USA?

Answer: Yes

Dennis did so on "Friends" a song he co-wrote with Brian, Carl, and Al Jardine. Released in April '68.

12. What was the first song Bruce Johnston produced on a Beach Boys' single in the USA? It could be the "A" side or "B" side of the record.

Answer: Bluebirds Over The Mountain

"Bluebirds Over The Mountain" was a project he started for the Redwoods (pre Three Dog Night) and was never finished, so Bruce figured it would be a good idea to have it as The Beach Boys' next single. Released in November '68.
"The Nearest Faraway Place" was an instrumental piano piece Bruce produced as the "B" side to "Cottonfields". Released in April '70 in the US.

13. Capitol released a series of Starline singles to promote past hits and keep them alive during the 60s, 70s and 80s. The Beach Boys were no exception, but there was one incongruous Starline single on the green swirl label that did not fit the bill. The "B" side was "She Knows Me Too Well" and the unlikely candidate for the "A" side was what song in the US? Did I forget the A in US. Oh well, I think you know the country by now.

Answer: Ten Little Indians

It lasted two years as a Starline single and then one of the braintrusts at Capitol must have realised that "Ten Little Indians" was never really a hit. What genius at Capitol thought that "Ten Little Indians" would make a good choice anyway.

Answer: 409

"409" was also duplicated on the "Surfin' Safari" and "Little Deuce Coupe" albums in the USA.

15. What was Carl Wilson's first lead vocal on a Beach Boys' single in the USA, either on the "A" side or "B" side of the record?

Answer: Girl Don't Tell Me

"Girl Don't Tell Me", the flip side of "Barbara Ann" was Carl's big chance to impress Brian. Released in December '65.

Source: Author TOKENHIPPIE

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