The Music of The Beach Boys (Surfin' U.K.) Quiz

Answer: I Get Around

"I Get Around" was a number seven hit for The Beach Boys on the UK singles chart and a number one hit for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964.

"I Get Around" was written by Brian Wilson/Mike Love. It was originally only credited to Brian Wilson but in 1992 Mike Love filed a successful lawsuit claiming credit and royalties on a number of The Beach Boys' songs including "I Get Around".

On the record Mike Love is the lead vocal on the verses and Brian Wilson is the lead vocal on the choruses. The B-Side "Don't Worry Baby" was a chart hit in it's own right and reached number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 also in 1964. The first album by The Beach Boys to include "I Get Around" was "All Summer Long" which reached number four on the Billboard album chart in 1964. It did not enter the UK album chart.

"Surfin' U.S.A." written by Brian Wilson/Chuck Berry was the first UK chart entry by The Beach Boys. It reached number 34 on the UK singles chart and number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. Initially Brian Wilson had the solo writing credit on the record but later issues also credited Chuck Berry.

"Fun Fun Fun" written by Brian Wilson/Mike Love did not chart in the UK but it reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964.

"When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)" written by Brian Wilson/Mike Love reached number 27 on the UK singles chart and number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964.

Answer: Barbara Ann

"Barbara Ann" was a number three hit for The Beach Boys on the UK singles chart and a number two hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966.

"Barbara Ann", written by Fred Fassert, was a number 13 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Regents in 1961. It did not chart in the UK. The Regents, forerlly known as The Monterays and The Desires had disbanded before the record was released. The group re-united on the release of the record but only had one more hit "Runaround" at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 before breaking up again.

The Beach Boys version of "Barbara Ann" was first released on the album "Beach Boys Party!". The album reached number six on the Billboard album chart and number three on the UK album chart in 1966. After receiving radio air play by various US disc jockeys, "Barbara Ann" with Dean Torrence (from the duo Jan and Dean) sharing the vocals with Brian Wilson was released as a single.

"Help Me Rhonda" written by Brian Wilson/Mike Love reached number 27 on the UK singles chart but was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965. It was the second US number one hit by The Beach Boys.

"Wendy" written by Brian Wilson/Mike Love was included on the album "All Summer Long" which reached number four on the Billboard album chart in 1966. It did not chart in the UK. "Wendy" was also released with "Little Honda", "Don't Back Down" and "Hushabye" on the EP "4-By The Beach Boys" which reached number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 also in 1964. It did not chart in the UK.

"Caroline No" written by Brian Wilson/Tony Asher was a solo single by Brian Wilson. It reached number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. It did not chart in the UK. The track was also included on the album "Pet Sounds" which reached number ten on the Billboard album chart and number two on the UK album chart in 1966.

Answer: Sloop

"Sloop John B" was a number two hit for The Beach Boys on the UK singles chart and a number three hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966.

"Sloop John B" is adapted from "The John B Sails" an old Bahamian folk song. Group member Al Jardine brought the song and his arrangement of it to Brian Wilson. He hoped he would be asked to sing lead on the song but did not even get a label credit for it. The lead vocal was shared between Brian Wilson and Mike Love.

The song was included on The Beach Boys' album "Pet Sounds" which reached number ten on the Billboard album chart and number two on the UK album chart in 1966. Brian Wilson was enthralled at the time with "Rubber Soul" by The Beatles and he may have been inspired while writing "Pet Sounds", which in turn inspired The Beatles while writing "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".

Answer: God Only Knows

"God Only Knows" was a number two hit on the UK singles chart for The Beach Boys in 1966. It reached number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 as the B-Side of "Wouldn't It Be Nice" which reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year. It did not chart in the UK.

"God Only Knows" was written by Brian Wilson/Tony Asher. They were worried that a song with "God" in the title would not go down well. How times have changed, who would even care today? "God Only Knows" was included on the album "Pet Sounds" along with the A-Side "Wouldn't It Be Nice".

Brian Wilson was planning to sing lead vocal on the record but asked his younger brother Carl to sing it because he had tenderness and sweetness in his voice. The long "God only knows what I'd be without you" fade out was done with just the voices of Beach Boys Brian Wilson and Bruce Johnston.

"In My Room" was written by Brian Wilson/Gary Usher. It reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963 but did not chart in the UK. It was the B-Side of "Be True To Your School" which reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year. It did not chart in the UK.

"Don't Worry Baby" was written by Brian Wilson/Roger Christian. It reached number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 but did not chart in the UK. It was the B-Side of "I Get Around" which was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number seven on the UK singles chart in 1964.

"The Warmth Of The Sun" was written by Brian Wilson/Mike Love. It was included on the album "Shut Down, Volume 2" which reached number 13 on the Billboard album chart in 1964. It did not chart in the UK. It was then released as the B-Side of "Dance, Dance, Dance" which reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. It reached number 24 on the UK singles chart in 1965.

Answer: Good Vibrations

"Good Vibrations" gave The Beach Boys a number one hit for two weeks on the UK singles chart and a number one hit for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966.

"Good Vibrations" was written by Brian Wilson/Mike Love. It became The Beach Boys first 1,000,000 selling single. It sold over 230,000 copies in its first four days on sale in the US and more than 50,000 copies in its first 15 days on sale in the UK. Eleven months after its release as a single it was included on The Beach Boys' album "Smiley Smile".


Top UK musical papers "The New Musical Express" and "The Melody Maker" gave it positive reviews. However, Pete Townshend of The Who fearing that the single would lead to a plethora of over-produced records was quoted as saying "Good Vibrations was probably a good record but who's to know? You had to play it about 90 bloody times to even hear what they were singing about". I say "What did he know".

All three alternative choices for this question reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.

"I Get Around" peaked at number one on the 4th July 1964 and was number one for two weeks. It peaked at number seven on the UK singles chart the same year.

"Help Me, Rhonda" peaked at number one on the 29th May 1965 and was number one for two weeks. It peaked at number 27 on the UK singles chart the same year.

"Kokomo" peaked at number one on the 5th November 1988 and was number one for one week. It peaked at number 25 on the UK singles chart the same year.

Answer: Then He Kissed Me

"Then I Kissed Her" was a number four hit for The Beach Boys on the UK singles chart in 1967. It was not released as a single in the US.

"Then I Kissed Her" was written as "Then He Kissed Me" by Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich/Phil Spector. It was recorded by The Crystals and reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the UK singles chart in 1963.

With altered title and words the song appeared on The Beach Boys' album "Summer Days (And Summer Nights!)". The album reached number two on the Billboard album chart in 1965. It reached number four on the UK album chart in 1966.

When "Then I Kissed Her" was released in the UK as a single with Al Jardine on lead vocal The Beach Boys were not happy about it. Mike Love (who else) commented "The record company didn't even have the decency to put out one of Brian's own compositions. The reason for the hold up with a new single has simply been that we wanted to give our public the best and the best isn't ready yet."

Mike Love being a bit pompous there, me thinks. It reached number four and continued a run of five consecutive UK Top Five hits and it is one of my all time favourite Beach Boys' records. What was the problem, I hope they got over it quickly when the royalties came rolling in.

Answer: Smiley Smile

"Heroes And Villains" was a number eight hit for The Beach Boys on the UK singles chart and a number 12 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967.

"Heroes And Villains" was written by Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks for the abandoned "Smile" album. A re-recorded version was included on the "Smiley Smile" album which reached number nine on the UK album chart in 1967. It peaked at number 41 on the Billboard album chart the same year. The same re-recording was used for the single which was the first release on The Beach Boys' own record label, Brother records.

A number of Beach Boys have given reasons why the album failed in the US. Maybe they should have said honestly, "Except for "Heroes And Villains" and "Good Vibrations" it was a dog's breakfast" and left it at that.

Answer: Do It Again

"Do It Again" was a number one hit for one week on the UK singles chart and it was a number 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Beach Boys in 1968.

"Do It Again" was written by Brian Wilson/Mike Love and co-produced by brother Carl Wilson with cousin Mike Love on lead vocal. This throw back to the early surfing days was first released as a single before being included on the "20/20" album. The "20/20" album peaked at number 68 on the Billboard album chart but reached number three on the UK album chart in 1969.

The single version of "Do It Again" was different from the album version as the hammering sounds at the end were missing. It was the last US Top 20 single for The Beach Boys until "Rock And Roll Music" peaked at number three in 1976. It was their second and last UK number one hit. Both of their number one hits were in the '60s and as of 2013 when this quiz was written they have not achieved another UK number one hit.

Answer: I Can Hear Music

"I Can Hear Music" reached number ten on the UK singles chart; it peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Beach Boys in 1969.

"I Can Hear Music" was written by Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich/Phil Spector. It was first recorded by The Ronettes in 1966. It peaked at number 100 for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 and failed to chart altogether in the UK. The Ronettes reputation has grown over the years but despite some brilliant records they only had one US Top 20 hit. Their first chart entry "Be My Baby" peaked at number two in 1963.

Carl Wilson may have at this time become de facto leader of the group; he produced and sang lead vocal on this record. Despite its low peak position in the US it was a Top 20 hit in many counties. It reached number five in Sweden, number six in Holland, number seven in Poland, number 13 in Australia, number 13 in Germany and number 15 in Ireland.

Answer: Break Away

"Break Away" gave The Beach Boys a number six hit on the UK singles chart, it reached number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969.

"Break Away" was written by Brian Wilson/Reggie Dunbar (Murry Wilson), father of Brian, Dennis and Carl. Brian Wilson has said that he was inspired to write the song by The Monkees. It might also be a song to celebrate The Beach Boys breaking away from Capitol records.

The Beach Boys alleged that an audit revealed the group were owed over $2,000,000 (equal to about $12,000,000 today), by Capitol records for unpaid royalties and production duties. After the group's contract expired on the 30th June 1969, Capitol Records deleted the Beach Boys' catalogue thereby cutting off the flow of future royalties.