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

Answer: Chuck Berry

"Surfin' U.S.A.", written by Brian Wilson, peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Beach Boys in 1963. It peaked at number 34 on the UK singles chart the same year.

Brian Wilson was dating a girl whose brother was a surfer. Brian was humming the melody to "Sweet Little Sixteen' and asked the girl's brother for a list of surfing spots and put them and the melody together.

"Sweet Little Sixteen", written by Chuck Berry, peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958. It peaked at number 16 on the UK singles chart the same year. On release "Surfin' U.S.A." only listed Brian Wilson as writer; later issues recognized Chuck Berry's contribution.

Answer: Ford

"Fun, Fun, Fun" written by Brian Wilson/Mike Love peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 for The beach Boys in 1964. It did not chart in the UK.

The overbearing Murry Wilson (the father of Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson) was The Beach Boys' business manager and co-producer at the time. He tried to prevent The Beach Boys from recording "Fun, Fun, Fun" because he thought that the song was immoral. The B-Side was a cover version of Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers' 1956 hit "Why Do Fools Fall In Love".

"Fun, Fun, Fun" finally made it into the UK singles chart 1996 when British rock band Status Quo recorded a version of the song featuring The Beach Boys. It peaked at number 24. The Beach Boys sing the backing vocals and Status Quo's Francis Rossi sings lead except for a new verse which is sung by Mike Love.

Answer: Mike Love

"I Get Around" written by Brian Wilson/Mike Love was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Beach Boys in 1964. It peaked at number seven on the UK singles chart the same year.

The trouble between the group and manager Murry Wilson came to a head during the recording of "I Get Around" and Brian Wilson dismissed his father as manager of the group. "I Get Around" became The Beach Boys' first US number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and their first Top Ten hit on the UK singles chart.

The B-Side was "Don't Worry Baby" written by Brian Wilson/Roger Christian about a boy challenged to a race after bragging about his car. It peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964.

Answer: False

"I Get Around" was the first number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Beach Boys. It was number one for two weeks in 1964. It peaked at number seven on the UK singles chart the same year.

"Help Me, Rhonda" written by Brian Wilson/Mike Love, was the second number one for The Beach Boys on the Billboard Hot 100. It was number one for two weeks in 1965. It peaked at number 27 on the UK singles chart the same year. It was the first Beach Boys single to feature a lead vocal by Al Jardine.

"Help Me, Rhonda" first appeared as "Help Me, Ronda" on The Beach Boys 1965 album "The Beach Boys Today!". As well as being spelled differently the single version is different musically from the original album version. The single version appears on The Beach Boys 1965 album "Summer Days (And Summer Nights!)".

Answer: The way they talk

"California Girls" written by Brian Wilson/Mike Love peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Beach Boys in 1965. It peaked at number 26 on the UK singles chart the same year.

Supposedly the music for "California Girls" came to Brian Wilson during his first experience with the drug LSD. It was the first Beach Boys recording to feature vocals from Brian Wilson substitute Bruce Johnston. He replaced Brian Wilson in The Beach Boys line up on tour.

It has been a very popular song world wide and has had in excess of four million plays on US radio alone. The Beatles "Back In The U. S. S. R." is considered a homage to the song. 20 years after The Beach Boys version, David Lee Roth also peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 with the song in 1985.

Answer: Barbara Ann

"Barbara Ann", written by Fred Fassert, peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Beach Boys in 1966. It peaked at number three on the UK singles chart the same year.

Originally released as "Barbara-Ann" by The Regents in 1961, it peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961. Unfortunately The Regents, formed as The Desires in 1958, had disbanded by the time "Barbara-Ann" came to be released.

Although not credited on the single or the longer version on the "Beach Boys Party!" album, Dean Torrence shares the lead vocals with Brian Wilson on "Barbara Ann". At the end of the song you can hear Carl Wilson say "Thanks Dean". Dean Torrence was one half of Jan & Dean and they had also previously recorded "Barbara Ann".

Answer: The Sheriff

"Sloop John B", a traditional song from the West Indies, peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Beach Boys in 1966. It peaked at number two on the UK singles chart the same year.

"The John B. Sails" is a Bahamian folk song from Nassau. The song was transcribed by Richard Le Gallienne, his article "Coral Islands and Mangrove-Trees" was published in the December issue of "Harper's Magazine" in 1916.

The song has been recorded by many artists under many variations of the title. This includes The Kingston Trio "Sloop John B" (1958), Johnny Cash "I Want To Go Home" (1959), Lonnie Donegan "I Wanna Go Home (Wreck of the John B)" (1960), Jimmie Rodgers "Wreck of the John B" (1960) and Dick Dale "Sloop John B" (1962).

Answer: Winchester Cathedral

"Winchester Cathedral", written by Geoff Stephens, was number one for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. It peaked at number four on the UK singles chart the same year. It beat The Mamas & The Papas, Paul McCartney, The Association, The Beach Boys and The Monkees, to win the Grammy Award for 1966.

"Good Vibrations" was written by Brian Wilson/Mike Love. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Beach Boys in 1966. It was number one for two weeks on the UK singles chart the same year. The Beach Boys/"Good Vibrations" were nominated in three Grammy Award categories but did not win any.

"Good Vibrations" took 17 sessions in four studios and six months to complete at a cost of (a record at the time) $50,000. It sold in excess of 230,000 copies in its first four days on release in the US. It became The Beach Boys' first million selling single. In the UK it sold in excess of 50,000 copies in its first 15 days on release.

Answer: Rock And Roll Music

"Rock And Roll Music", written by Chuck Berry, peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Beach Boys in 1976. It peaked at number 36 on the UK singles chart the same year.

The Beach Boys did record all of the alternative answers for this question. "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" was the B-Side of "Fun, Fun, Fun" in 1964. "Peggy Sue" peaked at number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. "Come Go With Me" peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982.

The original version of "Rock And Roll Music" peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 for Chuck Berry in 1957. It did not chart in the UK. The Beatles' version of "Rock And Roll Music" was on their 1964 UK album "Beatles For Sale" and their 1965 US album "Beatles '65".

Answer: It Is fictional

"Kokomo" was written by Mike Love/Scott McKenzie/Terry Melcher/John Phillips. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Beach Boys in 1988. It peaked at number 25 on the UK singles chart the same year.

Brian Wilson did not take any part in the writing, producing or singing on "Kokomo". It was The Beach Boys' fourth and last number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and it came 22 years after their previous number one hit "Good Vibrations" in 1966.

Although there are places actually named Kokomo and various places around the Caribbean are mentioned in the song it is a fictional place. The song however was written in Key Largo which is also mentioned in the song.