55 years ago today: The Beach Boys record ‘California Girls’
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April 6th, 2020 —
The day was April 6th, 1965 and while at a dinner party, the group’s leader and producer, Brian Wilson wrote the music to the chorus that would soon be the group’s most ambitious recording up until then. Although, to create the backing track to California Girls, Wilson led a session at Hollywood’s Western Records with Los Angeles’ top session players for a soaring orchestral production. The Beach Boys’ vocals, written by Mike Love, were added on June 4th, 1965.
This was not the bands first track, but it was by far their best production featuring utilized drums, piano, vibes, assorted percussion, three guitars, both an electric and a double bass, three saxophones, a trumpet, and an organ, along with the six-part harmony vocals which were all organized by Wilson.
Their first single, Surfin‘, was recorded in 1961 with a double bass, an acoustic guitar and a trash can for percussion.
Before Tom Petty died in 2017, he admired Wilson’s vision and artistry in music.
“You really have to admire him as an artist for just having that kind of vision. ‘Cause, it’s y’know, anyone that makes records knows it’s very hard to think that far ahead. Y’know, just to book all those guys for the session! Right? You’re thinking pretty far ahead. You’re really visualizing sound long before it’s actually appeared if you call 19 guys down to the room.”
In fact, California Girls may have even inspired the Beatles song Back In The U.S.S.R., according to songfacts.com. Paul McCartney conceived The Beatles song as a soviet version of California Girls.
Love said in an interview with them, “Paul came down to the breakfast table one morning saying, ‘Hey, Mike, listen to this.’ And he starts strumming and singing, ‘Back in the U.S.S.R.,’ the verses. And I said, ‘Well, Paul, what you ought to do is talk about the girls around Russia, Ukraine girls and then Georgia on my mind, and that kind of thing.’ Which he did.”
The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 list and became the Beach Boys’ signature song.
Wilson has said in many interviews that this is by far his favourite Beach Boys song, especially the introduction. There is some debate as to whether Wilson composed the song’s signature introduction, or its main melody, during his first LSD trip earlier that year.
“The intro to this song is the greatest piece of music that I’ve ever written. I was looking for an introduction that would be totally different to the rest of the song, but would lead into it. The song was a big record for us, but I really never liked anything but the intro,” said Wilson in a 1993 interview with Capitol Records.
Starting in the early 70’s, the group regularly used it at their opening number and still do with the touring group.
