Tuesday, March 4, 2014

The Beach Boys' "Surfin' USA" was released this day in 1963


The Beach Boys released the single "Surfin' USA" this day in 1963.  The B-side was "Shut Down".  It peaked at #2 in the US.  The single also brought some controversy over the melody line from Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen".  Berry sued and won songwriting credit on "Surfin' USA" as well as song royalties.  Ironically, Berry's song peaked at #2 on the charts as well in 1958.  Check out both sides of this Beach Boys single as well as Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen"-

"Surfin' USA"

"Shut Down"

Chuck Berry- "Sweet Little Sixteen"