Surfin' Safari

Bruce Beatlefan (December 27, 2007)

The plethora of Beach Boys compilations, paired with the frustrating unavailability (for many years) of their early Capitol Records albums, ensured that the Beach Boys would forever be labelled as a singles group. This perception had been cemented by rock and roll books reporting that they were pressed into making as many as four albums a year, which inevitably leads to a diluted product. It was a great day in 1990 when their albums were serially released as "two-fers" in CD form so that curious Beach Boys fans could examine for themselves these largely unknown early songs, and moreover track the progress of Brian Wilson's songwriting.

The Beach Boys' first album was Surfin' Safari (paired up with their second album, Surfin' USA). Meticulous care had been taken to clean up the recordings without compromising the early 1960's sound, and the CD package is buttressed by bonus tracks and superb liner notes, making for an excellent package (and indicating that these were not simply money-making devices for a record company, but the respectful presentation from a true lover of the Beach Boys art).

Surfin' Safari is about what you would expect for a hastily-assembled first album from a group whose oldest member (Mike Love) was 21 years old. But that doesn't take away from the fact that it is a fun album throughout, and it is always fascinating to examine the first works of songwriter (and soon to be legend) Brian Wilson.

Beach Boys fans will surely know the songs "Surfin' Safari" and "409". "Surfin'", their first single and local hit, is a rustic curiosity. Other B.Wilson/Usher or B.Wilson/Love originals which stand out are the fashion statement "Shift" and the humorous lightweight songs "County Fair", "Chug-o-Lug", and "Cuckoo Bird". The nine originals are supplemented by three covers: the Eddie Cochran standard "Summertime Blues" gets fair treatment, 15-year-old Carl Wilson is highlighted in the instrumental "Moon Dawg", and heartthrob Dennis Wilson woos the girls in the song partially written by Herb Alpert, "You're My Miss America".

Not nearly as strong as they will be when their skills are refined and Brian Wilson's songwriting grows, "Surfin' Safari" remains a worthwhile listen and a hankering back to a time when rock and roll music was still such innocent fun.