Essential Question: What is the surf sound and where did it come from?
The surf sound of the early 1960s was built on the interplay of different musical traditions that came together to form something new, something that in its heyday took the nation by storm. In the case of the Beach Boys' early music, a mix of popular forms resulted in a sound with both black and white musical roots. Bringing together the R&B-inflected guitar of Chuck Berry with vocal-group harmonies associated with white groups like the Four Freshman, the Beach Boys hit their teen audience very directly.
You will be investigating the different elements of the Beach Boys' Surf sound by listening to different samples while identifying some essential elements of their early music. These elements include rich vocal harmonies, a production aesthetic influenced by Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" recordings, Chuck Berry-inspired electric guitar riffs, and the liberal use of "reverb" effects facilitated by technical innovations to Fender amplifiers in the early 1960s.
You will be investigating the different elements of the Beach Boys' Surf sound by listening to different samples while identifying some essential elements of their early music. These elements include rich vocal harmonies, a production aesthetic influenced by Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" recordings, Chuck Berry-inspired electric guitar riffs, and the liberal use of "reverb" effects facilitated by technical innovations to Fender amplifiers in the early 1960s.
Listening Station 1: Vocal Harmonies
Song 1: "The Things We Did Last Summer," The Beach Boys (1963)
Song 2: "Angel Eyes," The Four Freshmen (1956)
Song 1: "The Things We Did Last Summer," The Beach Boys (1963)
Song 2: "Angel Eyes," The Four Freshmen (1956)
Listening Station 2: R&B Guitar
Song 1: "Fun, Fun Fun," The Beach Boys (1964)
Song 2: "Johnny B. Goode," Chuck Berry (1958)
Listening Station 3: Wall of Sound
Song 1: "Don't Worry Baby," The Beach Boys (1964)
Song 2: "By My Baby," The Ronettes (1963)
Listening Station 3: Instrumental Reverb
Song 1: "Wipeout," the Surfaris (1963)
Song 2: "Miserlou," Dick Dale and the Del-Tones (1962)
Song 1: "Wipeout," the Surfaris (1963)
Song 2: "Miserlou," Dick Dale and the Del-Tones (1962)