Becoming the Beach Boys, 1961-1963

by James B. Murphy

Overview

They were almost The Pendletones--after the Pendleton wool shirts favored on chilly nights at the beach--then The Surfers, before being named The Beach Boys. But what separated them from every other teenage garage band with no musical training? They had raw talent, persistence and a wellspring of creativity that launched them on a legendary career now in its sixth decade.

Following the musical vision of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys blended ethereal vocal harmonies, searing electric guitars and lush arrangements into one of the most distinctive sounds in the history of popular music. Drawing on original interviews and newly uncovered documents, this book untangles the band's convoluted early history and tells the story of how five boys from California formed America's greatest rock 'n' roll band.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476618531
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	06/08/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	436
File size:	19 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

James B. Murphy is a companion animal veterinarian in Washington, D.C. He lives in Bowie, Maryland.
James B. Murphy is a companion animal veterinarian in Washington, D.C. He lives in Bowie, Maryland.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction
A Note About Record Charts
1. Hawthorne High and Graduation Day
2. Hawthorne, California
3. Headed for Hollywood: Dorinda and Hite Morgan
4. On Our Way to Sunny California: Virginia and Donald Jardine
5. A Musical Education
6. Life After High School (July 1960–July 1961)
7. Someone Should Write a Song About Surfing (August–October 1961)
8. Pendletones Become Surfers (November 1961)
9. CANDIX Enterprises, Inc.
10. “Call Them the Beach Boys”—Russ Regan
11. A Month of Firsts (December 1961)
12. Number 3 in LA (January–February 1962)
13. One Hit Wonders (March 1962)
14. Making Tracks … to the Tower (April 1962)
15. A Capitol Contract (May–June 1962)
16. Safari, California Style (July 1962)
17. Pandora’s Box and Azusa Teen Club (August 1962)
18. Beyond the Boys (September 1962)
19. An Album Debut and the Pressure’s On (October–December 1962)
20. A Sonic Tidal Wave (January–March 1963)
21. Making Waves in the Midwest (April–June 1963)
22. 36 Cities in 45 days (July–August 1963)
23. The Greatest Second Chance in Rock ’n’ Roll (September–October 1963)
24. “The Warmth of the Sun” (November–December 1963)
Coda: The Hite Morgan Tapes—Discovery, Illumination, and Litigation
Appendix 1: The Beach Boys’ Personal Appearances, 1961–1963
Appendix 2: Timeline of “Surfin’” Releases
Appendix 3: “Surfin’” Chart Position History
Appendix 4: “Surfin’” Revenue and Expense Stream, and Production Flow
Appendix 5: Standard Songwriter’s Contract for “Surfin’” Dated September 15, 1961
Appendix 6: Floor Plan of Hite and Dorinda Morgan’s Home, 2511 Mayberry Street
Appendix 7: Floor Plan of CANDIX Enterprises, 6425 Hollywood Boulevard
Appendix 8: American Federation of Musicians Contract Dated February 8, 1962
Appendix 9: Letter of Intent and Agreement from Murry Wilson to Hite B. Morgan Dated March 29, 1962
Appendix 10: Floor Plan of Stereo Masters, 5534–5538 Melrose Avenue
Appendix 11: The Beach Boys’ Midwest Tour, April 24–May 5, 1963
Appendix 12: “Dennis” by Dorinda Morgan
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

This meticulously researched and presented title gives readers a ‘boots-on-the-ground’ look at how the Beach Boys got its start and is the definitive book on the humble beginnings of the band...it’s almost as if those beautiful Beach Boys harmonies...intricately arranged, soaring, and pleasing to the listener...are invoked in the book’s layout...a must-read for Beach Boys fans and popular music historians...readers will love the depth of research...recommended”—Library Journal; “no definitive rock history collection or Beach Boys fan should be without this reference, which packs in statistics, black and white photos, and insights not available elsewhere”—Midwest Book Review; “recommended...engaging and entertaining”—Association for Recorded Sound Collections Journal; “the most in-depth look...fascinating details about the creation of each song...an absolute must”—Examiner; “fascinating...the research is astonishing...Murphy provides far more detail about those three years than has ever been available before...exhaustive detail”—American Songwriter; “Murphy is a very good writer, and the book he always wanted to read was definitely worth writing. He lets no detail go un-checked...an important historical document through and through. A top ten best retro Popculture book of 2015.”—Psychobabble.

From the Publisher

09/01/2015
On the heels of the Brian Wilson biopic film Love and Mercy, this meticulously researched and presented title gives readers a "boots-on-the-ground" look at how the Beach Boys, one of the most influential groups in the history of popular music, got its start and is the definitive book on the humble beginnings of the band. Describing from their first moments as the Pendletones up till the end of their "surf" years in 1963, the book details how the band formed and offers original interviews and primary source documents, creating a history that flows through the pages, making the title an easy read for those interested in these little tidbits. It's almost as if those beautiful Beach Boys harmonies—intricately arranged, soaring, and pleasing to the listener—are invoked in the book's layout. VERDICT A must-read for Beach Boys fans and popular music historians. These readers will love the depth of research, but casual fans may get bogged down in the details. Recommended for libraries with strong music collections.—Justin Hoenke, Benson Memorial Lib., Titusville, PA

Library Journal