Wednesday, January 31st, 2024
Even an animal, if you show genuine affection, gradually trust develops... If you always showing bad face and beating, how can you develop friendship?
— Dalai Lama
MUS106 Lecture 10
- surf rock
- popular in SoCal from 50s to 60s
- Dick Dale & the Del-Tones
- Miserlou (1962)
- The Ventures
- The Surfaris
- ”Wipe Out”
- surf rock category 1: depicts actual surfing
- surf rock category 2: “surfer” narrative, and authenticity comes into question
- The Beach Boys
- The Pendletones, signed by Candix
- was renamed to “The Beach Boys” without notifying the band
- first song “Surfin”
- In 1962, signed by Capitol Records
- Big 6 called the band “teenage gold”
- 2nd album Surfin’ USA (1963) got Billboard #2
- Title track stole from Chuck Berry, got sued by Chuck Berry after he got out from prison, then Beach Boys added him as a co-writer
- Most famous songs during/before early rock hiatus was by professional musicians. As a reaction, grassroot, anti-professional artists emerged
- ”Louie Louie” by Richard Berry
- covered by The Kingsmen (1963) from Portland
- grassroot band
- initially only sold ~600 copies
- raw recording, but turns out to be good for teenage audience
- was called a “Worst Record of the Week” then became Pop #2
- parents were perplexed and asked FBI to investigate if the lyrics of “Louie Louie” was filthy/salacious
- FBI: the lyrics were “indecipherable at any speed"
- "Louie Louie progression”: I-IV-v-IV (note the minor v chord); simple and DIY friendly
- covered by The Kingsmen (1963) from Portland