California Girls

 Listen Now
Buy the Album at Rhino.com

Written by: Brian Wilson, Mike Love
Produced by: Wilson
Released: July '65 on Capitol
Charts: 11 weeks
Top spot: No. 3

The first time Wilson took acid, he sat at the piano and wrote the brooding, beautiful opening bars to "California Girls." It was a breakthrough moment, Wilson has said, that led him to begin creating more complex, emotional music. The lyrics were written by Love but inspired by Wilson's assertion that "everybody loves girls." And despite the teen-fantasy theme, the singing is tougher than earlier Beach Boys hits, with tightly wound harmonies and an aggressive lead vocal. "I taught Mike to sing with attitude," said Wilson. "I was trying to create a new Beach Boys sound."

Appears on: Sounds of Summer: The Very Best of the Beach Boys (Capitol)

Next: Papa's Got a Brand New Bag

Back to RS 500 Albums!
Back to RS 500 Songs!