All Summer Long (song)
Encyclopedia
"All Summer Long" is a song written by Brian Wilson
and Mike Love
for the American
rock
band
The Beach Boys
. It was released on their 1964 album All Summer Long
, and as a single in the UK in February 1965 in place of Capitol's U.S. release, the Beach Boys' version of "Do You Wanna Dance?" -- perhaps a tactical move by EMI in London to avoid taking sales from its existing version by Cliff Richard, "Do You Want to Dance?" As things turned out, "All Summer Long" was not a hit on the now hard-rock British scene, breaking the Beach Boys' string of three previous consecutive UK hits.
and Don't Worry Baby
, this song is a lot more sophisticated than past efforts. Donald A. Guarisco, who later reviewed the song, said "All Summer Long" is a rollicking tune with beguiling teen fantasy lyrics. The narrative catalogs a series of happy events enjoyed by a guy and his girlfriend during the summer and punctuates them with the observation "every now and then we hear our song/we been having fun all summer long." The cheery sentiment of the lyrics carries over to the melody whose swirling bounciness provides a solid musical backdrop for the narrative's sunny tone. However, the true sunshine pop quality of "All Summer Long" is realized on the Beach Boys' recording, which features the group's harmonies at their most candy sweet over a jaunty instrumental track driven by boogie-woogie piano lines and some colorful xylophone hooks. The combination of sugary vocals and airy melodicism made "All Summer Long" a perfect summer tune."
as the closing credits roll, although the movie is set in the summer of 1962, two years before the song's release.
It also appears as the closing credits roll on The Simpsons
episode "Summer of 4 Ft. 2
". The episode makes a number of American Graffiti references.
On disc 5 of Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of The Beach Boys
, there is a version of "All Summer Long" where the backing track and the vocals are separated onto two different speakers.
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
and Mike Love
Mike Love
Michael Edward "Mike" Love is an American singer/songwriter and musician with The Beach Boys. He was a founding member of the band along with his cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, and continues to perform with the band to the present day...
for the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
. It was released on their 1964 album All Summer Long
All Summer Long
All Summer Long is the sixth studio album by The Beach Boys and their second in 1964. Recorded in the aftermath of the British Invasion, spearheaded by The Beatles, the album marked a major turning point in The Beach Boys' career, and in leader/prime songwriter Brian Wilson as an artist.All Summer...
, and as a single in the UK in February 1965 in place of Capitol's U.S. release, the Beach Boys' version of "Do You Wanna Dance?" -- perhaps a tactical move by EMI in London to avoid taking sales from its existing version by Cliff Richard, "Do You Want to Dance?" As things turned out, "All Summer Long" was not a hit on the now hard-rock British scene, breaking the Beach Boys' string of three previous consecutive UK hits.
Information
Like many other early Beach Boy songs, "All Summer Long" is about having fun and surfing, which shows key elements of there surfing style during the early 60's. However, along with I Get AroundI Get Around
"I Get Around" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love for The Beach Boys. The song features Love on lead vocal for the verse, and Wilson for the chorus. It is noteworthy for its back-to-front structure - it starts with a chorus and has two short verses...
and Don't Worry Baby
Don't Worry Baby
"Don’t Worry Baby" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Roger Christian, produced by Wilson and first recorded by the Beach Boys. The band's version, a tender ballad with falsetto lead vocal by Brian, was first released on their 1964 album Shut Down Volume 2. It was also released as the B-side of...
, this song is a lot more sophisticated than past efforts. Donald A. Guarisco, who later reviewed the song, said "All Summer Long" is a rollicking tune with beguiling teen fantasy lyrics. The narrative catalogs a series of happy events enjoyed by a guy and his girlfriend during the summer and punctuates them with the observation "every now and then we hear our song/we been having fun all summer long." The cheery sentiment of the lyrics carries over to the melody whose swirling bounciness provides a solid musical backdrop for the narrative's sunny tone. However, the true sunshine pop quality of "All Summer Long" is realized on the Beach Boys' recording, which features the group's harmonies at their most candy sweet over a jaunty instrumental track driven by boogie-woogie piano lines and some colorful xylophone hooks. The combination of sugary vocals and airy melodicism made "All Summer Long" a perfect summer tune."
Details
- Written by: Brian WilsonBrian WilsonBrian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
/Mike LoveMike LoveMichael Edward "Mike" Love is an American singer/songwriter and musician with The Beach Boys. He was a founding member of the band along with his cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, and continues to perform with the band to the present day... - Album: All Summer LongAll Summer LongAll Summer Long is the sixth studio album by The Beach Boys and their second in 1964. Recorded in the aftermath of the British Invasion, spearheaded by The Beatles, the album marked a major turning point in The Beach Boys' career, and in leader/prime songwriter Brian Wilson as an artist.All Summer...
- Time: 2:06
- Produced by: Brian WilsonBrian WilsonBrian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
Trivia
The song is featured in the 1973 film American GraffitiAmerican Graffiti
American Graffiti is a 1973 coming of age film co-written/directed by George Lucas starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips and Harrison Ford...
as the closing credits roll, although the movie is set in the summer of 1962, two years before the song's release.
It also appears as the closing credits roll on The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
episode "Summer of 4 Ft. 2
Summer of 4 Ft. 2
"Summer of 4 Ft. 2" is the twenty-fifth and last episode of The Simpsons seventh season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 19, 1996. In the episode, the Simpson family goes to Ned Flanders family's beach house. Hanging around with a new set of children, Lisa becomes...
". The episode makes a number of American Graffiti references.
On disc 5 of Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of The Beach Boys
Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of The Beach Boys
Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of The Beach Boys is a 1993 boxed set released by Capitol Records which collects tracks spanning The Beach Boys' entire career to that point on four CDs. A fifth disc contains mostly studio session tracks, complete vocal and instrumental tracks, and rare live...
, there is a version of "All Summer Long" where the backing track and the vocals are separated onto two different speakers.