Shut Down Volume 2
Encyclopedia
Shut Down Volume 2 is the fifth studio album by The Beach Boys
, and the first of four they would release in 1964. The album's "Volume 2" refers to it being a follow-up to the 1963 hot rod compilation Shut Down, released by the band's label, Capitol Records
, which included "409" and "Shut Down" but was not a Beach Boys album.
Shut Down Volume 2 hit #13 in the US charts during a chart stay of 38 weeks. Shut Down Volume 2 (Capitol (S) T 2027) is now paired on CD with Surfer Girl
, with bonus tracks from that period. The albums are paired out of sequence to avoid the duplication of "Little Deuce Coupe" and "Our Car Club" that appear on Little Deuce Coupe
.
" was beginning to reach American shores (and would soon profoundly affect leader Brian Wilson
's writing and career goals for The Beach Boys) Shut Down Volume 2 was meant to cement the band's position as the biggest band in America. Instead, The Beatles
' invasion was so overpowering that the album peaked outside the US top 10 -- #11 Record World, #12 Cash Box, though it was listed by Cash Box as fourth-biggest selling rock album that year and eventually went gold. It didn't enter the Billboard albums chart until six weeks after release and stayed a shorter time in the chart (nine months) than their other albums of the time. By midyear 1964 the Beach Boys' career had recovered its self-generating momentum.
Part of the blame for the album's initial blunted impact -- apart from the overwhelming favoritism shown to the Beatles in Capitol promotion -- was due to possibly the weakest ending to any Beach Boys album, with the last three tracks being considered, by common consent, filler. And although humorous, the addition of ""Cassius" Love vs. "Sonny" Wilson" (a mock-fight between Brian and Mike) served to illustrate the need to fill up the album.
However, the high points of Shut Down Volume 2 are arguably among the strongest moments in The Beach Boys' saga thus far: "Fun, Fun, Fun", "Don't Worry Baby" (Brian's response to Phil Spector
's "Be My Baby"), "The Warmth of the Sun" (written just hours after JFK
's assassination) and a cover of Frankie Lymon
's "Why Do Fools Fall in Love". "Pom, Pom Play Girl" also features Carl Wilson
's first official lead vocal on a Beach Boys song.
Shut Down Volume 2 was marketed as a "hot rod" collection after predecessor Little Deuce Coupe had performed so successfully, but The Beach Boys were not able to maintain the theme as consistently this time around, signaling that prime songwriter Brian Wilson was already running out of car songs and would need to shift gears, subject-wise, soon.
making his cover debut) posing next to a selection of cool cars - notably, a blue Corvette Sting Ray owned by Dennis and Pontiac Grand Prix owned by Carl.
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...
, and the first of four they would release in 1964. The album's "Volume 2" refers to it being a follow-up to the 1963 hot rod compilation Shut Down, released by the band's label, Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, which included "409" and "Shut Down" but was not a Beach Boys album.
Shut Down Volume 2 hit #13 in the US charts during a chart stay of 38 weeks. Shut Down Volume 2 (Capitol (S) T 2027) is now paired on CD with Surfer Girl
Surfer Girl
Surfer Girl is the third studio album by The Beach Boys and their second longplayer in 1963. This was the first album by The Beach Boys for which Brian Wilson was given full production credit, a position Wilson would maintain until the end of the The Smile Sessions in 1967...
, with bonus tracks from that period. The albums are paired out of sequence to avoid the duplication of "Little Deuce Coupe" and "Our Car Club" that appear on Little Deuce Coupe
Little Deuce Coupe
Little Deuce Coupe is The Beach Boys' fourth album, and third overall LP release in 1963. Almost unintentionally, the album was rush-recorded and compiled when leader Brian Wilson sought to protect his band from exploitation from Capitol Records....
.
Album history
Recorded just as "BeatlemaniaBeatlemania
Beatlemania is a term that originated during the 1960s to describe the intense fan frenzy directed toward The Beatles during the early years of their success...
" was beginning to reach American shores (and would soon profoundly affect leader Brian Wilson
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...
's writing and career goals for The Beach Boys) Shut Down Volume 2 was meant to cement the band's position as the biggest band in America. Instead, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' invasion was so overpowering that the album peaked outside the US top 10 -- #11 Record World, #12 Cash Box, though it was listed by Cash Box as fourth-biggest selling rock album that year and eventually went gold. It didn't enter the Billboard albums chart until six weeks after release and stayed a shorter time in the chart (nine months) than their other albums of the time. By midyear 1964 the Beach Boys' career had recovered its self-generating momentum.
Part of the blame for the album's initial blunted impact -- apart from the overwhelming favoritism shown to the Beatles in Capitol promotion -- was due to possibly the weakest ending to any Beach Boys album, with the last three tracks being considered, by common consent, filler. And although humorous, the addition of ""Cassius" Love vs. "Sonny" Wilson" (a mock-fight between Brian and Mike) served to illustrate the need to fill up the album.
However, the high points of Shut Down Volume 2 are arguably among the strongest moments in The Beach Boys' saga thus far: "Fun, Fun, Fun", "Don't Worry Baby" (Brian's response to Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
's "Be My Baby"), "The Warmth of the Sun" (written just hours after JFK
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
's assassination) and a cover of Frankie Lymon
Frankie Lymon
Franklin Joseph "Frankie" Lymon was an American rock and roll/rhythm and blues singer and songwriter, best known as the boy soprano lead singer of a New York City-based early rock and roll group, The Teenagers. The group was composed of five boys, all in their early to mid teens...
's "Why Do Fools Fall in Love". "Pom, Pom Play Girl" also features Carl Wilson
Carl Wilson
Carl Dean Wilson was an American rock and roll singer and guitarist, best known as a founding member, lead guitarist and sometime lead vocalist of The Beach Boys...
's first official lead vocal on a Beach Boys song.
Shut Down Volume 2 was marketed as a "hot rod" collection after predecessor Little Deuce Coupe had performed so successfully, but The Beach Boys were not able to maintain the theme as consistently this time around, signaling that prime songwriter Brian Wilson was already running out of car songs and would need to shift gears, subject-wise, soon.
Cover art
The front sleeve photograph, taken by Capitol staff photographer George Jerman, shows the band (now with Al JardineAl Jardine
Alan Charles "Al" Jardine is a founding member of top-selling American music group The Beach Boys, a guitarist and occasional lead vocalist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.-Early life:...
making his cover debut) posing next to a selection of cool cars - notably, a blue Corvette Sting Ray owned by Dennis and Pontiac Grand Prix owned by Carl.
Track listing
Singles
- "Fun, Fun, Fun" b/w "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" (Capitol 5118), 3 February 1964 US #5 ("Why Do Fools Fall In Love" US #120)
- "Don't Worry Baby" featured as the B-side to "I Get Around" US #24
- "The Warmth of the Sun" featured as the B-side to "Dance, Dance, Dance"
Sources
- Surfer Girl/Shut Down Volume 2 CD booklet notes, David Leaf, c.1990.
- "The Nearest Faraway Place: Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys and the Southern California Experience", Timothy White, c. 1994.
- "Wouldn't It Be Nice - My Own Story", 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...
and Todd Gold, c. 1991. - "Top Pop Singles 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
- "Top Pop Albums 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
- Allmusic.com