Posted on 07/14/2023 10:06:44 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The Billboard Hot 100 dated July 4, 1964 showed the Beach Boys climbing to the top of the chart with ‘I Get Around.’
It’s one of those lovely poetic facts that the band who have come to represent the spirit of America had their first US No.1 on Independence Day. The Billboard Hot 100 dated July 4, 1964 showed the Beach Boys climbing to the top of the chart with “I Get Around.”
The song that it replaced at the summit was one of the early non-Beatles bestsellers from the British Invasion of that year, Peter & Gordon’s “A World Without Love.” That crashed to No.6 as “I Get Around” climbed 2-1 in its seventh chart week, ahead of Millie’s “My Boy Lollipop,” which jumped 4-2.
It’s another landmark anniversary in the career of the Beach Boys, whose musical legacy still shines like the 4th of July itself. We offer a special playlist with some favorite music by “America’s Band” in the spirit of Independence Day. It’s augmented by a whole host of other tracks with a July 4 theme, by everyone from Donna Summer to Soundgarden.
“I Get Around” is surely one of the greatest hymns to sheer teenage exuberance ever recorded (“I gotta find a new place where the kids are hip!”). It was also part of one of the finest double-sided singles of that or any era, paired with the similarly immortal “Don’t Worry Baby.”
Its arrival at No.1 in the States ended a long period of waiting for the Beach Boys that included four previous Top 10 hits with “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “Surfer Girl,” “Be True To Your School,” and “Fun, Fun, Fun.” It was also their UK breakthrough, climbing to No.7. That was helped in no small measure by Mick Jagger’s enthusiastic endorsement when all five Rolling Stones appeared on the record-rating UK panel show Juke Box Jury.
Pop music in the early 60s was pretty much dead, what with boring “teen idols” like Frankie, Fabian, and Bobby dominating the charts and doo-wop was nearly dead. Buddy Holly was gone, and Elvis was cranking out syrupy schlock.
But there was hope as new sounds and groups were emerging. The Beach Boys was one of them, soon the Beatles would shock the world, an explosion of soul was happening in the inner cities, and suburban kids with their shiny new Sears Roebuck guitars were warming up in the garage. It was a great time for music!
Agreed. Just reflected on a warm summer early-evening in a Sacramento suburb. I was five (1966). I heard music coming from somewhere off in the distance. I got on my bike and heeded the siren call. It led me a few streets over, where I found the sound coming from an open garage. Kids gathered all around, and a four kids inside, playing, dreaming of being the Beatles. A nice little solo adventure for a little kid on a hand-me-down Schwinn Bantam bike. I did, indeed, get around on that thing.
Nice.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.