‘I Get Around’: Independence Day 1964 And The Beach Boys’ First No.1

Udiscovermusic ^ | Paul Sexton

[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.

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TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: 60s; beachboys; pop

[nickcarraway]

I Get Around (Remastered 2001)

[Flaming Conservative]

Wow. Brings back memories.

[SkyDancer]

Ever hear the tunes by Poppa Doo Run Run? They do the Beach Boys better than the Beach Boys. They used the same studio and equipment and arrangements they used. Their harmony is fantastic, you’d bet you were hearing the BB’s.

[Fiji Hill]

For more than five decades, I thought the refrain on “I Get Around” was, “I get around all the time. Like a locoweed, I feel really great.” When I finally accessed an Internet lyrics site, I learned that the lyrics actually are, “I get around from town to town. I’m a real cool head; I’m making real good bread.”

[Fiji Hill]

My Boy Lollipop--Barbie Gaye (1956)

[Fiji Hill]

One of my favorite songs from this time:

Let's Carry Barry to the White House--Jan McCall

[Inyo-Mono]

one of the early non-Beatles bestsellers from the British Invasion of that year, Peter & Gordon’s “A World Without Love.

Ironically written by Paul McCartney.

[Rio]

I’m getting bugged driving up and down this same old strip
I gotta find a new place where the kids are hip
My buddies and me are getting real well-known
Yeah, the bad guys know us and they leave us alone

[Chorus: Brian Wilson]
I get around
Get around, round, round, I get around
From town to town
Get around, round, round, I get around
I’m a real cool head
Get around, round, round, I get around
I’m making real good bread
Get around, round, round, I get around
I get around, round
Get around, round, round, oooh
Wah wa ooh
Wah wa ooh
Wah wa ooh

[Verse 2: Mike Love]
We always take my car ‘cause it’s never been beat
And we’ve never missed yet with the girls we meet
None of the guys go steady ‘cause it wouldn’t be right
To leave their best girl home on a Saturday night

[Chorus: Brian Wilson]