Record #0333: Sidewalk Surfin’ / When It’s Over – JAN & DEAN

Liberty 55727 (original) USA, Oct. 1964
Words & Music by:  Side A – Brian Wilson, Roger Christian; Side B – Jill Gibson, Don Altfeld, Horace Altfeld
Musicians: Jan Berry (vocals), Dean Torrence (vocals), Phil Sloan (lead falsetto), Earl Palmer (drums), Hal Blaine (drums) and other musicians of The Wrecking Crew
Recording sessions: Produced by Jan Berry at Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA, 1964
Highest chart positions:  US #25

I bet the A side was the first recorded ode to skateboarding. It’s a cover of The Beach Boys’ “Catch a Wave”, but (at least in my opinion) Jan Berry’s production is far better than the original. 

The musicians are top notch and hand-picked by Berry. Many of them filled in for The Beach Boys in their sessions, too.

The skateboarding sound was recorded outside the studio, on the sidewalk of Sunset Boulevard. There’s also a story claiming that they recorded the whole song on that sidewalk, but I couldn’t find confirmation on that (and I don’t think they did it). They reportedly did skateboard inside the studio, though.

List price:  Very Good+ is $7.50, Near Mint is $15