Little Deuce Coupe (album)
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| Little Deuce Coupe | |||||
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| Studio album by The Beach Boys | |||||
| Released | 21 October 1963 | ||||
| Recorded | 2 September 1963 Except "409": April 1962, "Shut Down" 31 January 1963 "Little Deuce Coupe" 12 June 1963 & "Our Car Club" 16 July 1963 |
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| Genre | Surf Rock | ||||
| Length | 25:25 | ||||
| Label | Capitol Records | ||||
| Producer | Brian Wilson | ||||
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| The Beach Boys chronology | |||||
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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.
In the summer of 1963, Capitol Records compiled a "hot rod" compilation album called Shut Down, including The Beach Boys' "Shut Down" itself and "409" - without their approval or involvement. Brian Wilson promptly readied several songs he had already been working on (mainly with radio DJ Roger Christian) and the band zipped through recording sessions to put Little Deuce Coupe on the record shop racks, remarkably, one month after Surfer Girl had come out. Eight of the tracks were new, while "Little Deuce Coupe", "Our Car Club", "Shut Down" and "409" had all come out on their last three albums.
Although it was a gamble putting so much vinyl out at once, Little Deuce Coupe became a big hit, reaching #4 in the US, and eventually going platinum. Because it mostly deals with cars as a subject matter (save "Be True to Your School", although even that has a mention of cruising), some observers have retroactively called Little Deuce Coupe an early rock example of what would become known as the concept album.
Although Nick Venet was listed as producer for "409" and "Shut Down", the official producer's credit for the entire Little Deuce Coupe album cites only Brian Wilson.
For an album recorded so quickly, the quality was amazingly high. In particular, Brian Wilson's songs and their arrangements were becoming more and more dazzling and complex, specifically "No-Go Showboat" and "Custom Machine".
After its recording, Brian Wilson re-recorded "Be True to Your School" for single release, resulting in another Top 10 hit. An original Christmas single, "Little Saint Nick" was also prepared.
This is the last Beach Boys album with which rhythm guitarist David Marks was involved. Original member Al Jardine made his permanent return preceding this album's sessions, and Marks departed shortly thereafter.
A Deuce Coupe is actually a 1932 Ford Coupe (the "deuce" being the year it was released). This was the definitive hot-rod, and featured a Ford flathead V8 engine. Inexpensive and relatively simple in design, it was easy to modify. A "pink slip" is the title to the car.
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[edit] Front cover artwork
The picture featured on the front sleeve of the album was supplied by Hot Rod Magazine, and features the body of hod-rod collector Clarence Catallo and his own five-window 1932 Ford Coupe - known forevermore amongst hot-rod enthusiasts as 'the lil' deuce coupe'. A full shot of Catallo and his car from the same photo shoot appeared on the front cover of the July 1961 edition of Hot Rod Magazine, and whilst Catallo himself passed away in 1998 the car still tours the showrooms and exhibitions to this day.
[edit] Track listing
- "Little Deuce Coupe" (Brian Wilson/Roger Christian) – 1:38
- Features Mike Love on lead vocals
- "Ballad of Ole' Betsy" (Brian Wilson/Roger Christian) – 2:15
- Features Brian Wilson on lead vocals
- "Be True to Your School" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 2:06
- Features Mike Love on lead vocals
- "Car Crazy Cutie" (Brian Wilson/Roger Christian) – 2:47
- Features Brian Wilson on lead vocals
- "Cherry, Cherry Coupe" (Brian Wilson/Roger Christian) – 1:47
- Features Mike Love on lead vocals
- "409" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love/Gary Usher) – 1:58
- Features Mike Love on lead vocals
- "Shut Down" (Brian Wilson/Roger Christian) – 1:48
- Features Mike Love on lead vocals
- "Spirit Of America" (Brian Wilson/Roger Christian) – 2:23
- Features Brian Wilson on lead vocals
- "Our Car Club" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 2:21
- Features Brian Wilson and Mike Love on lead vocals
- "No-Go Showboat" (Brian Wilson/Roger Christian) – 1:54
- Features Brian Wilson and Mike Love on lead vocals
- "A Young Man is Gone" (Bobby Troup/Mike Love) – 2:15
- Features Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine on lead vocals
- "Custom Machine" (Brian Wilson/Rich Alarian [uncredited lyricist]) – 1:38
- Features Mike Love on lead vocals
[edit] Singles
- "Be True to Your School" b/w "In My Room" (from Surfer Girl) (Capitol 5069), 14 October 1963 US #6 ("In My Room" US #23)
- "Little Saint Nick" b/w "The Lord's Prayer (non-LP seasonal single) (Capitol 5096), 2 December 1963 US #3 (X-mas chart).
Little Deuce Coupe (Capitol (S) T 1998) is now paired on CD with All Summer Long, with bonus tracks from that period.
Little Deuce Coupe hit #4 in the US during a 46 week chart stay.
[edit] Sources
- Little Deuce Coupe/All Summer Long 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 Wilson and Todd Gold, c. 1991.
- "Top Pop Singles 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
- "Top Pop Albums 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
- All Music Guide.com
[edit] External links
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