"Catch a Wave"/"Sidewalk Surfin' "

OK, boys and girls, more 60s. This one goes to my favorite skateboarder Ed Johnson: When Brian Wilson and Mike Love wrote this surf classic in '63 they intended for Dennis to sing lead. Mike, however, laid down the lead track instead while having a cold. Maureen Love, Mike's sister, played the harp. One of the few examples of a six-man Beach Boys lineup with Carl and 15-year-old David Marks playing guitars, Brian on piano and Al Jardine on bass. Jan and Dean reworked the lyrics next year for what was to become a skateboarding anthem, peaking at #25. Beach Boys' song? Jan and Dean's song? Answer: "Catch a Wave" by The Beach Boys and "Sidewalk Surfin'" by Jan and Dean. We had the privilege of seeing Jan and Dean in Philly in '79 opening for McGuinn, Hillman and Clark. Memorable concert! They entered the stage on skateboards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_CBWxmTlRI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_CBWxmTlRI Alternate version: OK, boys and girls, back to the 60s: In 1964 Jan and Dean reworked the lyrics of this 1963 surfing anthem into "Sidewalk Surfin'", a skateboarding tune. Jan and Dean's single peaked at #25 on Billboard. I dare say, unless one of you proves me wrong, that this was probably the first skateboarding song. Original surfing song? Group? Answer: "Catch a Wave" by The Beach Boys.

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