'Little Deuce Coupe'

Coming three weeks on the heels of their Surfer Girl album. The Beach Boys fourth album Little Deuce Coupe is a very early example of what would later be known as a concept album. Collecting a few car themed songs the Boys had already released with new songs written mostly with Los Angeles disc jockey and car enthusiast Roger Christian.

The album opens with it's title track which had already appeared on the Surfer Girl album. The car described in the song is a Ford 1932 Coupe. Next is "Ballad Of Ole' Betsy. written with Roger Christian and sung by Brian. It at first glance appears to be about a woman but in the final verse it is revealed that "She" is a car. The song was resurrected nearly 50 years later for The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Tour, Now being sung by Touring member Scott Totten.

"Be True To Your School" is an anthem written with Mike Love about school loyalty Brian would re-record this song for a single release, bringing in the tune On Wisconsin which had been adapted by the Hawthorne High School as an anthem originally from the University of Wisconsin. the new version would feature Cheerleading chants from the girl group "The Honeys" whom Brian had produced records for and which featured Brian's future wife Marilyn Rovell and her sister Diane and cousin Ginger Blake. In later years Mike Love would dedicate this song to "Women in uniform, that is cheerleading uniforms"

"Car Crazy Cutie" is a doo-wop inspired song about a girl obsessed with cars. "Cherry, Cherry Coupe" is another ode to a cherry red car. "409" first appeared on the groups first album Surfin' Safari. written with Gary Usher it sings the praises of the Chevrolet 409 engine.

"Shut Down" first appeared on the Surfin' USA LP. There would be a compilation with the title Shut Down released which would include the song along with several other car themed hits by Capitol artists. The Next Beach Boys album would function as a semi-sequel entitled Shut Down:Volume 2

"Spirit Of America" is Roger Christian's lyrical tribute to the vehicle driven by Craig Breedlove to break a speed record. The vehicle featured a General Electric J-47 engine as referenced in the song. However Breedlove set the record of over 400 miles per hour on September 3rd 1963 rather than the "Warm August Morn" mentioned in the song.

"Our Car Club" had been previously released on the Surfer Girl LP. It is a nice enough song. "No-Go Showboat" written with Christian is about a car that is a total lemon. "A Young Man Is Gone" is an adaptation of "Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring" by Bobby Troup and popularized by the Four Freshman. The lyrics were revised by Mike Love to be about the late actor James Dean who had died at the age of 24 in a car crash in 1955. "Custom Machine" is another co-write with Mike Love (awarded to him in 1994 following a lawsuit against Brian Wilson.) and features pounding drums from Dennis Wilson.

Little Deuce Coupe would be the last Beach Boys album to feature guitarist David Marks who would leave the group after a confrontation with Wilson Father and band manager Murry. He would return nearly 50 years later on That's Why God Made The Radio. in 1963 The Beach Boys pretty much owned the American Charts with their successful albums and hit singles. In December of 63 a special Christmas single called "Little Saint Nick" was released. However a tidal wave that the Boys could not have predicted would come across the pond in the next year.