'Shut Down Volume 2'

In February 1964, A group of four young men from Liverpool England landed on American soil. The Beatles' arrival in the US signaled a seismic shift in American pop culture. American bands such as the Beach Boys struggled to find a way to compete with the new sound from England.

Shut Down Volume 2 , a Beach Boys-only sequel to a Capitol compilation of car songs which included the Beach Boys. Released on March 2nd 1964 the album has some great tracks showing Brian Wilson's continuing musical progression but overall it falls victim to the inconsistencies and filler tracks that plague much of the Beach Boys' earlier work.

The album opens with the Beach Boys anthem "Fun, Fun, Fun" written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, inspired by the story of a girl who lies to her father about taking her car to the library instead opting to go to the hamburger stand thus her father takes her T-bird away. The song has been the final number in Beach Boys concerts for many, many years.

Next is "Don't Worry Baby". The lyrics written by Roger Christian tells the story of a hotshot street racer who suddenly has a crisis of confidence but is soothed by the loving words of his girlfriend. The Phrase "Don't Worry Baby" was often used by Brian Wilson's girlfriend Marilyn Rovell to calm Brian when he was uncertain. Brian wrote the song as a follow up to "Be My Baby" by the Ronettes produced by legendary Los Angeles producer Phil Spector. Spector turned the song down instead opting for the song "Baby, I Love You" by Spector and his partners Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry. Ronnie Spector would finally record a version of Don't Worry Baby in 1998.

"In The Parking Lot" is another co-write with Roger Christian.

"'Cassius" Love versus Sonny" Wilson" is a painfully un-funny filler track featuring excepts from other songs such as "In My Room" "Surfer Girl" "Shut Down" and "Fun, Fun, Fun".

"The Warmth Of The Sun" was composed the night of November 22nd 1963, The day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas Texas. Brian and Mike wrote the song in a half hour, drawing on the feelings of a nation in mourning.

"This Car Of Mine" is another Wilson /Love collaboration with Dennis Wilson on lead vocals. unlike in "Don't Worry Baby" here the author has no problem bragging about his car and how great it is.

"Why Do Fools Fall In Love" was originally performed by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers and was written by Frankie Lymon with George Goldner. While it is relatively faithful to the original, Brian adds extra Phil Spector-style percussion by Hal Blaine and Frank Capp to the background . It is a major improvement over the covers the Boys had done before.

"Pom Pom, Play Girl" is a song about a head cheerleader who dates the quarterback and is a doll and she knows it.

"Keep An Eye On Summer" is written by Brian with Bob Norburg. It's narrator asks a parting lover to look forward to summer when they can be together again. Brian would re-record the song years later on his 1998 solo album Imagination.

"Shut Down Vol. 2" is an instrumental track credited to Carl Wilson whose guitar work drives the song. It also features a reprise of the saxophone part by Mike Love from "Shut Down" at the beginning. It is a very competent performance from Carl.

"Louie Louie" is a version of a popular tune by Richard Berry which is played frequently by high school and college marching bands and is most popularly known by a version by the Kingsmen.

"Denny's Drums is a percussion showcase for Dennis Wilson. While not the greatest drummer. He was nevertheless a competent player. Dennis actually played on more tracks than he gets credit for by the music world.

While "Fun, Fun, Fun" and the other singles from the album were pretty successful and kept the Beach Boys name relevant in the wake of the Beatles success. Brian saw the future as a creative challenge and knew that the band needed to grow musically, But first they would release one more fun in the sun album that built on the themes they had explored on the first five albums.