Ask “Mr. Music”
Jerry Osborne



FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 6, 2017

DEAR JERRY: Can you list songs written or co-written by Brian Wilson that never charted for the Beach Boys? Any created by him would qualify, not just ones written for his group. I know it's a challenge, but can you do it?
—Miss Ann McNally, St. Louis

DEAR MISS ANN: Yes I can, and I will.

Documenting Brian's amazing output, apart from the Beach Boys' hit singles, makes for a new and meaningful assessment of his achievements.

Noteworthy is that for many of these sessions, Brian was also the producer, the arranger, or both.

Our list is chronological by year of issue, with artist, title, writing credit, and record label/number:

1961: Bob [Norberg] and Sheri [Pomeroy] "The Surfer Moon" (Brian Wilson) Safari 101
 Brian's first record project
1962: Rachel and the Revolvers "The Revo-lution" (Brian Wilson - Gary Usher) Dot 45-16392
1963: The Honeys "Surfin' Down the Swanee River" (Brian Wilson) Capitol 4952
1963: The Honeys "(Oly Oxen Free Free Free) Hide Go Seek" (Brian Wilson) Capitol 5034
1963: Sharon Marie "Run-Around Lover" (Brian Wilson - Mike Love) Capitol 5064
1963: The Honeys "The One You Can't Have" (Brian Wilson) Capitol 5093
1963: Jan & Dean "Surf City" (Jan Berry - Brian Wilson) Liberty 55580
 The first No. 1 hit by the Beach Boys was "I Get Around," from May 1964, but nearly one year earlier "Surf City" topped the nation's charts. This was his first time at No. 1 in any capacity
1963: Jan & Dean "Drag City" (Jan Berry - Roger Christian - Brian Wilson) Liberty 55641
1963: The Timers "No Go Showboat" (Brian Wilson - Roger Christian) Reprise 231
1964: The Survivors "Pamela Jean"/"After the Game" (Brian Wilson) Capitol 5102
1964: Gary Usher "Sacramento" (Gary Usher - Brian Wilson) Capitol 5193
1964: Sharon Marie "Thinkin' 'Bout You Baby" (Brian Wilson - Mike Love) Capitol 5195
1964: Bruce [Johnston] and Terry [Melcher] "Custom Machine" (Brian Wilson) Columbia 4-42956
1964: Paul Petersen "She Rides With Me" (Brian Wilson - Roger Christian) Colpix CP-720
1964: The Castells "I Do" (Brian Wilson - Roger Christian) Warner Bros. 5421
1964: The Honeys "He's a Doll" (Brian Wilson) Warner Bros. 5430
1964: The Honeys "He's a Doll" (Brian Wilson) Warner Bros. 5430
1964: The Royal Rebels "Drive-In" (Brian Wilson) Kiski 2067
1964: Jan & Dean "Sidewalk Surfin'" (Brian Wilson - Roger Christian) Liberty 55727
1964: Rally-Packs "Move Out, Little Mustang" (Brian Wilson - Roger Christian) Imperial 66036
1964: Donna Loren "Muscle Bustle" (Gary Usher - Roger Christian - Brian Wilson) Challenge 59237
1964: Annette "Muscle Beach Party" (Gary Usher - Roger Christian - Brian Wilson) Buena Vista F-433
1964: The Hondells "My Buddy Seat" (Brian Wilson - Gary Usher) Mercury 72366
1965: The Lancers "The Warmth of the Sun" (Brian Wilson - Mike Love) Vee-Jay 654
1965: Glen Campbell "Guess I'm Dumb" (Brian Wilson - Russ Teitleman) Capitol 5441
1965: Basil Swift and the Seegrams "Farmer's Daughter" (Brian Wilson) Mercury 72386
1965: Keith Green "Girl Don't Tell Me" (Brian Wilson) Decca 31859
1965: The Coastliners "The Lonely Sea" (Gary Usher - Brian Wilson) Astro 109
1965: Joey & the Continentals "She Rides With Me" (Brian Wilson - Roger Christian) Claridge CR-304
1966: The G.T.O.'s "She Rides With Me" (Brian Wilson - Roger Christian) Claridge CR-312
 Reissue of the Joey & the Continentals record, but credited differently
1966: The GTO's "Girl From New York City" (Brian Wilson) Parkway P-108
1966: The Pandas "Girl From New York City" (Brian Wilson) Swingtime SW-1001
1966: Debra Swisher "You're So Good to Me" (Brian Wilson) Boom BM-60,001
1967: The Laughing Gravy "Vegetables" (Brian Wilson - Van Dyke Parks) White Whale WW-261
1967: The Exception "The Girl From New York City" (Brian Wilson) Capitol 5982
1967: The Keyes "Farmer's Daughter" (Brian Wilson) Lemco 4401
1968: Peggy March "Aren't You Glad" (Brian Wilson - Mike Love) RCA Victor 47-9627
1970: New Colony Six "People and Me" (Brian Wilson) Mercury 73063
1970: Dino, Desi and Billy "Lady Love" (Billy Hinsche - Brian Wilson) Reprise 0965
1972: Jan & Dean "Vegetables" (Brian Wilson - Van Dyke Parks) United Artists 50859
1972: Spring "Good Time" (Brian Wilson - Alan Jardine) United Artists 50907
1973: American Spring "Shyin' Away" (David Sandler - Brian Wilson - Diane Rovell) Columbia 4-45834
 Group previously named Spring
1973: Legendary Masked Surfers Featuring Dean Torrence "Gonna Hustle You" (Brian Wilson - Jan Berry) United Artists UA-XW270-W
1983: The Honeys "Go Away Boy" (Brian Wilson) Rhino RNOR- 018

Finally, did you know that Little Richard had a two-sided hit in 1957 with "Jenny, Jenny," backed with "Miss Ann"?

IZ ZAT SO? Depending on which surveys you use, the Beach Boys had over 60 charted singles between 1962 and 1989. All were written or co-written by Brian Wilson, except for these 16:

"Do You Wanna Dance?" (Bobby Freeman) 1965
"Barbara Ann" (Fred Fassert) 1966
"Sloop John B" (Traditional) 1966
"Bluebirds Over the Mountain" (Ersel Hickey) 1968
"I Can Hear Music" (Jeff Barry - Ellie Greenwich - Phil Spector) 1969
"Long Promised Road" (Jack Rieley - Carl Wilson)
"California Saga (On My Way to Sunny Californ-i-a)" (Al Jardine) 1973
"Rock and Roll Music" (Chuck Berry) 1976
"Peggy Sue" (Jerry Allison - Buddy Holly - Norman Petty) 1978
"Come Go With Me" (Clarence Quick) 1981
"Getcha Back" (Mike Love - Terry Melcher) 1985
"It's Getting' Late" (Myrna Smith - Robert White - Carl Wilson) 1985
"Rock 'N' Roll to the Rescue" (Mike Love - Terry Melcher) 1986
"California Dreamin'" (John Phillips - Michelle Phillips) 1986
"Kokomo" (Mike Love - Scott MacKenzie - Terry Melcher - John Phillips) 1988
"Still Cruisin'" (Mike Love - Terry Melcher) 1989


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