Surf City (song)

"Surf City" is a surf song written by Jan Berry (1941–2004) and Brian Wilson (b. 1942), which, as recorded by Jan and Dean, was a #1 hit record in July 1963 for two weeks.

The first draft of the song, with the working title "Goody Connie Won't You Come Back Home", was written by Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys. He gave it to Jan Berry and Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean who finished writing and recording it with Wilson in the early 1960s.[citation needed]  Although Torrence contributed several phrases to the song, he never insisted that he be given writing credit.[citation needed]  "Surf City" became the first surf song to reach number one on the U.S. BillboardHot 100 in 1963.[1]  The song also crossed to #3 on Billboard's R&B charts.

"Surf City" is one of a handful of Jan and Dean songs that used the group of leading studio musicians known as The Wrecking Crew. According to the American Federation of Musicians contract, these included:

Two drummers was a sound preference of arranger Billy Strange.[2]
 * Billy Strange - guitar, arranger
 * Ray Pohlman - guitar, leader
 * Glen Campbell - guitar
 * Bill Pitman - bass
 * Hal Blaine - drums
 * Earl Palmer - drums

In 1991, after moving to Huntington Beach, California, Torrence helped convince elected officials that the town be officially nicknamed "Surf City".[1]  As of 2009, more than 65 businesses in the city included "Surf City" as part of their name.