409 (song)

"409"
Single by The Beach Boys
from the album Surfin' Safari
A-side "Surfin' Safari"
B-side "409"
Released June 4, 1962
Format Vinyl
Recorded April 19, 1962
Western Studios
Genre Surf rock
Length 1:59
Label Capitol
Writer(s) Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Gary Usher
Producer Murry Wilson
The Beach Boys singles chronology
"Surfin'"/"Luau"
(1961)		 "Surfin' Safari"/ "409"
(1962)		 "Ten Little Indians"/"County Fair"
(1962)

"409" is a song written by Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Gary Usher for the American rock and roll band, The Beach Boys. The song features Mike Love singing lead vocals. It was originally released as the b-side of the "Surfin' Safari" single.[1] It was later released on their 1962 album, Surfin' Safari, and it was also on their 1963 album, Little Deuce Coupe.

"Surfin Safari" would reach #14 on the Billboard Hot 100, while 409 reached #76. Originally promoted as the A-side by Capitol, "409" went on to feature in many regional markets. It was the most popular song of 1962 in Dallas (KBOX chart) and, also as the A-side penetrated the top tens of Vancouver, Seattle, Denver and San Bernardino and top 30 in Los Angeles (KFWB). It was co-hit with its later designated A-side near the top of playlists in most other areas.

Contents

Composition

The "409" of the song is the Chevrolet 409,[1] a 409 cubic inch W-series V8 engine popular with "hot rodders" of the time. Gary Usher, who wrote the majority of the lyric for the song dreamed at that time of one day owning a Chevrolet 409.

Musicians

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Profile at Songfacts
Surfin' Safari track listing