"Hey, surfing's getting really big. You guys ought to write a song about it." Dennis Wilson to his brothers in late 1961...

The Beach Boys first single, 'Surfin', began what can only be described as one of the greatest marketing campaigns of all time. Recorded to satisfy Producer Hite Morgans' request for an original song with an angle, and with a name change from The Pendletones to The Beach Boys courtesy of label pr man Russ Regan; 'Surfin'captures The Beach Boys' perfect harmonies and Brian Wilson's brilliance in its rawest form. The guitar and bass are almost inaudible, and the recording certainly doesn't do justice to the boy's voices, but the simple and effective melody shines through all the same and provides enough to give the group their first hit.

Listening to 'Surfin' conjures up images of Gidget and long boards, sun, surf and beach parties. With lines like "and when the DJ tells me that the surfing is fine, that's when I know my baby and I will have a good time", we're not necessarily privy to a lyrical masterpiece, but rather to the kind of innocent fun that just doesn't exist these days and after all – isn't that what made The Beach Boys so great?