County Fair (The Beach Boys song)
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox song
| name = County Fair
| cover = County_Fair_-_The_Beach_Boys.jpg
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = The Beach Boys
| album = Surfin' Safari
| A-side = Ten Little Indians
| released = November 26, 1962
| recorded = September 6, 1962
| studio = Capitol Studios, Los Angeles, California
| venue =
| genre = Rock
| length = {{Duration|m=02|s=15}}
| label = Capitol
| writer = {{hlist|Brian Wilson|Gary Usher}}
| producer = Nik Venet
| prev_title = Surfin' Safari
| prev_year = 1962
| next_title = Surfin' U.S.A.
| next_year = 1963
}}
"County Fair" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Gary Usher for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was originally released as the second track on their 1962 album Surfin' Safari. On November 26 of that year, it was released as the B-side to The Beach Boys' third single, "Ten Little Indians".Elliott, Brad: "Surf's Up! The Beach Boys On Record 1961-1981", page 15. Popular Culture Ink, 1991. The same single was released in the UK in January 1963.Doe, Andrew G.: "[http://www.esquarterly.com/bellagio/45uk60s.html INDEX]." Retrieved on 2011-08-08. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908102907/http://www.esquarterly.com/bellagio/45uk60s.html |date=September 8, 2013 }}
The melody of "County Fair" was later recycled into the song "I Do".Doe, Andrew G. & Tobler, John: "Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys: The Complete Guide to their Music", page 9. Omnibus Press, 2004.
Composition
"County Fair" was the second song Brian Wilson and Gary Usher wrote together. In the song, the singer takes his girlfriend to the county fair, where she leaves him for a stronger man; one who can ring the bell on a high striker game. The song culminates in the tag, as the girl leaves the singer, calling him a loser. The song is in verse-chorus form, though the choruses consist of spoken-word narration of the girlfriend and a carnival barker over an organ melody.Lambert, Philip: Inside the Music of Brian Wilson, page 49. Continuum Publishing, 2007.
Recording
"County Fair" was recorded by The Beach Boys on September 6, 1962, during the last recording session for their first album, Surfin' Safari. Nik Venet produced the session at Capitol Studios.Doe, Andrew G.: "[http://www.esquarterly.com/bellagio/gigs6162.html gigs6162]." Retrieved on 2011-08-08. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928193151/http://www.esquarterly.com/bellagio/gigs6162.html |date=September 28, 2013 }}
=Personnel=
According to Keith BadmanBadman, Keith: The Beach Boys, page 25. Backbeat Books, 2004.
;The Beach Boys
- Mike Love – vocals
- David Marks – guitar
- Brian Wilson – bass guitar, organ, vocals
- Carl Wilson – guitar, vocals
- Dennis Wilson – drums, vocals
;Additional musicians and production staff
- Andrea Carlo – voice of girlfriend
- Nik Venet – carnival barker
Reception
With "County Fair" as its B-side, "Ten Little Indians" charted at #49 on the Billboard Hot 100.Billboard: "[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the beach boys|chart=all}} Ten Little Indians - The Beach Boys]". [http://www.billboard.com Billboard.com]. Retrieved on 2011-08-08. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117135410/http://www.billboard.com/#/news/michael-jackson-rocks-billboard-charts-1003988912.story |date=January 17, 2010 }} This was the lowest placement of any Beach Boys single until "Bluebirds Over the Mountain" in 1968.Billboard: "[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the beach boys|chart=all}} The Beach Boys Album & Song Chart History]". [http://www.billboard.com Billboard.com]. Retrieved on 2011-08-08. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117135410/http://www.billboard.com/#/news/michael-jackson-rocks-billboard-charts-1003988912.story |date=January 17, 2010 }} The single did not chart in the UK.
Cash Box said that the Beach Boys "sock out with coin-catching authority" on "County Fair."{{cite magazine |title=CashBox Record Reviews |date=November 17, 1963 |page=12 |access-date=2022-02-04 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1962/CB-1962-11-17.pdf |magazine=Cash Box}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Surfin' Safari}}
{{The Beach Boys singles}}
{{The Beach Boys}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Gary Usher
Category:Songs written by Brian Wilson