Barbara Ann

Barbara Ann is the title of become known by the Beach Boys in 1966, millions Sellers, the original of which dates from 1958.

Genesis

Fred Fassert wrote the song in 1958 and headlined him after the name of his younger sister. Brother Charles " Chuck" Fassert ( second tenor ) was a member of the doo-wop group The Regents arising from Guy Villari ( lead falsetto voice ), Ernie Maresca ( baritone), Sal Cuomo ( first tenor ), Tony Gravagna (saxophone and baritone voice ) and Don Iacobucci ( bass) composed. Her name was still Desires, as they 1958, the newly founded Regent Sound Studios in New York (25 W 56th St ) entered. The studios were opened in April 1958. Here they booked 1 hour, the studios for a rent of $ 15, which they needed 50 minutes for 2 songs. Barbara -Ann ( so the original title ) they recorded in the remaining studio time of 10 minutes in three takes and named themselves after the studio. The groovy sax solo comes from Gravagna. They offered the demo recording on more than 50 record labels. As none of the labels showed interest group that discouraged the end of 1958 broke apart.

Member of the doo-wop group consorts was Eddie Iacobucci, the brother of the singing at the former Regents Don Iacobucci. The Consorts wanted to label owner and record producer Lou Cicchetti of Cousins ​​Records in early 1961 to convince to take its own version of Barbara -Ann, Eddie Iacobucci knew of his brother Don. As a composer Fred Fassert heard thereof, he went with the original demo recording to Cicchetti, who was convinced of the recording immediately and only had to add in the way of overdubs still a bass. It only had two problems are solved, namely, a lack of B- side and the new formation of Regents. Instead of Guy Villari and Don Iacobucci found one replacement, and in early 1961 it took still I'm so Lonely as a B- side.

Publication and success

Following the publication in March 1961, the Single Barbara -Ann / I'm reaching as Lonely ( Cousins ​​1002) Rank 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and rank 7 of the rhythm and blues charts. National distribution was George Goldner's Gee Records left in April 1961, the board also marketed on their own label ( Gee 1065 ). On May 8, 1961, Regents presented their new hit American Bandstand. The national airplay gave the song to the favorite radio station.

Version of the Beach Boys

The Beach Boys were planning for their composed of cover versions LP Beach Boys ' Party! also a live recording of Barbara -Ann. On September 23, 1965, she gathered in the studio 3 of the Western Recorders in Hollywood. It spread like a party -like atmosphere with pretty inebriated participants.

The examining values ​​live effect is - in contrast to the other LP tracks - really, because the recording was made spontaneously during a night party. Lead singer Dean Torrence whose voice recording technology superimposed on the voice of Brian Wilson ( of the duo Jan & Dean ). The song was sung without prior samples, which is confirmed by the lack of text safety of those involved. DC during the first verse is lost for a short time, the memory of the text. The recording is marked by high spirits; someone shouts " Hey, play Those ashtrays " whereupon clanging ashtray can be heard. This was the drummer Hal Blaine aushelfende Studio of the Wrecking Crew, because a voice is calling the affirmative: " Hal and his famous ashtrays ".

The record company, Capitol Records decided, after release of the album Beach Boys ' Party! November 8, 1965, the Single Barbara Ann / Girl Do not Tell Me ( Capitol 5561 ) and sum and publish on 20 December 1965. She reached rank 2 on the U.S. charts, rank 3 in the UK and arrived in Germany with more than 200,000 units sold up to rank 2 of the hit parade. Overall, they sold over a million copies. The version of the Beach Boys became a number -one hit in many countries.

Other cover versions

Barbara Ann was little gecovert, because there are only less than 26 cover versions. A poorly produced German -language version of Barbara -Ann arrived in 1966 by the cover band " The Tories " ( Decca 19786 ) out. It was formed in February 1966 in the Hamburg Teldec studios where they made no effort to further process the falsetto and sparse instrumentation. The Who recorded the song in August 1966 for her EP Ready Steady Who ( published November 11, 1966), whereby attempts to Keith Moon as the lead singer with borderline falsetto; the arpeggio guitar in the instrumental part provides an interesting diversion.

The song was heard in television series and movies. In the series Welcome Back, Kotter ( U.S. premiere on September 9, 1975) John Travolta sang a parody. The U.S. series Look, who as hammers ( U.S. Premiere: September 17, 1991) presents the Beach Boys with the song in the Garden of Wilson, one of the characters of the show.

Another cover version is by Blind Guardian from the album Follow the Blind ( October 1989).