409 (song)

Infobox Single
Name = 409


Artist = The Beach Boys
from Album = Surfin' Safari
A-side = "Surfin' Safari"
B-side = "409" | Released = June 4, 1962
Format = Vinyl
Recorded = April 19, 1962
Western Studios
Genre = Rock
Length = 1:59
Label = Capitol Records
Producer = Murry Wilson
Last single = "Surfin'"/"Luau"
(1961)
This single = "Surfin' Safari"/ "409"
(1962)| Next single = "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. 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.

Although The Beach Boys recorded over a dozen songs that were written about or had strong references to cars, only a few of them would become well-known songs. These included "Shut Down", "Little Deuce Coupe" and "Fun, Fun, Fun".

Composition

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

The song was originally credited to just Wilson and Usher. Mike Love's name was added as a result of a lawsuit filed by him against Wilson in the 1990s.

Recording

"409" was recorded at the third Beach Boys recording session, on April 19, 1962, at Western Studios. The band's previous record label, Candix, had folded, and with the recordings made at this session, the band was able to sign with Capitol Records. This was David Marks's first session as a member of the band.

The engine noises heard at the beginning of the song were of Usher's Chevrolet 348, the W-series predecessor to the 409.

Musicians

*Mike Love - lead vocals
*David Marks - guitar
*Brian Wilson - bass guitar, vocals
*Carl Wilson - lead guitar, vocals
*Dennis Wilson - drums, vocals

See also

*List of songs by The Beach Boys
*"Surfin' Safari"