Barbara Ann

"Barbara Ann" is a song written by Fred Fassert that was first recorded by the Regents as "Barbara-Ann". Their version was released in 1961 and reached No.13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. A more well-known version of the song was recorded by the Beach Boys for their 1965 in-house live album Beach Boys' Party! In December, "Barbara Ann" was issued as a single with the B-side "Girl Don't Tell Me", peaking at No. 2 in the U.S. and No. 3 in the UK. The Regents' original version was featured in the 1973 film American Graffiti and later included on the soundtrack album.

The Beach Boys version

The Beach Boys recorded their version on September 23, 1965. Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean is featured on lead vocals along with Brian Wilson. Torrence is not credited on the album, but Carl Wilson is heard saying "Thanks, Dean" at the song's conclusion. Capitol's Al Coury rush-released "Barbara Ann" as a single without informing the band, after the relatively poor performance of the group's previous disc, "The Little Girl I Once Knew".

The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart the week ending January 1, 1966. The week ending January 29, the song leaped from No. 15 to No. 2 and was in position to replace "We Can Work It Out" by The Beatles as the next No. 1 song. However, "My Love" by Petula Clark unexpectedly vaulted into the No. 1 position the week ending February 5, 1966. Consequently, "Barbara Ann" peaked at No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 (No. 1 in Cash Box and Record World) and at No. 3 in the UK in January 1966. It also topped the charts in Germany, Switzerland and Norway. It was the Beach Boys' biggest hit in Italy, reaching No. 4.

Cash Box said the Beach Boys apply a "distinctive, easy-going style complete with plenty harmony and counterpoint portions." Record World called it a "sweet Beach Boy tribute" to "that certain girl."

Variations of the Beach Boys' version of the song have been released. A version without the party sound effects can be found on the Hawthorne, CA album. The group sang the song as an encore on their Live in London album. As a solo artist, Brian has a rendition on his live album Live at the Roxy Theatre, and in 2001 performed it himself, with the ensemble, on An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson.

In 1987, the group re-recorded the song as "Here Come the Cubs" with re-written lyrics about the Chicago Cubs. It became the team's official theme that year, replacing "Go, Cubs, Go".

Personnel

• Brian Wilson - lead vocals, bass
• Al Jardine - backing vocals, guitar
• Bruce Johnston - backing vocals
• Mike Love - backing vocals
• Carl Wilson - backing vocals, guitar
• Dennis Wilson - backing vocals

Guests

• Dean Torrence - lead vocals

The Who version

The Who recorded "Barbara Ann" on the Ready Steady Who EP in 1966.

The song was performed live on 27 July 1977 in rehearsals at Shepperton Studios for the film The Kids Are Alright with Keith Moon on vocals. Moon, a massive Beach Boys fan but a notoriously limited singer, plays and sings much to the delight of his fellow band members.

Other versions

• 1962 – Jan and Dean
• 1975 – Martin Circus (as "Marylène", with French lyrics)
• 1989 – Blind Guardian, Follow the Blind
• 1993 – Blind Guardian, Tokyo Tales (live version)
• 1996 – Blind Guardian, The Forgotten Tales (medley with Little Richard's Long Tall Sally)
• 2002 – ApologetiX, Grace Period (as "Baa! We're Lambs")
• 2010 – "Banana Song", Despicable Me (sung by the Minions)
• 2013 – Elements of Life

"Bomb Iran"

The song was parodied as "Bomb Iran" by various musicians, including Vince Vance and the Valiants, during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.

On April 17, 2007, at an appearance in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina during the 2008 presidential election campaign, U.S. Senator John McCain responded to a question from an audience member about military action against Iran by referring to "That old, eh, that old Beach Boys song, 'Bomb Iran'," and then singing the parody chorus, "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, anyway, ah ..."

Charts

References