Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1965
Amusement Parks U.S.A.
Buy Amusement Parks U.S.A. now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
"'Amusement Parks U.S.A.'" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1965 album 'Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!)'. Produced by Wilson and featuring a lead vocal by Love, the song's lyrics describe "mess[ing] around at the amusement park|[amusement] park all day." A short bridge section with session drummer Hal Blaine imitating a carnival barker is also featured, interpolating the spoken introduction to the Coasters' song "Little Egypt (Ying-Yang)".
The lyrics mention such amusement parks as Palisades Park in Cliffside Park, New Jersey; Salisbury Park in Salisbury, Massachusetts; Euclid Beach Park in Cleveland; Riverview Park in Chicago; and Disneyland and Pacific Ocean Park in the Los Angeles area. All but Disneyland ceased operation within a few years of the song's release.
Alternate releases
"Amusement Parks U.S.A." was released as the B-side to "Salt Lake City" on a promotional single. It was also released as a single in Japan, backed with "The Rocking Surfer." The song was omitted from the 1980s re-release of 'Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!)' (retitled 'California Girls'), along with "I'm Bugged at My Ol' Man."
Critical opinion
'AllMusic' critic Richie Unterberger described the track as a "subpar effort" and as one of the "throwbacks to the empty-headed summer filler of previous days" on 'Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!)'. Author Jim Fuselli called the track a throwback "to the group's happy-go-lucky days," after also describing the album that it first appeared on as lacking "a coherent lyrical theme."
Personnel
Personnel sourced from Craig Slowinski.
'The Beach Boys'
*Al Jardine harmony and backing vocals
*Mike Love lead and bass vocals
*Brian Wilson lead, harmony, and backing vocals, grand piano, laughter
*Carl Wilson harmony and backing vocals
*Dennis Wilson harmony and backing vocals
'Session musicians and production staff'
References
Category:1965 songs
Category:The Beach Boys songs
Category:Songs written by Brian Wilson
Category:Songs written by Mike Love
Category:Songs about the United States
Category:Song recordings produced by Brian Wilson
Buy Amusement Parks U.S.A. now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1965