The 1960s was arguably the most significant decade in modern music history, helping to kickstart pop music as we know it. The Beatles famously emerged from Liverpool, dominating England and what appeared to be the rest of the world. Following close behind them was The Rolling Stones, who also found success worldwide, taking inspiration from blues and rock ‘n’ roll to create strings of popular hits.
The Rolling Stones rose to prominence in the early ‘60s, finding a significant taste of success in 1964 when they earned their first number-one hit in the United Kingdom with ‘It’s All Over Now’. Across the pond, The Beach Boys were gaining popularity with their summery surf-based songs. That same year, The Beach Boys also found chart-topping success in their native country for the first time when they released ’I Get Around’.
The recognisable song appeared on their sixth album, All Summer Long, helping them to achieve the success they’d long been pining for. At the time, many British bands, including The Beatles, were filling up American chart spots, much to The Beach Boys’ dismay. However, they were finally able to claim the throne, and ‘I Get Around’ remains one of their best-known hits.
The song’s producer, Daniel Lanois, called it a “snapshot song,” praising “the way Brian wrote about specifics of a rising culture. He brings the listener in through one philosophical moment – one thought, one emotion – and that is often the most powerful way.”
Not only did The Beach Boys take the top spot in their own country, but they also scored number seven in the UK Singles Chart, helping them gain further popularity outside of America. Yet, a little-known fact is that The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger helped to boost the song’s popularity in the UK by distributing copies of the track to pirate radio stations. Not only that, Jagger advertised the tune on the programme Juke Box Jury, leading The Beach Boys’ track to find a new audience across the waters.
Interestingly, Jagger later spoke out against the band he’d once championed, telling Melody Maker, “I hate The Beach Boys, but I like Brian Wilson. He’s very nice and sort of different to them. If you saw The Beach Boys perform live, you wouldn’t believe it. The drummer can’t seem to keep time to save his life.”
Despite Jagger’s help, The Beach Boys’ Mike Love used his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame speech to criticise the Stones unnecessarily. Love said, “The Beach Boys did about 180 performances last year. I’d like to see the Mop Tops match that! I’d like to see Mick Jagger get out on this stage and do ‘I Get Around’ versus ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash,’ any day now.”
