Before Pet Sounds, before SMiLE, heck, before “Surfin’ USA,” The Beach Boys were a scrappy family band with little but big dreams and tight harmonies. Things happened quickly for brothers Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, their cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine; in September 1961, the quintet first captured their voices together, and by the following May, they had signed a seven-year contract with major Capitol Records. In the few months in between, The Beach Boys recorded nine songs including “Surfin’,” “Surfin’ Safari” and “Surfer Girl” for local music entrepreneurs Hite and Dorinda Morgan. Those songs have been released and re-released countless times over the years, both on high-profile, collector-oriented releases from labels like DCC Compact Classics and Varese Sarabande, and on cheap budget issues likely to be found in the aisles of a grocery store. Now, Omnivore Recordings is stepping up to the plate with the most comprehensive look yet at the early days of America’s Band. Becoming The Beach Boys: The Complete Hite & Dorinda Morgan Sessions, due on August 26, promises to include “every surviving take, false start, master take and studio banter,” making for a truly definitive collection.

This 2-CD set ties in with Jim Murphy’s recent book Becoming The Beach Boys 1961-1963 in which he chronicles the group’s earliest years. Featuring 62 tracks (over 40 previously unreleased), Omnivore’s CD provides the perfect companion to Murphy’s deeply-researched book. He provides the liner notes for this release, and the booklet will also include photographs of the earliest records issued by the Morgans as well as images of the original session tape boxes.

Murphy writes, “Appropriately enough, ‘Surfin’,’ the Beach Boys’ first effort, released in late November 1961, had its origin near the ocean. During a Saturday morning fishing trip on the Redondo Beach Pier, Mike and Dennis noted there were guitar instrumentals conjuring the feel of surfing, but no one had yet sung about it. ‘I remember Dennis and Michael going to the beach, and when they came back they were talking about making a song about surfing,’ Carl recalled. ‘That’s the first thing I remember as far as the reality of a group actually forming.'”

Omnivore’s release of Becoming The Beach Boys: The Complete Hite and Dorinda Morgan Sessions has been authorized by The Beach Boys. Filling in yet another part of the enduring puzzle of the greatest vocal group in rock-and-roll history, it’s due on August 26 on both CD and DD. Check out the pre-order links below!

The Beach Boys, Becoming The Beach Boys: The Complete Hite and Dorinda Morgan Sessions (Omnivore, 2016) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

CD 1

“Surfin'”

(Demo) 2. (Takes 1-2) 3. (Take 3) 4. (Take 4) 5. (Take 5) (Take 6) 7. (Take 7) 8. (Take 8) 9. (Master)

“Luau”

(Demo – Take 1) 11. (Demo – Take 2) 12. (Demo – Take 3) 13. (Takes 1-2) (Takes 3, 5-6) 15. (Take 7) 16. (Takes 8-11) 17. (Take 12) 18. (Master)

“Lavender”

(Rehearsal – Take 1) 20. (Rehearsal – Take 2) 21. (Rehearsal – Take 3) (Take 1) 23. (Take 2) 24. (Take 4)

“Surfin’ Safari”

(Takes 3-4) 26. (Takes 5-6) 27. (Take 10) 28. (Overdub – Take 1 on Take 60 (Overdub – Take 2 on Take 10) 30. (Stereo Overdub)* 31. (Master)

CD 2

“Surfer Girl”

(Take 1) 2. (Take 2) 3. (Take 3) 4. (Take 4) 5. (Take 5) (Take 6) 7. (Master) 8. (Overdub – Lead Vocal)

“Judy”

(Take 1) 10. (Take 2) 11. (Overdub – Takes 1-2) 12. (Overdub – Take 4) (Master) 14. (Demo – April 1962 Guitar Solo)

“Beach Boy Stomp” (a.k.a. “Karate”)

(Take 1) 16. (Rehearsal – Take 2) 17. (Overdub – Take 1 on Take 1) (Overdub – Take 2 on Take 1) 19. (Master)

“Barbie”

(Overdub – Take 1)* 21. (Takes 2-4)* 22. (Take 5)* (Take 7)* 24. (Single Master) 25. Album (Master)

“What Is A Young Girl Made Of”

(Demo) 27. (Overdub – Take 1)* 28. (Overdub – Take 3)* 29. (Overdub – Takes 4-5)* (Overdub – Take 6)* 31. (Overdub – Take 7)* 32. (Master)

All Tracks Performed by The Beach Boys Except “Barbie” and “What Is A Young Girl Made Of” Performed by Kenny And The Cadets

All Tracks Mono except (*) indicates stereo