B-side "The Rocking Surfer" Recorded April 14 & May 5, 1965 | Released July 5, 1965 Length 2:29 | |
Genre Sunshine pop, Surf rock | ||
"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!!). Sung by Love and produced by Wilson, the narrator in its lyric sings about "mess[ing] around at the [amusement] park all day." A short section featuring Hal Blaine imitating a carnival barker is also featured.
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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."