On July 12, 1965, The Beach Boys officially released their single California Girls, with Let Him Run Wild on the flip side. Co‑written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the song fused complex orchestral elements with sunlit harmonies, climbing to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Wilson conceived the legendary, symphonic introduction during a deeply introspective moment, hearing a massive, multi‑layered wall of sound echoing in his mind. He later explained that the sweeping introduction was inspired by the emotional lift of classical symphonies he adored.
The track inspired The Beatles, prompting Paul McCartney to write Back in the U.S.S.R. as a playful homage.
Photograph of The Beach Boys backstage in early 1965 via Wikimedia Commons.
