As originally compiled, Rarities was to have included 14 tracks, not just the 13 with which it was released. The lost 14th track was the legendary Pamela Jean, released in January 1964 as by The Survivors. However, The Survivors were not The Beach Boys, and Capitol's legal department would not okay the inclusion of the track on a Beach Boys album.
Pamela Jean was to have been slotted between Good Vibrations and Land Ahoy. Had the song been left on the album, the following paragraphs would have been included in the liner notes.
Pamela Jean is not a Beach Boys recording, but it might as well have been. The song was written by Brian, produced by Brian, arranged by Brian and the lead vocal is even by Brian. But The Survivors, to whom Pamela Jean is credited, were not The Beach Boys. The Survivors were Brian and three friends, Bob Norberg, Dave Nowlen and Rich Alarian.
The record came about because Alarian had assisted in the writing of several Beach Boys songs. Instead of Alarian receiving authorship credits, a deal was worked out where Brian would produce a record for him. The first song recorded was Wich Stand, on which Dave Nowlen sang lead. However, Capitol rejected it as too similar in style to The Beach Boys. The second attempt was Pamela Jean, performed more in the style of Dion (of The Wanderer and Runaround Sue fame). Sharp-eared Beach Boys fans will immediately note that Pamela Jean shares its melody with Car Crazy Cutie from the group's Little Deuce Coupe album.
Pamela Jean was released in January 1964, but failed to chart. A planned followup for The Survivors, A Joy Ride Cruise, never materialized.
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