I'm not sure The Beach Boys would've gone anywhere without Murry, and not just because he gave Brian the kick in the ass that he needed. Murry was a semi-professional songwriter, so he had connections in the music business, and he had such an intimidating personality that even the big shots at the big record companies didn't say "no" to him. The Beatles had to struggle for their breakthrough, but for The Beach Boys it was a breeze:
August 2-6, 1961: The group's first proper rehearsals.
September 7, 1961: Their first audition, for music publisher Hite Morgan. He turns them down because they only play cover songs.
September 15, 1961: Second audition for Hite Morgan. They play their very first original composition, 'Surfin''. Morgan likes it and records three demo tracks ('Surfin'', 'Luau' and 'Lavender') with the group right away.
October 3, 1961: The group's first real recording session, the re-record 'Surfin'', 'Luau' and 'Lavender'.
December 8, 1961: The 'Surfin'' b/w 'Luau' single is released.
December 23, 1961: The group's first ever live show.
February 16, 1962: 'Surfin'' enters the Billboard top 100.
May 10, 1962: The Beach Boys get signed to Capitol records.
I want to thank you guys, especially Joost and Hello Goodbye, for teaching me so much about the Beach Boys. I really never knew much about them, and really still don't compared to the Beatles, but I know a heck of a lot more than I used to - thanks!
And ... that chronology is so interesting! A few things that stuck out for me, besides the point being made about how soon they got their single released relative to how long they'd been playing together:
1) The Beatles were a band (J/P/G) for 5 years longer than the Beach Boys. I think this showed up in their live shows, and the energy they brought to the studio in the early days. At least from what I've heard/seen on the clips from this thread, the Beach Boys were a great vocal group, like the Four Freshmen with an electric sound, but they didn't strike me as a live band that would make people just lose themselves in ecstasy and wild abandon (like the Beatles did). The instrumental musicianship of the early Beatles seems much better/tighter than the Beach Boys to me, thought I admit that my lack of exposure to the early Beach Boys could easily make that a silly statement.
2) The two groups took different routes to success - somehow the Beach Boys get a single released, and get into the Billboard Top 100,
before getting signed to their first big contract (Capitol records). The Beatles had to get signed first. I wonder did the #17 "Love Me Do" peak higher than "Surfin'"?
3) In the States - both groups were on Capitol - wow!
4) Both groups "didn't pass" their first audition, and within a few months of each other.
5) As Joost pointed out, The Beatles paid a lot more dues than the Beach Boys - lots of huddling together in a cold van to keep warm, living in loos, etc.
Thanks again, guys!