"All Dressed Up for School" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys that was recorded in 1964 during the early sessions for their album The Beach Boys Today!. Written by Brian Wilson, the lyrics express the narrator's newfound fascination with a girl after realizing "what a turn on" she is in school clothes. It is one of the last original tracks the group recorded as a small ensemble rock band before entering their orchestral phase.
Composition
"All Dressed Up for School" started life as a song called "What Will I Wear to School (Today)", a song which was written in early 1964 for Sharon Marie (a friend of Mike Love's) but never recorded. According to author Keith Badman, this version of the song featured lyrics that were partly written by Roger Christian, a frequent writing collaborator of Brian Wilson's.
Parts of the melody of "All Dressed Up for School" would be reused by Brian Wilson in "I Just Got My Pay", an outtake from 1970's Sunflower, which was released in 1993 on the box set. The chords in the opening a capella vocal passage would later show up in unreleased versions of "Heroes and Villains", and later in the 1980 single "Goin' On".
Musicologist Philip Lambert described the track as "packed with musical invention" and said that the lyrics are "interesting" despite being "unsuitable for release in 1964." Author Andrew Hickey described the song as "absolutely astonishing."
Recording
The song was recorded on September 16, 1964, at Western Studios, with Chuck Britz as the engineer. For its release in 1990, it was mixed by Mark Linett.
Personnel
Track details per session archivist Craig Slowinski. The Beach Boys Al Jardine – electric bass guitar, harmony and backing vocals, handclaps Mike Love – harmony and backing vocals, handclaps Brian Wilson – piano, harmony and backing vocals, handclaps Carl Wilson – electric 12-string lead guitar, rhythm guitar, lead vocal, handclaps Dennis Wilson – drum kit, vocals, handclaps
Additional musicians and staff
Steve Douglas – tenor saxophone
Carl L. Fortina – accordion
Melvin Pollan – double bass
Jimmy Bond – double bass
Lyle Ritz – double bass
Chuck Britz – engineer
See also
"Hey Little Tomboy" "Smart Girls"