Barbara Ann

Barbara Ann

"Barbara Ann" is a song written by Fred Fassert and performed (as "Barbara-Ann") by The Regents in 1961. The recording reached a peak position of #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 record chart.

The most famous cover version is by the American rock band The Beach Boys. The song was released as a single on December 20, 1965, with the B-side "Girl Don't Tell Me". The song peaked at #2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 (#1 in Cash Box and Record World) and at #3 in the UK It also topped the charts in Germany, Switzerland and Norway. It was The Beach Boys' biggest hit in Italy, reaching #4. The song was also released on the 1965 album Beach Boys' Party!. Dean Torrence, who had previously recorded the song as one half of Jan and Dean, and Brian Wilson are featured on lead vocals along with The Kids, Tommy and Sindi. Dean is not credited on the album jacket but "Thanks, Dean" is said by Carl at the end of the track.

A version recorded by the Beach Boys without the Beach Boys' Party! effects can be found on the Hawthorne, CA album. The Beach Boys made a false start on the Party! album by singing "Baa Baa Black Sheep" instead of "Baa Baa Baa Baa Barbara Ann". The Beach Boys sang this song as an encore on their Live In London album. Brian Wilson has a rendition on his live Roxy CD, and in 2001, performed it himself, with the ensemble, on An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson.