"Sumahama" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1979 album L.A. (Light Album). Written by Mike Love, it was lyrically inspired by his fiancée at the time, a woman named Sumako. The lyrics describe "a young girl who wants to go with her mother to a place called 'Sumahama' in search of her father." Although some of the lyrics are in Japanese, Sumako was of Korean descent.
Sumahama is also the name of a popular beach in Kobe, Japan. 'Hama' is the Japanese word for 'beach'.
Background It was originally written by Mike Love for his unreleased solo album, First Love. When the release of that project fell through, the song was rerecorded by the Beach Boys.
The original United States LP release of the L.A. (Light Album) featured a version of "Sumahama" that faded out early during the final Japanese verse and did not feature the instrumental ending present on the later released 45 or the re-released CD version of the album. The original LP version of the song was approximately four minutes and seven seconds.
Single release In the U.S., "Sumahama" was released as a B-side to the single "It's a Beautiful Day".
"Sumahama" was released as a single in the UK backed with "Angel Come Home", charting at number 45.
Personnel Per Craig Slowinski.
The Beach Boys Mike Love – lead vocals Carl Wilson - backing vocals Bruce Johnston - backing vocals
Additional musicians
Murray Adler - violin Roberleigh Barnhart - cello Myer Bello - viola Alfred Breuning - violin Isabelle Daskoff - violin Earle Dumler - oboe Jesse Ehrlich - cello Bryan Garofalo - bass guitar Igor Horoshevsky - cello Bill House - guitar Bernard Kundell - violin William Kurasch - violin Gayle Levant - harp Joy Lyle - violin Brian O’Connor - French horn Earl Palmer - drums Joel Peskin - flute Jay Rosen - violin Sid Sharp - violin Barbara Thomason - cello Tommy Vig - vibraphone Jai Winding - Fender Rhodes Herschel Wise - viola Tibor Zelig - violin
References