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1968 single by The Beach Boys

US single of Hickey`s original recording

"Bluebirds over the Mountain" is a song written and recorded in 1958 by Ersel Hickey, later covered by artists such as The Beach Boys, Ritchie Valens and Robert Plant. Hickey`s original recording of the song peaked at No. 75 on the Billboard Top 100 Sides on the week ending May 10, 1958,[1] and No. 39 on the Cash Box chart. In Canada it reached No. 8.[2] Ritchie Valens` cover version was released on his eponymous 1959 album. A 1962 recording by The Echoes hit No. 112 on Billboard`s Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles survey and was a top 20 hit on Chicago`s WLS.[3] A 1965 version by Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks reached No. 8 in Canada.[4]

The Beach Boys version

"Bluebirds over the Mountain" was covered by the Beach Boys and released as a single under the Capitol Records label on November 29, 1968, in the United Kingdom (acquired and published by Northern Songs) and December 2, 1968, in the United States with the B-side "Never Learn Not to Love".[7][8] The song features Mike Love on lead vocals and the band`s touring musician Ed Carter on lead guitar.[5]

The single peaked at No. 61 on the Billboard chart and No. 56 on the Cashbox sales chart.[9][10] It reached No. 53 in Canada.[11] It also peaked at No. 33 on the UK Singles Chart on the week ending January 8, 1969.[12] In the Netherlands, it peaked at No. 9 each on the Dutch Top 40 on the week ending January 18, 1969, and the Dutch Single Top 100 on the week ending January 25, 1969.[13][14]

Personnel

Credits from Craig Slowinski.[5]

The Beach Boys

• Al Jardine – backing vocals, acoustic guitar
• Mike Love – lead vocals
• Carl Wilson – backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, producer
• Bruce Johnston – backing vocals, organ, producer

Session musicians

• Ed Carter – lead guitar
• Daryl Dragon – marimba, vibraphone
• Larry Knechtel – bass
• Jim Gordon – drums
• Mike Kowalski – bongos, additional percussion
• Van McCoy – string and horn arrangements