"Don't Fight the Sea" is a song written by

Terry Jacks Terrence Ross Jacks (born March 29, 1944) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, record producer and environmentalist, best known for his 1974 hit song "Seasons in the Sun". Early life Terry Jacks was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His fam ...

and released as a single in 1976, reaching #31 on the Canadian Charts.

Al Jardine version

The song was attempted by

the Beach Boys The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band that formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and frie ...

in 1976 during recording sessions for their album ''

15 Big Ones ''15 Big Ones'' is the 20th studio album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released July 5, 1976 on Brother/Reprise. It includes a mix of original songs and renditions of rock 'n' roll and R&B standards. The LP was the band's first albu ...

''. In 2010, the song was rewritten with

Al Jardine Alan Charles Jardine (born September 3, 1942) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys. He is best known as the band's rhythm guitarist and for occasionally singing lead vocals on singles such as "Help Me, Rho ...

for his album ''

A Postcard from California ''A Postcard from California'' is the debut solo studio album by American musician and co-founder of the Beach Boys, Al Jardine. For the album, Jardine recruited several music icons including his former Beach Boys bandmates. The album also contain ...

'' and with several of his Beach Boys bandmates making a guest appearance, with vocals culled from various recording sessions during the interim period. Jardine's version was also issued on a 7" vinyl record on April 16, 2011 for

Record Store Day Record Store Day is an annual event inaugurated in 2007 and held on one Saturday (typically the third) every April and every Black Friday in November to "celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store". The day brings together fa ...

2011 in a limited edition of 2,500 copies (1,000 white vinyl and 1,500 black vinyl) with the proceeds to benefit tsunami relief for Japan.

Personnel

– lead and backing vocals, keyboards *

Carl Wilson Carl Dean Wilson (December 21, 1946 – February 6, 1998) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys. He was their lead guitarist, the youngest sibling of bandmates Brian and Dennis, and the group's ''de ...

– lead and backing vocals *

Brian Wilson Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition, extraordinary musical aptitude, and m ...

– backing vocals *

Mike Love Michael Edward Love (born March 15, 1941) is an American singer and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys with his cousins Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson and their friend Al Jardine. Characterized by his nasal tenor and occasional bass-bari ...

– backing vocals *

Bruce Johnston Bruce Arthur Johnston (born Benjamin Baldwin; June 27, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who is a member of the Beach Boys. Johnston also collaborated on many records with Terry Melcher (his bandmate in Bru ...

– backing vocals *

Matt Jardine Matthew Alan Jardine (born December 9, 1966) is an American musician, best known for his work as a vocalist and percussionist for the Beach Boys and Brian Wilson. He is the son of original Beach Boy Al Jardine. Biography Jardine is the son of ...

– backing vocals * Ed Carter – guitars, bass * Michael Lent – guitars *

Scott Mathews Scott Mathews (born July 25, 1955) is an American music producer, composer, performer, and entrepreneur. He has appeared as a musician, songwriter or producer on recordings with sales of more than 40 million units which earned more than 20 gol ...

– guitars, backing vocals *

Mike Meros Michael Meros (September 29, 1950 – December 26, 2007) was an American keyboardist best known as a member of the Beach Boys touring band from 1979 until July 4, 2001. Meros hailed from the Brooklyn Park neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. His ...

– keyboards * Bobby Figueroa – drums

References

{{authority control Songs about oceans and seas 1976 singles 2011 singles The Beach Boys songs Environmental songs 1976 songs Capitol Records singles Songs written by Al Jardine Songs written by Terry Jacks