This is a vintage Beach Boys Vinyl record bought in Chicago in 1966. My grandpa bought this record at his local record store in Chicago. This was a place he frequented with his brother Bill and his friends from school. At the time this was bought, it would've cost around four dollars; this exact same record is now around 35 dollars pre-owned. This record has moved from 8 cities and 4 states. \ The Beach Boys were what it meant to be American at that time. As my grandpa told me, “They represented what everyone wanted: the surfing, the girls, the cars, and the carefree lifestyle. They were just young boys having fun and being free.” The story of my Beach Boys record relates to the bigger picture of freedom in U.S. History because during the time of the Vietnam War, the Beach Boys showed America what having freedom was like and how to have fun. In their songs, they speak about having sunny summer days in California, where they would go surfing or just hang out together. The fun they had can be felt through their music, which made the people of America have more hope and more happiness during the times of the Vietnam War. 


 

– LW

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more