409 (song)

<h2 id="composition">Composition</h2>
<p>"409" was inspired by Gary Usher's obsession with <a href="/facts/Hot_rod/UWdd1MoU">hot rods</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> Its title refers to an automobile fitted with <a href="/facts/Chevrolet/lp04IP4m">Chevrolet's</a> <a href="/facts/Chevrolet_Big-Block_engine/WxH6cUp0">409-cubic-inch-displacement "big block"</a> V-8 engine.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> The song's narrator concludes with the description "My <a href="/facts/Manual_transmission/jEehs2AT">four speed</a>, dual-<a href="/facts/Carburetor/DMvC7y9M">quad</a>, <a href="/facts/Limited-slip_differential/sKdIeMdj">positraction</a> four-oh-nine." This version of the engine – at 409 <a href="/facts/Horsepower/jRMwmIxA">hp</a>, achieving 1 hp per cubic inch – featured twin "D" series <a href="/facts/Carter_Carburetor/uqsGzQfe">Carter</a> AFB (Aluminum Four Barrel) carburetors ("dual-quads"). It was offered in new vehicles (<a href="/facts/Chevrolet_Impala/g2b81ra6">Impala SS</a> ["<a href="/facts/Chevrolet_Impala/g2b81ra6">Super Sport</a>"]; <a href="/facts/Chevrolet_Bel_Air/xUBmIKTo">Bel Air</a>; <a href="/facts/Chevrolet_Biscayne/JoxDPtSh">Biscayne</a>) and as replacement units in the 1962 <a href="/facts/Model_year/z5RUIEK2">model year</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a>
</p><p>It stayed one week on the <a href="/facts/Billboard_Hot_100/gwKl8VL9"><i>Billboard</i> Hot 100</a>, at number 76, in October 1962.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a>
</p>
<h2 id="personnel">Personnel</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Mike_Love/y5Re5z7l">Mike Love</a> – <a href="/facts/Lead_vocals/tGyTlaQe">lead vocals</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/David_Marks/0U5QRrxr">David Marks</a> – <a href="/facts/Rhythm_guitar/WFcg4fXC">rhythm guitar</a>, background vocals</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Brian_Wilson/lHqBFEUI">Brian Wilson</a> – <a href="/facts/Bass_guitar/lbeoAatH">bass guitar</a>, <a href="/facts/Backing_vocalist/nc32ElrR">background vocals</a>, car sound effects tape</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Carl_Wilson/ewy0VSWt">Carl Wilson</a> – <a href="/facts/Lead_guitar/ETbV6FAS">lead guitar</a>, background vocals</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Dennis_Wilson/1xrQgFYb">Dennis Wilson</a> – <a href="/facts/Drum_kit/XsmopoW9">drums</a>, background vocals</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Profile at Songfacts <a href="http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=4567" target="_blank">http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=4567</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Breitenstein, Jeff. Ultimate Hot Rod Dictionary: A-Bombs to Zoomies. MotorBooks International. p. 107. ISBN 978-1-61059-235-2. <a href="978-1-61059-235-2" target="_blank">978-1-61059-235-2</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>"The Beach Boys: 409". allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 10 December 2012. <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/song/409-mt0000107032" target="_blank">http://www.allmusic.com/song/409-mt0000107032</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Profile at Songfacts <a href="http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=4567" target="_blank">http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=4567</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>Marion, Doug (January 11, 2008). "40 Years of 348 and 409 W-Engines – W-ow!". superchevy.com. Retrieved September 27, 2016. <a href="http://www.superchevy.com/features/sucp-0801-348-409-w-engines/" target="_blank">http://www.superchevy.com/features/sucp-0801-348-409-w-engines/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>Hot 100 – The Beach Boys 409 Chart History, Billboard.com. Retrieved January 11, 2018. <a href="https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-beach-boys/chart-history/hsi/" target="_blank">https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-beach-boys/chart-history/hsi/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

409 (song) open-in-new

409 (song)