Explain the situation regarding Chuck Berry's song "Sweet Little Sixteen" and the Beach Boys' early hit, "Surfin' U.S.A."

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Surfin'(1963) was not a cover of the song, but was very similar. Brian Wilson, the main songwriter for the group, put new words to Berry's 1958 hit.

Wilson claimed sole songwriting credit, Berry sued, and Wilson's father gave Berry full songwriting credit and the royalties that went with it.

Comparison of the two versions: Beach Boys' use of electric bass instead of the acoustic bass of pre-rock pop.

Berry's "rock rhythm" was played by the entire band. - vocal line, rhythm guitar, organ solo, bass line, and drum part, all work with the more active rhythm.

The pervasive use of rock rhythm and the replacement of the acoustic bass with the electric bass make the new music louder, more active and more intrusive.

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