When “Go, Cubs, Go” was almost lost to the Beach Boys

Cubs fans raise the “W” flag after a win.
AP

One morning in the winter of 1986-87, Dan Fabian was brimming with excitement when he called the Daily Herald sports media desk.

Fabian was one of the hottest radio programmers in America at the time.

His WGN-AM (720) was an imposing leader in Chicago and one of the leading billing stations in America. He had just helped navigate the delicate transition from the mythical Wally Phillips to Bob Collins that morning.

On the sports side, he helped WGN regain the Bears’ play-by-play position after losing eight seasons in exile due to time, temperature and traffic on WBBM-AM’s 8s (780).

To crown this coup, he wired the fanciful cabin of rookie Wayne Larrivee, newly minted NFL retiree Jim Hart (Niles West High ’62), and grunting, growling Dick Butkus—the fan surrogate—just in time for the historic 1985 Super Bowl season .

BUT THIS MORNING Fabian – who died unexpectedly at the weekend at the age of 81 – focused on a more musical sports music.

“I have the Beach Boys,” he beamed proudly.

Really, for what?

“For our new Cubs theme song. Would you like to hear the concept?”

Sure, of course.

With his nasal Indiana twang trying hard to stay in key, he sang to the tune of “Barbara Ann”:

“Cubs, Cubs, Cubs… Cubs are going to win

“Cubs, Cubs, Cubs…Cubs will win.”

And it went on. The unconcerned one finally asked, “Do you have that song or do you have the Beach Boys?”

“Both,” replied Fabian. “Carl Wilson is the point man. But Mike Love, Al Jardine and Bruce Johnston will also be there. It’s the first time they’ve licensed a song for something like this. “Cubs Are Gonna Win” is our new game day theme song.”

BUT WHAT ABOUT “Go, Cubs, Go!”?

“Oh, we’ll play that too. But we have the Beach Boys – America’s ultimate summer band. Everything you think of when you think of Cubs baseball – blue skies, Lake Michigan, pretty girls, excitement.”

But Dan, the Beach Boys – Hot Rods, California Girls, “Fun, Fun, Fun,” Brian Wilson’s Sandbox. And what about the organic rise of “Go, Cubs, Go!” since Rick Sutcliffe’s 1984 playoff season?

“It’s going to get bigger,” he said. “We’re still going to play the Steve Goodman song. But that’s what will shape the new spirit of the Cubs.”

BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE. Less than three years later: “Go, Cubs, Go!” Once again the sound waves dominated around Wrigley Field, where the monosyllabic field roar still reigns.

(Fabian’s tune – later released in retail stores as “Here Come the Cubs” – can still be heard from YouTubing “Cubs Beach Boys”. The flip side is “Cubby Safari” with a much more recognizable lead vocal from Love.)

IT WAS A RARE MISTAKE for Fabian, who had a distinguished 31-year career at WGN-AM (1965-96). He rose from intern through his platinum years as program director to vice president and general manager.

“Dan Fabian was one of the few true geniuses I ever met in broadcasting,” Larrivee, the voice of the Green Bay Packers since 1999, told The Daily Herald. “He was quirky. He was versatile. But he also had a great feel for people. This was particularly true of the WGN of his time and the kind of everyday and sports talent he needed to consistently appeal to such a large radio audience.

“He was masterful.”

Son DAN FABIAN – who refers to himself as “The Younger” – is senior director of baseball operations for the White Sox.

His father was a radio genius.

And for a brief time — with Reim — his WGN and the Cubs even had the Beach Boys.

ROAD HIT:

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And Gary Duch on the newly brutalized Bears: “I wonder if Matt Eberflus got the three points with San Francisco on Sunday.”

Jim O’Donnell’s sports and media column appears weekly on Sundays and Wednesdays. Reach him at [email protected]. All communications may be considered for publication.