The album was compiled by
Nick Venet and
Gary Usher, according to biographer James Murphy, to "trad[e] on the success" of the Beach Boys' hits "
409" and "
Shut Down".[2] It was a commercial success, peaking at number 8 on August 17 during a 46-week chart run.[2] In 1964, it was followed by Shut Down Volume 2, which only had songs by the Beach Boys.[3]