"Surf's Up" failed to chart when issued as a single in November 1971 with the B-side "Don't Go Near the Water". In 2004, Wilson rerecorded it for his solo version of "Smile" with new string orchestrations that he had originally intended to include in the piece. "Pitchfork" later included the song in separate rankings of the 200 finest songs of the 1960s and 1970s, and in 2011, "Mojo" staff members voted it the greatest Beach Boys song. , it is listed among the 800-most highest rated songs of all time on Acclaimed Music.