"Break Away" (occasionally listed as Breakaway) is a song written by Brian Wilson (Murry Wilson, his father, is credited as lyricist) for The Beach Boys in 1969. Though sometimes ranked as one of the band's stronger songs, it was a relatively unsuccessful single, charting at #63 in the US, but stronger abroad.

After the Smiley Smile sessions, Brian Wilson served as less of a band leader in the studio. Between Surfer Girl and the "Heroes and Villains" single, Brian was credited as producer; thereafter production credits were assigned to "The Beach Boys." "Break Away" was the last release (aside from the single "Cool, Cool Water") on which he was named as producer until 15 Big Ones in 1976.

"Break Away" features Carl Wilson singing verses (with Mike Love) and Al Jardine on the chorus. Initially, the song was planned to be released with Brian Wilson singing the first verse, as included on the 2001 compilation, Hawthorne, CA. Early stereo studio mixes of this title provide verification, but these remixes are illicit.

Brian has said that the Monkees inspired him to write this song.

Single release

The "Break Away" single backed with "Celebrate The News" was released through Capitol Records in the United States in June, 1969. It was the band's final single of the 1960's and indeed was the band's penultimate single with Capitol Records before moving on to Warner Brothers. The single peaked at the number 63 spot spot on the Billboard charts. The single was also released through Capitol Records in the same month in the United Kingdom. It was the band's final single of the 1960's in Britain. The single faired much better in Britain than in the U.S, peaking at the number 6 position. Capitol re-released the single in Britain in June 1975, although on that occasion the single failed to make any impact on the charts.

In Germany the single peaked at the number 29 position. It would be the band's last single to chart in Germany until 1987. In Holland the single peaked at the number 17 position. In New Zealand the single peaked at the number 20 position.

"Break Away" did not appear on a regular Beach Boys LP. It made its album debut in 1975 as part of the Spirit of America compilaton