Beach Boys' Party!

[analogdemon]

I actually think that the version of Tell Me Why on here is better than the Beatles' version.  I love the cover of Hully Gully and Barbara Ann...oh hell the whole album is great!  Four stars!

[Matinee Idyll]

I actually think that the version of Tell Me Why on here is better than the Beatles' version.

I was scared to say it around here through fear of retribution, but yep, it really is.  Bri's falsetto puts it over the finish line...  The instrumentation sounds, hmm, 'looser' too, and fits the song better in a stripped back fashion.

Tops that.

[Compost]

3

Some gems and a few turds.

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

I think SOT 10 is required listening to truly understand the greatness and, yes, creativity of the album.  Now, I go through everyday wishing in vain that I was either in the Beach Boys or a good friend of the Beach Boys in the 60s, and no album pushes me into the depths of pathetic fantasy than Party.  I actually start believing I AM friends with the Beach Boys when I put it on.

[I. Spaceman]

Damn straight. My thoughts/feelings exactly.

[Matinee Idyll]

I miss the Dick Rising jokes.

It's all alittle PC for me to actually believe I'm there with the Beach Boys...

3 1/2 stars.  Some very beautiful stuff (the Beatles covers), "There's No Other" and "Devoted to You" particulalars.

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

It's all alittle PC for me to actually believe I'm there with the Beach Boys...

Which is why SOT 10 is essential.  You know that between takes, Carl's discussing how he wants to swear on the album and Brian and Carl talk about how a girl they know is very nice, but oh so fat.

[I. Spaceman]

Denny arguing with Mike about the party atmosphere is so great.
And when Carl and Al are recording the guitars for Hide Your Love Away:
Brian: "Why are you guys so SERIOUS?? it's a party, HAVE A BALL!", followed by Carl and Al cracking up. Warms my heart.
Or when Mike says to Al, at the top of Devoted To You, "Play it the way we've come to love it".

[Jeff Mason]

Or you can hear what came just seconds before the "Greenwich Village" comments that open the album -- lots of drug jokes.

SOT 10 is the most fun of the bunch since it is all BB (and Hal) with the tape rolling.  It becomes clear too that while they get along great that Hal has gotten very comfortable with as well.

[Mahalo]

I don't like this album. Devoted to you is cool, but it doesn't save the album for me. I don't really like Beatle's tunes no matter who is singing them. The idea of a "Party" album is great, but this doesn't do it for me. What can I say....I like the artwork though.... I give this album a 1.

[Jonas]

Really wish they wouldve included Smokey Joe's Cafe...

[SG7]

Or Laugh At Me...

[lance]

I like the album, though I guess I would like it better with out the fake party. ON the other hand it's INTERESTING that it wasn't really a party as it gives it a sort of concept other than Beach Boys cover a bunch of song acoustically. Such a  concept isn't really necessary in my book, but it does give a bit of insight into Brian's mind.

3/10

[Ana-Lu]

In the 70s, after the popularity of Endless Summer, Capitol and Reprise started issuing the BBs' back catalog, often with different cover art and/or tracks deleted.  Anyway, "Party" was the one album that didn't get reissued during this period.  As a result, I never had a copy.

Finally, it came out in the 80s during the Capitol green label midline era, but by then I wasn't interested.

A few years ago, I found an original in pristine condition for no money.  I still haven't played it, and other than "Barbara Ann," I have no idea what this album sounds like.  I should probably give it a spin one day. 

[elnombre]

An interesting curio at the very least. The Sea Of Tunes version pisses all over the official release.

I wish I had a vinyl copy with the photos and so on, but nevermind.

[Wrightfan]

3 out of 5. Some very good covers and a unique concept for an album:

List of songs (From my favorite to least favorite.)
Barbara Ann
Devoted to You
Mountain of Love
Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow
I Should have Known Better
Hully Gully
Alley Oop
Tell Me Why
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
There's No Other (Like My Baby)
The Times They Are A-Changin'
Medley: I Get Around/Little Deuce Coupe

[Poprocks]

I'll 4 star it.  This album just makes me smile (pun intended).  Nice choice of covers.

And doesn't Brian just look so Brian-ish on the cover?

[Nicko]

I think some fans give this album a hard time simply because it sold more than Brian's experimental music of the period. It's a very good listen though and the vocals on Devoted to You and There's no Other are gorgeous. The Times They are a Changin' is probably the only cover which doesn't fare so well but this collection hangs together better than a lot of the band's previous studio albums.

3 out of 5.

[Don_Zabu]

Worth getting just for "Devoted to You".

[LetHimRun]

I gave it a 4. Very good listen throughout. I like most of the songs and even if the party atmosphere was fake, it still is a cool idea/concept especially for the time.

[musicismylife101]

A fun album to listen to. At first i found all the party effects annoying but now I'm used to it. Devoted to You is my favorite track - Brian and Mike sound amazing on it!

[Dudd]

Never could get into it. It's harmless, but there's just not much to it.

[bluesno1fann]

While Brian Wilson always wanted to make a party album, this album is still little more than a contractual obligation for Capitol Records, as they wanted another album for the end of 1965. They already had a Christmas album, so they chose this instead. It was recorded quickly and released as Brian was working on his masterpiece, Pet Sounds.
The standouts are "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" and "Barbara Ann". Not much else to say about this album. Don't care for it much.
2 out of 5.

[Ram4]

I like this album.  We tend to play it at the end of the day at work as if the band were hanging around with us and jamming.  Some great songs are on here too.  I would love a release of this album without the Party overdubs added just to hear everything clear like Devoted To You on Hawthorne.  I give it a 4.

[RiC]

3/5.

I admit that I have listened this completely only couple times. It's fun and yeah that's pretty much all. Barbara Ann is really weird one... It's so silly little song and it's funny how still nowadays it's like the big encore number in the live shows. It's not that great of a song. I love the cover art and the pics inside!