I think big news is coming...

[rab2591]

For some reason, I could've sworn there was some talk of re-issuing albums. I'm probably dead wrong though.

Perhaps I read an imaginative comment a while back and took it for fact. Dang, I was looking forward to some crisp-sounding Friends songs!

[KokoNO]

"Career-spanning box set" doesn't mean "career-encompassing box set".  It certainly doesn't mean a box set that must include every Beach Boys album in its entirety.  I don't think we've seen anything indicating that the albums will be reissued yet.  My feeling is that the box set will basically be a new version of Thirty Years of Good Vibrations - an intermixing of hits, album cuts and rarities.

That's definitely what I expect. It will flesh out the Smile stuff with the versions included in the "mock album" from this fall, it will have better sounding stereo mixes of a lot of the hits (which have already appeared on various compilations over the last ten years) and will also include tracks like "Feel Flows" that have gained a lot of recognition in the twenty years since the first boxed set.

Personally, I'd rather they forego rarities and simply release a four disc boxed set filled with over 100 of their best cuts. It could work as the ultimate introduction to the band for newbies and novices.

[Heysaboda]

From the main BB website (past the tour splash page):

"The Beach Boys and Capitol/EMI have also teamed up for a 50th Anniversary campaign spotlighting the band’s entire catalog, with several new commemorative releases planned for 2012, including a new hits collection and a career-spanning box set."

That says nothing regarding their studio albums. For all we know career-spanning box set could be a re-do of the Good Vibrations Box Set. I'll get more excited about this a little further down the road as more info is released.

Exactly!

I, myself, am waiting for the Love You set.  The original album remixed and an additional 2 discs of outtakes, and live shows from the time!  Heaven!

[Chocolate Shake Man]

My whole point at the beginning was to hope for a quality of music on par with Fun Fun Fun and the Today album, not a 2012 redo of them both.

Well, if you look back on the thread you'll note that my whole entrance into this discussion was asking Ron if, by making an album like their mid-60s albums, he meant in terms of the quality. He responded by saying that he meant that in general, asking for "some great songs about getting your heart broke or how f*cking fantastic your woman is.  Like they used to do. " It became apparent to me then that we weren't just talking about making songs as good as the songs from that era, but rather songs that carried similar thematic concerns (and I assumed songs that had a similar sound). Given that our own conversation stemmed from this and your points about how one should be able to write about the same sort of topics, it seems that we are talking about more than just quality.

[Ron]

My whole point at the beginning was to hope for a quality of music on par with Fun Fun Fun and the Today album, not a 2012 redo of them both.

Well, if you look back on the thread you'll note that my whole entrance into this discussion was asking Ron if, by making an album like their mid-60s albums, he meant in terms of the quality. He responded by saying that he meant that in general, asking for "some great songs about getting your heart broke or how f*cking fantastic your woman is.  Like they used to do. " It became apparent to me then that we weren't just talking about making songs as good as the songs from that era, but rather songs that carried similar thematic concerns (and I assumed songs that had a similar sound). Given that our own conversation stemmed from this and your points about how one should be able to write about the same sort of topics, it seems that we are talking about more than just quality.

Would you prefer they talk about something 'new' then like how their blood pressure medicine is working out, or would you prefer to hear Mike talk about how the AARP keeps petitioning him to be a spokesman, or Bruce write something about his stock portfolio took a hit in 2008 but has rebounded? 

LOVE SONGS.  ABOUT CHICKS.  That's what the new music needs to be about.  Same as the old. 

[hypehat]

Old married dudes can write songs about their old married chicks. Why is this so hard to grasp.

Rockandroll is, as usual, a huge and glorious pile of rightness on this.

[DonnyL]

From the main BB website (past the tour splash page):

"The Beach Boys and Capitol/EMI have also teamed up for a 50th Anniversary campaign spotlighting the band’s entire catalog, with several new commemorative releases planned for 2012, including a new hits collection and a career-spanning box set."

That says nothing regarding their studio albums. For all we know career-spanning box set could be a re-do of the Good Vibrations Box Set. I'll get more excited about this a little further down the road as more info is released.

Exactly!

I, myself, am waiting for the Love You set.  The original album remixed and an additional 2 discs of outtakes, and live shows from the time!  Heaven!

Why would you want to mess with Carl's original mix?

[drbeachboy]

Old married dudes can write songs about their old married chicks. Why is this so hard to grasp.
G
Rockandroll is, as usual, a huge and glorious pile of rightness on this.

I never said anything different. I think using song examples confused the meaning of my posts. That's what I get for straying too far from my actual thoughts and intentions. So, let's just say I hope we get some quality songs concerning mature love and fun. Just hoping they don't follow Katy Perry and write a song like "I Kissed A Guy and I Liked It", not that there's anything wrong with that.

[hypehat]

Nah, you're good dr. Was talking to Ron!

[Chocolate Shake Man]

My whole point at the beginning was to hope for a quality of music on par with Fun Fun Fun and the Today album, not a 2012 redo of them both.

Well, if you look back on the thread you'll note that my whole entrance into this discussion was asking Ron if, by making an album like their mid-60s albums, he meant in terms of the quality. He responded by saying that he meant that in general, asking for "some great songs about getting your heart broke or how f*cking fantastic your woman is.  Like they used to do. " It became apparent to me then that we weren't just talking about making songs as good as the songs from that era, but rather songs that carried similar thematic concerns (and I assumed songs that had a similar sound). Given that our own conversation stemmed from this and your points about how one should be able to write about the same sort of topics, it seems that we are talking about more than just quality.

Would you prefer they talk about something 'new' then like how their blood pressure medicine is working out, or would you prefer to hear Mike talk about how the AARP keeps petitioning him to be a spokesman, or Bruce write something about his stock portfolio took a hit in 2008 but has rebounded? 

LOVE SONGS.  ABOUT CHICKS.  That's what the new music needs to be about.  Same as the old. 

Well, Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan and Neil Young and Randy Newman have recently managed to make not completely embarrssing music that speaks to their immediate concerns and doesn't resort to cashing in on glory days that they are no longer connected with. The reason why, say, Dylan has made some pretty great records since the late 90s is because he doesn't try to do the same thing that he did on Highway 61.

[drbeachboy]

My whole point at the beginning was to hope for a quality of music on par with Fun Fun Fun and the Today album, not a 2012 redo of them both.

Well, if you look back on the thread you'll note that my whole entrance into this discussion was asking Ron if, by making an album like their mid-60s albums, he meant in terms of the quality. He responded by saying that he meant that in general, asking for "some great songs about getting your heart broke or how f*cking fantastic your woman is.  Like they used to do. " It became apparent to me then that we weren't just talking about making songs as good as the songs from that era, but rather songs that carried similar thematic concerns (and I assumed songs that had a similar sound). Given that our own conversation stemmed from this and your points about how one should be able to write about the same sort of topics, it seems that we are talking about more than just quality.

Would you prefer they talk about something 'new' then like how their blood pressure medicine is working out, or would you prefer to hear Mike talk about how the AARP keeps petitioning him to be a spokesman, or Bruce write something about his stock portfolio took a hit in 2008 but has rebounded? 

LOVE SONGS.  ABOUT CHICKS.  That's what the new music needs to be about.  Same as the old. 

Well, Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan and Neil Young and Randy Newman have recently managed to make not completely embarrssing music that speaks to their immediate concerns and doesn't resort to cashing in on glory days that they are no longer connected with. The reason why, say, Dylan has made some pretty great records since the late 90s is because he doesn't try to do the same thing that he did on Highway 61.

I hear you, but do you really think the U.S. record buying public is going buy into that change of direction? I believe they tried that off and on with their 70's albums and it didn't go over too well. Though if what Bruce said is really true, at least Capitol won't pressure them to do the same ole, same ole. We know U.S. audience only wants the same ole, same ole.

[southbay]

I think Capitol has realistic expectations.  They know what the catalog sells. They signed Brian to make TLOS knowing what that would be, which was not a hit.  They know what they are getting with the 2012 Beach Boys.

[lee]

I'm hoping they do something with a more mellow and laid back feel like the album Friends.

[Ron]

Nah, you're good dr. Was talking to Ron!

You weren't talking to me, we agree!  Chick Songs!  The other dude's the one who wants 'something new'.  I want 'something old'.  

So, I went and checked their discography.  

All Summer Long:

All Summer Long - Song about a chick.  Song fucking ROCKS
Hushabye.  - Cover song about a chick.  Song fucking ROCKS
Little Honda - song about a motorcycle,... and a chick.  Song fucking ROCKS
We'll Run Away - song about a chick.  Not my thing, but it's o.k.
Carl's Big Chance - instrumental.
Wendy - song about a chick.  Song Fucking ROCKS
Do You Remember - song about classic Rock and Roll.  In 1964? If they do a new 'retro' song, it's not Mike's fault, they've been doing it since 1964.
Girls on the Beach - song about a chick.  Song fucking ROCKS
Drive In - song about a chick.  Song fucking ROCKS
Don't Back Down - song about a chick and surfing.  Song fucking ROCKS
Be true to your school - song about a chick.  Song fucking ROCKS
All dressed up for School - song about a chick.  Song's pretty good


TODAY:

Do you wanna dance - cover song about a Chick.  Song fucking Rocks.
Good to my Baby - song about a chick.  Song rocks harder than anything has ever fucking rocked.
Don't hurt my little sister - song about a chick.  Alright song.
When I grow up to be a man - song about a chick.  Song fucking Rocks.
Help Me Rhonda - song about 2 chicks.  Song fucking ROCKS.
Dance, Dance, Dance - song about his chick by his side.  Song fucking ROCKS
Please let me wonder - song about a chick.  Song fucking ROCKS.
I'm so Young - cover song about a chick.  Song fucking ROCKS
Kiss me Baby - song about a chick.  Song fucking ROCKS
She knows me too well - song about a chick.  Song fucking ROCKS
In the back of my mind - song about a chick.  Eh.  It's alright.
Bull session.  - studio chatter of Brian treating his chick politely.  

Summer Days/Nights

The girl from New York City - song about a chick.  Song is GREAT
Amusement Parks USA - song about having your chick at an amusement park.  Never was a big fan of this one.
Then I kissed her - cover song about a chick.  One of the greatest songs they ever recorded.
Salt Lake City - song about Mormon Chicks.  Song fucking ROCKS
Girl don't tell me - really creative song about a chick.  Song fucking ROCKS
California Girls - song about a chick.  song fucking ROCKS
Let Him Run Wild - song about a chick.  Song fucking ROCKS
You're so good to me - song about a chick.  Song fucking ROCKS
Summer means new love - instrumental
I'm bugged at my old man - not a song about a chick.  Song fucking SUCKS
And your dreams come true - song about a chick.  Song fucking ROCKS
The little girl I once knew - song about a chick.  Song fucking ROCKS







Point is this: When I said they should write love songs about getting your heart broke, or how fucking AWESOME your woman is, I think I've got the evidence to back it up.  I'm not really being beligerant here, hell I can't even spell beligerant.  I'm just saying the best sh*t they EVER recorded wasn't intellectual nonsense like featured on SMiLE and a lot of the 70's albums, it was the great, great, fantastic music they were making in the mid 60's.  I love smile just as much as the other guy, but we only need so much of that stuff.  I'll never get tired of Surfer Girl or "Salt Lake City" or "Good to my Baby".  

[JohnMill]

Nah, you're good dr. Was talking to Ron!

You weren't talking to me, we agree!  Chick Songs!  The other dude's the one who wants 'something new'.  I want 'something old'.  

So, I went and checked their discography.  

All Summer Long:

All Summer Long - Song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Hushabye.  - Cover song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Little Honda - song about a motorcycle,... and a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
We'll Run Away - song about a chick.  Not my thing, but it's o.k.
Carl's Big Chance - instrumental.
Wendy - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Do You Remember - song about classic Rock and Roll.  In 1964? If they do a new 'retro' song, it's not Mike's fault, they've been doing it since 1964.
Girls on the Beach - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Drive In - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Don't Back Down - song about a chick and surfing.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Be true to your school - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
All dressed up for School - song about a chick.  Song's pretty good


TODAY:

Do you wanna dance - cover song about a Chick.  Song f*cking Rocks.
Good to my Baby - song about a chick.  Song rocks harder than anything has ever f*cking rocked.
Don't hurt my little sister - song about a chick.  Alright song.
When I grow up to be a man - song about a chick.  Song f*cking Rocks.
Help Me Rhonda - song about 2 chicks.  Song f*cking ROCKS.
Dance, Dance, Dance - song about his chick by his side.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Please let me wonder - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS.
I'm so Young - cover song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Kiss me Baby - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
She knows me too well - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
In the back of my mind - song about a chick.  Eh.  It's alright.
Bull session.  - studio chatter of Brian treating his chick politely.  

Summer Days/Nights

The girl from New York City - song about a chick.  Song is GREAT
Amusement Parks USA - song about having your chick at an amusement park.  Never was a big fan of this one.
Then I kissed her - cover song about a chick.  One of the greatest songs they ever recorded.
Salt Lake City - song about Mormon Chicks.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Girl don't tell me - really creative song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
California Girls - song about a chick.  song f*cking ROCKS
Let Him Run Wild - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
You're so good to me - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Summer means new love - instrumental
I'm bugged at my old man - not a song about a chick.  Song f*cking SUCKS
And your dreams come true - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
The little girl I once knew - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS







Point is this: When I said they should write love songs about getting your heart broke, or how f*cking AWESOME your woman is, I think I've got the evidence to back it up.  I'm not really being beligerant here, hell I can't even spell beligerant.  I'm just saying the best sh*t they EVER recorded wasn't intellectual nonsense like featured on SMiLE and a lot of the 70's albums, it was the great, great, fantastic music they were making in the mid 60's.  I love smile just as much as the other guy, but we only need so much of that stuff.  I'll never get tired of Surfer Girl or "Salt Lake City" or "Good to my Baby".  

It just all boils down to personal taste and you really can't have one without the other.  You can honestly make a case for either point as to Joe Public its many of the songs you listed which has established them as one of the seminal rock bands of all time.  However to music fans it's SMiLE and Pet Sounds which has elevated their legacy and perhaps even enhanced it and ironically most of this enhancement took place decades after those albums were recorded.  With SMiLE it's at least understandable that it's plaudits have come decades removed from it's conception but with Pet Sounds it's almost mind baffling how this record has brought on board so many new fans over the past twenty years. 

Taking that into account I don't think anyone can honestly say what type of music was the best material The Beach Boys ever recorded as it's all relevant to their appeal and legacy. 

[Ron]

Your problem with that statement, though, is I'M a music fan.  And the reason I love them isn't Pet Sounds and Smile, and my other argument to that would be pet sounds was an album about chicks. 


Don't make me do it. 

Too late.

BRB.

[Lowbacca]

I'm hoping they do something with a more mellow and laid back feel like the album Friends.

Brian alluded to a "mellow tone" for the album at the Grammy interview.

[Ron]

Pet Sounds:

Wouldn't It be Nice - greatest song ever recorded about a chick.
You still believe in me - about a chick - song fucking ROCKS
That's not me - Song about a chick - song fucking ROCKS
Don't talk, put your head on my shoulder - song about a chick - song fucking ROCKS
I'm waiting for the day - song about a chick - song fucking ROCKS
Let's go away for awhile - instrumental
Sloop John B - song about a boat named after a guy.  begrudgingly, I must admit this song FUCKING ROCKS
God only Knows - song about a chick.  Song fucking ROCKS
I know there's an answer - song about your uncool friends who don't destroy their minds with drugs - Song fucking ROCKS
Here Today - song about a chick - song fucking ROCKS
I just wasn't made for these times - song about lonliness and being misunderstood - song fucking ROCKS
Pet Sounds - instrumental
Caroline, No - song about a chick.  Song fucking rocks.

[JohnMill]

I stand by my statement.  You can easily make an argument for either batch of songs being the best music The Beach Boys ever recorded.  Anything beyond that comes down to pure subjectivity on the part of the listener and generally speaking you are going to find the two camps that Dom Priore speaks about in his second book I believe with Joe Public occupying the camp nostalgia that is loyal to the early records and camp SMiLE that is loyal to the recordings from 66/67.  "Pet Sounds" also goes a lot deeper than just being a selection of songs about chicks but you and I both know that so what is the point in arguing being that the only arguments one can make are a) but at it's base it's an album about chicks and b) at second glance it's a lot more than that.

For what it's worth though when it comes to the new record, I'm with you.  I wouldn't mind an experimental track in the vein of SMiLE somewhere on the record but I think it would be nice for the general public to hear the classic Beach Boys sound one more time.  It doesn't mean they have to sing about surfboards and GTOs but it would be nice to hear some familiarity.  

[Ron]

But John, i'm showing you evidence that the best songs they ever did were all Chick songs.  So then you praise the sh*t out of one album, and I illustrate to you again that it's an album full of chick songs, and you still won't make the simple concession that the best music they ever did was about chicks. 

LOL

What's going on, man?  Just admit it.  You want the Beach Boys to sing some chick songs. 


Here's what's really going on : It's the music that people feel, not the lyrics.  One of the brilliant things that Brian and the boys were always able to pull off, was that they could sing a song about a girl in a bikini, but yet have so many lush vocals on top of it, beautifully recorded guitars and drums, backing vocals so expressive it sounded like waves washing up on a beach, and just general happiness, youthfulness, and warmth, that anybody that heard it loved it whether or not they were into the lyrics or not.

So one of my pet peeves is people who think that lyrics have to be 'intellectual' to make a good song.  They so clearly do not, and sometimes it gets so heavy that it hurts the song.  I would love nothing more than for the boys to record a bunch of awesome songs like the 64,65,66 period.  Well recorded, nice instrumentation, beautiful backing vocals, and then hell make them about chicks!  That's the Beach Boys! 

It's an Endless Summer, you know. 

[Jim V.]

Yeah; lets have another album about how the 'skies are finally blue again' and all the flowers died, or how he fell asleep in the band room and woke up in history, or more stuff that DEMANDS respect instead of the mid 60's work that COMMANDED respect.  Break out your dictionary to see the nuance. 

Right on Ron. That makes total sense. From the early '60s til the mid '70s Brian Wilson made music that blew people away. The music stood on its own merits. Whereas it seems like sometimes with his backup group, it's more like they are shining the spotlight on Brian and saying, wow, how awesome is it that this guy is a fighter and even after all he's been through, he's still creating! Stuff like that is fine for publicity and interviews and whatnot, but I think if anything, it kinda dilutes the impact of the music.

This is one of the reasons why Summer in Paradise sucks at a deep, basic level, and That Lucky Old Sun is a latter-day BW masterpiece. Simple.

I think both albums are crap. And here's why...they are both overly self-referential bullshit. But while That Lucky Old Sun has the upper hand with better music, at least Summer in Paradise has a guy writing lyrics about things he knows about (Mike about himself and his band), whereas TLOS has some dude (Scott Bennett) writing lyrics about "the Brian Wilson story" and then having Brian sing it. The difference is, Mike singing self-referential bullshit is nearly expected and therefore kinda funny, whereas Brian singing self referential bullshit that he himself didn't even write is kinda patronizing towards BW in a way.

[drbeachboy]

Nah, you're good dr. Was talking to Ron!

You weren't talking to me, we agree!  Chick Songs!  The other dude's the one who wants 'something new'.  I want 'something old'.  

So, I went and checked their discography.  

All Summer Long:

All Summer Long - Song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Hushabye.  - Cover song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Little Honda - song about a motorcycle,... and a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
We'll Run Away - song about a chick.  Not my thing, but it's o.k.
Carl's Big Chance - instrumental.
Wendy - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Do You Remember - song about classic Rock and Roll.  In 1964? If they do a new 'retro' song, it's not Mike's fault, they've been doing it since 1964.
Girls on the Beach - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Drive In - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Don't Back Down - song about a chick and surfing.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Be true to your school - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
All dressed up for School - song about a chick.  Song's pretty good


TODAY:

Do you wanna dance - cover song about a Chick.  Song f*cking Rocks.
Good to my Baby - song about a chick.  Song rocks harder than anything has ever f*cking rocked.
Don't hurt my little sister - song about a chick.  Alright song.
When I grow up to be a man - song about a chick.  Song f*cking Rocks.
Help Me Rhonda - song about 2 chicks.  Song f*cking ROCKS.
Dance, Dance, Dance - song about his chick by his side.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Please let me wonder - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS.
I'm so Young - cover song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Kiss me Baby - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
She knows me too well - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
In the back of my mind - song about a chick.  Eh.  It's alright.
Bull session.  - studio chatter of Brian treating his chick politely.  

Summer Days/Nights

The girl from New York City - song about a chick.  Song is GREAT
Amusement Parks USA - song about having your chick at an amusement park.  Never was a big fan of this one.
Then I kissed her - cover song about a chick.  One of the greatest songs they ever recorded.
Salt Lake City - song about Mormon Chicks.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Girl don't tell me - really creative song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
California Girls - song about a chick.  song f*cking ROCKS
Let Him Run Wild - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
You're so good to me - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Summer means new love - instrumental
I'm bugged at my old man - not a song about a chick.  Song f*cking SUCKS
And your dreams come true - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
The little girl I once knew - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS







Point is this: When I said they should write love songs about getting your heart broke, or how f*cking AWESOME your woman is, I think I've got the evidence to back it up.  I'm not really being beligerant here, hell I can't even spell beligerant.  I'm just saying the best sh*t they EVER recorded wasn't intellectual nonsense like featured on SMiLE and a lot of the 70's albums, it was the great, great, fantastic music they were making in the mid 60's.  I love smile just as much as the other guy, but we only need so much of that stuff.  I'll never get tired of Surfer Girl or "Salt Lake City" or "Good to my Baby".  

It just all boils down to personal taste and you really can't have one without the other.  You can honestly make a case for either point as to Joe Public its many of the songs you listed which has established them as one of the seminal rock bands of all time.  However to music fans it's SMiLE and Pet Sounds which has elevated their legacy and perhaps even enhanced it and ironically most of this enhancement took place decades after those albums were recorded.  With SMiLE it's at least understandable that it's plaudits have come decades removed from it's conception but with Pet Sounds it's almost mind baffling how this record has brought on board so many new fans over the past twenty years.  

Taking that into account I don't think anyone can honestly say what type of music was the best material The Beach Boys ever recorded as it's all relevant to their appeal and legacy.  

I beg to differ with you here. As a diehard, I can see where you are coming from, but Pet Sounds and Smile are not what they are known for. I guarantee you their body of work between 1963 and 1965 is what they will most be remembered by. It is what sold the most, what was played on the radio the most and what folks who go to their shows want to hear. In the U.S. they only play 4 songs on average from Pet Sounds and Smile. Those two may be their most sophisticated music, but not at all their most popular.

[18thofMay]

Pet Sounds:

Wouldn't It be Nice - greatest song ever recorded about a chick.Song about a relationship
You still believe in me - about a chick - song f*cking ROCKS
That's not me - Song about a chick - song f*cking ROCKSSong about change, mentions girls but not about chicks
Don't talk, put your head on my shoulder - song about a chick - song f*cking ROCKS
I'm waiting for the day - song about a chick - song f*cking ROCKS
Let's go away for awhile - instrumental
Sloop John B - song about a boat named after a guy.  begrudgingly, I must admit this song f*ckING ROCKS
God only Knows - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKSWrong
I know there's an answer - song about your uncool friends who don't destroy their minds with drugs - Song f*cking ROCKS
Here Today - song about a chick - song f*cking ROCKS
I just wasn't made for these times - song about lonliness and being misunderstood - song f*cking ROCKS
Pet Sounds - instrumental
Caroline, No - song about a chick.  Song f*cking rocks.

[JohnMill]

But John, i'm showing you evidence that the best songs they ever did were all Chick songs.  So then you praise the sh*t out of one album, and I illustrate to you again that it's an album full of chick songs, and you still won't make the simple concession that the best music they ever did was about chicks. 

LOL

What's going on, man?  Just admit it.  You want the Beach Boys to sing some chick songs. 


Here's what's really going on : It's the music that people feel, not the lyrics.  One of the brilliant things that Brian and the boys were always able to pull off, was that they could sing a song about a girl in a bikini, but yet have so many lush vocals on top of it, beautifully recorded guitars and drums, backing vocals so expressive it sounded like waves washing up on a beach, and just general happiness, youthfulness, and warmth, that anybody that heard it loved it whether or not they were into the lyrics or not.

So one of my pet peeves is people who think that lyrics have to be 'intellectual' to make a good song.  They so clearly do not, and sometimes it gets so heavy that it hurts the song.  I would love nothing more than for the boys to record a bunch of awesome songs like the 64,65,66 period.  Well recorded, nice instrumentation, beautiful backing vocals, and then hell make them about chicks!  That's the Beach Boys! 

It's an Endless Summer, you know. 

I won't make that concession because I don't think the best music The Beach Boys ever recorded was about chicks.  A great deal of it was but our paths are going to diverge on this issue.  I love the music The Beach Boys wrote previous to SMiLE but I also regard SMiLE as the greatest music ever recorded period.  Not only by The Beach Boys but by anyone period.  At the risk of plagiarizing a well known Beach Boys author (probably Dom again but not sure) nowhere else are the harmonies so rich, the music so intricate and the songwriting so spectacular.  Lyrics don't need to be intellectual to make a good song but when someone knocks it out of the park like Van Dyke Parks did with SMiLE, they knock it out of the park.  "Surf's Up" in my opinion is the greatest song ever recorded period.  So that is why we are having this disagreement.

[JohnMill]

Nah, you're good dr. Was talking to Ron!

You weren't talking to me, we agree!  Chick Songs!  The other dude's the one who wants 'something new'.  I want 'something old'.  

So, I went and checked their discography.  

All Summer Long:

All Summer Long - Song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Hushabye.  - Cover song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Little Honda - song about a motorcycle,... and a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
We'll Run Away - song about a chick.  Not my thing, but it's o.k.
Carl's Big Chance - instrumental.
Wendy - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Do You Remember - song about classic Rock and Roll.  In 1964? If they do a new 'retro' song, it's not Mike's fault, they've been doing it since 1964.
Girls on the Beach - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Drive In - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Don't Back Down - song about a chick and surfing.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Be true to your school - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
All dressed up for School - song about a chick.  Song's pretty good


TODAY:

Do you wanna dance - cover song about a Chick.  Song f*cking Rocks.
Good to my Baby - song about a chick.  Song rocks harder than anything has ever f*cking rocked.
Don't hurt my little sister - song about a chick.  Alright song.
When I grow up to be a man - song about a chick.  Song f*cking Rocks.
Help Me Rhonda - song about 2 chicks.  Song f*cking ROCKS.
Dance, Dance, Dance - song about his chick by his side.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Please let me wonder - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS.
I'm so Young - cover song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Kiss me Baby - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
She knows me too well - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
In the back of my mind - song about a chick.  Eh.  It's alright.
Bull session.  - studio chatter of Brian treating his chick politely.  

Summer Days/Nights

The girl from New York City - song about a chick.  Song is GREAT
Amusement Parks USA - song about having your chick at an amusement park.  Never was a big fan of this one.
Then I kissed her - cover song about a chick.  One of the greatest songs they ever recorded.
Salt Lake City - song about Mormon Chicks.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Girl don't tell me - really creative song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
California Girls - song about a chick.  song f*cking ROCKS
Let Him Run Wild - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
You're so good to me - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
Summer means new love - instrumental
I'm bugged at my old man - not a song about a chick.  Song f*cking SUCKS
And your dreams come true - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS
The little girl I once knew - song about a chick.  Song f*cking ROCKS







Point is this: When I said they should write love songs about getting your heart broke, or how f*cking AWESOME your woman is, I think I've got the evidence to back it up.  I'm not really being beligerant here, hell I can't even spell beligerant.  I'm just saying the best sh*t they EVER recorded wasn't intellectual nonsense like featured on SMiLE and a lot of the 70's albums, it was the great, great, fantastic music they were making in the mid 60's.  I love smile just as much as the other guy, but we only need so much of that stuff.  I'll never get tired of Surfer Girl or "Salt Lake City" or "Good to my Baby".  

It just all boils down to personal taste and you really can't have one without the other.  You can honestly make a case for either point as to Joe Public its many of the songs you listed which has established them as one of the seminal rock bands of all time.  However to music fans it's SMiLE and Pet Sounds which has elevated their legacy and perhaps even enhanced it and ironically most of this enhancement took place decades after those albums were recorded.  With SMiLE it's at least understandable that it's plaudits have come decades removed from it's conception but with Pet Sounds it's almost mind baffling how this record has brought on board so many new fans over the past twenty years.  

Taking that into account I don't think anyone can honestly say what type of music was the best material The Beach Boys ever recorded as it's all relevant to their appeal and legacy.  

I beg to differ with you here. As a diehard, I can see where you are coming from, but Pet Sounds and Smile are not what they are known for. I guarantee you their body of work between 1963 and 1965 is what they will most be remembered by. It is what sold the most, what was played on the radio the most and what folks who go to their shows want to hear. In the U.S. they only play 4 songs on average from Pet Sounds and Smile. Those two may be their most sophisticated music, but not all their most popular.

If you are speaking of Joe Public then I agree with you 100%.