The last GREAT Beach Boys song in your opinion

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

I'm gonna put myself out and say From There To Back Again is gonna be Brian's "This is all I have left, so take it an enjoy" song.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I'm gonna put myself out and say From There To Back Again is gonna be Brian's "This is all I have left, so take it an enjoy" song.

 

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

SUCESS.

[NHC]

"Good Timin'", but even then, that's a lesser great than, say, some of the late 60s or early 70s stuff. Even after that period, after "Good Timin'", there's certainly still plenty of good.

Solo careers included, "Midnight's Another Day" or "Live Let Live" (one of Brian's best songs imo - all eras included), although again, certainly plenty of good to be found afterwards.

P.S. Also, imo, "Sail On Sailor" is... well, it's good. It's just good. Pretty darn good, but good. imo. Never got why this one is included in everyone's top tracks or is considered the last "great" song by the d00dz. Great Blondie vocal, but the melody and arrangements feel kind of uninspired. Drenched and tired. NO OFFENSE SRY

I like Sail On Sailor but I hear what you're saying. It doesn't have the lush chord changes that I associate with Brian's greatest songs.

I've always liked "SOS" for the rhythm, the melody, the words, the chords, the mood, etc., but I also really like it because when I feel like hammering out something on the piano with some real energy, that's one that really works for me.  Plus, when you ask someone if he or she want to hear a Beach Boys oldie, and you play that, well, it does get a reaction.

[urbanite]

This has probably been stated already, but perhaps the last great Beach Boys song has not been written and will be in the next year or so.  If this album is positively received by the critics and the fans, another album from the group is likely. 

[SummerInParadise23]

Summer In Paradise

[runnersdialzero]

"That's Why God Made The Radio" is certainly tolerable enough, but probably has no business being named in this thread. imo.

Tolerable = pleasant in my estimation, but otherwise you're right on.

Troof, and...

I've always liked "SOS" for the rhythm, the melody, the words, the chords, the mood, etc., but I also really like it because when I feel like hammering out something on the piano with some real energy, that's one that really works for me.  Plus, when you ask someone if he or she want to hear a Beach Boys oldie, and you play that, well, it does get a reaction.
[/quote]

Troof.

[Alan Smith]

SUCESS.

Oh, nice play, Father!

[DonnyL]

"Stevie".

[Aegir]

Luau. after that they just got too commercial. just kidding.

[TimeToGetAlone]

It would now have to be From There to Back Again.  It would probably go in my top 25 Beach Boys songs now.  It's that good.

[Wah Wah Wah Ooooo]

It would now have to be From There to Back Again.  It would probably go in my top 25 Beach Boys songs now.  It's that good.

Agree with this post.  I would also add "Pacific Coast Highway" to my top-25 Beach Boys songs.  If they don't do any more new music, they've left us with at least two tracks that I'll consider classics. 

[musicismylife101]

I'm gonna put myself out and say From There To Back Again is gonna be Brian's "This is all I have left, so take it an enjoy" song.

*ding ding* 

[TV Forces]

Pacific Coast Highway

[pixletwin]

From Their and Back Again

before that...

Baby Blue

[TimmyC]

It would now have to be From There to Back Again.  It would probably go in my top 25 Beach Boys songs now.  It's that good.

Agree with this post.  I would also add "Pacific Coast Highway" to my top-25 Beach Boys songs.  If they don't do any more new music, they've left us with at least two tracks that I'll consider classics. 

Yup to both. Considering them as a single song, FTTBA/PCH might even make my top 10 BB tracks of all time. In fact, I would say it definitely does.

[EgoHanger1966]

So far, FTTBA/PCH/SG (the suite). I'm hoping there are more great BB songs to come.

[Banana]

So far, FTTBA/PCH/SG (the suite). I'm hoping there are more great BB songs to come.

I'm going to have to agree with you on this one!  What a wonderful album closer.  Brian's vocal on Summer's Gone is damned near heartbreaking.  You can hear the years in his voice...all of the summers that have come and gone.  All of the people who have come and gone.  It's a reflection on the passing of time and a realization that we only get so many summers before they truly are gone.  It also needs to be mentioned that Al's lead on FTTBA is a homerun.  His voice has simply not aged.

[drbeachboy]

So far, FTTBA/PCH/SG (the suite). I'm hoping there are more great BB songs to come.

I'm going to have to agree with you on this one!  What a wonderful album closer.  Brian's vocal on Summer's Gone is damned near heartbreaking.  You can hear the years in his voice...all of the summers that have come and gone.  All of the people who have come and gone.  It's a reflection on the passing of time and a realization that we only get so many summers before they truly are gone.  It also needs to be mentioned that Al's lead on FTTBA is a homerun.  His voice has simply not aged.

Is Summer's Gone a new vocal or was the lead recorded earlier? Brian sounds completely different on this track than all the others that he sings lead on.

[Bhw]

Summer's Gone

[Dave Modny]

I'll just add to the choruses of "From There To Back Again."

I'd reckon that there might be some naysayers (not on this board of course) -- perhaps justifiably so and based on past events -- who would accuse those who are proponents of the song's potential "classic status" being just a bunch of fanboys and fangirls getting swept up in the moment of a new Beach Boys album. One that most would've never expected in a million years, and as a result, trying to overhype its significance or overstate the song's greatness in that simple thrill of the moment. I've been swept up in that kind of moment, myself, in the past. But, I truly think this track is a major work in the band's catalog and pretty freakin' enjoyable, too.

It may sound cliche to describe it as such, but FTTBA really does conjure up and distill the best of the early 70s, Surf's Up era into one lovely track, while still sounding fresh and new in the process. Everyone sounds great (and yes, I'm aware of any sweetening that may have gotten it to that point), and every little musical and artistic choice is pretty much exactly where it should be. It doesn't seem forced or fake, and reminds me of a time when the Beach Boys actually gave a damn about doing something grand and beautiful. Joe Thomas has had his production hands on his share of BB/BW turkeys, and has made some questionable moves in the past, but I love just about every decision he made with this track (or in conjunction with Brian). While he still tends to fall into the MOR trap at times, I simply don't get that feeling with this song. I love that little Moog-like section in the middle.

Thus, if you would've told me that I would hear the phrases "new Beach Boys album" and "classic track" in one sentence ever again, I would have gambled on not seeing or hearing anything of the sort for *two* million years. I'm certainly humbled...and obviously thrilled. If the album would've consisted of this song and eleven others of just the band snoring in unison, I'd probably still consider the whole shebang a success.

Before this one, I'd probably vote "Baby Blue." 

[mabewa]

The last 4 great BB's songs in my opinion:

4).  Strange World
3).  There to Back Again
2).  Pacific Coast Highway.
1).  Summer's Gone

And no, this isn't fanboy excitement for me.  I'm going to love those songs just as much in 20 years. 

[Aomdiddlywalla]

"Stevie".

..and, Everybody wants to live.

[MBE]

The last 4 great BB's songs in my opinion:

4).  Strange World
3).  There to Back Again
2).  Pacific Coast Highway.
1).  Summer's Gone

And no, this isn't fanboy excitement for me.  I'm going to love those songs just as much in 20 years. 

Have to say I agree. The new LP ends with their best sustained piece since Holland.

[Jim V.]

were they autotuning you??

 

Don't think God himself could correct something that far off pitch.

Don't be bashful Andrew. I saw that video of you singing "Solar System" and you weren't too bad, if I say so myself.