The High Points of the Beach Boys career

[Wah Wah Wah Ooooo]

The low-point thread has been interesting to read and I've clicked on every link therein...

As a counterpoint thread, what moments in the last 50 (51) years do you consider the high points in their career?

I'm going to start off by suggesting the release of the single "Good Vibrations."  Not only was it a #1 hit single, but it was 100% unique, unheard of, original, experimental, groundbreaking....certainly a, if not the, high point in their career.

What are your thoughts?

[joshferrell]

recording "Smiley Smile" must have been their highest point..lol....

[Sheriff John Stone]

September - December 1966

[Letsgoawayforawhile]

Hanging out with Dick Clark!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWxj0UadXIY

[Roger Ryan]

...I'm going to start off by suggesting the release of the single "Good Vibrations."  Not only was it a #1 hit single, but it was 100% unique, unheard of, original, experimental, groundbreaking....certainly a, if not the, high point in their career....

I think that would be the high point as well. I'm struck by Brian Wilson telling "Humble Harv" in November, 1966 that '66 was the year everything seemed to come together. PET SOUNDS, the "Good Vibrations" single and the SMiLE recordings (not to mention the successful "Best Of" album). How quick that drop-off was!

Although it will take some time to see things in a better perspective, I'm starting to think that right now is the highest point the Beach Boys as a band have hit since 1966. While Brian performing a completed SMiLE was huge, the remaining members getting together, in relatively good health (mental and other), releasing TSS to great acclaim and sales as well as a decent new album and going on a lucrative tour makes this a pretty rosy time.

[Dave in KC]

The Chicago-Beach boys concerts of the mid-70's. Man, every football stadium in America was sold out. And the music was great. One of the high points I believe.

[Jon Stebbins]

They were never more popular in America than the last third of 1964.

[phirnis]

I've made my choice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1EPXBQV3yM

The release and overwhelming success of "Good Vibrations" weren't bad either I guess, but...

[Newguy562]

as much as you guys aren't going to admit or like it...the releasing of kokomo ..#1 single..in the movie with tom cruise..and regained beach boys success

[Autotune]

Boonaroo 2012.
Fifty years down the road and still able to kick serious ass at a huge festival for young people.

[Heysaboda]

Boonaroo 2012.
Fifty years down the road and still able to kick serious ass at a huge festival for young people.

Right on, Dr. Lenny!

[Emdeeh]

The 1993 unplugged GV box set tour.

[hypehat]

as much as you guys aren't going to admit or like it...the releasing of kokomo ..#1 single..in the movie with tom cruise..and regained beach boys success

success = sent the last remaining vestige of their creativity to the fucking moon as they decided that Stamos, crappy production values and 'tropical' sounding records were what people wanted and decided to release two of the worst records of all time to capitalise on that. Given that they sold f***-all and pretty much destroyed The Beach Boys' image as artists (not helped by BW88, honestly, which is still crappily produced but has decent tunes), I'd be hard pressed to call that 'success' in anything other than it hit number 1. But that seems enough to rock Mike Love's boat, so hey.

Man, I hate The Beach Boys in the 80's.

Luckily, we have TWGMTR now.

[urbanite]

The concert they played in the early 1980's in Washington, D.C. in front of the Washington Monument in front of 500,000 people.

[Phoenix]

I agree with "Good Vibrations".