Best general recommendation for the first-time listener...

[rab2591]

Yeah I think a greatest hits comp would be best that way it covers most of their albums and they'll be blown away how many songs they would recognize from the radio/movies etc...

Agreed. I got interested because of the 20 Good Vibrations comp...I became obsessed because of Pet Sounds.

[Andrew G. Doe]

The Platinum Collection - 61 songs on three CDs, 1961-1996.

 Disc One
1    I Get Around    
2    Don't Worry Baby    
3    Surfin' USA    
4    In My Room    
5    Little Deuce Coupe    
6    Surfer Girl    
7    Fun, Fun, Fun    
8    When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)    
9    Girls On The Beach    
10    All Summer Long    
11    Wendy    
12    Dance, Dance, Dance    
13    Be True To Your School    
14    The Warmth Of The Sun    
15    Little Honda    
16    Surfin'    
17    Surfin' Safari    
18    Do You Wanna Dance    
19    Please Let Me Wonder    
20    Then I Kissed Her    

Disc Two
1   Good Vibrations    
2   California Girls    
3    Sloop John B    
4    Barbara Ann    
5    God Only Knows    
6    Wouldn't It Be Nice    
7    You Still Believe In Me    
8    The Little Girl I Once Knew    
9    Caroline No    
10    You're So Good To Me    
11    Girl Don't Tell Me    
12    Help Me, Rhonda (Single Version)    
13    Heroes And Villains    
14    Wild Honey    
15    Darlin'    
16    Friends    
17    Bluebirds Over The Mountian    
18    Breakaway    
19    Beach Boys Medley    

Disc Three
1    Do It Again    
2    Cottonfields (The Cotton Song)    
3    I Can Hear Music    
4    Tears In The Morning    
5    Sail On Sailor    
6    Disney Girls (1957)    
7    Long Promised Road    
8    Forever    
9    Surf's Up    
10    'Til I Die    
11    Marcella    
12    Student Demonstration Time    
13    Lady Lynda    
14    California Saga / California    
15    Sumahama    
16    Rock'n'Roll Music    
17    Here Comes The Night    
18    Kokomo    
19    Wipe Out (With The Fat Boys)    
20    California Dreaming    
21    Fun, Fun, Fun (With Status Quo)

[Micha]

Definitely not Pet Sounds - which takes at least a few listens to initially get into.

For me, it'd be All Summer Long. A perfect introduction to the world of the Beach Boys. Who couldn't be hooked after the opening I Get Around/All Summer Long double whammy?

Me. All Summer Long isn't exactly my favorite early song. IGA is a spectacular one of course.

Either 20/20, Sunflower, Surf's Up, CATP or Holland.

In particular the rockers from this period make for an excellent introduction to the Beach Boys. And Surf's Up and CATP in particular have been received quite well with the people I've showed them to so far.

The people I played CATP to said it lacked punch and is boring.

And if you only have a single song to win them over with- "Surf's Up".

I doubt it is a casual listener's favorite...

Beach Boys Today/Summer Days & Summer Nights twofer.

Either that, or Today! on its own.

[SMiLE-addict]

Beach Boys Today/Summer Days & Summer Nights twofer.

I'd go with this, too. They're both a compromise between the BB's surf 'n sun work, and their more progressive later work.

If I had to pick a single song, however, I'd play them The Warmth of the Sun.

[bringahorseinhere?]

less is more to begin with:

'20 Golden Greats' ...

RickB

[Smilin Ed H]

I started with 20 Golden Greats, but the Platinum Collection is a superb collection if you can turn a blind eye to Status Quo and the Fat Boys.

[Ovi]

It depends on the person. Most folks here posted about what they consider to be the most immediately accessible songs/albums, but that's not always the case. Some people (sometimes myself included) like challenging, more out-there stuff and it's that aspect that attracts them to new bands. So I'd say things like Smile, Smiley Smile or Love You are not out of the question. The listener will at least be intrigued, for better or for worse.

[Orange Crate Art]

Endless Summer

[mikeddonn]

20 Golden Greats did it for me.  Andrew's suggestion of the Platinum Collection would get me hooked now and has stuff from their whole career (almost).

[alf wiedersehen]

I would agree with those saying Today/Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!!). I think they're a pretty good mid-ground for the band's output.
I would probably disagree with Pet Sounds, even though (most of) all of us love the album dearly. I liked the album okay, but it didn't really make a fan out of me.

What did make a fan of me was Sounds of Summer. I remember listening to it and falling deeply in love with "Wild Honey" and "Darlin'," and I haven't looked back since.
The Platinum Collection is nice and all, but it's a bit of a commitment for someone who isn't even a fan yet.

So, I would just figure out if they would prefer to listen to an album, or to a compilation.

[JK]

I would agree with those saying Today/Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!!). I think they're a pretty good mid-ground for the band's output.
I would probably disagree with Pet Sounds, even though (most of) all of us love the album dearly. I liked the album okay, but it didn't really make a fan out of me.

What did make a fan of me was Sounds of Summer. I remember listening to it and falling deeply in love with "Wild Honey" and "Darlin'," and I haven't looked back since.
The Platinum Collection is nice and all, but it's a bit of a commitment for someone who isn't even a fan yet.

So, I would just figure out if they would prefer to listen to an album, or to a compilation.

Actually it's not your post I want to comment on but the wonderful quote down below it. :=)

[retrokid67]

Oh.... so you're one of those snobs who doesn't like the earlier stuff?  We need a scarlet letter to put in everybody's signature that's.... that's... like "that".  

Saying "I would have laughed off the Beach Boys if the first thing I heard was All Summer Long" is like saying

"I'm stupid"

 

completely agree    and I would pick the Today album or Sunflower.  those are the two albums that first got me hooked

[Doo Dah]

Today. It's got a helping of the 'hits' but the amazing emotion of the 2nd half gives a great snapshot of the deep deep soul of this band. It really is a milepost in the band's career me thinks.

[bluesno1fann]

Either 20/20, Sunflower, Surf's Up, CATP or Holland.

In particular the rockers from this period make for an excellent introduction to the Beach Boys. And Surf's Up and CATP in particular have been received quite well with the people I've showed them to so far.

The people I played CATP to said it lacked punch and is boring.

Maybe it's subjective. I've played CATP to several people and they've all really liked it.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I generally wouldn't recommend Today! or Summer Days. All great albums though. Nor would I recommend Pet Sounds. Admittedly the first time I ever listened to it I literally fell asleep. But it very quickly grew on me.

Still say I'd recommend any album from 20/20 to Holland. Can't go wrong with those choices!  

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Definitely not Pet Sounds - which takes at least a few listens to initially get into.

I've mentioned this before, but I grew up a fan of their singles like everybody else.  I saw Mike live in concert in the 90's, and the next day bought Pet Sounds because I heard it was so great. 

I couldn't get into it!  It sounds very dreary at first listen.  I think everybody on this board would be oblivious to that because you're so familiar with the music, but I literally thought the entire album sounded depressing as hell the first time I heard it.  I put it away for a year or two, and really enjoyed it when I went back to it. 

I would have laughed The Beach Boys off if I heard All Summer Long first.

Pet Sounds all the way.

I don't get it. Why would you have 'laughed off' All Summer Long? What's 'laughable' about expertly crafted summer pop?

Or, oh God, are you one of those people who worries about being cool or being seen to be cool? Dry heave.

[bluesno1fann]

Definitely not Pet Sounds - which takes at least a few listens to initially get into.

I've mentioned this before, but I grew up a fan of their singles like everybody else.  I saw Mike live in concert in the 90's, and the next day bought Pet Sounds because I heard it was so great. 

I couldn't get into it!  It sounds very dreary at first listen.  I think everybody on this board would be oblivious to that because you're so familiar with the music, but I literally thought the entire album sounded depressing as hell the first time I heard it.  I put it away for a year or two, and really enjoyed it when I went back to it. 

I would have laughed The Beach Boys off if I heard All Summer Long first.

Pet Sounds all the way.

I don't get it. Why would you have 'laughed off' All Summer Long? What's 'laughable' about expertly crafted summer pop?

Or, oh God, are you one of those people who worries about being cool or being seen to be cool? Dry heave.

Generally I wouldn't laugh off All Summer Long, only it's a very overrated album.

Sure, it's got All Summer Long, Wendy, I Get Around, We'll Run Away. Then you get total crap like Girls On The Beach and Carl's Big Chance.

It's still quite a good album, only I just don't see the appeal to it. Give me Shut Down Volume 2 anyday!

[Gabo]

Definitely not Pet Sounds - which takes at least a few listens to initially get into.

I've mentioned this before, but I grew up a fan of their singles like everybody else.  I saw Mike live in concert in the 90's, and the next day bought Pet Sounds because I heard it was so great. 

I couldn't get into it!  It sounds very dreary at first listen.  I think everybody on this board would be oblivious to that because you're so familiar with the music, but I literally thought the entire album sounded depressing as hell the first time I heard it.  I put it away for a year or two, and really enjoyed it when I went back to it. 

I would have laughed The Beach Boys off if I heard All Summer Long first.

Pet Sounds all the way.

I don't get it. Why would you have 'laughed off' All Summer Long? What's 'laughable' about expertly crafted summer pop?

Or, oh God, are you one of those people who worries about being cool or being seen to be cool? Dry heave.

lolz. i looove All Summer Long.

buuut Pet Sounds is the album that "sold me" on the Beach Boys. Most people don't understand why I like the Beach Boys so much because of the whole surf stigma. Pet Sounds is a good choice because:

A) it's BY FAR their best album. Seriously 20/20, Sunflower, even Today! et al. don't come close. The Smile Sessions is too unfinished. My fave is Love You, but that's too weird for many people.
B) not surfing related (which bothers other people -- not me)


But A), A), A). It's their easiest album to just put on and enjoy. No filler or mediocre songs.

Other than Pet Sounds I would recommend Endless Summer.

[Tablevega]

Why on earth is Student Demonstration Time on the platinum collection?

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Why on earth is Student Demonstration Time on the platinum collection?

Mike Love.

[Ron]

Wait... wait, I think somebody just said "Girls on the Beach" is "Total Crap".  I must actually be in a film discussion forum, because there's no way in HELL somebody said that in a music related forum...

[Mike's Beard]

Today! It cover all bases, more poppy than Pet Sounds, more arty than the stuff that preceded it while still carrying the same kind of vibe.

[Pacific Coast]

Wait... wait, I think somebody just said "Girls on the Beach" is "Total Crap".  I must actually be in a film discussion forum, because there's no way in HELL somebody said that in a music related forum...

Great song. Love Denny on the bridge!

[rab2591]

Then you get total crap like Girls On The Beach

You should buy and read a copy of Philip Lambert's 'Inside The Music Of Brian Wilson' - he wrote 2-3 pages on this song alone - the basis of it being that this song was the first sign of Brian's "new focus on innovation and structural cohesion."

You may not like it, but it's definitely not crap.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Then you get total crap like Girls On The Beach

You should buy and read a copy of Philip Lambert's 'Inside The Music Of Brian Wilson' - he wrote 2-3 pages on this song alone - the basis of it being that this song was the first sign of Brian's "new focus on innovation and structural cohesion."

You may not like it, but it's definitely not crap.

He also said the perfectly pleasant 'Carl's Big Chance' was total crap as well... I'd hate to think what adjectives he uses to describe, say, Barbie Girl by Aqua or anything by Robbie Williams.

[rab2591]