Friends

[oranjuly]

Friends is a favorite of mine, but add on Time to Get Alone, Were Together Again, and I Went to Sleep and it's a 5 star album.  Considering those would have perfectly fit in with the other slow waltzs and they were written and probably recorded the same time as the other tracks. 

[Reverend Joshua Sloane]

Friends is a favorite of mine, but add on Time to Get Alone, Were Together Again, and I Went to Sleep and it's a 5 star album.  Considering those would have perfectly fit in with the other slow waltzs and they were written and probably recorded the same time as the other tracks. 

Lot's of people call out TM as the "off" track for Friends. When I first heard the album I thought it was a great track and had a cool drum sound.

I can't imagine the album closing with "I Went To Sleep" it'd be almost too calm and serene, I think it needs that jolt at the end with the TM song.

[Mitchell]

I absolutely love Transcendental Meditation. The saxes are awesome, the feel is jazzy and really unique to the Beach Boys, and Brian's singing is really cool and 'out there'.

[NC]

I give it a 3. Very average for me. I tend to rate the album based on the strength of the songs, and there are a lack of classics on this one as far as I see it. A lot of the songs seem to just meander along without really going anywhere. Never been a big fan of "Busy Doin' Nothing". I guess if you can get into the whole "laid back" feel it could be more enjoyable.

That being said, there are tunes on the album I really like. Mainly the title song, "Little Bird", and I LOVE Transcendental Meditation.

[Compost]

I'd have babies with this album if I could.

5

[Aegir]

When a man needs an album, they make things like you, my son...

[Compost]

foda yeah.  If I could, I'd hump it.

I see this is not an uncommon sentiment!

[Heywood Floyd]

4


The thing is, Till I Die is more where Brian is at. I don't believe he was ever Busy Doin' Nothing. Busy Goin' Insane would be more appropriate. Also, Can't Wait Too Long is one of the best songs the Beach Boys ever did, how the hell could they leave it off the album. Even in its unfinished state it is friggin' amazing.

[I. Spaceman]

Can't Wait is a Wild Honey outtake.
I think Doin' Nothin IS Goin' Insane. The lyrics for that one are casually bonkers. It gives me the bossanova willies.

[Heywood Floyd]

Can't Wait is a Wild Honey outtake.

Didn't Brian do more work on the song to possibly include it on Friends?

[analogdemon]

A Beach Boys fan wishing that some unfinished, unreleased song had been on an album because it's foda awesome?  I've never heard of this before! 

[Chris D.]

foda yeah.  If I could, I'd hump it.

I see this is not an uncommon sentiment!

We can double-team it.

[Evenreven]

Friends is perfect as is. I look forward to an amazing foursome, if Chris and Compost have room for one more in their bed.

[Chris D.]

You are the bed.  Let's be friends.

[TV Forces]

You have it on vinyl, I'm jealous!

I have the Capitol vinyl, and it's strange in that "Friends" and "Wake the World" have no band between them.  The seperation is gone. 

I usually program my Friends/2020 two-fer to play this way though:
Meant for You
Friends
Wake the World
Time to Get Alone
Be Here In The Mornin'
When a Man Needs a Woman
Anna Lee, the Healer
Little Bird
Be Still
We're Together Again
Busy Doin' Nothin'
Diamond Head
I Went to Sleep

I used to have a problem with "Anna Lee."  Then I really listened to it.  Man.. the piano.. then the bass..  then the background vocals.  What a sound!

[NC]

I've been listening to this album more and finding more of a connection to Pet Sounds musically speaking. The slice o' life lyrics still don't really move me much, but some of the music is very advanced. For instance, the strings on "Wake the World" are a beautiful arrangement touch. The vocals and subject matter of "Friends" also put me in the mind of PS. It just sounds like a natural progression. I think if Brian had been pared with a good lyricist at the time, another album on the level of Pet Sounds could have resulted.

(I realize many people think it's perfect as it is.)
 

[Reverend Joshua Sloane]

If Brian had called Tony Asher back to write words to the music we know on Friends, would they have been much better?

The words are excellent as far as i'm concerned.

I agree with you in thinking that Friends was another step in the natural progression of their music. At times I find it to be more advanced than Pet Sounds.

[Luther]

Aside from Smile, Friends may be my favorite lyrics put to Brian & Co.'s music.

[Aegir]

The lyrics are a good chunk of why I enjoy Friends.. they fit the music so well; some may be cheesey or weird, but hell, the Beach Boys are cheesey and weird. And that's why I like them.

Though the tuba on Wake the World is much better than the lyrics.

[theeponymuseudonym]

1993, waiting on the boxset!!!

i got the 2 fer one ummer day in las vegas,nv.
the ongs were more straight ahead and natural than smiley.
i really dug into the piano, bass interplay on friends. Old Man River filled every
 neuro fiber of my being for a good year. brilliant pastoral scene.