Your Top 10 Beach Boys songs! Explain.

[CarlTheVoice]

Right, this reply has probably taken me an hour to write after going through every song and wondering if it's top 10!

The first is my absolute favourite, but after that, they are not in order:

1. Time To Get Alone - This is my best song ever. This is such an emotional song for me. It is also the perfect song in my opinion. I don't have a bad word to say against it other than I wish it was more well known. The rest of the world truly is missing out on a gem with this one. Perfect production, perfect lyrics, perfect vocals by the band, even more so by Carl. Perfect. Heavenly, really.

2. Till I Die - What a song. This song oozes emotion and suffering but is addictive. One of the best BB songs and up there with the best anyone has produced.

3. Our Sweet Love - A lot of people may laugh at this one, but I have only just discovered this within the past couple of years! When I got engaged this summer it was the song that made my fiance know he would propose that day, on a beach. It came on in the car and he just knew it was right! So it will be our first dance.

4. Forever - Dennis' talent was totally under-rated. More people should know about this one, it is such a simple but wonderful song. Dennis was in fine voice here, thankfully.

5. God Only Knows - Like others have said, I don't need to explain this choice. Carl is amazing on it.

6. All I Wanna Do - A very chilled out song. It's a regular on my car stereo as it helps to calm me down after a hard day at work! Great production and a cool feel to it.

Ah I only have 4 choices left!

7. Darlin' - After listening to the BB in my childhood then forgetting about them largely, this was the song that got me back into them after I heard it on a compilation CD. All the best things about the BBs in this song.

8. Let the Wind Blow live - The live in concert version of this is so wonderful. Carl's vocals are so powerful and meaningful and it's such a great version.

9. Tune X - It's a totally new one to me, but I am blown away by it. I am obsessed with it at the moment and to me it's the best thing to have come from TSS. I only wish there was more to it and that it had been released. I think it could easily have been up there with GOK and GV. Easily.

10. So hard to choose 10. This is so unfair! Ok.... Good Vibrations. You can't fail to be cheered up with this song. It gets everyone singing, no matter what age they are. It's a great pop song, but it's the most amazing pop song ever.

Ok, so that's my choice. The other main contenders were Add Some Music, Cool Cool Water, Don't Talk, Feel Flows, Our Prayer and Surfs Up. I know it's cheating to mention these, but it's a very hard choice! As many others have said, it depends on your mood!

[bruno232]

1. God only knows (perhaps the best song ever written by anyone)
2. Good Vibrations (obviously)
3. Caroline, no (second best song on Pet Sounds imo)
4. Surf's Up (TSS version, the only real rival to "A day in the life")
5. In my room (beautiful song with amazing chord progression, a masterpiece)
6. Wouldn't it be nice (the intro alone is better than entire albums by other artists; "wish/hope/pray". it's life itself)
7. Heroes and Villains (the best track from the SMiLE era)
8. California Girls (a milestone in the entire career of the band, it's impossible to make a credible top 10 without it)
9. I get around (complex and commercial, one of their very best)
10. Don't worry baby (meant to be a follow-up to the classic "be my baby" and even tops the original)

[Newguy562]

1. God only knows (perhaps the best song ever written by anyone)
2. Good Vibrations (obviously)
3. Caroline, no (second best song on Pet Sounds imo)
4. Surf's Up (TSS version, the only real rival to "A day in the life")
5. In my room (beautiful song with amazing chord progression, a masterpiece)
6. Wouldn't it be nice (the intro alone is better than entire albums by other artists; "wish/hope/pray". it's life itself)
7. Heroes and Villains (the best track from the SMiLE era)
8. California Girls (a milestone in the entire career of the band, it's impossible to make a credible top 10 without it)
9. I get around (complex and commercial, one of their very best)
10. Don't worry baby (meant to be a follow-up to the classic "be my baby" and even tops the original)

heroes and villains ? the best track from the smile era? I beg to differ.

[bruno232]

Which one is better, besides Good Vibrations (which began in the Pet Sounds-era) and Surf's Up ? (which I ranked higher, so H & V is the second best track then).

[cablegeddon]

1. Darlin - The energy level throughout the song is stunning and it's their best chorus

2. Help me Rhonda (Today) - So many great hooks starting with the raw intro, the harmonization is among their best + coolest lead vocals of their career.

3. Wonderful (BWPS) - IMO it's BW's most complex composition and the chorus is his most beatiful melody of all time.

4. God only know - Enough said already

5. I'll bet he's nice - Great hooks throughout, the synth is unique and it's very sad

6. Wouldn't be nice - It's the high energy and the positive vibe that does it

7. I'd love just once to see you - Reminds me of all the great indiepop and it has a fun ironic vibe about it. The end is the best part!

8. I get around - Enough said already

9. Heroes and Villians - It's mostly the fascinating structure of it and the whole legacy. Not sure how great it is but I always listen to it.

10. Surf's up (BWPS) - Obviously it's the basic melody that's great. Have no idea what the hell the lyrics mean

[myonlysunshine]

God Only Knows - the greatest song of all time IMO. Nothing beats this.
Surf's Up - a beautiful melody and complex arrangement. There is so much going on in this song. To me it's like the God Only Knows of SMiLE.
Good Vibrations - no explanation needed.
Help Me Rhonda (single version) - some people say that this is one of the more mindless songs in the Beach Boys catalogue, but I disagree. The hard rocking beat, the harmonies, Mike's bass line, all really make this song a favorite of mine.
I Get Around - no explanation needed.
Darlin - I love Carl's vocals on this track. It's very energetic, which I like.
Sail On Sailor - probably the most underrated Beach Boy song IMO. I love the feel, and Blondie is terrific on this track.
Heroes and Villains - the SMiLE and Smiley Smile versions of this song are wonderful, but my favorite version of this track is the live performance by Carl featured on the Endless Harmony CD. It's a really uptempo, rocking version of this song.
Pet Sounds (the instrumental) - Don't ask me why, but this is my favorite instrumental that the Beach Boys ever did. I love the somber, reflective tone that it gives off when I listen to it on Pet Sounds.
Cabin Essence - All the little things going on in this song really make my hair stand up on its end, especially the chorus.

A special mention to Hushabye, which just barely wasn't included on my list - it's probably one of the greatest covers that the Beach Boys ever did, along with maybe "I Can Hear Music."

[Cabinessenceking]

My top ten ( no specific order, other than chronological)

You Still Believe In Me - that basic repeating 3-chord progression (that bass!), the longing loving lyrics and they way Brian sings them.
God Only Knows - a number of reasons make this perhaps the best modern music piece.

I Just Wasn't Made For These Times - the very first indie song, I'm 20 yrs old and the youthful anxiety that Brian sings of connects with very many young people.
Heroes And Villains - The most dramatic of the smile songs and wonderful arrangements, vocals, and the most creative theme of music of all time, so many sections!

Surf's Up - The first Beach Boys song I ever heard, prob at age 13-14 and the one I cherish the most, if only this was the Beach Boys song ppl heard first! VDP at his best lyrically.
Cool Cool Water - any verion of this is great, but the Smile era version with its repetitivness, the bass and the twangy single guitar notes and the organ, just perfect.

Child Is The Father Of The Man - This song I love for the dazling vocals in the chorus, the drumming in the chorus, the booming fizzling bass of Carol, the most mysterious smile track (never before released)
All I Wanna Do - this song is very similar to IJWMFTT (above) in the sense that it is modern sounding, very indie, and very heartful lyrics and vocals by Mike!

A Day In The Life Of A Tree - INDIE, so many groups have tried and failed to capture the mood of this song, how could anyone?
Til' I Die - Perhaps being next to ADITLOAT (above) on the album makes it even deeper, wow that album is so dark! but so beautiful!

[BillA]

1. "The Little Girl I Once Knew"

2. "Let Him Run Wild"

3. "California Girls"

I love these songs for the same reasons.  Complex arrangements with subtle touches whether it be the organ in "Little Girl", guitar in LHRW or the percussion in CG (which has the greatest intro in the history of pop music)

4. "Wouldn't It Be Nice"  - The bass at 1:43

5. "God Only Knows" - Carl Wilson

6. "Good Vibrations" -

Numbers 4, 5 and 6 are in the top 4 of all pop songs.

7. "Wonderful" - SMiLE version - I love VDP's lyrics - it cracks me up that she can only really count on her parents at a time when you shouldn't trust anyone over 30.

8. "This Whole World" - Almost a return to 1965 for Brian.  The song soars for 1:58

9. "All This Is That" - This song is just so peaceful

10. "Surf's Up" - The greatest pop song of all time.

I would also add that it is a great shame numbers 1, 2 and 10 are largely unknown outside of Beach Boy's world while "Kokomo" is. 

[Wall of (Pet) Sound(s)]

In no particular order:

I Get Around
Surfer Girl
California Girls
Wouldn't It Be Nice
God Only Knows
Don't Worry Baby
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)
You're So Good To Me
Good Vibrations
Help Me, Rhonda

To me, all of these songs are perfect in every single way -- writing, performance, production, etc. I'd argue that it's impossible for anyone, whether casual fan or diehard, to not love them. Miraculously, none of them sound even the least bit dated today, and are just as fresh as they were 40 years ago. I'm a huge fan of the Wild Honey to Surf's Up era, but I can't in good conscience claim that any of those songs are better than the ones I've mentioned above. But this is also kind of like saying that Abbey Road isn't as good as Revolver or Rubber Soul, for 2 reasons: (1) It's incredibly subjective; (2) Something can still be amazing even if it's not as good as something else.

Honorable Mentions: Don't Back Down, In My Room, Sloop John B, Caroline No, Heroes and Villains, Surf's Up.

[Smilin Ed H]

Ten???  Too many to choose from, but...

In no particular order:

1. Surf's Up
2. God Only Knows
3.  Don't Worry Baby
4.  I Get Around
5.  Caroline, No
6. 'Til I Die
7.  Good Vibrations
8.  Please Let Me Wonder
9.  All I Wanna Do
10.  Forever

I think in that Voice of the Beach Boys thread, AGD comes up with the stats and Mike comes out top, but to me, it's the high harmony and lead vocals that stick in my mind, so Brian and Carl would get my vote.

Ask me for another ten and there may well be more Mike and Al.

[Landlocked]

I guess this is as good a place as any to make my first post! I'll preface my choices by saying I haven't heard every Beach Boys song ever recorded, so my list can and probably will evolve over time. But as of now I'll go with (not ordered):

1) All I Wanna Do - There's so much going on in this one that defy categorization. But between the filter they used for Mike's vocals, to the repetitive guitar line, to the angelic "ooh's" moving slowly up and down in the background, this song is undeniably a timeless masterpiece. I fell in love with this one the first time I ever heard it, and it's still as powerful to me now as it was then.

2) Time to Get Alone - A pretty simple little 3/4 time song, but I like the vocal arrangement and Carl's voice weaving the melody. Doesn't hurt that I'm a sucker for a good waltz, regardless of whether that waltzer be Chopin, Strauss, or Wilson.

3) She Knows Me Too Well - Only Brian Wilson could open a pop song by moving from an Ab to an E natural! That incredibly eerie tritone interval underscores the darkness of the lyrics. And even though the song is kind of dark in its lyrical content, Brian's voice is so beautiful here, and by the time he gets to the chorus, he's turned a song that began somewhat dissonantly into one with a heartbreakingly sublime melody.

4) Kiss Me Baby - Oh, the falsetto! And the alternation of Brian's and Mike's vocals. The horns that appear and disappear throughout. Ah, gorgeous.

5) Surf's Up - Complex doesn't even begin to describe this one. But the genius of it is that it's own brilliance never gets in the way of it being a great, compelling song. The melody--or I suppose I should say melodies, given the incredible variation between the first and second sections--are gorgeous. How Brian got from one to the other, I'll never know. There's so many parts of this song where I can point and go "That part, that part! I love that part!"

6) Heroes and Villains - I think "SMiLE" was Brian at his zenith of arranging vocal harmonies and the whole suite approach to his songs. This song is a good example of this. So much going on with the backing vocals--I'd hate to have to transcribe it! In addition to its beautiful and complex vocal arrangement, which is pretty much par for the course among Beach Boys songs, I also love that it's a real rocking number. The "cantina" section is beautiful, and the tender a cappella section gets me every time. I really get transported to some old Western border town when I listen to this one. Love it.

7) Wouldn't It Be Nice - This song comes together perfectly. I can't believe a 23 year old wrote, performed, arranged, and produced it. Blows my mind. Yet at the same time, only someone that young could sing those lyrics and that melody like Brian did. It's filled with such a blend of contrasting emotions that it's impossible to flag it as a "happy" or a "sad" song. The lyrics are simultaneously unflaggingly optimistic yet forlorn over the rules of society that prevent the narrator from getting what his heart desires. This has always been, and always will, be one of my favorite songs by any artist. I also think it's a pretty darned good example of what to expect of "Pet Sounds": unique instrumental orchestration, coruscating lead vocals, and lush backing vocals.

8) Mona - I know, some of you are thinking, "You must be kidding!" Well, I'm not! I know this song kind of bucks the trend of my other picks, which are mostly songs containing lots of mature musicianship, whether it be key changes, backing vocals, instrumentation, etc. And "Mona" is truly the opposite of all of those. It's essentially one short melodic idea repeated over and over for two minutes. But I've listened to this song countless times, often doing so back-to-back in a sort of hypnotized state, and I have a feeling I will continue to do so. Dennis' voice is so gruff and melancholic, I can feel the pain that both he and Brian were going through. Even the lyrics are kind of sad, in their own way. To me, they're reminiscent of someone longing for a lost time in their life, when things were simpler, they're hoping to mend things with this woman Mona by appealing to her by asking her to come with them and do the things they used to do, as if the simple act of going to the movies or having dinner is going to make up for all the things that have happened to them in their time together. Perhaps this sadness was unintentional, but it comes through loud and clear to me. I really love this song, warts and all.

9) This Whole World - To paraphrase someone on Youtube, this is a masterclass on modulation. It's a great example of what I love about the Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. A really infectious, unforced melody, and a complex harmonic structure (for popular music, at least). I don't think I've ever heard a song change key so many times so naturally and easily. Wonderful song.

10) Don't Worry Baby - Another timeless classic. I know Brian wrote this one in hopes that he could come near the greatness of "Be My Baby," but in my mind, he far surpassed it. I love everything about this one, from the introduction, to Brian's falsetto flying the lyrics over the sparse, percussive guitar chords, to the Boys' backing harmonies criss-crossing Brian until they finally meet at the conclusion of the chorus. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.

[SamMcK]

In no order:

God Only Knows
Good Vibrations
Surf's Up
Wouldn't It Be Nice
Heroes and Villains
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
Time To Get Alone
Forever
Surfer Girl
All This Is That

This list changes almost everyday though!

Edit: Gotta mention 'Til I Die, Caroline No, Kiss Me Baby, Let The Wind Blow, Warmth Of The Sun, Please Let Me Wonder, Add Some Music, hell can we just make it a top 100?

[feelflows]

Slip on Through – I think Dennis was at his vocal peak here—just enough wailing and rasp.  It’s just a wonderful, exciting opener, and I think it’s aged better than Dennis’s other contributions to Sunflower (though all are wonderful).

‘Til I Die – It’s so beautiful and so gutting and so true, and it was written entirely by Brian.  Anyone who’s been depressed or felt isolated can relate to this song all too well.  The minute of chanting at the end is breathtaking.

You Still Believe in Me – I’m glad he couldn’t take the bells out.  The lyrics aren’t about childhood, but it’s still one of the most nostalgic songs I’ve ever heard, in the best way.  The kind of aching I could bathe in.

She Knows Me Too Well – If Brian’s wonderful falsetto weren’t enough, that “She knows me…she knows me…” harmony makes the song for me. 

God Only Knows – I can’t imagine I need to explain.

Feel Flows – It’s totally new-agey, but in a way that holds up beautifully today.  I love the production—the breath at the beginning, the reverse echo.

Cuddle Up - Among the most stripped down songs the Beach Boys have done, and the most romantic.  Dennis’s voice was already deteriorating, but he uses that vulnerability so effectively.

California Girls – That opening.

Add Some Music – I wouldn’t have put this on my list a week ago, but after hearing it live at the Beacon, I’m completely in love with this song.  It’s a nice message, and the harmonies are so wonderful.

Warmth of the Sun – I mean, it’s perfect.

[mammy blue]

In chronological order, but to quote the Who, I can't explain.

From Shut Down Vol 2:

Don't Worry Baby
The Warmth of the Sun

From All Summer Long:

All Summer Long

From Summer Days:

Girl Don't Tell Me

From Pet Sounds:

God Only Knows
Caroline, No

From SMiLE:

Child is Father of the Man / Surf's Up

From Friends:

Little Bird
Busy Doin Nothin

From Love You:

The Night Was So Young

[Manchini]

Not in order of favorite. Just in order of release date, which I included because it's interesting to look at the spread of years.

1. Your Summer Dream (1963) -- The atmosphere in this tune, mostly because of the Amaj7, really makes it feel like a night time beach song.         And the middle section is so impressive. The whole song moves and swells in a very pleasant way.

2. She Knows Me Too Well (1965) -- A profound and simple tune. The Em6 into the F#7 is such a great chord change.

3. Please Let Me Wonder  (1965) -- I have loved this for so long, to the point where I rarely listen to it anymore. The sentiment is so relatable and expressed so clearly. It's perhaps one of the first ideas that made me really get what songwriting was about.

4. Be Here In the Morning (1968) -- Putting around the house, burning incense, and thinking about stuff you want. I have been there. I love the Friends album.

5. Time To Get Alone (1969) -- It's weird, it strikes me as almost artistically unfair that such a strong tune should also have an overwhelming vocal and instrumental arrangement. It would have been great even if it was just percussion and keyboard, but with everything else, and especially the strings and vocals at the end, it's almost an excess of great ideas! Almost.

6. This Whole World (1970) -- Not much new to say about it. I don't even understand how one begins concocting a creation like this. Just the rhythm of the first 13 syllables alone is unbelievable. Who can think to write that way?!

7. All I Wanna Do (1970) -- Great turns in the melody, great chord changes, great singing. We all know why it's our favorite.

8. Honkin' Down the Highway (1977) -- A hell of a lot of fun. Cool suggestive lyrics.

9. Good Timin' (1979) -- A short beauty. I love the falsetto and the harpsichord-sounding melody line.

10. Goin' On (1980) -- An awesome production. The drums kick all ass and the vocals sound great. I used to have the backing track, and I miss blasting that in my headphones.

It's weird to not include the 3 songs that made me a Beach Boys fanatic: In My Room, Long Promised Road, and Disney Girls. They are very special songs, and they may even be in my Top 10 on some other level. sh*t, even God Only Knows didn't make it, so there is definitely an alternative, differently-purposed Top 10 list somewhere out there ...

[DonnyL]

1. Good Vibrations. I've had a lot of metaphysical experiences involving this song, and I sort of use it as a mantra ("gotta keep those lovin' good vibrations a-happenin' ...").

2. That's Not Me. Just has a perfect energy and inventive changes.  Who can't relate to the self-exploration?

3. Caroline No. Just one of those universal truths ... life changes, people change, things die. Such a pure and noble expression and it always feels good to wallow in the mystery of life's inevitabilities.

4. In the Back of My Mind. The progression is so strange ... and no harmonies; very personal. spooky. another lyrical thing which I relate a little too much to.

5. Let Him Run Wild. An arresting, powerful track. Just magic, that's all.

6. Don't Back Down. Those perfect key changes and great advice for most things in life. Always sounds fresh.

7. Here Today. Like 'Let Him Run Wild', the track is just so magical. The instrumental break is probably the finest piece of music ever put to tape.

8. Country Air. Spiritual.

9. Be Still. A perfect song.

10. Do It Again. It has everything a listener could want: 'Sound Bliss' ...

[Wrightfan]

Tough to just choose 10.

1. Surf's Up-Perfect song construction. Love Brian's vocal over Carl's but I really like how the 71 version ends.

2. This Whole World-This song goes all over the place chord wise and I love it. Probably the happiest song written by anyone in the band. Also love Brian's "I'm thinkin' bout-a this whole worrrrrrrrld" part near the end.

3. Surfer Girl-Their best pre-1965 song. Such beautiful harmonies

4. 'Till I Die-Another dark and beautiful Brian song. Love the wordless part that leads to the tag.

5. Wouldn't it be Nice-One of my favorite intros ever.

6. I Just Wasn't Made for these Times-Such a truthful song. Have related to this piece in my darkest hours.

7. God Only Knows-That middle eight...that is all.

8. Caroline No-The perfect ending to the album.

9. Forever-Dennis at his best. The uplifiting chorus, the tag, everything here works so well.

10. All I Wanna Do-This is a song that's great but made even better by production. Love the reverby echo.

Honrable mentions: Cabinessence, Do You Like Worms, Kiss me Baby, Please Let me Wonder, Warmth of the Sun, among others.

[Puggal]

1. Don't Talk - This is among my favorite songs of all time, just so unbelievably romantic and lush, those strings really recall the themes from popular romance films of the period and really tear at your heart strings (if you like those movies, like I do).
2. Wouldn't It Be Nice - This song is just so warm, lyrically and musically. Just a life affirming masterpiece.
3. Vegetables (Smiley Smile version) - A very tight sounding recording, with experimental (but well arranged) and goofy lyrics that make it among the "funnest" songs in the Beach Boys discography.
4. All Summer Long - The song is just so upbeat, with its clanking celestas and rich harmonies, but the lyrics and melody are melancholic. I don't know whether to feel happy or sad when I hear this song, and I like that feeling.
5. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times - I think we all turn to this song when the world's gettin' us down...
6. Surfer Girl - Gorgeous love song with childlike lyrics, really supports the whole myth of Brian as a "naive genius"
7. Hawaii - Simplistic lyrics, falsetto vocals... pretty much everything good about the early Beach Boys is fully expressed in this wonderful ditty.
8. All I Wanna Do - Dreamy atmosphere and plainly spoken, but poetic lyrics. This song is, by far, the most memorable on Sunflower.
9. In The Back Of My Mind - This is a recent discovery, but man is this song jazzy in the most emotional way possible... it could be on the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack.
10. Wonderful (Smiley Smile version) - A dark song with a labyrnthian (but spellbinding) melody. The organ based arrangement on Smiley Smile really brings out of the best of this bizarre tune.

Runner Up:
Let's Put Our Hearts Together - One of the most touching (and innocent) songs Brian ever wrote. His battered duet with his wife really adds to the charm of this great tune.

[Runaways]

I'm just gonna list 5 because when somebody asks me  what my favorite beach boys song is, it's gonna be one of these.

Wouldn't It Be Nice
Surfer Girl
Don't Worry Baby
Heroes and Villains
A Day in the Life of a Tree

[Wild-Honey]

1. Girl don't tell me  -  I never get sick of hearing this song. Love it.
2. Heroes and Villains - So much going on, and all of it magnificent.
3. Darlin' -  Love belting this out in the car
4. Dance, Dance, Dance  - I can't sit still when this comes on.
5. All I want to do  - Can't sit still with this one either. Great energy and I LOVE Mike's vocal on it. The ending is... err... interesting
6. Here Today - I Like the lyrics, the arrangment, vocals. Everything about it in fact.
7. Johnny Carson - Sleeeeaaazzzzyyy
8. Baby Blue  - What a fantastic contract between Carl and Dennis on this song,  this song is utterly beautiful.
9. For once in m life  - Carl and Brian sound out of it,  but it works for me.  Love singing this at the top of my lungs.
10. You're so good to me - lalalalalalallallalallalalaalla you're my baby oh yeah

[Mendota Heights]

9. For once in m life  - Carl and Brian sound out of it,  but it works for me.  Love singing this at the top of my lungs.

It's called Just Once in My Life.

[Wild-Honey]

9. For once in m life  - Carl and Brian sound out of it,  but it works for me.  Love singing this at the top of my lungs.

It's called Just Once in My Life.

oops.  at work at typing very fast before boss comes over and sees what I'm doing and gives me work to do

[Phoenix]

The first two are definitely my top two.  I haven't put the other eight in order yet.

1. Wouldn't It Be Nice - One of the most perfect Pop songs ever, with quite possibly the best harmonies ever recorded by anyone.
2. Don't Worry Baby -  The melody and Brian's lead vocal alone, put this song above all but a very select few songs ever recorded
3. God Only Knows - One of the greatest love songs of all time.  Bruce's fantastic part and Carl's breath taking lead vocal get talked about a lot (deservedly so) but Brian's "Carl part" on the tag is one of my favorite vocal performances by him.  Swapping out Carl's voice in this part was something we (mere mortals) wouldn't have felt necessary but Brian's choice just makes the song so much better.
4. Sloop John B -  More absolutely astounding vocals (and instrumentation) that nearly go unnoticed upon casual listening.  Like a good bit of Smile and Pet Sounds, it's amazing how much is packed inside these "simple" Pop songs, without making any of them seem bombastic or showy. 
5. Surf's Up - A freakin' materpiece.  Probably my actual choice for the number three spot.  (Aside from my own Frankenstein creation) I prefer the Purple Chick mix with Brian's vocal the best but Carl's performace doesn't affect the song's magic or majesty in any way.
6. Good Vibrations - Talk about a masterpiece.  I don't think any explanation is necessary for this one.
7. Hard Times - What a great rock-n-roll song!  I know it's only "technically" a Beach Boys song but it is and I love it so that's more than enough for me.
8. Here She Comes - Another great (funky) Rock song, marred only slightly by the production.  As a drummer myself, I can say it was a bad idea to let the new drummer produce this one.  Boy, what I'd give for a remixed version.
9. I Can Hear Music - Great song (even if it was a cover), great lead vocal (one of Carl's best and we all know that's saying something!), great production, great harmonies, and oh, that tag!
10. It's About Time - Far and away, the Beach Boys at their most rockin' best!  I think it ends a little abruptly but everything that happens within its short duration is awesome and (unlike a lot of their other more Rock oriented tracks) still sounds completely like the Beach Boys

It's was really hard narrowing down.  The next so many would definitely include the following:
California Girls, Darlin', Heroes And Villains, Cottonfields, Somewhere Near Japan, Break Away, In My Room, Sail On Sailor, California Dreaming, Soulful Old Man Sunshine, Help Me Rhonda, and Fun, Fun, Fun

[H Robinson]

1. I'm Waiting For The Day (Pet Sounds)

Probably one of the more underrated songs on Pet Sounds. That Timpani, those strings! But the sincerity of the lyrics just pull at me, Brian's yearning and naive pleading with the one he loves is just transcendent (Even if he didn't like his vocals). The tag at the end is so creative and let me just mention again: That Timpani!

2. Let Him Run Wild (Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!!))

What can I say? Pop at it's finest and the chorus' are just brilliant. Just such a fun song to listen to, Brian makes you want her to leave the other guy so bad.

3. Forever (Sunflower)

Dennis at his best, his vocals are at it's peak and his writing is glorious. Special mention to Carl's falsetto in the outro. Such a sweet and thoughtful song.

4. Slip On Through (Sunflower)

Dennis again. Every time I start Sunflower up and I hear that intro, I realise Dennis' brilliance. Another great, soulful Beach Boys tune which is nailed by Dennis' peak vocals.

5. Darlin' (Wild Honey)

Carl really rips this one and it's one of the greatest vocal performances by one of the greatest and underrated singers of all time.

6. God Only Knows (Pet Sounds)

Another of Carl's fantastic vocals. Tony and Brian have honestly written the perfect song (It's not higher because it's not my favourite). It's bitter/sweet and that outro vocal tag with Brian, Bruce and Carl is one of the pivotal and most recognisable vocal pieces in music.

7. OurPrayer/Gee/]Heroes and Villains (The Smile Sessions)

Yes, I know it's three songs, but I count them as one huge, brilliant and loopy suite of fun and zany mad genius.

8. All I Want To Do (20/20)

No, not the Sunflower one, but another of Mike's fantastic vocals and another of Dennis' fantastic writing and sex (quite literally). This is a real hard rocker and the brass during the "Baby" tag always gets me.

9. Break Away

Aw yeah. Carl's brilliant verses blended with Al's ripping chorus' and matched with equally good song writing by Brian and Murry. It's a terrible shame that it never did well in the charts because, really, it's one of the greatest songs out.

10. Keep An Eye On Summer (Shut Down, Vol. 2)

I don't see why hate is directed at this song, it truly is Brian's genius bursting at the seems, even early on. With fantastic vocals and sentimental lyrics, it's only made better by that godly middle eight with Mike and then Brian's "Waiting... and Waiting".

And there you go. My top 10 Beach Boys songs.

[DennyMac79]

1. Wouldn't it be Nice: This gets ranked number one solely for the fact that I would never have even given the BBs a second thought had it not been for this song. In fact I actively made it a point to avoid them because I resented my parents naming me after Dennis (side note they weren't even big Beach Boys fans but huge Fleetwood Mac fans, and this was when the stories of Dennis and Christine were just hitting the tabloids, so they mercifully didn't name me Lindsey or Mick). I was on a college camping trip about 10 years ago and the only album we had in the cabin was "Pet Sounds." My friend Grant had been trying to sell me on the BBs forever and I just wasn't having it. I agreed he could play this song because I knew it and didn't hate it. Total awakening on that trip for me after he played the rest of the album.

2. Soulful Old Man Sunshine: I love that it is kind of a throwback to their very early records but benefits from a much more sophisticated arrangement and vocal.

3. Lady Lynda: I love how any song Al sang lead on gave the band a uniquely different sound than what was typical of them, and the harmony part at the end never ceases to amaze me.

4. Love Surrounds Me: One of my favorite Dennis vocals. Its almost ethereal.

5. And Your Dream Comes True: It takes one of these acapella tracks to truly appreciate how well these guys blended their voices.

6. I'm Waiting for the Day: So many of the Beach Boys love songs are passive and wishful, I love how aggressive and assertive this one is, and the way the drums reflect it.

7. In My Room: This song just weeps in the most gorgeous way.

8. Don't Worry Baby: It's everything I love about the Spector sound but kicked up a notch. It sounds like it could be the "better" sequel to Be My Baby.

9. When I Grow Up to be a Man: I started fearing I wasn't so young anymore when I hit 30 a few years ago- I think anyone who is conscious of time feels a kinship to this song.

10. Endless Harmony: I am a sucker for songs that have an air of autobiography about them, even if they are corny. Since I couldn't pick something more substantial off TLOS since I am guessing this list should be strictly BB tracks, I went with this one.