Sunflower Grows And Grows

[davesixties]

When the Sunflower album came out in August 1970, it didn't attract the critical acclaim and attention it deserved. But, now 40 years down the line, it's pleasing to see that it's reputation has grown and grown.
Now, in many circles, the album is regarded as one of the group's best. I liked it immediately I first heard it, and still do.
My top tracks are Tears In The Morning, This Whole World, Forever, and Add Some Music To The Day (great advice).
After Pet Sounds and Friends, I'd put Sunflower third in my list of favourite Beach Boys albums, and that's saying something considering the magnificence of 20/20, Surfs Up and Holland.
Any thoughts?

[Emdeeh]

Sunflower is my no. 2 BB album, right after Wild Honey! 

"This Whole World" and "Forever" are just amazing songs, I never get tired of hearing them.

[runnersdialzero]

I thinkt aht http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,8525.0.html

[Mike's Beard]

Sunflower is firmly at #3 on my fave BB albums. For a good year or so it was at the top of the pile but then I started to appreciate Holland more and more and Surfs Up really grew on me. Its certainly the most group harmonious LP they ever recorded with everyone pitching in great ideas. Sometimes Tears in the Morning grates on me, at other times it doesn't. Also there were about 15 songs in the can that were better than Got to Know the Woman but those minor quibbles aside it's a fantastic listening experience and probably the best album to convert people (into 70's era rock) into Beach Boys fans. Or at least show them that there was creative life in the band post Good Vibrations.

[The Heartical Don]

I love it, but it does not gel as a unified whole for me. 'At My Window' is a tad too sweet. 'It's About Time' has unnecessary and un-Beach-Boysy axe climaxes. 'Deirdre': too much sugar.

But the high points are really fantastic. There's not a bad song on it.

The production is not the brightest, transparent one, at least judging from my German EMI-Electrola LP. Must check the CD again, coming weekend. Perhaps a re-appraisal is in order.

[shelter]

I love it, but it does not gel as a unified whole for me.

I agree, but I don't think that's a bad thing. It makes the album sound very creative, diverse and rich. Each song stands on its own and sounds completely different from everything else on the album, yet all the songs are brilliant in their own way. It sounds like it could've been a "best of" singles collection from an alternate Beach Boys universe. It's my second favorite album of all time, by anyone, after 'Pet Sounds'.

[Runaways]

I'm not sure where i'd list it.  But it'd be at least under Pet Sounds, Today, Summer Days and i guess the Smile stuff. 

[melissalynn]

I listen to it more than I listen to any other record, including Pet Sounds. Although I still consider PS to be number one overall. Sunflower has always been my second favorite record of all time. A very close second, actually.
 

[Aegir]

This thread is superfluous. However, I can listen to Sunflower twice at once and everything would be great.

[runnersdialzero]

This thread is superfluous. However, I can listen to Sunflower twice at once and everything would be great.

What are you talking about? Having 26 threads about Sunflower is more than necessary.

[jimmyboy]

I love it, but it does not gel as a unified whole for me. 'At My Window' is a tad too sweet. 'It's About Time' has unnecessary and un-Beach-Boysy axe climaxes. 'Deirdre': too much sugar.

But the high points are really fantastic. There's not a bad song on it.

The production is not the brightest, transparent one, at least judging from my German EMI-Electrola LP. Must check the CD again, coming weekend. Perhaps a re-appraisal is in order.

Is that the double-lp set with Surf's Up?

[Sheriff John Stone]

I just wanted to mention that when I first became a BB fan (mid-late 70's), I couldn't FIND Sunflower at the many record stores I scoured. It was never in the Beach Boys' album bins, and I was usually told it was out of print and couldn't be ordered. I eventually found a cool record store that could order it from some import catalogue. Boy, did I pay big bucks for that one....

[sockittome]

I would say that I listen to Sunflower most often out of all the BB albums, followed by Wild Honey, and then Pet Sounds.  That doesn't mean I would rate them in that order, though.   On some days WH is my #1 fav, on others it's PS, etc.  It all depends on my mood.  Those three are so different (and sooooo excellent).

I disagree that Sunflower lacks the cohesiveness of other BB albums (I think that's what was said).  For me, it all flows together well.  Much better than 20/20, which seems a bit disjointed, although it has some excellent tunes on it.  "All I Wanna Do" takes me away to some big magical place, especially when I put the headphones on.  Great production, and the song itself almost defies description.

[Dove Nested Towers]

Have to echo the other thread and share others' opinion that if Got to Know the Woman and Tears had been replaced by Fallin' in Love and Break Away it would have been far more epic, unbelievably so.

I love Disney Girls, Nearest Faraway Place and Dierdre but really don't like Tears at all. Cool, Cool Water is absolutely NOT overrated IMO.

Of course, George Martin has said that one of his biggest regrets was not replacing When I'm Sixty-Four and Lovely Rita with Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane on Pepper (talk about epic!), so whattaya gonna do? If wishes were horses...

Thank heaven for Sunflower!