The Smiley Smile Message Board

Discuss, review and rate 15 Big Ones, released July 1976.

(http://www.smileysmile.net/images/albums/15bigones.gif)

With the exception of "Just Once In My Life," I can't even tolerate the covers. The originals are so-so, although I like Susie Cincinnati, Back Home and Had To Phone Ya. This album is maybe a 2. Far worse than what came before and after.

This album is a lot of fun, except for Brian's vocals (I prefer the gruff Dennis). Shame they didn't use the "hot mix" of "Rock and Roll Music", a far better effort. The other originals are very well done. Some of the covers are absolute sh*t, but Just Once In My Life is sublime.

The originals are great, except for TM. The covers are pure unvarnished shite, except for Just Once.

Just Once In My Life.  A gem in a pail of garbage.

It's not one of my favorites for sure. Rock and roll music.... why did that thing could have existed? They could have put Talkin' About American Girls and at least it would be funny rather than painful. I do like Everyone's In Love With You though.

one of the big disapointments in the history of music!
it could've been so much better

3... It's Ok.

I don't know what that means, but I do know it was all worth it for that video of Mike in the gold suit singing it live.

Ya know, I really sit on the fence with this one.  On one hand, the covers aren't very good.  Chapel of Love is almost unlistenable today.  Maybe these tracks sounded OK in 1976, but they just don't stand the test of time very well.  That said, there are some gems.  Back Home, It's OK, Had To Phone Ya and That Same Song are all great, in my opinion.  I'm not going to vote because my rating of this album varies between 1 and 3 and changes almost daily.  That said, out of all Beach Boys albums, this one gets the least spins.

Between this & LA- which is the Cleveland Steamer of BB LP's?  :D
About 5 good tracks between both LP's. They're both pretty foul.

There'a lot of really great stuff on both LP's, but this one is far lesser of an effort.

I didn't care for Rock and Roll Music or It's OK until I got GHV3 -- the single mixes make all the difference and are far superior to the album tracks.  It made me like It's OK which I had thought to be nuclear sludge before I heard it.

I give this a 2, same rating I gave LOVE YOU.

I kinda like "It's OK," "Back Home," "Had to Phone Ya," "Susie Cincinnati," and "That Same Song."

Brian and Dennis sound awfu throughoutl, Mike's "Everyone's in Love With You" is one of the very worst songs I've ever heard, and most of the covers sound like bantha poodoo.

I do not dig this album very much but it has moments.  1 stars out of 5.

I wish they'd gone for a complete oldies job.  A lot of people don't get it in the same way they don't get World Gone Wrong and Good as I've Been to You.  I like Had to Phone Ya and Susie Cincinnati, and Back Home has a great retro groove that really fits the record.  Everyone's in Love and TM are drippy and It's Okay is a  desperate faux attempt to rekindle the summer is fun vibe.  That Same Song sounds much better with the Double Rock Baptist Choir!  I'd like to have heard Sea Cruise, On Broadway, Peggy Sue and Come Go With Me here.  I know the singing isn't up to everyone's standards and I'm not exactly a fan of Talk to Me/Talahassie Lassie (and I'd rather they'd gone for the other version of Rock and Roll Music), but it could've worked.  THEN they could've got back to the main plan (okay, after Love You) - of course, by that time the booze, drugs and intenecine struggling had taken hold and we were left with a kind of half and half LA followed by the dreck of KTSA.

You would think that that they would have put out something great doing some oldies and new "oldies" but the production is crap and it's not fun. Come go with me is better than anything on here.

I gave it a good 4. It is unpretentious, sometimes mediocre, yes, but not incompetent. The voices of Bri and Denny have a particular charm, although you can hear Mike losing it to nasality on Everyone. Highlights:
It's OK
Had To Phone You
Just Once In My Life
In The Still Of The Night

and yes, the sleeve is awful. Montreal Olympics, anyone?

Hey, first day back posting and I just wanted to stir things up!

I really do like 15 Big Ones. Not all of it (I could do without A Casual Look and the TM Song). But there is something there that had been missing from earlier LPs. Brian's presence can be felt. And to paraphrase Jon Stebbins about  Brian's talent, even his uninterested talent beats anyone elses laser like focus. Having just recently pulled this CD from the back of my collection, I've been playing it non-stop in my car for days.

What does everyone else think? Is it time for the funny farm?

Yes.  :P

No, petsite, don't go to the funny farm! I need all the help I can get. It ain't easy defending 15 Big Ones.

Let me give you the name of this doctor.  It's Dr. Eugene E. Lan...

Not much to praise from this side.  It was the biggest mistake of the band's career short of not finishing Smile.  Had a Holland-like album, or heck, even Love You, come out here history would have been different.  This was to be the highest profile album that the band had since Pet Sounds, and it had to be great.  This wasn't great.  I actually find MIU an easier listen than much of 15BO.  Sorry, man...

Smily Smiler #1 : I say we kill him!
Smily Smilers: [shouts] Yeah!
Smily Smiler #2: I say we hang him, then we kill him!
Smily Smilers: [shouts] Yeah!
Smily Smiler #3: I say we stomp him!
Smily Smiler : [shouts] Yeah!
Smily Smiler #4: Then we tattoo him!
Smily Smilers: [shouts] Yeah!
Smily Smiler #5: Then we hang him!
Smily Smilers : [shouts] Yeah!
Smily Smiler #6: And then we kill him!
Smily Smiler: [shouts] Yeah!
Petsite: [trying to throw voice without moving lips] I say we let him go.
Smily Smilers: [shouts] No!

Uhhh  Yeah.  Basically weak but a couple killer cuts. 

 ;D

I have always loved this record.  Listen to the vocals on everyone in love with you.  Forget the words.  I believe they are some of the beach boys best.  brian was into it: at times.  I'll take those times, few as they are up with any of his work ;D ;D ;D.

15 Big Ones Live!

Everybody hated it - the critics, the record buying public, the BB/BW diehards, even the band itself. But look at how many tracks were performed live.

Rock And Roll Music  -  Still performed today
It's OK - Played for about 6 years, I saw the Beach Boys open with it in 1982, still performed occasionally
Had To Phone Ya  -  Don't think it was performed live
Chapel Of Love  -  Don't think it was performed live
Everyone's In Love With You  -  Performed for about 3 years, still performed occasionally
Talk To Me  -  Don't think it was performed live
That Same Song  -  Was performed live/FEATURED on the 1976 TV special
TM Song  -  Was performed live by Al Jardine on the Mike Douglas Show in 1976
Palisades Park  -  I don't think it was performed live, a friend of mine claims she heard it live, should've been
Susie Cincinnatti  -  Was performed live for about 2 years
A Casual Look  -  Was peformed for about a year
Blueberry Hill  -  Don't think it was performed
Back Home  -  Performed for 3-4 years, Brian used to strap on a bass and wail away on lead vocals, was a highlight actually
In The Still Of The Night  -  Don't think it was performed live
Just Once In My Life  -  Don't think it was performed live

Ok, if you're keeping score that's 8 out of 15 songs that the Beach Boys performed live from the 15 Big Ones album. Not too shabby. For a band that was supposedly unhappy with the album, they sure didn't have any problems sharing it live with thousands of paying customers.

Now, petsite, if you're out there, after this gets attacked, you have to chime in with something clever!  
  

Just Once in My Life is the sole reason I don't burn Love You onto a single disc, and throw the original away.

Absolutely stunning, superior reading that is...  Almost like "Bull Sessions" at the end of Today, but the other way around...

Everything else on here is crap, but this is supoib.


...Susie Cincinnatti has a neat riff, and some good vocals.

Can't believe I almost skipped this thread entirely and missed a Pee Wee reference...

I have to say, I dismissed this album entirely for a long time, but eventually buckled down and listened to it on a road trip all the way through, and though far from splendid, I do like a lot of the originals.  I'm in agreement with the majority that the covers aren't too rad, but the originals were pleasantly surprising.

nice pee wee reference.
by the way, does anyone have al jardine singing the TM song on Mike Douglas? who's he argue with?

I can't ever figure out why everybody hates "Palisades Park".  I think that's a fantastic cover.  "Palisades Park", "Same Song" and "Back Home" do it for me, the rest I can hardly bear to listen to.  "R&R music" is horrid although I kinda like the crazed out Brianish "ROCK, ROLL, ROCKIN' AND A ROLLIN'" in the background.  I'll have to listen to For once in my life more, I havent' given it much of a chance.  The stuff like "everyone's in love with you' and "had to phone ya' or 'talk to me' are just trash as far as i'm concerned. 

I love "Palisades Park"; I think it's the best cover on the album. I was always surprised at how rarely it was performed in concert in 1976-77 (if at all) because about 5-6 other songs from the album were...

THe mixing and general sound of this album is terrible to my ears. It has none of the warmth and human quality that Love You has. That being said, when the second bass comes in through the centre channel in Rock n Roll music, it's a highlight.

Why oh why didn't they use the version of That Same Song as featured on "It's OK" TV special? it was sooooo superior to the album cut. I quite like the album really, apart from TM Song... :-X

Any album where the best original song was written by Mike Love (EILWY) has to suck. I gave this album a zero, and I'm suprised more people didn't. I am never a fan of the cover song even if they are done very well (Sloop John B, I Can Hear Music).  These covers are very sloppy. Al's SC also sticks out as one of the better songs, but was one of the worst of the era it was recorded in.

This album to me is 10 times worse then 'Summer In Paradise' and that's saying a lot!!

This album is the last real group album where all five are fully intergrated. Not incliuding any Carl or Dennis songs was a big mistake, but there is a group feeling that never came back. Brian sounds medocre here as does Dennis but their voices on Love You are much worse. I like Rock and Roll Music a lot, I think it has a lot of real oomph behind it. It's OK is terrific. Subject matter aside it is just too upbeat for me to dislike. Great harmony on it too. The rest of side one tanks outside of That Same Song, whch may not be as good as the one for the TV special but still has a lot to offer. Brian makes his new voice work here and stays on pitch. Tm Song has a funny intro. Susie is great as it was recorded in the Beach Boys prime, Back Home is a lot of fun and again Brian makes it work. In The Still Of The Night is good to me. Dennis is a little flat but his voice is clearer then it would ever be again. Not vintage Dennis mind you, but certainly less gruff then any of the POB or Love You recordings. Brian does some good falsetto too. The rest of the LP doesn't work, but I think it is pretty easy to listen to. If one doesn't compare it to what came before, they may get a much bigger kick out of it. That said, it must of been sad to learn that the Beach Boys had gone so far downhill for those who waited 3 years for this.  I still like it more than any other group LP to come after.

You know, Carl and Dennis songs wouldn't have fit, though--and in my opinion, that is one of the worst things about every Beach Boys album from here onward. (I love Love You, but it is an oddball one-off compared to everything else) The progressive--or at least of-the-times--sound they had incorporated over the past few studio albums was gone by this time. Can you even imagine something like Feel Flows or Only With You sitting beside It's OK and Rock n Roll Music? To me, this is the album where Brian started phoning it in (Love You not included), tossing in retro or silly songs. Some of them were nice enough, but it's like he said "retro? Oldies? Fine...here. I-vi-IV-V7. Triplets. Knock yourselves out."

I assume they made a ton of money (Endless Summer and popular tours) around this time, but I wish they'd continued down the path of the previous albums, with the younger two Wilsons seemingly in control, Blondie and Ricky in the band and Brian adding a song or two here and there when he felt like it. I miss you, Jack Riely, you big liar.

I've never minded this album (except for EILWY, which is rank), although I can appreciate how disappointing it must have been to hear this after years of waiting for something in the style of Holland.  I actually would've preferred an oldies album, in the manner of Dylan's Good As I Been To You, and they could've saved the other songs for something else (the bin, in one or two cases).  The only oldie I don't like is Talahassie Lassie.  I'd have replaced the other tracks with Peggy Sue, Come Go With Me, Sea Cruise and On Broadway and maybe even Running Bear, all of which are at least as good as most of the other oldies.  In the Beach Boys' canon, it's an oddity and, yeah, perhaps signalled the band was bereft of ideas (although there are some good songs on the remaining albums), but it's quirky and I don't mind it at all.

And yet that wait was only three years! And the band released The Beach Boys In Concert after Holland to help fill the gap. But you're right, that must've seemed like an eternity for diehards. Ah, those were the days, a BB album every year or two...

I honestly dont think its as bad as some people make out. Sure, its lightyears away from a lot of the bands output previously (in fact pretty much everything) BUT in saying that there isnt much that isnt lightyears away from the bands earlier output in my opinion. I can understand why people dont like it though. I think its all too easy to listen to this album and then compare it with their previous efforts, which if you do that then yes I think this album really sucks. BUT I think without comparing the album to earlier efforts it is not a bad little album. My favourites are:

It's OK - a fun little song nothing spectacular but still enjoyable when in the mood
Had To Phone Ya - another nice little song
Talk To Me - I actually like this cover despite a lot of people hating it.
That Same Song - although I agree with someone who said previously that it wouldve been better if it had been closer to the GV Tour DVD performance with the choir)
Palisades Park - a pretty good cover
Susie Cincinatti - a pretty decent song when in the mood
Back Home - I really like this song even with Brians really rough vocals which I think suits it better then his higher voice (when it was earlier recorded in the 60's)
In The Still of The Night - I really like this one despite a lot of people hating it. The vocals might not be the best (just like the rest of the album) but I still really like Denny's vocal. The backing vocals at the end are pretty annoying however
Just Once In My Life - simply majestic. Easily the highlight of the album for me. Better than the original for me.

The only song that I REALLY hate a lot is TM Song. Man that is one of the worst recordings ever made. Totally pathetic and the band should be ashamed for including that one. They shouldve just left it off and called it 14 Big Ones at the very least!

Basically the production on this might not be that great, the singing not very good at all (especially compared to previous efforts) but I still think it is easily listenable (with exception to TM song which is just embarassing) and I think at the first few listens it can seem like a piece of junk but once you give this album a chance I dont think its all that bad if you dont compare it to previous efforts.

What about LA Light?

Blueberry Hill, Had to Phone Ya, Its OK, Back Home, and Susie Cincinnati are the only good ones on this. Sea Cruise, Shake Rattle and Roll, and Come Go With Me were better than stuff that made it to the album.

I don't think the album is quite as bad as the cover would lead you to believe. About five decent songs on it. I don't exactly hate the rest, but have no reason to listen to the other songs. I don't really hate TM song. Seeing that the actual song is only about 45 seconds long, I look at it as just a bit of silly little ditty and a piece of humor. I don't think that Brian Wilson really thought he was making high art with that one.


LIstened to it today without skipping over any tracks.
I take it back. I'd say four or five of things are some of the worst things I've ever heard. :) Makes the good stuff sound worse, actually.

Man I didn't see this for nearly a year sorry I didn't answer. Well you can see on the back of 15 Big Ones that everyone pretty much is on every track. Mike and Al are missing from a lot of Love You, Carl and Dennis are missing from a lot of MIU, Dennis  missed kTSA, Mike didn't do much on 85, Brian, Bruce, and Carl did relatively little on Still Crusin, and Brian was missing completely from SIP. LA Light is the most democratic of the post Holland albums but Brian isn't on most of it, Dennis worked seperately on his stuff, Mike didn't work on most songs. It has a little of everything but it's kind of like a collection of solo cuts.

Welp, I just listened to this so naturally I'm going to review it.  I must say that I don't share the sentiment that this is a terrible that some might feel.  It's flawed of course, but I'm glad it exists.  Just Once In My Life is just unbelievable.

Rock and Roll Music - 2.5/5
It's OK - 4.5/5
Had To Phone Ya - 5/5
Chapel of Love - 4/5
Everyone's In Love With You - 3.5/5
Talk To Me - 4/5
That Same Song - 3.5/5
TM Song - 3/5
Palisades Park - 4/5
Susie Cincinnati - 4/5
A Casual Look - 3/5
Blueberry Hill - 3.5/5
Back Home - 4/5
In the Still of the Night - 4/5
Just Once In My Life - 5/5

That ends up rounding out to a 4.

Crap. It got worse though, so i have to say 1.

I admit, I get down with this one every now and then.. I enjoy It's OK, Had To Phone Ya, Chapel Of Love (!?), and Just Once in My Life..  this album sounds like it was made by someone who spent the previous years locked in his room listening to Phil Spector.. and it's kind of a cool vibe sometimes.  Hats off

Yep. In many ways, this WAS Brian's Phil Spector/Rock & Roll album, although I wouldn't mind hearing another one. :police:

This album has grown on me a lot lately...forget whatever I said earlier in this thread.   This record and Love You taken together make one giant f-you to both everyone that was expecting Brian to turn out another Pet Sounds, and to the "serious" prog/metal/hard rock that was in vogue in the 70s. It's more punk than the Sex Pistols or Black Flag wish they could ever be!!! 8) 8) >:D >:D

Whoa, listen to myself. eeesh.  ;D

I quite like it now, actually. The woeful vocals, (Mike being the worst offender - i can't STAND how high his voice is on this) and oddball productions make it quite enjoyable, if not one you listen to over and over. The originals, however, are still pretty bad. The all-oldies concept would have been much better.

This is an album that probably disappointed about everybody when it came out.  You had the fans that loved the amazing touring band that had previously released Holland, you had the casual fans that had just gotten back into the Beach Boys courtesy of Endless Summer and you had the Brian worshipers who were hoping for another masterpiece due to all the hype.  15 Big Ones was bound to disappoint with all of the hype it received, I think it was about the worst album they could have released at that moment in time. 

All these years later, though, it doesn't seem so bad.  I love Back Home and Had to Phone Ya, while It's OK and Susie Cincinnati are solid originals.  Among the covers Just Once in My Life is great and I've always been a fan of In the Still of the Night.  A couple of the covers (along with the album cover) are pretty embarrassing and Rock and Roll Music is an unfortunate song to be "the one" that you still hear on the radio today. 

Overall I'd give it a 3, a disappointing follow up to Holland but a good starter for Brian who then turned in noncommercial gems with Love You and Adult Child.

you know, i'm listening to this right now, really loud with headphones, and a lot of it sounds really good.. chapel of love sounds great.. listen to it loud!  even blueberry hill shines.

I was never real fussy about that record, and I'm not sure why. Maybe its the production.

I've also realized that is how this album must be listened to. Loud, it sounds much better. And crank the bass up too. Palisades Park is my favorite of the covers. "County Fair," "Amusement Parks USA" and "PP" are like a demented little trilogy all using that organ/spoken break.

I was generous in giving this a 3. Just Once In My Life is absolutely outstanding. It's OK and Had to Phone Ya are good and Blueberry Hill is pretty good. I don't mind the likes of Palisades Park, Chapel of Love, and In the Still of the Night. The rest...sigh...is really bad. I put Susie Cincinnati in its 1970 B side slot on my playlists, so it doesn't count on this album to me.

1. Rock And Roll Music 5/10
2. It's OK 8/10
3. Had To Phone Ya 7.5/10
4. Chapel Of Love 6/10
5. Everyone's In Love With You 3.5/10
6. Talk To Me 4.5/10
7. That Same Song 6.5/10
8. TM Song 2/10
9. Palisades Park 7/10
10. Susie Cincinnati 6.5/10
11. A Casual Look 5/10
12. Blueberry Hill 5.5/10
13. Back Home 7.5/10
14. In The Still Of The Night 6/10
15. Just Once In My Life 10/10

Album Rating: 6.03

"Talk to me talk to me...SHE`S MY TALLAHASSEE LASSIE!" Easily my favorite moment on this album.

'Just Once In My Life' was a pretty inspired cover to attempt as the original Righteous Brothers version of the song is majorly flawed. The song itself is a stone classic - I'm not sure anyone has recorded a definitive version of it, even up to now.

Best version IMHO is by London band The Action from 1966, which is only a run through:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrdcgS7EQdo

I was goofing through my entire dicography and usually I leave 15BO a wide girth so that I don't hurt myself by listening to it. However I actually liked 'Talk To Me' and 'In The Still Of The Night'. I was furious with myself, but Carl's vocals on TTM and Dennis' hoarse off-key vocals on ITSOTN work very well in my ears. These songs need a remix.

PS I've always enjoyed Had To Phone Ya and Just Once In My Life

It gets my vote for the most awful cover in their history.

It is what it is...a mess...but there are some good things (and some truly awful things) to be found if you give it a chance.  In retrospect...they should have ditched the oldies concept...though I know Brian was really crazy about that and gone with all originals.  Secondly, putting Brian in control of production duties was probably a mistake.  As gifted as he was...he'd just spent several years lying in bed.  Surely Carl (or even Dennis) could have done a better job.  There was a lot of potential here...but they botched it.  Sadly typical of this period in the band's history.

How did they get permission to use the Olympic Rings ???

Whoever gave the go-ahead at Warner Brothers should have been fired.  Cheap looking design (I am a graphic designer, btw)...just doesn't bode well for the product inside.  I'd take a generic cover like "Still Cruisin'" over "15 Big Ones".  Honestly, they've had pretty good LP covers since their inception 50 years ago.  "15 Big Ones" stands out as the worst by far.

Good songs : Had To Phone Ya, That Same Song, Just Once In My Life.
Decent songs : Back Home, Susie Cincinnat, It's OK, Palisades Park.
Take-it-or-leave-it songs : In The Still Of The Night, Talk To Me.
Bad songs : Rock N' Roll Music, TM Song, Chapel Of Love, Everyone's In Love With You, Blueberry Hill, A Casual Look.


I also think 'Sea Cruise' should've been included.

3 out of 5.

"Blueberry Hill" makes me ill!

I just would rather have had an LP of original tunes...even if some were lacking in the quality department than a mash-up of originals with half-baked covers.

I know what you mean, the first time I listened to MIU/LA twofer, I was in bed, sick....so after that, it just reminded me of that. ;)

And I know what you mean about Blueberry Hill, the beginning that's so basic and simple along with Mike's "tryin to be sly" vocals turned me off, but when everyone joins in, and the "wall of sound/synth" starts up, I really dig it!

I think I remember reading that Brian was really into the idea of recording "Blueberry Hill".  I was probably being too harsh in my critique...it's actually not as stomach turning as Mike's pompous "Everyone's In Love With You"!  I've always felt that Brian kind of had a p**s-off attitude towards the band at this point.  I don't think he wanted to be there...creating music for the band.

SIDE B of 15 Big Ones is the single most coolest (yeah..) side of Beach Boys vinyl in the world.... ever. There ain't no other side which I enjoy singing along and playing air-bass to more. (http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy205/bloody_bagheera/Smileys/jazzy-bass-smiley.gif)
Take that, Wild Honey and Love You (but you're close second and third).

See, I think he did, but he was so scrambled he thought that was the sort of music he should have been making.

What do you find pompous about Mike's "Everyone's In Love With You"?

Maybe I should have used the word "preachy".  I don't know...I don't mind the music...but I can only take so much of Mike's pseudo-hippy TM babble (just a personal opinion...and nothing more).

I agree with you, its over the top song for a guy who took basic Indian teachings and resold them for thousands of dollars to westerners. The Beatles were right to dump this guy.

According to Mike Love at least, TM has been very beneficial to his life. I believe him.

Anyway, when I first bought 15 Big Ones, I was a lot younger, a brand new BB fan, and I really liked "Everyone's In Love With You". I thought it was about a girl who couldn't find love, couldn't find the right guy. I didn't know much about the Maharishi, or that the Beach Boys and Mike were into TM. I liked the song for a long time; you know, Toni Tenille's part, the melody, even Mike's tender vocal. I saw them perform it live a couple of times; it went over OK. Actually, I thought Brian wrote the music until I read the credits. I still like 15 Big Ones, but my affection for "Everyone's In Love With You" has faded a bit.

I bet you loved hearing Brian's falsetto on "in the still of the night" and the rocking "just once in my life". "Its ok" was the perfect song for the mid 1970s.

My feelings about 15 Big Ones probably echoed most of the people who bought the album in 1976. I loved parts of it and was disappointed at other parts. I still maintain the album is well produced. It's Brian's wall of sound in 1976; his homage to Phil Spector. When he was coaxed back into the Beach Boys, I don't think he had a clue what he wanted to do. So, he reverted to what he knew best - Phil Spector. That's how I hear it anyway.

There's nothing wrong with the tracks; they're fine. The complaints always fall into two areas. First, I get that feeling of, "Why did they choose THAT song to cover". There were SO MANY others to choose from....And second, with some of the lead vocals, it was "What the fu--". But, you know, that's how they sounded at that particular time in Beach Boys' history. And, there was nothing Brian - or any other producer, including Spector - could do about it.

I kinda wish "It's OK" existed in a more stripped-down Love You version too. That would be a fuckin' stomper!

I think if I didn't know that "Everyone's In Love With You" was about the Maharishi...I'd like it a lot more.  The song is okay to listen to.  I'm glad that Mike has been able to find peace through TM.  No judgement in that regard.  "15 Big Ones" is not a bad record...though I can see how it was a let-down for some listeners when it was released.  It has a lot of Brian Wilson craziness...which might not be for the average fan...but I like it.  I wish they had gone with more originals over covers...but it is what it is.  Brian sounds so manic at times...I love him on "That Same Song"..."way back in time...with just a rhythm and rhyme...Gregorian chants were a real big thing-ahhh..."  I can picture the crazy, beared Brian in one of his robes rocking that out on the piano!!!

I honestly thought that Mike wrote this for Brian, but that would make Mike look like a good guy.

As I think of this with the other songs, kinda sounds outta place with Susie Cincinatti, but what if Pacific Ocean Blues, Angel Come Home, Holy Man, or Good Timin' had been on that record...wow, it'd blow my mind.

I agree 100%!!  They had some good songs that were not included at the time.  Was this because Brian was on such an oldies trip?  If you were to replace some of the covers (or all of them) with original songs it would have been a far better record.  It definitely could have benefited from some of Dennis' solo compositions from that era.

Excellent points.  15 Big Ones was probably the biggest let down since Smiley Smile.  I don't remember first hand, since I was just a wee child... but that certainly makes sense to me.  15 Big Ones had to have had a high "WTF-factor."  Brian's condition was simply bizarre.

He went from this, in 1971
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mqDpzN68ISc/TgX0wzAvdcI/AAAAAAAABbo/lA_tyKSBJt4/s640/brianwilson.jpg)

To this...  :o
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51aa6d%2BqCtL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)

I really, really like 15 Big Ones.  It almost has a "rude" dirty quality.  Funky production -- it does sound really good CRANKED.  There's a real punky, "f- it" quality... one that, for me, melds really well with the innocent, malt-shop oldies -- in a kind of raunchy, unexpected and ironic way.

I sometimes skip "Everyone's in love with you."  It's a fine song... I guess, but it kind of kills the party.

That is an excellent way to describe the LP!  When you put it that way...yeah...I can definitely dig it!  I think Brian did kind of have a "f- it" mindset when he was putting it together.  The dude was "out there"...to put it mildly...and I think it carries through in the music.  That's not definitely a bad thing, however!  I know "Drip Drop" was recorded a few years later...but think about how that song sounded: Brian letting loose...maybe going off the rails...but having fun while doing it!

It's OK is a good song, but it's Mike's goshdarn vocals. There's something about the way he sings "in the shade lemonade" that just makes me cringe.
Talk To Me is criminally underrated though...

I like this album much more now that I listen to it for the sonic textures rather than the songs, haha.

I like it more now too. It's still as much of a sleazy, smug-ass sellout as it ever was, but there are some great moments and I can easily hear Love You in it. I even enjoy some of the covers (though not so much the ones on Side B).

The instrumental track to Just Once In My Life is amazing- no, it's Surreal....

Had To Phone Ya is one of the band's best songs of the 70s

I was flicking through old magazines the other day and came across a rather fun interview with Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider of Kraftwerk. This one is from a 1976 issue of Rock & Folk:


[About The Beach Boys as a source of inspiration:]

"Yes, in their songs they managed to concentrate a maximum of fundamental ideas. In 100 years from now, when people will want to know what California was like in the 60s, they only had to listen a single by the Beach Boys."

Did you go to some concerts during your trip in the States? Did you see the Beach Boys live?

Ralf Hütter: Yes, we have seen them in a big stadium. It was gorgeous, like a rebirth. There's a wonderful and very poignant song in their last album, "Once In My life". I'd like to dare to say once in my life what Brian Wilson says in that song...

Where does your passion for the Beach Boys come from?

Ralf Hütter: The intelligence of their thoughts regarding american reality put onto records.

Florian Schneider: When we reached California and Hollywood, we were able to say: yes, it's exactly like that, like in the songs of the Beach Boys.

:smokin

like the M.I.U. album, it only has one great track.
That track is "Just Once In My Life".
The rest of the album is almost not worth mentioning.
0.5 out of 5

Some people are propably gonna hate me because of this review  ;D I actually dig this album, a lot! There's couple weak songs, some mediocre stuff and many really great tracks on this record! I can completely understand why people didn't like this when it was released. After all the hype of Brian's return people got an album full of covers. Who wouldn't be dissappointed? But well I didn't live any of that, I had read all the bad comments about it and when I first time put it in my player I was expecting something really horrible. But I was bummed! I found it really fun record. Not bad at all! And I find it so ironic and funny that still today Brian often says this is his favorite album of all they ever made. Last time I remember him saying so was last year when The beach boys were answering twitter questions live. I love almost everything on this album, especially Brian's vocals!

Rock and Roll Music 3.5/5
Great opener, in my opinion this is the best version of this mediocre song. The Made in California mix is better though.

It's O.K. 5/5 all the way
Classic! Brian really knows how to make a 2 minute song. Dennis' vocals rule, so cool! This is one of the most underrated Beach boys' songs ever.

Had to Phone Ya 5/5
Same here as with It's O.K. I love how everyone has he's own part. Simple lyrics, so Brian. And the fade-out's: -Hello -Hi Brian!, is so funny! I have the instrumental track of this as my ringtone.
 
Chapel of Love 3/5
Nice synthesizers, Brian's vocals are awesome even though many people seem to dismiss this. The original version ain't this good.

Everyone's in Love with You 3.5/5
I pretend that the Maharishi-thing never happened with this band when I listen to this. It's a good song.

Talk to Me 2/5
Boring, only good thing in this track is Carl's vocals.

That Same Song 3.5/5
Seems like Brian had a lot of fun here, it's not a classic song at any level, but really funny. Especially the footage where they all sing this with the choir. Fun little song.

T M Song 3/5
I hate the spoken part in the beginning. Otherwise it's really good actually. Short and catchy.
 
Palisades Park 4/5
One of the best covers of the album. Carl rules here!

Susie Cincinnati 3/5
With TM Song the worst original song on the album. Not a bad song, but not really good either.

A Casual Look 3/5
Mediocre.

Blueberry Hill 3/5
Little bit better than Casual look, the intro is great! Nice vocals by Mike.

Back Home 5/5!
This is really weird song IMO. Brian singing about going back home to Ohio and feeding chickens? What's not to like! And this has a killer bassline!

In the Still of the Night 5/5
Very touching vocals by Dennis. He makes this song.

Just Once in My Life 5/5
Wow! Can it get any better from this? The instruments and sounds are very unique, I haven't ever heard anything like this before or after. And the vocals are amazing. Perfect song to end this album.

So for the whole thing 4/5. I usually dislike the idea to cover songs, or record cover songs. This album is one exception, I hadn't heard most of the original ones before I listened this album. I listened them after these versions. They are all mediocre stuff, nothing special about them. I dig these versions a lot more. BUT I  got to admit, they shouldn't have done an album like this, doing half new and half old ones. Should've been an album completely new ones and other with these covers.  And btw, I love the cover photo, the one with the circled pics. It's so cheesy that it's actually pretty genius!

I wonder what your review of SIP would be like...

You'll see!

Do you really dislike Had To Phone Ya? That track really sets the tone for Love You, imo.

I love "Love You", but not 14/15 of the tracks from 15 Big Ones.
That includes "Had To Phone Ya"

Definitely disappointing after Holland, and I agree they should have ditched the covers idea. They should have kept maybe a few covers and the rest originals. A few of the covers are really awesome, like "Palasades Park" and "Just Once In My Life". I enjoy the odd synth symphony sounds on "Chapel Of Love". Agreed with a previous poster who said they listen for the sonic textures more than the song. The song choices aren't the best, but the production is certainly kind of interesting. When they do really cheesy like "Everyone's In Love With You" or just mediocre straight covers like "A Casual Look" then it is just bland and does not sound very good.

It's an odd mixed bag of an album but I think it's good overall. Maybe I'm used to it from years of listening, but there's no doubt there's a handful of great tracks here. Carl is most notably awesome on here, and "Talk To Me" is definitely very underrated.

I think it could have been a lot better. More originals, possibly from Carl or Dennis, and better choice of covers like some of the outtakes which are so good you don't know why they canned them (Sea Cruise and Mony Mony).

One of the worst albums ever made. Had To Phone Ya and and Just Once In My Life are stunning, however, and better than anything on the previous two LPs.

Excellent review RiC!  (Because I agree with it!!)  ;D

The only differences, for me are...

Everyone's in Love with You -- You said "3.5/5."  But I afford it just one lousy, sympathy star.  It's easily the worst track on 15 Big Ones for me.  Not that it's the worst song ever, or anything... it just sticks out like a turd in the punch bowl.  Floating there, trying really hard to ruin a silly, fun party.  But I love your statement "I pretend that the Maharishi-thing never happened with this band when I listen to this."  :lol  What do you mean exactly?  That if you forget about the Maharishi-thing, the song presents itself different to you?  If so, I'm intrigued!

Blueberry Hill -- You only gave it 3/5.  This is one of the best covers and sort of a favorite on the album for me.  4.5 stars I say!  After the intro, the song really finds a euphoric groove, and rides it hard.  Rides it hard and dirty!

Back Home -- You scored this a perfect 5/5.  I don't know... this song, I have to force myself to get into.  And I do... but it just requires effort on my part.  It's not euphoric, but sort of a pedestrian little "rocker."  It's inoffensive, and I love the "gonna eat everything on the table!" sentiments.  But it's still forgettable flipside material.  3, 3.5 tops.  It's not weird enough.



I also want to make special mention of two tracks.  Like you, I don't get much out of Susie Cincinnati.  I don't hate it... but wouldn't miss it.

The other is Palisades Park.  Like you, I dig this cover.  Actually, I love it!  Just mentioning the title, I can hear that little carnival organ riff.   :lol  And someone's (Dennis?) half-a$$ed exclamation "Oh my gosh!" (or whatever he says) cracks me up!!

This track is a riot.  I want a whole Beach Boys Carnival album!!  Amusement Parks USA.  County Fair.  Palisades Park.  Parts of Heroes and Villains.  That's what I'm talking about!

Run, run, run.  The rides are runnin'!

The Beach Boys
(http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20101130191051/coasterpedia/images/1/1a/AmusementPark.jpg)
Amusement Parks USA

Well today I'd propably rate some of these  songs a bit differently. But I still love every part of Back Home   :smokin

With that meditation stuff I mean that I thought that Everyone's In Love with You was a touching song, BEFORE I read that it's supposed to be about Maharishi and that kinda ruined it. If I just push that aside I can still enjoy the song. If I think about a hairy meditation guru while listening to it, it kinda destroys the whole thing... But don't get me wrong, I'm actually interested in him and Transcendental meditation. If I only was rich enough to study it I would...

Palisades park rules! The world needs more 15 Big One lovers  :hat

When this LP came out it was HUGE.. You had the Brian's back campaign.. Cover story in Rolling Stone.. A huge stadium tour with BW..  The biggest audiences in USA.. You had the TV special impact.. And if you lived in southern California you could go to the beach and later cruise over to Brother studio's.. Then maybe cruise by Brian's house in Bel Air.. You had an all day BB special on FM radio playin rare tracks.. Articles in all kind of magazines..The world was at our finger tips.. So what about LP.?.. WELL.. Out of 15 songs there are at least 4 total poop.. More if you are  more discriminating..  Production was muddy + vocals are rough.. Live they sounded still like BB.. But on this record not so much.. VERY confusing record.. Has BW lost it..? Does everyone have a sore throat..? When I first bought this I was so hungry for new BB I ate it up..  But it didnt take to long to realize disappointment in this record.. And it hurt momentum .. And Love You did more of the same..   To me thee are 5 stand out tracks.. 5 OK songs and 5 POOP..  It was a great time to be a BB fan.. But they fumbled the ball like Smiley Smile.. And it wouldn't be the last time either.. But I love The Beach Boys and I knew their would be more great stuff comin.. And it still does to this day... Cover art 4/5... Music 3/5

IMO, this album is underrated by Smiley Smilers. I reckon it's great.

Rock and Roll Music
3.5/5 Sure, it could've been better but I still reckon it's a cool catchy tune.
It's OK
4.5/5 I agree with others when they say that It's OK should have been the first single. The perfect summer song. Denny's vocal is classic.
Had To Phone Ya
5/5 I love this song.
Chapel Of Love
3/5 The instrumentation is annoying, the lyrics are crap but Brian's falsetto is awesome!
Everyone's In Love With You
3.5/5 The lyrics are crap but the instrumentation and background vocals are great.
Talk To Me
4/5 Carl's great on this.
That Same Song
5/5 Brian sings very good on this. I really like this song.
TM Song
4/5 I love the intro to this. Nice charming little song.
Palisades Park
5/5 My favorite of the covers and maybe my favorite song of the album.
Susie Cincinnati
5/5 Awesome song. I prefer the mix on MIC though.
A Casual Look
4/5 Intro is great. Good song although Mike's voice sounds a bit nasal on this.
Blueberry Hill
3.5/5 A bit too old fashioned for my tastes. Still great though.
Back Home
5/5 Back-to-basics type song. I love the bass on this. This song rocks.
In the Still of the Night
5/5 Denny sounds great on this.
Just Once In My Life
5/5 The final verse is my favourite moment of the album.

Calculator says 4.3 so my rating is 4 stars. Haters gonna hate.

Rock and Roll Music
2/5 for Chuck Berry's original composition. This version stinks and doesn't rock at all.
It's OK
4/5 cheesy throwback, but it's catchy. Pretty much "Do It Again" of the 70s
Had To Phone Ya
5/5 Amazing arrangement, and just a perfect composition
Chapel Of Love
1/5
Everyone's In Love With You
1/5
Talk To Me
1/5
That Same Song
3/5
TM Song
2/5
Palisades Park
1/5
Susie Cincinnati
1/5
A Casual Look
1/5
Blueberry Hill
1/5
Back Home
4.5/5 Brian's gruff voice suits this perfectly... but he gets kind of out of hand in the tag
In the Still of the Night
1/5
Just Once In My Life
4.5/5

Honestly one of the worst LPs of all time, imho. I give it a 1 for Had to Phone Ya and that's being generous.

The cover art is atrocious and an instant turn off. It exudes sleaze, half-assery, and cheapness. Qualities the music displays in spades. Brian looks so unhealthy and overweight that it's disgusting to look at. Why is Al facing the other direction? It looks so shoddy, like it was thrown together last minute. It also marks the birth of the logo which has always been detrimental to the band's image.

Most of the songs sound bland, uninspired and poor. TM Song really is a disgrace, even as a "joke" song. Again, it just exudes a feeling of poor quality. Some of you are excusing this as a pseudo-punk attitude. I honestly read it as Mike and Al carelessly wanting to push something out for the big bucks, Dennis and Carl were too weak to resist but actively knew the album was a f***-up the entire time they made it, and Brian didn't care enough about the band to worry about making a good album and/or wasn't ready to reclaim a producer's role yet.

And while I'm on the subject, trotting Brian out for the money when he was not healthy and out of practice has to be one of the most deplorable things the Boys have ever done. Stephen Love never should have been their manager, and I hope he sleeps well at night knowing he prodded the band to exploit a fragile man in a bad place for cash.

If any Beach Boys album exudes distasteful, bad vibes it's this one. It sank their last, best chance at a full comeback and rightfully so. If this was the best they could churn out they deserved to fail. I'm sure this will be an unpopular opinion on here, but I think the band should have broken up after this stinker. Brian could explore his new creative instincts without the weight of the world on his shoulders. Dennis could have put his full attention into his solo efforts; he was the Wilson they ought to have looked to for public and critical praise. He was ready to produce and write music for the group and in hindsight they're fools to have passed him up. Carl could throw his talents behind his brothers and helped spur them both on to their full potential. Mike and Al could keep pimping out the hits on tour and writing formulaic music in that style on their own. Everybody probably would have been more successful, happy and better off for it all.

15 Big Ones is the death of the Beach Boys as far as I'm concerned.

Perhaps a tad harsh...but not overly so.  Why we felt we [or why they felt they] had to settle for this was and is beyond me.

Still that's not how it went.  They didn't lift and separate.  And so we have what we have now...and really?  There are only a few grains of sand left in the hour glass named for The Beach Boys.  I guess we better face it.  Encorage any last projects...solo or otherwise and catch 'em where ever we can in whatever presentation they offer us...'cause time is almost up.

I am going to try my best to stop blaming any of them for not being perfect...because what they gave us collectively far outweighs the bad and the unpleasant...including these here :lol 15 inappropriately named 'big' ones.

Yes, and the fact that even C50 ended on a bitter note just makes it all the more tragic. Just reaffirms my statement. They should have realized with Endless Summer/15/POB that they all had different interests. Mike wanted to shamelessly relive the past forever, Al is just Al, Dennis had outgrown the band and was ready to move on to bigger and better things, Brian ought to have worried about regaining his composure and better himself rather than be everyone's meal ticket, Carl probably could have went solo too if he had found better collaborators than he did in real life.

Instead, they stayed together and from what I've read of them, the late 70s on was full of tension, fights, creative differences and unhappiness for all. And the albums weren't even all that great. I really like Love You, but that's mostly Brian. It doesn't work as a Beach Boys album, but as a Brian album it's fascinating and I'd have liked to see more of that, not have him be distracted working on future stinkers like LA.

But you're right, can't change the past. And it seems like they finally figured it out now. Brian gets to do whatever he wants, Mike and company make a living reliving the old glory days for all eternity. The only loser in this scenario is poor old Al.

Almost gave it a three, but settled on a two. 

Hard to believe that this is the same band that earlier in the decade put out Sunflower, Surf's Up, and Holland.  Even CATP, which isn't my favorite album, had a lot more creativity.  But, then Endless Summer forever made The Beach Boys a nostalgia band. 

Blondie and Ricky were jettisoned, and Brian Wilson was brought back into the fold.  Like an athlete coming off an injury too soon, the results are not good. 

The covers are pretty lifeless at times.  Rock and Roll Music is anything but (much better in concert).  Had The Beach Boys covered In the Still of the Night around 1964, it would probably be as good as Hushabye was.  Here, not so much.  Both Brian's and Dennis's voices are going downhill. 

The song that best describes this album - It's OK (basically Do It Again for the late 1970s).  The song was OK, and so is the album. 

1. Rock And Roll Music 2/5
2. It's OK 3/5
3. Had To Phone Ya 5/5
4. Chapel Of Love 3/5
5. Everyone's In Love With You 4/5
6. Talk To Me 2/5
7. That Same Song 1/5
8. TM Song 0/5
9. Palisades Park 4/5
10. Susie Cincinnati 4/5
11. A Casual Look 3/5
12. Blueberry Hill 4/5
13. Back Home 3/5
14. In The Still Of The Night 1/5
15. Just Once In My Life 4/5

Going back through it track by track, it's actually better then I often give it credit. Still, a massive disappointment after Holland. Putting Brian back in sole charge was a mistake.
(Just about scrapes a) 3/5.

I hadn't listened to it in a few years, so I put it on tonight, and it was actually much better than I remembered it being. Rock and Roll Music, It's Ok, Susie Cincinnati, Everyone's in Love With You - I like all of those; Palisades Park is good, but Blueberry Hill? Doesn't come close to topping the Fats Domino version. Just Once in My Life seems in too low a key to bring out the best in Carl's voice, and Brian does not sound good here. In fact, I had forgotten how different Brian sounds on this album. It's like he's consciously trying to sing in a low register. It's not the sweet Brian voice of Let Him Run Wild, In My Room, or Don't Worry Baby; but it's not the older Brian voice of BW88 or Orange Crate Art, either. There's a stellar cast of supporting musicians on the album, but for reasons I don't understand, it doesn't translate into great backing tracks. So it's not the steaming pile of excrement I thought it was, but it's still a big dropoff from Holland.

1. Rock And Roll Music 1/5
2. It's OK 1/5
3. Had To Phone Ya 5/5
4. Chapel Of Love 1/5
5. Everyone's In Love With You 1/5
6. Talk To Me 2/5
7. That Same Song 3/5
8. TM Song 5/5
9. Palisades Park 5/5
10. Susie Cincinnati 3/5
11. A Casual Look 1/5
12. Blueberry Hill 4/5
13. Back Home 4/5
14. In The Still Of The Night 5/5
15. Just Once In My Life 5/5

The originals are alright for the most part, the cover songs range from damn good to meh to tedious. Should've just used 15 of the cover songs they recorded as the album and made the originals an EP.

1. Rock And Roll Music: 6/10
2. It´s Ok: 6/10
3. Had to Phone ya: 10/10
4. Chapel of Love: 5/10
5. Everyone in love with you: 10/10
6. Talk to Me: 7/10
7: That Same Song: 1/10
8: TM Song: 9/10
9: Palisades Park: 10/10
10: Susie Cinccinati: 10/10
11: A Casual Look: 10/10
12: Blueberry Hill: 10/10
13: Back Home: 8/10
14: In The Still of The Night: 10/10
15: Just Once My Life: 10/10

This is My favourite album

1. Rock And Roll Music 3/5
2. It's OK 5/5
3. Had To Phone Ya 5/5
4. Chapel Of Love 4/5
5. Everyone's in Love With You 2/5
6. Talk to Me 3/5
7. That Same Song 4/5
8. TM Song 4/5
9. Palisades Park 3/5
10. Susie Cincinnati 2/5
11. A Casual Look 4/5
12. Blueberry Hill 4/5
13. Back Home 5/5
14. In the Still of the Night 4/5
15. Just Once in My Life 5/5

I play this one quite often.

2.5/5

I like some of the originals. Had to Phone Ya is quite lovely, and It's OK is catchy. Back Home just rocks, would've loved to hear the boys do this version of the song in the 60's/early 70's. That Same Song is corny, but I love the chorus with the gospel choir and shows that the group had at least some creative flair left. Susie Cincanitti is alright, too. I dislike Everyone's in Love with You and The TM Song. The covers are...a mixed bag. Rock 'N Roll Music has only been covered by uh, everyone, and the BB's version just doesn't add anything new to it, so it ends up sounding generic to me. Blueberry Hill and In the Still of the Night are also boring. Chapel of Love is decent, as I love that song in general, but Brian's hoarse vocals are really distracting here. His falsetto ad-libs during the song (yeah yeah yeah's, 'all the birds all sing') sound like someone making fun of Brian Wilson rather than Brian Wilson himself. At least it has some energy. Perhaps the only one I really like is Just Once in My Life, as it has a lot of emotion and the chorus is powerful. Also it's one of those songs that seems sad to me when I think about what Brian and the boys were going through in the 70's and 80's. It sounds like the type of song you sing when you're saying goodbye to someone, or something, like the world is about to change but not really for the better. Not a bad album, but hugely disappointing considering what the band was doing just a few years earlier.

I love this album to bits! It's my personal favorite BB album