The Smiley Smile Message Board

With the release of Mike’s solo album, I kinda wanted to start some discussion on our favorite solo albums from The Beach Boys. Whether it be Bruce, Dennis, Mike, Carl, Al, David, or Brian, each of these guys has spent time in the studio doing their own thing. What are your top 3 solo albums and why?

1. Pacific Ocean Blue

This is the most real sounding solo album I’ve ever heard from any of these guys. There are no modern studio tricks, no pro-tools. I feel like this warm vintage analog sound is something that will be completely lost for any more solo or studio albums by these guys. I think Brian came close on the Gershwin album, but it’s all still very crisp and clean (and I’m not bashing that clean sound, but it just doesn’t feel as warm as those old pre-digital era recordings...and yes, I know BWRG was recorded analog).

Another part of that real sound is the songwriting. Dennis was trying to make a statement, not a conventional hit, so each song is a powerful statement from his heart that isn’t warped by a record company wanting a top 40 hit.

2. BW88

It’s a shame that such a great album came out of the depths of one of the darkest times in Brian’s life. Which makes me feel weird for liking this album so much. When I listen I usually ask myself “how much did Landy have to do with this album?” but usually this thought doesn’t last long and I’m completely overtaken by, what I consider, Love You part 2.

I love the synths, the songwriting is fantastic (that hook in ‘Baby Let Your Hair Grow Long’ is one of Brian’s coolest solo creations. I love ‘Let It Shine’ and if Brian had zip to do with the songwriting I still wouldn’t care. ‘Rio Grande’ is really cool - snippets of songs that paint a cool picture of cowboys and Indians.

3. Postcards from California

So I haven’t heard this years (Apple Music doesn’t offer it and I currently can’t load it onto my phone from my computer). But Al just sounds so darn good on this thing. You can really tell that he put a ton of work into this. There is a great one on this album, I think it’s called ‘San Simeon’ and it sounds kinda like ‘Don’t Worry Baby’ but it’s one of my favorite solo songs from any of these guys.
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Gershwin and NPP are up there too for me. I think vocally the Disney album is one of Brian’s best. I need to give Dave’s latest album a listen one of these days.

1.  Brian Wilson - That Lucky Old Sun - I think it's by far the most consistent of Brian's solo albums.   I also think it's the best produced of BW's solo career.   Plus, a nice mix of uptempo songs and ballads make for a nice listening experience. 

2.  Brian Wilson - What I Really Want for Christmas - I had to really think about my second favorite solo album, as there a few fighting for the #2 spot - Imagination and No Pier Pressure among them.  But, I'm going with my gut.  I listen to this album almost as much as I do The Beach Boys Christmas album this time of year.  I love the sound of this album, as there's a certain looseness to it, and it sounds to me like Brian and his band are having a fun time making it. 

3.  Brian Wilson - Imagination - I knew it was going to be one of the Brian / Joe Thomas albums.  I'd giving this one the slight edge over No Pier Pressure.  While I like the sound of No Pier Pressure better, and the high points might be just a little higher, I think the low points are much much lower.   Plus, I really like the album.   It was a long road from frog in the throat vocals to shouty vocals, but Brian's older voice seems to finally find itself on this album.   

*****I should say that I've actually never listened to any of the albums from Carl, David, Bruce, or Mike, so I can't rate them.   

Nice choices and comments from both of you. KDS, have you at least heard the Youngblood song, What You Do To Me ? Opinions are mixed on that one, but I always thought that it would have been a hit if released as a Beach Boys single. I love that one. Carl sounds absolutely incredible on it. Probably my favorite Carl solo song. Up there with Heaven.

My favorite solo albums...

1) Pacific Ocean Blue (No doubt about it. An all-time favorite of mine. Along with another POB - Plastic Ono Band)

2) BW '88

3) That Lucky Old Sun (tough choice - I'm also a big WIRWFC fan and BWPS is up there too, as is Bambu)

I don't think I have.   I'll check it out.

1. Pacific Ocean Blue

2. Bambu (If that counts)

3. No Pier Pressure

The songs from Carl's solo album(s) sound better on the couple of circulating live shows from his 1981 tour. I much prefer the live versions of stuff like "Bright Lights" and "The Grammy" on the "My Father's Place" gig compared to the studio album.

I’ve been listening to his self title album. Love the sound of ‘Hold Me’ - has such a great Marcella vibe!

1. That Lucky Old Sun

2. Surfin' Round The World

3. Pacific Ocean Blue

1. Brian Wilson Presents Smile
2. Pacific Ocean Blue
3. Brian Wilson '88

I had never heard of this until your post. Listening now and I love this album!

Makaha at Midnight is such a great instrumental.

Two are easy----POB and BW88.

The third is either (thinking out loud here) BWPS, NPP or Postcard.

The last two have closing tracks that I can't warm to. So #3 is BWPS.

(http://blogs.c.yimg.jp/res/blog-d9-1e/bobby_sideup/folder/983746/94/18327794/img_0)

I want to someday forget that this album exists.

(http://www.beachboys.com/ml-catch.jpg)

That's number 2.

Least it’s a singer-songwriter album compared to “unleash the love”

You read my mind! My number one Beach Boys solo album is:

(http://stmedia.startribune.com/images/ctyp_unleashed.jpg)

I want Brian Wilson to unleash the smackdown with the rock and roll album....

rab2591, it's a really awesome album! Shows Bruce had great chops in the surf genre. He wrote songs with Hal Blaine and Ray Pohlman on here, which I think is awesome.

For me it’s Pacific Ocean Blue, Brian Wilson’s 1988 album.... and Surfer’s Pyjama Party

3) Brian Wilson - No Pier Pressure

2) Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue

1) Brian Wilson - Lucky Old Sun

1. Brian Wilson (1988)
A lot of quality songs, and great digital-wall-of-sound production. This IS the best.

2. Pacific Ocean Blue (1977)
I like some of BB songs written by Dennis better than anything on this album, but this is still a really sublime collection of songs.

3. That Lucky Old Sun (2008)
The best-crafted BB album in some fourty years.

Is this album worth a darn? I'll admit that I love Bruce's Surfers' Pajama Party but never gave Surfin' 'Round the World a chance for whatever reason.

1- Youngblood - Carl Wilson

2- Carl Wilson - self titled

3- Orange Crate Art - Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks

1. BW88
I like the production and the songwriting is excellent on the first five tracks and Rio Grande. The other songs are pretty good too. Easily my most-played BB solo album.

2. POB
I know this is usually considered the best solo album and I do like it but I hardly ever play it these days. Dennis was a good songwriter but I enjoy his stuff a lot more when it's surrounded by enough Brian material to balance it out a bit, like on 20/20 or Carl and the Passions.

3. BWRG
This is just a good listen. I'm not a big fan of The Like in I Love You (whoever wrote the lyrics was trying a little too hard) but some of the other stuff is really good, like Brian's lead vocal on I've Got a Crush on You, or It Ain't Necessarily So, 's Wonderful... Good album.

Tough call, but I'll go with, in a very tight race for #1;

1) POB
2.) NPP
3.) Imagination

Honorable mention to TLOS, Youngblood, and Postcard

Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE...if this one doesn't count because it was a reworking of a work stalled just short of 'in progress' I'll accept that.  If not...if it's still eligible...this to me is the runaway winner.  A myth dispelled.  A dream come true...especially in terms of healing Brian immeasurably...a goal line crossed...a demon slayed.  AND...a great gathering of music all on one disc.  The accompanying tours and shows through 2004 and 2005 were all MAGIC.  [and many of us met one another somewhere along the line while it was all unfolding]

After that?  Pacific Ocean Blue.  Dennis rising above the line imposed on him by those 2 assholes...Murry and Mike...and proving to anyone with real ears that next to Brian he was the MOST CREATIVE guy in the band...and then some.  He might have grown and come to it slowly but when he got there...PRESTO!!!  That he was deep in the throes of the prisons both self imposed and also constructed by the previously alluded to fools meant that it was over at exactly the time he scaled that mountain not achievable for the others [not confined to the realty of wrongly diagnosed mental illness] and that remains the biggest shame of all.  Jealousy and 'love' can be lethal.

No Pier Pressure.  There is one Beach Boy left who isn't stuck living and reliving only the 1962 to 1966 time-frame with reluctant nods to anything which followed.   Guest vocalists?  Brian always worked with other vocalists both in and out of the band setting.  I can't wait for the next album.  I'm ready to ROCK...and roll.
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Honourable Mention to Postcards, Lucky Old Sun, 88 and Youngblood/Carl Wilson.  Live in Vegas was pretty special as a live effort too.  Oh...and Orange Crate Art is a terrific surprise.  Well done Van Dyke...and you too Bri.

1. POB
2. Postcards
3. Youngblood / Carl Wilson

Hi
Here is my top 3!

1. DW - Pacific Ocean Blue
Definitely the most underrated solo album in music history! :)

2. BW - Imagination
There are two songs that are worth the whole album in my opinion: Cry and Lay Down Burden. This album came out after the loss of Carl, so I' think it's very emotional.

3. BW - I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
I like the type of sound on songs like Love and Mercy and Let The Wind Blow. Different.

It is always hard to list a ranking for a BB fan..

I also think ‘She Says That’s She Needs Me’ is one of Brian’s better solo tunes...I feel it’s the closest his solo voice ever sounded to his 60s voice.

I also would love for Brian to remake ‘Dream Angel’ with a far less influence from adult contemporary production. Imagine it has a Spector production with Ronettes style vocals and this is a killer track.

I really dig it! Maybe it’s because I’d never heard of it before, but it’s a really pleasant surprise.

Standouts for me:

Makaha at Midnight
Down Under
Biarritz
Jersey Channel Islands
Surf-a-nova
Malibu

I actually haven’t heard Surfers Pajama Party, guess I’ll put that on my list too.

1. Both Pacific Ocean Blue and Bambu.
2. Brian Wilson 88.
3. No Pier Pressure.

Pacific Ocean Blue

BW '88

BW Imagination


Honorable Mention: Country Love (sadly, unreleased to date)

POB
BW88
NPP

1. POB

2. OCA

3. BW88

I couldn’t pick which was better between 2 and 3. I think the best of BW88 is better than the best of OCA but OCA is more consistent in my opinion.

Interesting pick, OCA.

"Orange Crate Art" has probably grown on me, in terms of how little I was interested in it when it came out versus how much I like it now, more than any BB solo album and maybe any BB-related album.

Stunning vocal arrangements, awesome (even if run through a harmonizer/synthesizer) vocals from Brian (I've never been as bothered by that mid-90s Paley/IJWMFTT/OCA Brian voice), and great songs (and sometimes good lyrics) from VDP. I like most that the songs sound largely *nothing* like what BW or the BBs would ever put on an album.

"San Francisco" might be one of the most impressive stacked vocal performances in the BB/BB solo catalog in my opinion.

Agree on the above, and tellingly, OCA is OOP now and quite pricey on the used market. 

The physical CD does appear to be out of print (though there are some pretty cheap used copies on Amazon, in the $7-$12 range).

It can still be purchased as an MP3 download, and it's also streaming on Amazon (and this I would presume Spotify, etc., though I can't say for certain).

Yes it is, I LOVE the album cover and am always crossing my fingers it’ll somehow get a vinyl release.

It’s on Spotify.

1 POB
2 BWPS
3 NPP

 ;D

1. Pacific Ocean Blue
2. That Lucky Old Sun
3. Brian Wilson Presents Smile

1. Brian Wilson Presents Smile
2. Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin
3. Brian Wilson '88

BWPS
Gershwin
Imagination

One of my favorite moments from his solo career is the wordless middle eight during ‘Nothing But Love’ - that whole song actually is one of my favorite things he’s ever done.

I need to give that album a few more listens

Brian Wilson Presents Smile

Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin

What I Really Want For Christmas

Pacific Ocean Blue

BW 88

Bambu