The Smiley Smile Message Board

This should be a blast! Pick the 10 BB songs you cannot stand and say why. Only the most forgiving fan could struggle to fill this list!!
Mine are as follows;
1) Solar System.  Have slagged this many a time before. May very well have caused Mike's last remaining hairs to fall out upon hearing it. Brian certainly wasn't "back" the day he wrote this dreck.
2) Passing Friend. Bad 80's synths, drum machines - yuk! The only thing worse than hearing The Beach Boys do a song written by Culture Club is hearing Culture Club do a song written by Culture Club.
3) Make it Good. I wish he had! This is the one Dennis song I truly detest and stops CATP from being a 5 star album. At least he made amends a track later with "Cuddle Up".
4) You're So Good to Me. Hate BW's voice on this when he goes "Luurrve It". Garbage lyrics. Why is this on practically every "best of" comp in the UK?
5) Heads You Win... Can't be assed to write it's entire title, you all know the one I mean. The outcome when you hurry a developing young songwriter into a studio to make a record when he's only got about 4 good songs to his name.
6) Problem Child. Mike and Melcher drag the groups name through the mud. The annoying kids "NAH NAH NANANAH"! is the best part of the song. Which says it all really.
7) When Girls Get Together. Nice one Bruce! This fits on KTSA much better than a track nabbed from Dennis's stillborn "Bambu" project would have. Good choice!!
8) Let's put Our Hearts Together. Lumpy production meets bad lovey dovey lyrics that feature BW's wife wailing off key whilst eyeing up Rocky's package.
9) She Believes in Love Again. Ouch!! Again with the horrible 80's synth production. Plus Bruce makes us all laugh by trying to sound like Don Henley!!  :lol
10) Full Sail. Carl bores us with this AOR coma inducing zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! (Sorry drifted off there) snoozefest.

I'd toss in 'Roller Skating Child' in there somewhere. I can't believe that Mike Love had a hard time with VDP's lyrics, yet thought these were OK.

I always sort of liked You're So Good To Me.... :'(

I like every song mentioned in the first two post! :p

1. Take A Load Off Your Feet - take a load alright...
2. Summer Of Love
3. Louie Louie
4. She's Goin' Bald - parts of it are hard on the ears
5. Male Ego - terrible vocal, equally terrible lyrics, boring melody...
6. I Get Around/Little Deuce Coupe from Party
7. maybe Mama Says

that's it; I can't think of 10....   

1.   Kokomo - The music just doesn't sound like Beach Boys music.  It sound too contrived.

2.   California Calling - 40 year old men should never sing the lyric "totally rad".

3.   Kona Coast - Faux Beach Boys.  Mike Love once again shows he didn't get what made Brian's music magic.

4.   Here Come the Night from LA - The Beach Boys take a great unknown gem and turn it into a generic disco tune that was probably 3 years out of date for its sound.  The Stones and the Bee Gees did disco songs that were still identifiable sonically as the Stones and the Bee Gees.  That is what the Beach Boys should have done.

5.   She's Got Rhythm - Brian's falsetto is not recognizable as Brian Wilson.

6.   Rock 'n Roll Music - Why doesn't it rock?  The synth heavy production turns it into a dirge instead of a rocker.

7.   Hey Little Tomboy - would you like a piece of candy? (Although I do like "Roller Skating Child" - figure that).

8.   Solar System - Nonsensical

9.   I Wanna Pick You Up - "Pat, Pat, Pat her on her butt  " - Not as creepy as Tomboy

And we'll make sweet lovin' 'til the sun goes down...we'll even do more when her mama's not around!!

I didn't say it was perverted. I think that the lyrics to Roller Skating Child are stupid.

OH FINE.

5, 6, and 10 suck ass. I actually forgot about "Problem Child" when I said what 3 songs were my least favorite in another post. In that case, let me humbly add the hideous "Happy Endings". Yeah, I was happy when the Luther ended.

edit..."Luther"? Seriously"! :lol  interesting word filter...

All these lists are invalid as there are more than ten tracks on Summer in Paradise.

Yup, pretty darn bad.
Make It Good and Full Sail though are good to my ears, the others very passable if not downright fine.

I'm So Lonely
Happy Endings
Problem Child
Crocodile Rock
When Girls Get Together
Sunshine
Some Of Your Love
Cuckoo Clock
Rubles
The Battle Hymn of the Republic

Sumahama
Everyone's in Love with You
Smart Girls

It's as hard to pick an all time worst as it is an all time best. I left out solo recordings even though I think that the very worst stuff comes from the solo outings. This is just what popped in my head.
I'm So Lonely-Terrible lyrics, vocals, and production,.
Happy Endings-cloying and so off putting in general.
Surfin 1992 remake-Takes something that was cool and twists it into something crappy.
Summer Of Love- Holy s--t is this bad or what? The lyrics are so creepy.
She Believes In Love-Boring MOR rubbish. I honestly can't stand this one.
I Want To Pick You Up-Horrid Vocals, cutesy production, never even mind the lyrics!
Love Is A Woman-"Tell Her She Smells Good Tonight" WHY BRIAN WHY? The vocals are strained as hell
Here Comes The Night 1979-That one would turn a cool RnB song into a disco track is bad enough but this is the worst disco I've ever heard next to Disco Celebration.
School Days-Corny as hell. I can't get the image of the line dancing during the chorus out of my head.
Problem Child-Hate this because it's so putrid. It really was a lowpoint.

If we are limiting this to officially released stuff, then I can't fill a "top ten hated songs" list...I think even the worst stuff is at least listenable.  Many of the titles mentioned above are songs I love!   Particularly Full Sail!

BUT...if we can do unreleased stuff, then I have a handful of tunes...

1. Oh! Those Girls! (Mike Love channeling his inner Richard Simmons)
2. Smart Girls (particularly the version that includes all the samples of BB songs...sacrilege!)
3. It's Not Easy Being Me (I know people like this song, but it just sounds so whiny and miserable and cliche)

That's honestly all I could come up with...

If we are keeping it to only Beach Boys songs and only official releases...

1. Summer of Love - Terrible lyrics, terrible vocals.

2. I Wanna Pick you Up - Plodding dull track, abysmal lyrics and really weak vocal. The tag doesn't save it.

3. In the Still of the Night - Another shockingly bad Dennis vocal and poor production from Brian.

4. Rock and Roll Music - Mike is far too nasal and another half-hearted attempt from Brian.

5. Sunshine - Bruce has talked about the trouble they went to in splicing this together but what he didn't explain was, why??? Dull, repetitive music and surely the session musicians that the band had at their disposal could have done better if they'd started afresh.

6. Still Cruisin' - The lyrics are just far too derivative on this one and Terry Melcher's production too polished.

7. Love is a Woman - It's rather sad that the band had lost their way so much that they were willing to release guff like this. Terrible vocals and lyrics.

8. Passing Friend - If only Bruce had been friends with The Smiths' or U2's producer...Instead we get this bilge.

9. This Car of Mine - The words are infantile and the track half-finished.

10. California Callin' - A cross between a few of the hits but far worse than any of them. 

I guess I excuse songs like "This Car Of Mine" or "Heads I Win" because they seem genuine. They aren't what I would call great, but they aren't cynical like so much of the 1976-96 Beach Boys music was. I really don't dislike much of the Beach Boys first dozen years."When Girls Get Together" is probably the only pre 1975 song that I actually hate.

I notice Rock and Roll Music is on here a lot. It's a little nerdy, but I like that they took the time to make a fresh arrangment. The hot mix is actually pretty cool.

I live in Oceana - any vestages of SIP have been erased from my world - It does not exist.

Looking at the total body of work, there's plenty to hate.  But of the biggest hits, the tracks included on the best ofs, one I never need to hear again is "Be True To Your School."  I'm also not crazy about "All Summer Long," or "When I Grow Up."

I would have to think more about it but:

Solar System
My Diane
Match Point of our Love
Endless Harmony
All of Summer in Paradise

I am not going to put any covers on my list. Also, I haven't owned SIP for a long time, so I don't remember them enough to include so here goes:

1. That Same Song: Sounds like a song written by an 8 year old
2. Still Cruisin: Mike's awful 80s nasal and attempting to recreate their early sound :P
3. California Calling: Same as SC
4. She's Got Rhythm: Very cheesey
5. This Car of Mine: Here is a song from the early days where they attempted to sound like they would in the late 70s....or something
6. Darlin: Over rated and boring
7. TM Song: I sort of enjoy the monologue at the beginning, but starting with Al's 'It's time to meditate' pure awfulness.
8. Kona Coast: Same as SC and CC
9. Little Douce Coupe: Worst hit song of the 60s IMO
10. He Come Down: The only cheese in the Chaplin/Fataar era

So far I think SIP has the highest percentage of hated tracks on an album. Didn't see that comming one bit  ;). I'm ashamed to admit I quite like the '90's "Surfin" remake. Sounds like they crossed the original with the theme to "Baywatch". Enjoyable in a bad cheesy kindda way!

If we're gonna throw solo efforts in there may I be the first to put forward "Why Won't Someone Dance With Me" by Bruce. Infact that's worse than anything on my original top 10 list now I think about it.

Mike I totally agree with you regarding 'Won't Someone Dance With Me', I would go as far as saying that it is the absolute worse song in the Beach Boys/Beach Boys related catalogue.

InSIPid-- all of SIP-YES

Sumahama-YES
 
It's surprising how much I like "Love You" overall despite the number of songs that I skip thru when listening to it!
LPOHT-mentioned above
LIAW-mentioned above
Airplane- just can't stand Mike's parts and the banal lyrics.

THat song is so bad, it makes me laugh/cringe every time I hear it! haha...it just drags on and on.  By the time Bruce gets to the final part..."You've FOUND someone to dance..." I have to laugh at how sitting through the song is sheer torture...

In a Top 10 Most Hated Solo Albums thread, "Going Public" would be high up on my list.

I'm convinced this is turning into the "overrated Beach Boys songs" thread all over again. I'm having a hard time coming up with why anyone would name anything recorded before 78 over the huge amount of awful songs that came out after that.

I second your list! With the exception of I'm So Lonely, just a little guilty pleasure of mine.   ;D

Really?  Do you think the live version of Darlin' is a little better? more lively?

Totally disagree with both of these selections. To me, "Little Deuce Coupe" features what may be one of the downright finest early lead vocal performances by Mike. The whole song/production sounds incredibly cool to these ears, especially the drums.

Too many to choose from, but...
Problem Child
Make It Big
Match Point...
Summer of Love
California Calling
Everyone's In Love With You
Livin' With A Heartache
Sunshine
Here Comes the Night disco version
Island Fever

I'm excluding covers and what might be termed juvenilia.

My two favorite songs from KTSA. I know, a matter of opinion....

  1. Barbara-f******-Ann
  2. Barbara-f******-Ann
  3. Barbara-f******-Ann
  4. Barbara-f******-Ann
  5. Barbara-f******-Ann
  6. Barbara-f******-Ann
  7. Barbara-f******-Ann
  8. Barbara-f******-Ann
  9. Barbara-f******-Ann
10. Barbara-f******-Ann

I don't think that Andrew likes Barbara Ann.

Barbara f****** Ann must be from the Ding Dang session...

BA was certainly a major success and much enjoyed song when done live in concert. It usually brought the house down!

Agreed, but many a great performance, particularly in the early 70's, was ruined by overzealous "fans" screaming for this overrated song. 

LOL...he feels the same way I do about Don't Back Down and Don't Hurt My Little Sister. :lol

Just re-listened to Wipe Out, first time in years...so gag worthy....I think as a kid, I thought it sounded cool, but couldn't wait for Make it Big to come on....I did like Brian's harmonies in the background on Wipe Out though.

The three I highlighted above, in pink, are some of my favorites.  I crank My Diane...which flows nicely into Match Point.  Some of the best 70s Beach Boys.


I love everything the Beach Boys did...however when Brian wasn't involved...like in the mid-80s and beyond.  Yeah...some of those are dreck.

Still Cruisin
California Calling
Student Demonstration Time
winds of change
when girls get together
passing friend
any song where mike adds in beach boys song titles in a nostalgic way e.g Brian's Back

Love Make it good, Roller S C, i wanna pick you up

"any song where mike adds in beach boys song titles in a nostalgic way e.g Brian's Back"

Oh yes.

Two songs that I just can't stand, like you'd have to hold a gun to my head to listen to are "Winds Of Change" and "California Calling", possibly two of the worst songs in the history of music.

This maybe deviates from the main subject somewhat (but hey F'U' , I started it!  :lol ) but does anyone know what the deal was with the backing vocals to "Wipe Out"? In AGD's book he states that it's been thought by those in the know that only Brian is vocally present here (excluding the Fat Boys rapping). When I first read that I thought he had flipped but a quick listen reveals ~ no Carl or Al whatsoever, 99% certain no Mike and possibly (could be wrong) only a tiny bit of Bruce on the "HEEEEEEEY WATCH OUT!" part. Why would Brian vocally dominate a tune that Mike and Bruce started at a time when he was pretty much on the outs with the band? A big mystery.

Also if I had never heard this song many times as kid  growing up I would put it high on my top 10 list of hated tunes.

Can't answer your original question about the BW vocals on the record, but Brian was never on stage with the band when it was done live in concert and it sounded pretty much the same as the record. By the way, what a scene it was to see The Fat Boys come waltzing out the first time. Turned alot of heads.

I've seen the band do it live (lead vocals: Billy Hinsche) and it sounded nothing at all like the record.

Within the limits of my ability, I've deconstructed the track, and the only voice I hear is Brian's. I stand to be corrected, of course, but currently, that's my strong belief. I suspect the subtle hand of one Eugene E. Landy...

...even the low part?

I like "Wipe Out". It's fun, but in a stupid sort of way, and obviously I don't enjoy it in the same way I enjoy basically anything else by the band.

Yup.

I love being "shut down" by AGD. I would never question his judgement when it comes to matters Beach Boys. But in my defense, I saw the song done live before I heard the record. So whatever you say. I stand corrected.

Have to say, I was also wetting myself laughing at what Billy was wearing (Elvis style jump suit that lit up like a Christmas tree) so it's entirely possible that my observations were compromised.  ;D

Ha ha ha epic :lol

I'm guessing Carl wanted nothing to do with the whole thing. Notice he's absent from the video as well.

Hearing "Kokomo" on the radio makes me want to strangle a baby.

Enough said.

i wouldn't strangle a baby, but yeah that song is poop.  But it's better than the other 80's poop floating in the beach boys toilet.

Pat, pat, pat, pat her on the butt...........my girl friend penny ,shes kind of skinny, and so she needs her falsies on..........

there have been occasions when I have pushed the skip button on these for fear that someone would hear me listening to such warped and bizarre stuff..


and I hate Barbara f........Ann as much as AGD!....but others have complained when I hit the skip button on this one.  Go figure.

How did you do it? 
BTW, when I think of AGD listening to Wipe Out, I'm sure his face is cringing.

Again......

"When Girls Get Together"

Island Fever....it's just so incredibly bad....and......and I dont wanna talk about it anymore  :'(

These days you can do awesome things with PCF plug-ins, parametric EQ and good, ol' fashioned OOPS.  :)

Sorry, I've heard you say it before, but what is OOPS?

Out Of Phase Stereo.  :)

This is as good an explanation as I've come across: http://www.beatlesagain.com/btoops2.html (http://www.beatlesagain.com/btoops2.html)

Gary Usher produced a session where Brian, Mike, Al, and Bruce recorded vocals for the track.  Carl reportedly wanted nothing to do with it .  But, like many others, I've always only ever heard Brian's voice, and in the beginning thought Mike might possibly be doing the low voice.  But have no proof.

To be fair, I always used to think that "Solar System" was a BW solo effort too, so I could be wrong here too. But... I still can only hear one voice in the bvs.

I agree with AGD   8)

Yeah they are clearly Brian in SHOUTY 80's mode.

In G Usher's book he states that he had a big bust up with Al before the session took place and a falling out with Bruce of sorts during the recording. Perhaps this was all Gary's doing as a "up yours" to them all but to be honest he didn't strike me as that kind of guy.

I'm sure that I will hear that this doesn't count, but it does for me. Duke of Earl in the setlist for so long was atrocious. Nothing else even comes close!

Yeah, probably doesn't count, but I think that DOE is the most pointless inclusion on the setlists of the past decade...it lasted about 6 years or so?  Crazy!  Thank you to Scott Totten for stopping the madness!

Agreed...I'd rather hear Mike do a cover from LBWL....   ;D



Let alone, Mike is just confusing the average BB fan by performing that, now that fan's ipod has the Duke of Earl by the Beach Boys, haha....same goes for performing Sherry

This situation illustrates a major point. It took Scott Totten to get that drek of a song off the list? Really? And all the while Bruce is standing there? Really?
Well, Bruce has said when asked about DOE that, " Mike likes it." What a lackey.

Got to be honest here, Why Do Fools Fall In Love needs a break too! I know they actually cut it, but it just sounds out of place.  It has been in the setlist for several years now, they make way too big a deal out of it at the concerts (it was a B Side cover and not your best guys)

Just my personal opinion, but I actually enjoyed "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" and "Duke Of Earl" as part of the set lists. I'm also a fan of old Doo Wop records in general, and I think those were a huge influence on Mike's work, and really added something to the classic BB sound.

 Yes, 6 years is a long time to be performing a cover of a song that the band never actually recorded; but how long have they been playing Barbara Ann? I'd rather see them play up their Doo Wop/Vocal Group influence than pretend that their a bunch young and hip guys trying to stay current; that's the music that influenced them.

I say bring back "Riot In Cell Block #9"!!   :)

I Love DooWop too, but Duke of Earl ain't the best example. What would be cool would be for the BBs to perform "Gee" by The Crows, or "Get A Job" by The Silhouettes!

I've never heard the DOE cover but I can just hear Mike doing the intro base.

DITTO on the appreciation of Scott.  A jewel in the crown of the touring BB band.

I definitely can't think of a top 10. But here's a top 5 from Worst to Best:

05: Wipeout
04: Kona Coast
03: California Calling
02: Sumahama
01: Summer Of Love


Runner-ups include the rest of the SIP album, most of MIU, almost all of 15 Big Ones and KTSA, and Catch A Wave. Problem is, I can't properly rank all of this

I don't like most of the cover songs the Beach Boys chose to do throughout their career. Barbara Ann, Long Tall Texan, I Was Made To Love Her, Rock & Roll Music, Crocodile Rock....blahhh

1.   Sumahama
2.   The song that has the lyric "you've got a greenhouse effect on me" that's on SIP
3.   She's Got Rhythm
4.   Summer in Paradise
5.   Some of Your Love
6.   Solar System
7.   Let's Put Our Hearts Together

Summer of Love
Surfin'
Remember Walking in the Sand
Under the Boardwalk
Little Deuce Coupe (S&S)
Help Me Rhonda (S&S)
409 (S&S)
Long Tall Texan (S&S)
The Private Life of Bill and Sue
Beaches in Mind

The second one isn't from SIP. It's the title track from the Still Cruisin' album.

Shame you put it there, I love that song. My second favourite off Still Cruisin'.
But at least Sumahama tops your list!

Agree w/ TRBB and these also really suck :afro


I'm So Lonely I Could Sh!t
Happy Endings Together
Wild Problem Child
Crocodile Rock and Roll Over
When Unhappy Girls Come Together
Sunshine Superman Of Your Love
Slobber Some Love on Me
Cuckoo Cocoon Clock
The Ballad of Dwight F. Roosevelt

Honestly I don't get the hate for Cuckoo Clock. I love it, it's one of the best songs off their debut album!

Susie Cincinnati and Loop De Loop are two of my least favorites

I pretty much like everything they've put out...there's nothing that I "hate". As for least favorites...Crocodile rock comes to mind, as well as a lot of 15 big ones.

My how tastes change! I now really like She Believes in Love Again. It must have grown on me over the years.

I mainly can't stand the Way Al pronounces away — "ay-way"

My entries:

1. Everyone's In Love With You-overly smarmy and sweet.
2. He Come Down-too heavy handed.
3. Make it Good-tuneless
4. Shortenin' Bread from LA-hate the production
5. I'm So Lonely-bad Brian vocal
6. Crack at Your Love-silly title
7. She Believes in Love Again-Bruce should have waited to get over his cold/laryngitis
8. TM song-as mentioned above, I hate that "ay-way."
9. Little Old Lady From Pasadena from In Concert- I don't dislike the performance, but I think this was a major factor in people mixing up the BBs and Jan and Dean for the last 50 years.
10. Anything with '80s-sounding production.

Was "Crack at your Love" originally called "At Your Love Crack"?

All of Summer in Paradise.  For unreleased I think Battle Hymn of the Republic is probably the worst. Of the originals released -

Make It Good
California Saga Beaks of Eagles
Day in the Life of a Tree
Transcendental Meditation
Full Sail
Goin' South
Maybe I Don't Know
Problem Child
Make It Big
Rock N Roll to the Rescue

Here's what comes to mind:

Goin' South -- THE most boring BB song.
Belles of Paris -- I'd rather listen to Mike Love's self-referential lyrics.
Most all of BB85
Half of KTSA
Louie, Louie
Rocking Surfer
Daybreak Over the Ocean -- "Date-rape over the ocean..."
Shortenin' Bread -- This is part of Brian that I don't get lol.

That's at least ten, right? lol

1} Love is a Woman  2} In the Still of the night  3} When Girls Get Together  4} Blueberry Hill  5} Lets put our hearts together  6} Winds Of Change  7} Student Demonstration  Time 8} Love Surrounds Me  9}  A Day In The Life Of A Tree  10} Transendental  Meditation  ... Dishonorable mention : 1) Make It Good  2) Problem Child   3) Wipe Out  4) Louie Louie  5) Long Tall Texan

All I Want To Do
Amusement Parks USA
Beaches In Mind
Be Still
He Come Down
How She Boogalooed It 
Loop De Loop
Make It Good
Susie Cincinnati
Tears In The Morning


There are frankly so many BB cuts I hate...

Agreed to an extent with Beaches In Mind, He Come Down, Loop De Loop and Susie Cincinatti. Disagree to an extent with Be Still, How She Boogalooed It, Make It Good and Tears In The Morning. Strongly disagree with All I Want To Do. 

Why do you need to agree or disagree? Opinionz thread, man.

What kills All I Want To Do for me is the lyric "I JUST WANNA DO IT WITH YOU"...

.

I object to "All I Want To Do" (mere macho posturing) but I don't hate it----or any other BB song.

On the other hand, I love "Barbara Ann"----what a joyous racket! Even at the end of 1965----a most fertile time musically----it stood head and shoulders above everything else, for me at least. I can't understand why it gets so much hate.

Summer In Paradise
Beaches In Mind
Strange World
Daybreak Over The Ocean
It's O.K.
Sumahama
Crocodile Rock


I'm really trying not to mention too many from KTSA or SIP because that would make this list way too easy

You can add Barbara to my list... so sappy and lame

I think you and I share the same feelings on this topic, it's hard to say anything about about the lesser songs of our favorite band! Even solo stuff

There was a long period where, without fail, my iPod would go to mother fucking "Some Of Your Love" every time I got in the shower. Every. Time. Soaking wet, can't get out, have to suffer. Before that, I think it was kind of like, "Meh, song isn't good, but whatever," but after that, holy ballz.