The Smiley Smile Message Board

Hello fellow fans,

I am working on a playlist to share with my friends to highlight the compositional skills of the master of harmony himself Mr. Brian Wilson.  I want to select works from across his career that showcase his ability to craft beautiful songs.  Specifically, I am looking to include pieces that exemplify his mastery of harmony, innovative production techniques, technical prowess, and the ability to capture both moods and scenes into musical form.

Here is what I have compiled based on my own opinion.  I would love to hear what other songs you think I should include, and which I should take out? 

Cheers,
O'leary

I Get Around
Fun, Fun, Fun
Surfer Girl
The Warmth of the Sun
Little Deuce Coupe
In My Room
Don't Worry Baby
She Knows Me Too Well
Please Let Me Wonder
Help Me, Rhonda
The Little Girl I Once Knew
California Girls
[Pet Sounds]
[Smile]
Time To Get Alone
Break Away
This Whole World
All I Wanna Do
Good Time
Our Sweet Love
Cool, Cool Water
A Day in the Life of a Tree
Til I Die
The Night Was So Young
I'll Bet He's Nice
Rio Grande
From Think About the Days
From There to Back Again
Pacific Coast Highway
Summer's Gone





 :'( :) ^-^ ^-^

Looks like a pretty good list, though it could use a song or two from 1972-1976. Maybe Sail on Sailor or Good Timin'?

And from what I've heard, All I Wanna Do was more of Mike's song than Brians, though Brian did arrange the harmonies, so I guess also take that into consideration?

You forgot these: 

Chug-a-Lug 
Lonely Sea 
The Surfer Moon
Your Summer Dream   
Car Crazy Cutie 
In The Parking Lot 
Keep An Eye On Summer 
All Summer Long 
Girls On The Beach 
The Man With All The Toys 
Kiss Me, Baby 
You're So Good To me 
Let The Wind Blow 
Meant For You 
Passing By 
Add Some Music To Your Day 
Marcella 
Good Time 
Goin' On

I like your list a lot. Good comp. It's just a matter of opinion, but I would not include "Rio Grande". I believe the only Brian solo songs that merit joining that list are:

- "Love And Mercy"
- "Lay Down Burden"
- "Midnight's Another Day"

 

Melt Away
Thank You (Brian)
Water Builds Up
Cry
It's Not Easy Being Me
I'm Broke
I'm Getting In Over My Head (Landylocked Version)
Saturday Morning In The City (Landylocked Version)
Awake
Don't Let Her Know She's An Angel
Smart Girls :D

Brian had little, if anything, to do with "Awake".

Ding Dang and Shortening Bread!

Thanks to everyone who replied!

To wantsomecorn: I guess I probably should take out All I Wanna Do, though it's one of my favorite BB songs!  That was the one where I wasn't too sure about Brian's involvement.  I was considering Sail On, Sailor but tbh I'm just not a big fan of that song.  And while I love the chorus to Good Timin I think the verse is atrocious and the song doesn't really add much to the playlist that hasn't been showcased in his earlier work.  Thanks for the input!

To the rest who offered songs I should add, thank you for the suggestions!  I will definitely consider many of them though I don't want to make the playlist too long.

Finally, I was thinking of including 'Summertime' on the Gershwin album, as I think it's one of his finer production efforts even though he didn't write the song.  Thoughts on this or anything else from Gershwin or TLOS?  Thanks again for all the help!

I would add 'Good Kind Of Love' - probably the best upbeat pop song he's written in 30+ years.

Gershwin does have his finest singing of his solo career, but I'd plump for Love is Here To Stay or Someone To Watch Over Me. If you wanted something with a BW credit go for The Like In I Love You.

Thanks for the advice.  I will probably add Love and Mercy and Midnight's Another Day.  What don't you like about Rio Grande?

Your Brian list must include some Shortenin' Bread man  :p

Otherwise could I suggest 'Let's Put Our Hearts Together' ? He sings that from his heart.

It's not that I dislike "Rio Grande"; I like a lot of it, especially the "River Take Me Home" and "Night Blooming Jasmine" parts. Some of it I find boring (the verses), some of it I find annoying (the yelping Indians). It might be because I know the background of the song that it sounds contrived or forced, not really a naturally formed suite. Brian is very shouty, but that has nothing to do with the composition and arranging, which is what you're looking at. I just don't think the song belongs in the same company as the other ones you listed, which are the cream of Brian's crop.

Definitely In The Back Of My Mind and Caroline, No.