The Smiley Smile Message Board

I am interested to see who people think was the best person who wrote songs with the Beach Boys but was NOT a member.  Examples include: Gary Usher, Roger Christian, Tony Asher,  Jack Rieley, ect.

I love Stevie Kalinich's lyrics and energy he brought to the songs.

I gotta go with Tony Asher...

I was going to say Van Dyke Parks, but then I thought of "God Only Knows" and realized I had to go with Tony.

Then I'll give Van Dyke my vote. I'd say all the principal non-BB collaborators made important contributions in their day...

Tony - Gold
Van Dyke - Silver
Jack - Bronze.

But then...these medals are for lyrics. 

The best actual SONG writer?  BDW. :hat

Well if you take into consideration their work outside of the Beach Boys as well, I think Van Dyke Parks is hands down the best outside songwriter the Beach Boys worked with.

Tony Asher. Van Dyke Parks wrote colorful lyrics, but Tony Asher wrote lyrics that I could identify with.

It is apples and oranges, isn't it?  VDP did amazing poetry that still delights and confounds us - perfect.  Tony Asher's lyrics touched everyone- perfect for that very personal album.  Let's give it to Mike for "Warmth of the Sun" - he got Brian and that terrible moment in time back then.  Finally, Brian wrote "'Til I Die."  It doesn't get any better than that.  So glad he was in the mood.  It all worked (I know, they were BBs). Jack Reilly, with all the weird baggage, wrote some terrific lyrics.  Lucky us.

Gary Usher is underrated as a lyrical and musical collaborator with Brian - The Lonely Sea and especially In My Room stand out as two of Brian's best early songs, IMR is iconic.  And as much as I dislike Joe Thomas's production, he wrote lyrics for Brian's greatest songs of the last ten years, From There to Back Again, Pacific Coast Highway and Summers Gone.

Asher , parks, and Thomas.   As it turns out to date.   but the others mentioned thus far in the thread are not far behind.   Each contributed in his own way in a given era.  BDW was the spark, however,   All along the way.   

Christian's hugely underrated.  The lyrics to "Shut Down" are unbelievably good.

Same with "Little Deuce Coupe"

I also thought Roger's lyrics were very clever and wonderfully rhythmic to the music.

I would go with Roger Christian.

I almost tied Roger for 3rd with Jack.  But?  Too few samples...and it was, after all, ever-so-long ago.  But yes his understanding of EXACTLY how to turn cars, their engines...and all the reemistrams and cadidles...into poetry was pretty danged impressive.

HE gave the BOYS more cred with the car buffs that they had with the surfing crowd...way back at the starting line.

Going with Deb on this. Everyone of them rose to the occasion in collaborating with Brian. Yes, even myKe luHv.

Props to OSD for conceding that Mike had his very solid moments; regardless of anyone's opinions on him personally - which I totally understand, the frustratingly eye-rolling moments are seemingly endless - the fact that Mike added some very fine lyrics at times is not particularly debatable! :)

Murry has to be the best songwriter, after all he was the genius that wanted to have "Do be do be doos" on "Help Me Rhonda'"  :lol

Randy Bachman?