The Smiley Smile Message Board

Wonder if anyone can help...?
So far I've bought the good vibrations box set, surf's up and the BWPS DVD.
What are the 5 other albums I need ? Is there agreement around these here parts? I have a limited budget, unfortunately.
From what I've heard the Friends-era stuff is good, but a bit like-for-like ?

That is a tough question, as it depends on what particular era you have an affinity for.  Without having that info, I would say:

Pet Sounds
All Summer Long
Today
Sunflower
Holland

*A "Best Of could be consisdered, such as Sounds of Summer

You're probably looking at twofers (two albums on one disc) with these, so I'd go for:

1. Pet Sounds: a single album, but arguably the greatest single album ever, so...

2. Friends and 20/20 twofer: I think Friends is as beautiful a Beach Boys album as there is. It's unpretentious but lovely.  20/20 has a few songs--Time to Get Alone and I Went to Sleep in particular--that make it a worthy addition. (Many others rank 20/20 a lot more highly than I do.) Plus, the twofer has nice extras, such as Breakaway, Celebrate the News, etc.

3. Today and Summer Days (and Summer Nights) twofer: two classic albums, with Brian writing and producing and the group really performing on all cylinders. To many, it's the classic stuff. You look at those songs and can't help but be amazed: Do You Wanna Dance, Dance Dance Dance, Please Let Me Wonder, Help Me Rhonda, California Girls, You're So Good To Me, etc.

4. Carl & the Passions and Holland twofer: If you like Surf's Up, this is a good choice for you. They continue in the vein begun on that album (and its predecessor, Sunflower) while adding some new musicians and a rawer, sometimes bluesier sound to the group. Both, and particularly C&TP, are weak in spots, but I find that you could make a single KILLER album from these two.

5. I know you said you have Surf's Up, but if you don't have the Sunflower and Surf's Up twofer, you're making a mistake not to get it. It's worth it. Just trade in your Surf's Up at a used record store somewhere and be happy with the $2 you get back. Sunflower brings some unbelievable recordings, not to mention some very good songs. This Whole World, Our Sweet Love and All I Wanna Do alone make it worthwhile in my book.

If you don't want to duplicate Surf's Up and are adventurous, get the 15 Big Ones / Love You twofer. Then never listen to 15BO. Love You is great.

If you prefer the earlier stuff, get the All Summer Long/Little Deuce Coupe or Surfer Girl/Shut Down twofers are very good.

And if you have terrible, terrible, terrible taste in music, get the Keeping the Summer Alive/Beach Boys twofer.

If you're going for CD's:

1. Pet Sounds (40th anniversary edition)
2. The Beach Boys Today!/Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) 2fer
3. Friends/20/20 2fer
4. Sunflower/Surf's Up 2fer
5. Little Deuce Coupe/All Summer Long 2fer

Luther obviously knows what he is talking about....!! :lol

If you want vinyl try
All Summer Long
Today
Pet Sounds
Wild Honey
Sunflower

Well, Luther has always thought so, anyway.

I didn't know until that day that my taste is so terrible.  :p

We all have to learn these things about ourselves sometime or another!

Luther's five would be mine too - with the edition of a good 60s compilation. I'm not, however, as down on 15 BO as he is!