The Smiley Smile Message Board

In an attempt to find out what the most popular/respected Beach Boys songs and albums are (beyond, obviously, 'Good Vibrations', 'God Only Knows' and 'Pet Sounds'), I collected a whole bunch of Beach Boys all time song and album lists from different countries and different time periods. I guess this could be interesting. Feel free to add any (somewhat) relevant list.

SONGS/SINGLES

Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (USA, 2004)
Based on votes by 172 musicians, critics, and music-industry figures.
1. Good Vibrations (#6)
2. God Only Knows (#25)
3. California Girls (#71)
4. Don't Worry, Baby (#176)
5. In My Room (#209)
6. Caroline, No (#210)
7. Sloop John B. (#271)

Radio 2's Top 2000 (The Netherlands, 2010)
Based on votes by almost 2 million of the radio station's listeners.
1. God Only Knows (#20)
2. Good Vibrations (#105)
3. Sloop John B. (#318)
4. Tears In The Morning (#618)
5. I Can Hear Music (#1078)
6. Wouldn't It Be Nice (#1136)
7. California Girls (#1248)
8. Then I Kissed Her (#1515)
9. Heroes And Villains (#1902)
10. I Get Around (#1920)
11. Barbara Ann (#1941)

Radio 10 Gold's Top 4000 (The Netherlands, 2010)
Based on votes by the radio station's listeners.
1. Sloop John B. (#28)
2. Good Vibrations (#70)
3. God Only Knows (#114)
4. Barbara Ann (#568)
5. I Can Hear Music (#972)
6. Breakaway (#1172)
7. Do It Again (#1192)
8. Kokomo (#1515)
9. Tears In The Morning (#1900)
10. Bluebirds Over The Mountain (#2079)
11. Help Me, Rhonda (#2370)
12. Wouldn't It Be Nice (#2526)
13. Cottonfields (#2818)
14. California Girls (#3027)
15. Darlin' (#3279)
16. I Get Around (#3722)
17. Sail On Sailor (#3945)

Q104.3's All-Time Top 1043 (USA, 2010)
1. Good Vibrations (#188)
2. I Get Around (#620)
3. God Only Knows (#836)

Joe-FM's Hitarchief Top 2000 (Belgium, 2010)
1. Good Vibrations (#251)
2. Sloop John B. (#503)
3. California Girls (#828)
4. I Can Hear Music (#1898)

Aloha People & Music's Perfect Pop Song Top 20 (The Netherlands, 2004)
Based on votes by 85 famous Dutch musicians.
1. God Only Knows (#1)
2. Good Vibrations (#18)

Mojo Magazine's Reader's All Time Top 100 Singles (UK, 1997)
1. Good Vibrations (#3)
2. God Only Knows (#12)

Mojo Magazine's Writers & Staff's All Time Top 100 Singles (UK, 2000)
1. God Only Knows (#13)

Mojo Magazine's Artists, Producers & Music Industry Personalties' All Time Top 100 Singles (UK, 1997)
1. Good Vibrations (#1)
2. Don't Worry, Baby (#11)
3. God Only Knows (#28)

NME Magazine's Writers' Top 100 Singles Of All Time (UK, 1976)
1. I Get Around/Don't Worry, Baby (#3)
2. Good Vibrations (#8)
3. California Girls (#30)
4. God Only Knows (#97)

NME Magazine's Writers' Top 150 Singles Of All Time (UK, 1987)
1. Good Vibrations (#28)

NME Magazine's Greatest Singles Of All Time (UK, 2002)
1. Good Vibrations (#13)
2. God Only Knows (#59)

NME Magazine's Readers' All Time Top 100 Singles (UK, 1976)
1. Good Vibrations (#11)
2. I Get Around (#39)
3. God Only Knows (#52)
4. California Girls (#85)

Spin Magazine's 100 Greatest Singles Of All Time (USA, 1989)
1. Don't Worry, Baby (#11)

Q Magazine's Readers' Top 100 Singles Of All Time (UK, 1999)
1. Good Vibrations (#11)
2. God Only Knows (#43)

Q Magazine's 100 Greatest Songs Of All Time (UK, 2006)
1. Good Vibrations (#21)
2. God Only Knows (#36)

Highest rated songs on cabinessence.net - top 10
Based on votes by visitors of the website.
1. God Only Knows (9.65)
2. Wouldn't It Be Nice (9.57)
3. I Get Around (9.57)
4. Please Let Me Wonder (9.48)
5. Good Vibrations (9.47)
6. This Whole World (9.42)
7. She Knows Me Too Well (9.37)
8. Caroline, No (9.36)
9. Surf's Up (9.36)
10. California Girls (9.35)

Highest charting songs on US charts - top 10
1. Kokomo (#1, 1 week on #1, chart run of 28 weeks)
2. I Get Around (#1, 2 weeks on #1, chart run of 15 weeks)
3. Help Me Rhonda (#1, 2 weeks on #1, chart run of 14 weeks)
4. Good Vibrations (#1, 1 week on #1, chart run of 14 weeks)
5. Barbara Ann (#2, chart run of 11 weeks)
6. Surfin' USA (#3, chart run of 25 weeks)
7. California Girls (#3, chart run of 11 weeks)
8. Sloop John B. (#3, chart run of 11 weeks)
9. Rock & Roll Music (#5, chart run of 17 weeks)
10. Fun, Fun, Fun (#5, chart run of 11 weeks)

Highest charting songs on UK charts - top 10
1. Good Vibrations (#1, 2 weeks on #1, chart run of 13 weeks)
2. Do It Again (#1, 1 week on #1, chart run of 14 weeks)
3. Sloop John B. (#2, chart run of 15 weeks)
4. God Only Knows (#2, chart run of 14 weeks)
5. Barbara Ann (#3, chart run of 10 weeks)
6. Cottonfields (#5, chart run of 17 weeks)
7. Then I Kissed Her (#5, chart run of 11 weeks)
8. Break Away (#6, chart run of 11 weeks)
9. Lady Lynda (#6, chart run of 11 weeks)
10. I Get Around (#7, chart run of 13 weeks)

Highest charting songs on Dutch charts - top 10
1. Sloop John B. (#1, chart run of 20 weeks)
2. Then I Kissed Her (#2, chart run of 13 weeks)
3. Good Vibrations (#4, chart run of 14 weeks)
4. Do It Again (#5, chart run of 14 weeks)
5. Kokomo (#6, chart run of 10 weeks)
6. Tears In The Morning (#6, chart run of 9 weeks)
7. I Can Hear Music (#6, chart run of 7 weeks)
8. Bluebirds Over The Mountain (#9, chart run of 6 weeks)
9. God Only Knows (#11, chart run of 8 weeks)
10. Wipeout (#11, chart run of 8 weeks)

Highest charting songs on German charts - top 10
1. Sloop John B. (#1)
2. Barbara Ann (#2)
3. Do It Again (#4)
4. Kokomo (#7)
5. Good Vibrations (#8)
6. Help Me, Rhonda (#10)
7. I Can Hear Music (#13)
8. Break Away (#29)
8. Cottonfields (#29)
10. California Girls (#30)

Highest charting songs on Australian charts - top 10
1. Do It Again (#1)
1. Cottonfields (#1)
1. Kokomo (#1)
4. Wouldn't It Be Nice (#2)
4. Good Vibrations (#2)
6. Fun, Fun, Fun (#6)
7. Surfer Girl (#8)
8. Surfin' USA (#9)
9. Wild Honey (#10)
10. Heroes And Villains (#11)

Highest charting songs on Swedish charts - top 10
1. Surfin' Safari (#1)
2. Barbara Ann (#2)
2. Cottonfields (#2)
4. Good Vibrations (#3)
5. Sloop John B. (#4)
5. Then I Kissed Her (#4)
7. Help Me, Rhonda (#7)
7. Heroes And Villains (#7)
9. Ten Little Indians (#8)
9. Surfin' USA (#8)
9. Do It Again (#8)

Highest charting songs on Norwegian charts
1. Barbara Ann (#1)
1. Sloop John B. (#1)
1. Cottonfields (#1)
4. Good Vibrations (#2)
5. Do It Again (#5)
6. God Only Knows (#6)
7. Then I Kissed Her (#10)

Songs included in the book '1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die'
God Only Knows
Good Vibrations
Surf's Up
Additional songs on the '10,001 Songs...' list:
Barbara Ann
California Girls
Caroline, No
Dance, Dance, Dance
Do It Again
Fun, Fun, Fun
Help Me, Rhonda
Heroes And Villains
I Can Hear Music
It's OK
Little Deuce Coupe
Please Let Me Wonder
Rock And Roll Music
Sloop John B.
Surfer Girl
Surfin' Safari
Surfin' USA
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)
Wild Honey
Wouldn't It Be Nice

Songs included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll
California Girls
Don't Worry, Baby
God Only Knows
Good Vibrations
Surfin' USA

ALBUMS

Bestalbumsever.com overall chart (2010)
Overall ranking for the best albums in history as determined by their aggregate positions in over 2,100 different greatest album charts on BestEverAlbums.com.
1. Pet Sounds (#11)
2. Sunflower (#670)
3. Surf's Up (#1.042)
4. Smiley Smile (#1.688)
5. The Pet Sounds Sessions (#1.854)
6. The Beach Boys Today! (#2.062)
7. Wild Honey (#2.100)
8. 20 Golden Greats (#3.728)
9. Friends (#3.827)
10. The Platinum Collection (#4.934)
11. Endless Summer (#5.265)
12. Beach Boys' Party! (#7.938)
13. 20/20 (#8.317)

Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (USA, 2003)
Based on votes by 273 rock musicians, critics, and industry figures, each of whom submitted a list of 50 albums.
1. Pet Sounds (#2)
2. The Beach Boys Today! (#267)
3. Sunflower (#376)

Radio Caroline's Staff Top 500 (UK, 2010)
1. Pet Sounds (#20)
2. Holland (#85)
3. Smiley Smile (#298)

Mojo Magazine's Writers & Staff's 100 Greatest Albums Ever Made (UK, 1995)
1. Pet Sounds (#1)

Mojo Magazine's Reader's 100 Greatest Albums Ever Made (UK, 1996)
1. Pet Sounds (#2)
2. Surf's Up (#75)

NME Magazine's Writers' All Time Top 100 (UK, 1974)
1. Pet Sounds (#3)
2. Smiley Smile (#62)
3. Best Of The Beach Boys Vol. 1 (#83)
4. Surf's Up (#96)

NME Magazine's Writers' All Time Top 100 (UK, 1985)
1. Pet Sounds (#20)
2. Best Of The Beach Boys (#95)

NME Magazine's Writers' All Time Top 100 (UK, 1993)
1. Pet Sounds (#1)
2. Surf's Up (#46)

NME Magazine's 100 Best Albums (UK, 2003)
1. Pet Sounds (#3)
2. Surf's Up (#100)

Q Magazine's Readers' 100 Greatest Albums Ever (UK, 1998)
1. Pet Sounds (#31)

Q Magazine's Readers' 100 Greatest Albums Ever (UK, 2003)
1. Pet Sounds (#99)

Q Magazine's Readers' 100 Greatest Albums Ever (UK, 2006)
1. Pet Sounds (#18)

The Times' 100 Best Albums Of All Time (UK, 1993)
1. Pet Sounds (#1)

VH1's Top 100 Albums (US, 2001)
1. Pet Sounds (#3)

Highest charting albums on US charts - top 10
1. Endless Summer (#1, 1 week on #1, chart run of 150 weeks)
2. Beach Boys Concert (#1, 4 weeks on #1, chart run of 62 weeks)
3. Surfin' USA (#2, chart run of 65 weeks)
4. Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) (#2, chart run of 33 weeks)
5. The Beach Boys Today! (#4, chart run of 50 weeks)
6. All Summer Long (#4, chart run of 49 weeks)
7. Little Deuce Coupe (#4, chart run of 46 weeks)
8. Beach Boys' Party! (#6, chart run of 24 weeks)
9. Surfer Girl (#7, chart run of 50 weeks)
10. Spirit Of America (#7, chart run of 43 weeks)

Highest charting albums on UK charts - top 10
1. 20 Golden Hits (#1, 10 weeks on #1, chart run of 76 weeks)
2. Best Of The Beach Boys (#2, chart run of 140 weeks)
3. Pet Sounds (#2, chart run of 39 weeks)
4. Summer Dreams: 28 Classic Tracks (#2, chart run of 27 weeks)
5. Best Of The Beach Boys Vol. 2 (#3, chart run of 39 weeks)
6. Beach Boys' Party! (#3, chart run of 14 weeks)
7. 20/20 (#3, chart run of 9 weeks)
8. Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) (#4, chart run of 22 weeks)
9. Greatest Hits (#5, chart run of 22 weeks)
10. The Beach Boys Today! (#6, chart run of 24 weeks)

Highest charting albums on Dutch charts - top 10
No album charts before 1969
1. The Definite Album (#8, chart run of 13 weeks)
2. Beach Boys Best: 40 All Time Greatest Hits (#9, chart run of 12 weeks)
3. Holland (#11, chart run of 6 weeks)
4. 20 Greatest Hits (#16, chart run of 10 weeks)
5. LA (Light Album) (#22, chart run of 7 weeks)
6. California Gold (#23, chart run of 13 weeks)
7. 15 Big Ones (#23, chart run of 9 weeks)
8. The Beach Boys Love You (#29, chart run of 6 weeks)
9. Sunflower (#30, chart run of 12 weeks)
10. The Platinum Collection (#33, chart run of 7 weeks)

Highest charting albums on Australian charts - top 10
1. Beach Boys Concert (#3)
2. The Very Best Of The Beach Boys (#8)
3. Summer Dreams: 28 Classic Tracks (#10)
4. 15 Big Ones (#17)
5. Endless Summer (#23)
6. Still Cruisin' (#24)
7. 20 Golden Greats (#26)
8. The Beach Boys In Concert (#29)
9. Surf's Up (#32)
10. Holland (#37)

Most essential albums on SmileySmile.net - top 10
Based on votes by visitors of the website.
1. Pet Sounds (138 votes)
2. Sunflower (116 votes)
3. The Beach Boys Today! (106 votes)
4. Friends (80 votes)
5. The Beach Boys Love You (68 votes)
6. Surf's Up (68 votes)
7. Good Vibrations: Thirty Years Of The Beach Boys (66 votes)
8. All Summer Long (64 votes)
9. Wild Honey (63 votes)
10. Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) (58 votes)

Best rated albums in the book The New Rolling Stone Album Guide
1. Pet Sounds (5 stars)
1. Sunflower (5 stars)
1. The Pet Sounds Sessions (5 stars)
4. Surfer Girl (4 stars)
4. The Beach Boys Today! (4 stars)
4. Wild Honey (4 stars)
4. Friends (4 stars)
4. 20/20 (4 stars)
4. The Beach Boys Love You (4 stars)
4. Good Vibrations: Thirty Years Of The Beach Boys (4 stars)

Best rated albums in the book All Music Guide 4th Edition
1. Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 (5 stars + marked as "essential recording" and "first purchase")
2. Pet Sounds (5 stars + marked as "essential recording")
2. Endless Summer (5 stars + marked as "essential recording")
2. Good Vibrations: Thirty Years Of The Beach Boys (5 stars + marked as "essential recording")
2. Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 (5 stars + marked as "essential recording")
6. The Beach Boys Today! (5 stars)
6. Sunflower (5 stars)
8. Surfin' USA (4 stars)
8. Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) (4 stars)
8. Beach Boys' Party! (4 stars)
8. Smiley Smile (4 stars)
8. Wild Honey (4 stars)
8. Surf's Up (4 stars)
8. The Beach Boys Love You (4 stars)
8. Endless Harmony (4 stars)
8. Greatest Hits Vol. 3: Best Of The Brother Years (4 stars)

Best rated albums in the book The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music
1. Pet Sounds (5 stars)
1. Sunflower (5 stars)
1. Surf's Up (5 stars)
1. Endless Summer (5 stars)
1. Good Vibrations: Thirty Years Of The Beach Boys (5 stars)
1. The Pet Sounds Sessions (5 stars)
1. Greatest Hits Vol. 1: 20 Good Vibrations (5 stars)
8. Shut Down Vol. 2 (4 stars)
8. All Summer Long (4 stars)
8. The Beach Boys Today! (4 stars)
8. Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) (4 stars)
8. Smiley Smile (4 stars)
8. Friends (4 stars)
8. Holland (4 stars)
8. Spirit Of America (4 stars)
8. Made In USA (4 stars)
8. Summer Dreams (4 stars)
8. Endless Harmony (4 stars)
8. Greatest Hits Vol. 2: 20 More Good Vibrations (4 stars)
8. Greatest Hits Vol. 3: Best Of The Brother Years (4 stars)

Albums included in the book '1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die'
The Beach Boys Today!
Pet Sounds
Surf's Up

strange how tears in the morning had such a high rating in Europe.
Bruce must be flattered...but then again, his masterpiece: Disney Girls isn't up there.

When I began reading your post, I was hoping that you had melted all the lists into one, averaging them wold probably be best, so we could just see one worlddies favorites list; bt I can see you're still working on that.   8)

I'd like to add:

Brian Wilson's Greatest Vibrations! (Mojo, 1998)
Based on votes from Timothy White, David Leaf, Don Was, David Dalton, Chris White, Peter Buck, Barney Hoskyns, John Cale, Andrew G. Doe, Kingsley Abbott, Steven Page, Joe Thomas, Mike Grant and Sean O'Hagan.

1. 'Til I Die
2. Wouldn't It Be Nice
3. Don't Worry Baby
4. God Only Knows
5. Heroes And Villains
6. Surf's Up
7. California Girls
8. This Whole World
9. Guess I'm Dumb
10. Caroline No
11. Please Let Me Wonder
12. Good Vibrations
13. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
14. The Warmth Of The Sun
15. Surfer Girl
16. Cool Cool Water
17. In My Room
18. Let's Go Away For Awhile
19. Let Him Run Wild
20. Love And Mercy
21. Cabinessence
22. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
23. Do It Again
24. Sail On Sailor
25. Rio Grande
26. Johnny Carson
27. Kiss Me Baby
28. Can't Wait Too Long (1990 twofer CD)
29. The Little Girl I Once Knew
30. Still I Dream Of It (IJWMFTT)

Before anyone asks - not that Joe Thomas.  ;D

what a list.
that should be a future setlist for Brian

He's most of the way there already - done the highlighted songs live already:

1. 'Til I Die
2. Wouldn't It Be Nice
3. Don't Worry Baby
4. God Only Knows
5. Heroes And Villains
6. Surf's Up
7. California Girls
8. This Whole World
9. Guess I'm Dumb
10. Caroline No
11. Please Let Me Wonder
12. Good Vibrations
13. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
14. The Warmth Of The Sun
15. Surfer Girl
16. Cool Cool Water
17. In My Room
18. Let's Go Away For Awhile
19. Let Him Run Wild
20. Love And Mercy
21. Cabinessence
22. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
23. Do It Again
24. Sail On Sailor
25. Rio Grande
26. Johnny Carson
27. Kiss Me Baby
28. Can't Wait Too Long (1990 twofer CD)
29. The Little Girl I Once Knew
30. Still I Dream Of It (IJWMFTT)

No, not that "The Beach Boys on CD (an illustrated guide)" Joe Thomas.  ;) 

right right, I'm just wanting him to steer away from doing greatest hits setlists as he had been.

When was Let Him Run Wild performed?
Only time I could think is the promo for Imagination; I can't remember everything that was performed for that.

Nice work Shelter!

Al Jardine is the 2nd most successful Beach Boy!  Ok, maybe 3rd behind Mike Love. Kind of sad there isn't a single Dennis Wilson tune up there.

By success:
1. Brian Wilson (had to do with most of the biggest hits)
2. Mike Love (cowriter on most big hits and Kokomo without Brian)
3. Al Jardine (a couple of big hits in Europe)
4. Bruce Johnston (minor hit in Europe, a #1 if you include IWTS for Manilow)
5. Carl Wilson (colaborated on D,D,D and some minor hits)
6. Dennis Wilson (umm...how did Stamos' version of Forever do?)

I wouldn't call #6 (in the Netherlands) minor. But I doubt that it was a big hit everywhere in Europe.

For as far as I know, it didn't chart anywhere else than in The Netherlands.

#33 in the UK, January 1969.

I suppose you're confusing 'Tears in the Morning' with 'Bluebirds over the Mountain'?

Well there's a thing - I surely am !  :thud

Thanks for the list Shelter.

That's respect

This is a suprisingly great list, I love every song and personally my list would be very close to this. The only head scratcher, to me, is "Johnny Carson," not that it's a bad song (it's very good), but there are better selections from the Love You album.

Not sure about those Netherlands selections there.  Definitely not too sure about those people.......   ::)

A few more...

Radio Donna Top 5000 (Belgium, 2008)
1. Good Vibrations (#836)
2. California Girls (#1332)
3. Barbara Ann (#1798)
4. Surfin' USA (#2005)
5. Sloop John B. (#2457)
6. I Can Hear Music (#4397)
(I checked the list three times and it's true - 'God Only Knows' didn't make the top 5000)

4FM's Top 1000 (Belgium, 2008)
1. Good Vibrations (#141)
2. Sloop John B. (#523)
3. California Girls (#699)

CKOC Big 500 (Canada, 2005)
1. Good Vibrations (#20)
2. I Get Around (#31)
3. Wouldn't It Be Nice (#48)
4. California Girls (#74)
5. Surfin' USA (#93)
6. God Only Knows (#114)
7. Help Me, Rhonda (#128)
8. Fun, Fun, Fun (#168)
9. Barbara Ann (#208)
10. Little Deuce Coupe (#320)
11. Surfer Girl (#354)
12. Don't Worry, Baby (#442)
13. Dance, Dance, Dance (#462)

Greatest 100 Albums of All Time by The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums with NME (UK, 2006)
The survey was put together by the book of British Hit Singles and Albums and NME.com to celebrate 50 years of the Official UK Album Chart, with votes coming in from the around the world. (N.B. The albums in this chart are not just restricted to those from the UK.
1. Pet Sounds (#22)

All Time Top 100 Albums by Melody Maker (UK, 2000)
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom and founded in 1926, was the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. In 2000, it ceased to exist and merged with NME. During that year it also published their all time top 100 albums.
1. Pet Sounds (#11)

Top 100 Albums Ever by Consequence of Sound (2010)
The top 100 albums ever as compiled by Consequence of Sound's editors.
1. Pet Sounds (#2)

The 100 Greatest Albums by Channel 4 (UK, 2005)
Channel 4 is a television broadcaster in the United Kingdom and started broadcasting in 1982. The Channel 4 panel of music industry experts selected 125 classic albums for the listeners to chose from. The list was broadcasted on Sunday April 17th 2005.
1. Pet Sounds (#33)

The Guardian 100 Best Albums Ever by The Guardian (UK, 1997)
In 1997, The Guardian, a UK daily broadsheet newspaper, published a list of the greatest albums of all time. The list was chosen by a panel of judges including artists, critics and DJ's from around the world.
1. Pet Sounds (#6)
2. Sunflower (#66)

You must realize that The Beach Boys had an entirely different carreer here than they had in the US. They only scored minor hits in The Netherlands before 1966, then 'Sloop John B.' became the best selling single of the year in 1966, and they continued being highly successful until 1972. Even 'You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone', 'Student Demonstration Time' and 'Marcella' were Top 40 hits here.

And then they move to said country, and stop having hits there? Ironic.

Besides being surprised by Tears, I was also shocked at how well Cottonfields really did elsewhere.  I always knew it had been successful, but didn't think it got that high in that many different places.

They stopped having hit singles, but their albums kept selling pretty well.

Holland #11
15 Big Ones #23
Love You #29
MIU #41
LA #22

Nice. No Breakaway, though. :(

I'm surprised that Pet Sounds only made #11, in that collective bestalbums list.