The Smiley Smile Message Board

I shall cast the first vote. My vote goes to Dennis Wilson

yup.

My favorite Beach Boy is bluesno1fann

Do any 12 year old girls even read this board to vote?

We've definitely had this discussion/poll before and, as before, Brian Wilson is still my favorite Beach Boy, followed closely by Carl and Dennis.

Always will be Brian, followed by Dennis for me.

My favorite is probably Brian as well, for he is an adorable genius manchild.

Carl is a close second. He wasn't getting any votes, so I voted for him.

My favorite has always been Brian. Dennis is a close second.

Brian, no question. Best songwriter and producer of the lot by quite a stretch. It's obvious that everyone around him was painfully aware of this, at various times throughout the group's history. The fact that even when he was mired by drugs and overeating, he could create music that would trump most of the rest of the band's output is amazing. He also had, in my opinion, the best voice of the group up until Sunflower.

After that I have to go with Carl, because of his awesome voice. I think they needed his vocal talents to carry on once Brian's voice was wrecked.

Then it's gotta be Dennis simply because I find his song writing to be the best non-Brian stuff in the group's library.

Al, for vocal reasons.

Erm... Bruce, because he's on okay song writer I guess.

Mike. I think they actually needed his nasally singing to make their early singles work properly. I guess he becomes pretty expendable once you get to the Pet Sounds era (I could do without him singing lead on That's Not Me and Here Today).

I'm not aware of that. When did that happen?

Carl because I think he is hands down the greatest rock vocalist of all time, plus he wrote The Trader! Also without Carl the band would in all probabilty have ceased to exist around 1970 and we would have missed out on my favourite era of the group. He also rocked one of the greatest beards of all time.

I prefer Carl without the beard, but other than that totally agree with you.
Shame that outside the BB's fans, Carl is not well-known for his singing at all and is actually highly underrated

Purely musically
Brian
Dennis
Al (just edges Carl for writing more consistently and frequently)
Carl
Mike
Blondie
Ricky
Dave
Bruce

This really does seem like a poll that is more fitting for Teen Beat than this board. But as the originator of a recent thread that probably sets a new smiley smile record for having received ZERO responses (much to my humiliation and embarrassment) I'm the last person who should criticize someone else's thread topic.

Anyway, of the classic 6, I don't have a favorite although Dennis is my LEAST favorite since everything I've read about him tells me he's probably someone I would not have liked personally, an his musical talent certainly doesn't make up for it (everytime I hear boring monotonous dreck like cuddle up, Barbara, all alone, etc, a little piece of me dies. Although to be fair slip on through and morning Christmas are classic). But musically any of the classic 6 beat out the "other three". That's just an objective fact.

Sorry meant to edit my previous post... Hard to type posts on iPhone...

Sirs -

may I take the liberty to point out a serious omission in your poll?

Yours truly was all set to vote for John Stamos. Alas, he's not on your nominee list.

I urge you to correct this directly. Otherwise, I might have to cancel my subscription to your publication, the reputation of which hitherto has been untarnished.

Yours sincerely, mr Heartical Don, the nether lands.

And Zeppo. Where's Zeppo?

John Stamos was never an official member, just like Glen Campbell, Billy Hinsche, Matt Jardine, Jeff Foskett, etc. never became official members

Yeah Don, don't you know anything? You're ruining this fascinating thread with your innacurate and, frankly stupid observations.

Now pipe down and let us proper fans discuss our favourite members.

I'm surprised by your high placement of Al.  No offense to the guy, but I find it difficult to see how he can come in ahead of Carl (not so much for his songwriting as his production contributions) or Mike (for his lyrical contributions).

Favourite is subjective, and doesn't need criteria.  Maybe Mr Eder just likes Al's cheeky face, I know I do.

Thank you mr Newcombe sir. I stand corrected 

 :-[ --->  :lol

Darlin' Don - ya forgot the "ladies in the house!"  :lol

I guess my favorite Beach Boy is Daryl Dragon. Him or Scott Totten. They just give me that vintage vibe.

Here: http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,3637.0.html (http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,3637.0.html) But that was YEARS ago, so it's good you made a new thread, since there's newer members now to vote.

You cheeky little nerd -

let's go out and party all night. By way of apology. If I were a woman I would only go out with men like me.

Yours, the Don.

Brian, of course.

Yes, "cheeky" landed me years in detention!  :lol

Nerd? Never!

Nerds never end up there!  ;)

Now I want to rank them completely:

1) Brian
2) Dennis
3) Carl
4) Al
5) Bruce
6) Mike
7) Ricky
8) Blondie
9) David

I accidentally voted for Dennis, who is definitely one of my favorite BBs for his music. I meant to vote for Carl, for that fabulous voice and his production talents.

Both Carl and Dennis are responsible for a lot of my favorite BB tracks.

Brian is my favorite in such a way that it's not even close to being a question. I don't consider myself a "Brianista" though, both because i recognize Brian as a fallible artist and person, and i really do generally like Mike, all his bullshit aside. I'm also not a "Wilsonista," as i think Al rules just as much as Carl, and Dennis can take a hike. After Brian, my second favorite is the entire band as a collective songwriting/producing/arranging/singing unit. That's what i like most about Brian stepping down -- that they all came together to become a powerful creative force, greater than the sum of its parts. And that democratic force, i think, was the best source of creativity after Brian, and produced a body of work greater than Dennis' own material. Dennis is easily my least favorite vocalist in the group, including Bruce. I love Bruce's voice and his golden trilogy (Deirdre, Tears, Disney). 
:afro  :hat  >:D

With all that creative talent it's kind of mind boggling to think that in a parallel universe the others may never have been more than "Brian's backing singers".

No you are wrong, I am in the same boat too.

Say! How about this...I'll post in your thread if you post in mine!  :lol

I may have to steal that "golden trilogy" description. :)  Since I'm in the mood of ranking, here goes:
1) Deirdre,
2) Disney
3) Tears

Poor David. :'(

Even bluesno1fan has gotten more votes than david

I see that the Mike votes have arrived...  :police:

Somebody please vote for David. Nobody should be on the schneid...

Ok, I'll speak up for some of the "other" guys (i.e., not of the Wilson/Love clan):

Dave Marks is a cool, funny, and very talented guy. If anyone could qualify as the fourth Wilson brother, he should -- he grew up with them and they with him.

Al Jardine is very much the gentleman and has an amazing voice even today.

Can anyone in the BBs hit consistently higher notes than Bruce Johnston? Maybe Brian back in the day, but Bruce can still reach the high ones.

Blondie Chaplin can definitely rock! The Stones' loss is Brian's gain.

Ricky is a great drummer, and I'm pretty sure Bonnie Raitt appreciates him too (at least she said so in concert).

Favorites as lead singers:

1. Carl
2. Brian
3. Al
4. Mike
5. Dennis
6. Blondie
7. Bruce
8. Ricky
9. David

0 votes for Dave but everyone seems to like him a ton.

My ranking:
1. Brian
2. Dennis
3. Carl
4. Mike
5. Al
6. Blondie
7. David
8. Ricky
9. Bruce

Strictly based on music:

1. Brian
2. Dennis
3. Carl
4. Mike
5. Al
6. Bruce

I know too little about David, Ricky and Blondie from listening to Beach Boys music, to form an opinion.

Brian Wilson for sure.

Thankfully, this board is saner than I thought.

(Unlike Brian for parts of his life...but still. He is one of the ultimate pop music geniuses.)

I'm 99% sure he's joking about having Stamos in your poll. At least I absolutely hope he is.

Brian, followed by Carl and Blondie.  Really.  I look at it as who brought what to the band and I think those three guys brought stuff the others didn't.

My full ranking is:
Brian
Carl
Blondie
Al
Dennis
Mike
Ricky *
Dave
Bruce

* Ricky's ranking stems from me being a drummer and Rutles fan. :)

Yeah, poor David. Never expected him to get the least votes, which is none.
I'd change my vote to him if it weren't for the fact that i'm too much of a Dennis fan, and Dennis is surprising not doing as well as I thought

Don't worry, I'm sure we can all think of one guy who's going to cast his vote in favour of Mr. Marks when he stumbles upon this thread.  ;)

(https://sphotos-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p206x206/318435_178400048915949_134955111_n.jpg)

SINCE SHE PUT ME DOWN I'M A DAH BAH DEE DAH DEE DAH

Brian Wilson, followed by Alan Jardine.

Still waiting for Zep to make the list (though I still would have voted for Carl).

Mis favoritos


Brian (He is responsible for all the band's best music. He also has my favorite voice in the band is a huge influence on my own vocal and compositional style.)
Mike (I like his interviews. Obviously the second most important member of the band. He and Al are my favorite non-Brian songwriters in the band.)
Al (Great singer and personality. He's also cute and awkward. I wish a guy like him would ask me out)
Carl (His productions are great, if not his songwriting, and had arguably the best voice in the band. I put Al above him just because I like his personality more.)
Dennis (I like his voice, but don't generally like his songwriting. I actually hate it.)
Bruce (Complete ass and his songwriting is mostly terrible. I do like his voice and what it brings to songs like "At My Window," however)

Brian. Unique, inimitable and any other superlative you'd care to throw in. Dennis and Carl next.

I know this hasn't been up for awhile but I'll say it anyway

my favorites in order goes: Dennis, Carl, Brian, Al, Mike, Bruce, Blondie, Ricky, and David (3 way tie)  :-D

I especially like Dennis even more now than I have in the past  ;)

Surprised to see this thread get resurrected, and by none other than Jess!

This is going to be interesting, Wonder if Dennis would make it to second place?

Didn't Dennis refer to his "member" as "The Wood"? If so, then that would be the obvious answer.

I wouldn't mind seeing the source for that!   :lol :lol :lol :-D

Found it: Catch A Wave (Carlin's book) page 221 in a quote from Trish Campo. Incidentally I did vote for Dennis  the first time anyway.

I'll look into that as soon as I get that book

I'm offended.  LOL.  There can only be one 4th Wilson Bro.  Anyone else who claims that title is obviously an imposter.

Oh, and I'll keep casting my vote for Carl every time this poll is resurrected.

This really made me laugh.

WHAT KINDA JOKESTER VOTED FOR BRUCE??

  Please allow me to introduce myself/I'm a man of wealth and taste >:D

:lol

There's a terribly juvenile observation I could make, using the words "member" and "Dennis".

But I won't.  ;D

See, I would never understand what is so funny about this Murry quote. The whole HMR sesh is one big disaster. Then again, hearing Brian mocking his dad ("Syn-co-pate it, syn-co-pate it") was really cool.

Brian
Dennis
Ricky
Blondie

I did meet Al when I was having breakfast at the River Inn in Big Sur back in 2005.  He was very cool to talk with.