The Smiley Smile Message Board

I was driving home today in my car with a self-made Beach Boys mix CD playing on almost maximum volume. And although I've already known the song for quite a while, I was completely overwhelmed by the instrumental middle part of 'Cuddle Up'. I know that as a whole this song rambles a bit, but that middle part... If there's a heaven, they should get that as the background music for when you enter the gates. This really must be one of the most intense (and underrated) couple of minutes in the entire Beach Boys catalogue. Anyone agree?

Yes.

Denny did beautiful work, indeed...

Absolutely! "Cuddle Up" is, in my opinion, one of the 2-3 most underrated released songs in the Beach Boys' catalog. I'm still amazed it hasn't been covered by more artists - and been a hit.

Oh yeah. I always thought 'Cuddle Up' was way underrated and to me that's a real shame, 'cause it's so beautiful. First time I heard 'Cuddle Up', my skin got all covered with goosebumps. Still happens all the time when I heart it now. Helluva song

Amazing song. The middle section is, I agree, the highlight, but it's all good.

Cuddle Up is the track I wanted to win the Survivor round we did. Love it.

Cuddle Up has been a masterpiece, in my mind, since I first heard it back in 1976.  When I got remarried in 2012, it was the last song in the pre-ceremony mix, just before the ceremony began.  I had a lump in my throat waiting and there were a few tears in the audience.

One of Dennis Wilson's very best for sure, right up there with Forever and Thoughts of You.

The middle part is very close to something that Ennio Morricone might come up with and the singing by the boys is exceptional.

Gorgeous song! ;D

Count me in!

And me.

Mesmerising and Spectacular

Superglad it didn't.

One of the least "Beach Boys" sounding tracks they had released so far.... Weird fuckin' album overall though. Could you imagine getting a copy of Carl & The Passions after only hearing their Surfin' USA or All Summer Long albums? No wonder their commercial successes were minimal in the '70s unless they were releasing greatest hits compilations.

But us members of the Church Of The Beach Boys see beyond the fluff and can appreciate the music that deviates from the popular "norm".


But when you really think about it, how the funk is the band that released "He Come Down" or "Hold On Dear Brother" the same band as the one that released "Surfin' Safari" or "Dance, Dance, Dance"? Talk about spreading your artistic wings, am I right? Damn right.

I like Cuddle Up. But it ain't no favourite admittedly.


Speaking of which, whatever happened to the Solo Survivor threads?

For that matter, how many of the people on "Surfin' Safari" are even *on* "Hold On Dear Brother"?  I could be wrong, but the count might be, one.  (Carl.)  That's like a Fleetwood-Mac-from-Albatross-to-Buckingham-Nicks level of reinventing yourself...

Cheers,
Jon Blum

That's precisely what I love about Carl and the Passions. That album must've been a big WTF moment for some listeners.

I think on Holland they did move in a direction much more in tune with where they originally came from. It's a very 70s record and still sounds totally like the BB, especially on California Saga of course.

Agreed. That piano part on the bridge is so simple but absolutely pretty.

I'm hoping someday we get to hear instrumental versions of "Cuddle Up" and "Make It Good". There's some things going on instrumentally in both these tracks that are jaw-dropping that I'd love to hear in finer detail.

I always thought Dennis was at his best with his classically-inspired material: "Barbara", "Forever", "Baby Blue", etc.