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In the past 50 years, dozens of Greatest hits albums have been released, such as 50 Big Ones, Sounds of Summer, ect. My question, is, what is your favorite "Best of" album, and why? I personally enjoy "Thd Best of the Beach Boys" from '66, after Pet Sounds. Also, where do you think they should have stopped with the compilation albums?

endless summer... ;D

The Beach Boys Classics Selected by Brian Wilson

It's one of the few single-disc compilations that's actually chronological (more-or-less) and having been compiled by Brian himself, it includes essential songs that weren't on Sounds of Summer like "Warmth of the Sun", "Sail On Sailor", "Marcella", "Til I Die", and "Surf's Up" that really showcase the best of Brian's songwriting rather than songs like "Surfin' Safari" or "Little Deuce Coupe" which while fun songs and easy to sing along, won't make any new fans and doesn't show what made the Beach Boys great.  When I was first really getting into the Beach Boys, this was the second CD I bought after Pet Sounds.  I think it's the perfect sampler for a new fan as it really shows the best of the Beach Boys rather than just the greatest hits.

GOOD VIBRATIONS: 30 YEARS OF THE BEACH BOYS 5 Disc Box Set From 1993  :smokin

I usually go with Good Vibrations - Best of the Beach Boys, but this choice is hard to argue.

The old songs are what made the Beach Boys great. Had their first album been Sunflower, they would have faded into the sunset by 1974. Even today, what songs do people want to hear in concert? In 1974, what songs were being yelled to the band to play while 70's material was being performed? Brian wrote great songs throughout his entire career, not just the handful that you mention or that Brian picked for that CD. Even Brian plays the greatest hits more than the songs he picked for the CD.

The old songs are what made the Beach Boys economically successful. What made them great is a matter of opinion. Do you disagree with this?


Obviously people want to hear the songs they know and aren't going to call out for a song they've never heard of before. But people have an incredible capacity for hearing and knowing new things.

'Best of' albums were a pain in the arse to me.  I bought that first one...because I wanted to own all of their releases.   Problem was I already owned all of those songs...including Louie Louie.  Why the heck was THAT included on the album I wondered?  'Best of' ... my butt!!!  What a rip-off I thought.    Why did I need to own them yet again anyway?  I didn't.  There were other albums to spend my HARD EARNED paper route money on.   Then came the 2nd one and the 3rd!!! :o  No way.  I had noticed that the first 'best of' album had hurt Pet Sounds.  I didn't like that at all.  I was, in fact, quite put off by it.

For casual fans...they can pick their favs...Volume 1, 2 or 3...or Endless Summer or whatever.  That 20 Golden Greats, or whatever it's called, seemed to be HUGE in the UK.  I KNOW that some fans got drawn deep into the music by being introduced to the body of work through the greatest hits packages they initially purchased.  Cool.  Good for them.  I RESPECT that 100%.   For those who've been there from the beginning [my 1st Rock 'n' Roll album was Surfin Safari which I bought in 1963] greatest hits albums could be seen as problematic because they seemed to mess with The Beach Boys progress and growth.

The first one of REAL value to me has already been mentioned...


I find Made in California to be wonderful.  Loads of stuff there I didn't previously own.  Hawthorne CA...those ones...with the previously unreleased gems and surprises/treats and new found friends.

Everyone of us has taken a unique path in order to find ourselves collected here.  Each story is valid.  Each signpost noteworthy.  In this thread...really?  There is no wrong answer.  That doesn't mean though that we can all relate to the next person's journey.  I find it interesting to hear about how the various members 'got here'.  Those 'trips', I'm sure, have caused us to contemplate and HEAR the music differently.  It also has an impact on expectations and what it is we tend to personally like and prefer.

But again...there is NO wrong answer.  And THAT is why were all here. :hat

Do you really think that they would want to hear terrible songs? Other people are who make songs great? A song is not deemed great by its composer. It is deemed great by the listener. As you said many people have not heard the newer music. We deem these songs great because we listen. Many other people will tell you otherwise. Some even think all of their music sucks.

I'm not sure how you glean that from what I said.


It can be "deemed" great by both. I'm sure composers can be in conflict with the listener with what constitutes a "great" song just as the listeners will disagree amongst themselves what constitutes a great song.


Yes, but I'm not sure what this has to do with what I said or with anything Rocky Raccoon said.

Well of course.  And "California Girls", "I Get Around", "In My Room", "Surfer Girl", "Heroes and Villains" and "Good Vibrations" are also on that CD.  And those are great songs.  I was just listing songs that you wouldn't find on any other compilation but deserve to be heard.

The Beach Boys have so many great songs all the compilations give you a little something different. I have all the songs too, but I really like "the Warmth of the Sun" best of. The remastering stands out and makes many of the songs seem new.
28 songs, a nice single CD. Having "all This Is That" included on a best of was long overdue

Jet without wings

Amazing, there are actually a few of us here who enjoy the entirety of their career. Again, well said. :)

Thanks Dr. I don't post as much as many  (or perhaps most) do on this board but it is a great source of info about my favorite band as well as a place to share opinion and discussion.

Jet without wings

Single CD - Sounds Of Summer
2CD - 50 Big Ones
3CD - The Platinum Collection [UK]
Box - Made In California

I'm with Andrew on The Platinum Collection, even if some of the UK 'hits' aren't essential

My introduction to the BBs was the excellent UK compilation 20 Golden Greats (sad, but true). I don't honestly think I could be satisfied with a mere 20 tracks to represent their high points. With other bands - excellent bands, even - I may struggle to come up with 20, but to satisfy me, I'd want 40 from the Boys!

If I had to pick a single CD, I'd go for The Beach Boys Classics - at a push.

Whose idea was it to put Wipe Out on the Platinum Colection? 😷 They could have at least put threw in some BB85 songs like Male Ego, It's Gettin' Late, or Getcha Back.

I think "Sounds of Summer" and "Warmth of the Sun" make a nice one-two punch of the most popular with some generally lesser well known, but accessible songs.

EMI, presumably because it was a #2 hit over here.

Yup, if that was a 2CD set, it'd be pretty close to perfect.

Ditto!  :)

Greatest Hits Volume Three: Best of the Brother Years 1970–1986

Warmth of the Sun was nice but it's a bummer Love You was treated like it doesn't exist (as a couple of times before...).

Personally I love Endless Summer, it works like an actual album for me (Mike Love's concept album, remember?); charming 70s cover art and lots of great music including some of their finest deep cuts.

Also, Ten Years of Harmony is a personal favorite. Again, great cover art and the song selection is pretty good too. Big fan of Sea Cruise!

I really like 'Sunshine Dream'.

I too choose Endless Summer.  And by that I mean the vinyl, with the great gatefold
cover and mysterious and venerable painted images of Beach Boys in tall grass.

[and definitely not the later version with Good Vibrations tacked onto the end --GV,
which, as Phil Spector noted, had to be made in parts and put together. Oy vey.]

And I'll make another suggestion...Stack-o-Tracks.  Again, the vinyl.  For me, it
comes across as an onslaught of inspiration and deep art, start to finish.  With a story that differs
from that of Pet Sounds ... more like, "Ladies and Gentlemen...an arcanum of the universe".
--and even though it contains some PS tracks.

Seriously.  Stack-o-Tracks slays me to this day. 

Wasn't really going to comment with my choice, but based on yours I will:  

The Beach Boys Deluxe 3 Pack ( 4X3T-359 & 8X3T-359) cassette and 8 tracks only  Comprising Today, Pet Sounds and Friends

The first compilation I bought was Beach Boys - 20 Good Vibrations, The Greatest Hits (Volume 1) about six year ago when I was getting into the beach boys (was 18).

When I was in my early teens I remember downloading a few BB hits for my iPod and had "Kokomo," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Little Deuce Coupe, "and "Help Me, Rhonda" and one or two more. 

I remember liking their songs but after a few months I stopped listening to them and nearly forgot all about them.  About three years later, I saw on Itunes  Pet Sounds (40th Anniversary) for like 8 bucks and I bought that and after a second listen, I was blown away with the album. Pet Sounds caught me and brought me around to all their hits   :lol  which I had all but forgotten in the meantime.

I went out to the Circuit City closing sale two months after listening to and obsessing over Pet Sounds and happened to find 20 Good Vibrations for probably ten dollars (I just happened to find it as if it were preordained. I was not looking for any BB material).

From that point I could not get enough of them, and I remember "Help, Me Rhonda" being my favorite (probably is to this day). 

At that point I still had a gap in my collection in terms of "hits" so I bought Sounds of Summer and Warmth of the Sun around May 2009 (just graduated high school). Those two albums became the soundtrack to my summer in Australia and Spain and remain important to me to this day (certain songs bring back so many memories for me. It's kinda sad and eerie in a way).  I credit the former for making the hits accessible all in one place and the latter for introducing me to great tunes like "Forever," "Surf's Up," and "'Til I Die."  This allowed me to branch out little by little into Sunflower, Surf's Up, and Holland a few years down the road.  As Mike said in the release interview, those two albums (paraphrasing) are companion albums.

I think I'm an abnormality since Pet Sounds can be hard to get into if you're not ready for it and probably is not the sure fire way to get someone really introduced/into the band.

So my vote would be for Sounds of Summer and Warmth of the Sun as a great way to introduce them to new/tepid listeners.  I have had success playing some deep cuts off WOTS like "Feel Flows" and "All This is That" for some college friends who are/were into the "typical" college groups like Phish, etc.  I guess it really helps to know your audience.

I have Endless Summer on vinyl and my only complaint that "Help Me, Rhonda" isn't the album version :( Other than that it's a good compilation and fun to put on when hanging out.

My vote goes to Ten Years of Harmony, but all of these comps have my scratching my head at some choices, and wanting to make my own comp.  3 "MIU" songs on TYOH, but only one "Love You" and 2 "LA"? And where are Dennis' songs (other than "River Song) ?

Honestly if I was to try to win over a new fan I'd give 'em 'The Warmth Of The Sun' from a few years back. An absolutely excellent compilation that eschews the obvious hits, flows beautifully and shows a newcomer just how deep and rich the catalog is beyond what they'll have already heard in passing.

"Sounds of Summer" is the best comp you can give to a BBs' new fan. It's got many goodies  & has the best sonics, very bright. I don't like the inclusion of Dance Dance Dance with castanets, but everything else is a good choice & balanced enough sequencing who's into that stuff. I'll advise anyone to start there.

The Platinum Edition or 3 disc version or whatever the heck it's called is without a doubt the definitive hits compilation. No doubt about that. My problem is that it was so comprehensive as far as the well-known material is concerned that probably a lot of people bought that and thought they had all of The Beach Boys that was worth hearing.

20 Golden Greats was definitely a great primer for me (though I'd already heard Pet Sounds). All the major UK hits of the Capitol era, leaving out all the deep cuts for me to discover myself. All these songs have an immediacy, a poptasticness to them, from Surfin' Safari to Breakaway. All of them sound like number one hits.  Whereas I couldn't say the same of Endless Summer. though I grew to love it, on first listen I was taken aback by the spareness of some of those early hits/deep cuts. Maybe, even though I was born long after the sixties ended, the British view of the Beach Boys is my cultural inheritance.

I say Made in USA cuz its got the essentials plus CA dreamin & rockNroll to the rescue which I love.

My first real entry into the BBs world, it seems to have the best ever mastering/mix of Cottonfields I've ever heard plus the single edit of Here Comes The Night for those who don't wish to wade through the 11 minute version.

One of my favorites was "Good Vibrations - The Best Of The Beach Boys" (cover had a wave crashing over a rock).  Was my first introduction to some of the mid to late sixties and early 70's tracks.    It was a good one.

Sounds of Summer. The first Beach Boys cd i bought. Loved hearing all the classics, (my favorite at the time being I Get Around) & discovering hidden gems like Getcha Back.

Agreed ! A 2 cd set of these would be my choice too...

The one I, personally, enjoy the most is "Summer Love Songs". Not strictly a "greatest hits" package, although it does contain several of the hits - along with many cuts of the "deeper" variety. This has SO many great-sounding Brian Wilson leads presented in modern-day stereo remixes (which admittedly may seem revisionist to many), and it's an HDCD releae...consequently, it sounds just great in my car stereo! I've recommended to friends - and the fact my name is in the booklet doesn't hurt!

Agreed! This was one the first Beach Boy albums I bought at the genesis of my obsessive fandom...'Fallin in Love' really helped push me into getting into the deeper/later cuts. The new stereo mixes were mind-blowing, as at this point I had only really heard these songs in mono. The 2009 stereo version of 'Don't Worry Baby' is one of the most sonically satisfying songs I've ever heard.

Rab, I just noticed your avatar caption... and spat tea all over the walls.   ;D

The follow-up to The Warmth Of The Sun compilation I touted earlier. I wish they'd kept going with them for at least another volume.

In '74 I was in my last year of high school here in the land of Oz (equivilant to the last tear of senior high in the US) when Endless Summer went No. 1 and justified my musical taste among my peers and made the In Concert album THE PARTY ALBUM of the summer of '74 (and giant swells of that year) among the high school surf crowd of southern Sydney (it was popular and cool but still ground breaking and could sit among Pink Floyd, Yes and Divid Bowie as socially acceptable).

However on a personal level I never owned Endless Summer as I already had everything - my acceptance of Beach Boys compilations as an accepatable concept did not happen until a serendipitous experience when I was in the US and went to Starbucks for coffee and found the Summer Crush compilation. For me the best ever Beach Boys compilation ... thank you Starbucks ... your coffee may suck but your Beach Boys compilation rules!:

I Can Hear Music
Don’t Worry Baby
Sail on, Sailor
God Only Knows
Surf’s Up
Wouldn’t it Be Nice
Friends
Add Some Music to Your Day
Sloop John B
Cool, Cool Water
Disney Girls
Good Vibrations
Caroline, No
Do it Again

:lol

Personally, I think the Beach Boys sound terrific on the modern-day stereo remixes. Some get a bad rap, but many make the guys sound amazing.

To me, it's like giving the songs a technicolor makeover. They sound great as is, but those tunes are layered with so much dynamic power that they sound amazing with these new mixes. Mark, Alan, and any other sound engineers that worked on these recent remixes deserve a lot of credit for their work. The new stereo mix of 'Summer Days' is jaw-dropping :o