The Smiley Smile Message Board

Discuss, review and rate Spirit Of America, released April 1975.

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An awesome compilation of the lesser-known tracks. 4.

The Little Girl I Once Knew and Break Away!
3.

son of endless summer

This is the one my cousin (not Mike Love) listened to continually and inadvertantly left at my house when he went home from babysitting me fall of '75. Thus began the brainwashing!

I got this album on vinyl for two bucks somewhere (and with the endless summer poster and a lot of news clippings but that's another story). It's good and when I made a version for my mom, I put some of the alt. versions of some of the stuff to replace some of the tracks and she still really liked it. My mom is obsessed with that tape now.


5 for song selection

One thing I have to say...that is some seriously ugly album art.

I wonder how much they had to pay to get permission to use Mickey Mouse on the cover...

Better than Endless Summer's art.

Not a cent, I'm guessing; they gave him candycane-colored ears for a reason, you know.

SPIRIT OF AMERICA actually turned me into a Beach Boys hardcore fanatic.  At the time, PET SOUNDS was the only Beach Boys album I owned.  I still thought of their early stuff as corny, and I had no idea what existed after PET SOUNDS.  My mom knew I loved PET SOUNDS to death and came back from some antique store with the SPIRIT OF AMERICA vinyl.  At first my ungrateful ass was mad.  Saying I only liked PET SOUNDS and didn't want something like that around.  (I've  grown up a LOT since then, I hope.)

After some time I put it on and was instantly blown away.  It starts with DANCE, DANCE, DANCE.  Brian's falsetto blew me away.  Then comes BREAK AWAY.  The background vocals hooked me.  I don't even remember much else about what's on this album.  That alone turned me around.  Within weeks I had everything and became truly converted.

My first one ever! Bought it back in 1975 because I liked Barbara Ann which was the only BBs song I knew back then.
The album turned me into a fanatic and I got everything I could get hold of eversince.
What a grat compilation! A Clear 5.
BTW I love the cover!

Great collection, but what's with the snubs of songs from side two of Today!

Just bought the record! A neat compilation, though it could have done with a better cover.

To each his own - I love the cover!!

Cover art is actually better than Endless Summer. The music? Well, they had already included most of the hits on ES, but SOA isn't quite a leftovers comp. The group had such a great catalog up till 65, it would be hard to go wrong with song selection - unless they were gonna include things like Bull Session with Big Daddy or Our Favorite Recording Sessions. A solid 4.

Ah, it's because my vinyl is a crappy reissue with a crappy cover... :(

A much nicer take on the Endless Summer concept. Good photos and at least (incorrect) recording dates. The songs chosen are pretty cool too.

Enjoyed this album when I first had it, and I've criminally overlooked it lately. A great selection of songs, and a brilliant follow-up compilation album.

:) Mark

Musically better than Endless Summer.
In a way, a highly underrated compilation.
4 out of 5.

Endless Summer Vol 2.. Another collection that brought new converts and old fans back to the fold.. Along with their concerts..  Another vital re issue in the 70's.. SORRY ugly cover.. Music 5/5..

I don't know if it's actually better, but I do enjoy it more than ES because there aren't as many songs on it that are over-familiar. It's a good introduction to some album tracks of the early years.