1. “God Only Knows,” The Beach Boys
2. “Once In a Lifetime,” Talking Heads
3. “Like a Rolling Stone,” Bob Dylan
4. “Man in the Mirror,” Michael Jackson
5. “A Day in the Life,” The Beatles
6. “Sister Ray,” The Velvet Underground
7. “Sympathy for the Devil,” The Rolling Stones
8. “Respect,” Aretha Franklin
9. “Juicy,” The Notorious B.I.G.
10. “Idioteque,” Radiohead
11. “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Nirvana
12. “What’s Going On,” Marvin Gaye
13. “Dazed and Confused,” Led Zeppelin
14. “Heartbeats,” The Knife
15. “I Want You Back,” The Jackson 5
16. “Jungleland,” Bruce Springsteen
17. “Try a Little Tenderness,” Otis Redding
18. “Shelter from the Storm,” Bob Dylan
19. “When Doves Cry,” Prince
20. “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God),” Kate Bush
21. “Fight the Power,” Public Enemy
22. “Common People,” Pulp
23. “Tomorrow Never Knows,” The Beatles
24. “Gimme Shelter,” The Rolling Stones
25. “A Love Supreme Part 1: Acknowledgment,” John Coltrane
26. “Shadrach,” Beastie Boys
27. “My Generation,” The Who
28. “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea,” Neutral Milk Hotel
29. “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” Joy Division
30. “All Along The Watchtower,” Jimi Hendrix Experience
31. “Rock N Roll n*****,” Patti Smith Group
32. “War Pigs,” Black Sabbath
33. “London Calling,” The Clash
34. “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black),” Neil Young & Crazy Horse
35. “One More Time,” Daft Punk
36. “Be My Baby,” The Ronettes
37. “I Will Dare,” The Replacements
38. “A Change is Gonna Come,” Sam Cooke
39. “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody),” Talking Heads
40. “Search and Destroy,” The Stooge

Finally, a ranking of songs I can agree with. "THIS IS NOT MY BEAUTIFUL HOUSE"

Man in the Mirror is the 4th greatest song of all time!? That's absolutely absurd.

I want in on this!! I can sing and play guitar/bass (and drums but have no way to record those.)  Here's a version of Smiley Vegetables I did like two years ago. http://soundcloud.com/griffin-novie/vegetables-beach-boys-cover

Hmm I gotta say Smiley, even though I love Smile.  I think that Smiley is honestly one of the most brilliant things I've ever heard.  It's beautiful, dark, twisted, and possibly most importantly, absolutely hilarious.  I remember the first time I heard the Smiley mix of Heroes and Villians as opposed to the Sounds of Summer or Purple Chick mixes and I was absolutely blown away by the organ and the ridiculously jarring edits.  That moment where "...and sunny down snuff I'm alright by the Heroes and..."  jumps right into the chorus at the end made me laugh out loud in a way that no other piece of music ever has.  Sure the Smile version and the alternate "cantina" mix (the bonus track one) may better present Heroes as a story song but IMO nothing compares to sheer insanity of the Smiley version.  The same can be said for Smiley as whole.

A rare behind the scenes photo of the writers at Rolling Stone celebrating the on-schedule completion of the "10 Coolest Summer Albums" project:

I think you're confusing Rolling Stone and Pitchfork...

Alley oop, wooh!
f*** her!
A Big Tit!

 

But seriously:

I had to prove that I could make it alone now but that's not me
I wanted to show how independent I'd grown now, but that's not me

Wow your look and dada are just utterly brilliant.  I am simply floored.

Smiley Smile for me personally.  It's just so wonked out, hilarious, bizarre, and beautiful.  Wild Honey is awesome too.  I love every song on it but I wish the album had a fuller drum sound.  Just compare the live Aren't You Glad on Live in London to the studio version!

The backing tract for SLC is awesome and the lyrics are alright but I'm actually really not a fan of the vocal melody.  Btw has anyone else noticed that SLC might be the first appearance of the Shortenin' Bread riff in a Beach Boys Song.  Listen during the instrumental break at around 1:20.  You can sing the bass vocal over that part!

I forgot to mention that we have a great record store called 'Jerry's Records' in my area. Jerry told me that I wouldn't believe the amount of vinyl records that are purchased in the U.S. and shipped over to Japan. Very serious vinyl collectors over there. I'm not surprised by any of this.

I'm fortunate to be within 15 minutes of Jerry's.  He has literally over a million records in that store, and millions of others in personal storage.  I think he was in an episode of Hoarders.

Also nice to see someone here on the board who has been to Jerry's Records in Pittsburgh, PA! One of my favorite stores on the planet! I bought a vinyl copy of "The Many Moods of Murray Wilson" there. The rarer Beach Boys lps don't stay in stock too long.

I wouldn't say that Jerry is a hoarder. He is a VERY serious collector. Vinyl is his life. He loves records. We're fortunate that we have him here. Many of his auctions ship over seas. Fantastic record store. It's been a little while and I need to get back there soon.  Check out his website:

http://www.jerrysrecords.com/

Hooray For Pittsburgh Beach Boys Fans!

Jerry's is such a sweet store.  They have a pretty amazing beach boys vinyl selection but I unfortunately don't own a turntable.

I'm gonna listen to Be My Baby on repeat all day just like Brian would...

I just heard the alternate backing track for Slip on Through for the first time and was absolutely blown away.  I love the soul arrangement and the saxes during the chorus.  The drums are probably the most powerful drums I've ever heard on a Beach Boys Recording (except maybe Stevie). I kinda wish they used this backing tracking instead of the one they used on Sunflower.

[Present Tense]

Interestingly, it is not easy to find Gary Usher's praise for Brian's work of that era.

Much the reverse in fact - in the liners to the Sundazed reissue of Present Tense and also the booklet of the Ballroom/Millennium Magic Time box, he makes some utterly ludicrous statements about how very much more progressive and out there Curt Becher was at that time. Thus:

“No one was more at the cutting edge of what was going on than Curt Boettcher.  There is no comparison between Brian Wilson and Curt.  I’ve worked with them both.  In terms of raw talent and genius and the ability to do things and hear things and see things, Curt was light years ahead of Brian.  No one’s gonna believe that, because Curt never had the notoriety, but I’m telling you.”

“I’m over at Studio Three West with Brian Wilson.  We were with (engineer) Chuck Britz, doing something.  I think it was a movie soundtrack.  The (tape) machine was stopped.  All of a sudden, I heard a sound, and the instant I heard it, I froze just like someone had thrown a bowling ball at me.  My ears just perked right up.  And Brian looked at me, I looked at Brian, and we both said simultaneously, ‘What was that?’ “I walked over to the hallway,” Usher continued.  “We put our ears out the door and listened to what was coming down that way.  We went right down the hallway, around a corner, and when we followed the sound, the louder it got.  We were walking and walking and walking up to the point where we were running into this room.  And here’s this little kid with an earring.  That was the first time I met Curt, and it was while he was producing Lee Mallory’s record ‘That’s the Way it’s Gonna Be.’

“Brian said, ‘What is that?’  That record stunned Brian.  He’s doing little surfer music, and here comes this kid who is light years ahead of him.  I had never seen Brian turn white.  It stunned him.  All he talked about for a week was that song and that kid.  Brian sensed that was where it was at, that’s where it was going.”

[the date would be spring 1966, when Usher had long since stopped working with Brian, and Brian was, of course, doing rather more then "writing little surfer music". In this instance Usher is totally unreliable.]

Well obviously saying that Brian Wilson was making "surfer music" in 1966 is ridiculous, but some of Curt Boettcher's productions and arrangementsfrom 66-68 are unbelievable and ahead of their time (especially the Millennium).  I honestly don't think Gary Usherwas trying to knock Brian in that quote. IfI the quote is indeed from 1988 Gary Usher was probably praising Curt Boettcher so much because he had just recently died.  Usher probably felt that Boettcher wasn't appreciated enough.

This might change but...

All I Wanna Do - Sunflower: This song is unbelievably beautiful.  The production is just mind blowing.  Countless Indie bands today have tried to capture the essence of this song and have not succeeded.

This Whole World - Sunflower:  One of the most entrhalling compositions I have ever heard.  In less than 2 minutes it takes you on a larger journey than any prog-rock epic could.

That's Not Me - Pet Sounds: Mike's best vocal ever.  Amazing lyrics, fantastic chord progression.

Til' I Die - Surf's Up: Chilling, phenominal vocals, the best lyrics Brian ever wrote, awesome Tag

Good Vibrations - Smiley Smile: The Greatest Pop Song of All Time

Wouldn't It Be Nice - Pet Sounds: The other greatest pop song of all time.  Great arrangment touches.  The slow down at the end is just so powerful.

Surf's Up  - Various: Every version of this song has something I love.  The 71' version has the moog synth during the end which I love, and while Carl's vocal is generally not quite as wonderful as Brian's is, I prefer his "Columnated Ruins Domino"  Right Now my favorite might be the 67' version.  It's the first time I really perceived the sadness of the song. 

Anna Lee, The Healer - Friends: Love the chillness of this.  The vocals are the prettiest group vocals I've ever heard.

Please Let Me Wonder - Today!: The Best Ballad Brian ever wrote.  It's so powerful and beautiful.

Slip on Through - Sunflower: The best rockin' number the Beach Boys ever did.  Amazing chorus and bridge.  Love the backing vocals...

Though I really doubt this list would look like this tomorrow...

I love Smiley Smile so much!!

of the Smile tracks:

Heroes and Villains: This actually might be my favorite version of this song because it's totally insane.  The organ during the chorus is utterly bizzare and the transitions are so wonderfully jarring.  I heard the Sounds of Summer Stereo version of this before the Smiley one, and was only somewhat fond of it.  Without the discordant transitions I definitely prefer the cantina version (up to the tape explosion) or the TSS version, however the odd transitions on the Smiley version makes it perfect and actually really funny.  I laugh every time "sunny down stuff I'm alright with the heroes and..." goes instantly back into the chorus.  This version actually has the humor that SMiLE was supposed to have

Vegetables: Holy sh*t the harmonies on this are unbelievable!!  Love the key change at the end.  I think I prefer this one, but it's close.


Fall Breaks: Instead of being scary like fire, it's subdued and creepy.  They're equally great in my book.

Good Vibrations: It's the completed song

Wind Chimes: I LOVE this version.  It's so disturbing and then it resolves into some of the most beautiful vocals the Beach Boys ever recorded.  Even though I also love the TSS version of Wind Chimes, this might gets the edge.

Wonderful: The SMiLE harpsichord version is far superior to this, but this version is still great.  Love the Na Na Nas and the sped up vocals.

The Non-SMiLE tracks rock as well.

She's goin' bald is both hilarious and creepy as anything.

Little Pad is just unbelievably gorgeous

With Me Tonight: Ok this one is kind of a SMiLE track, but I love the subdued take here.  The Beach Boys just sound incredible when they harmonize softly together.  Carl is just unreal on this.

Gettin' Hungry is just a great soul parody!  Really humorous vocals, especially the second "Oh come the night time"

Whistle In: Another Soul influenced one with great harmonies.

Seriously I can understand how this album might be offputting at first but understand it's a humorous album that doesn't take itself too seriously.  And plus, by stripping back a lot of the instrumentation, the Beach Boys' vocals just shine on this one. 

What's not to love!

Why do you say that? Carl generally sang below Al in the stack, I believe.

Well they did switch around quite a bit...

But in this case Brian's talking about the Heroes and Villains chorus, in which Al sings the melody (Heroes and Villains, just see what you've done).  However Carl DID sing that part live.  I'm not exactly sure who sang the other part he mentioned though.

Looks like Brian got Al and Carl's parts switched...lol

It is indeed great!

This was only a partially jokey list!

I must admit that, due to all the slamming it gets around here, I tend to listen to Summer Of Love quite often. To revel in how awful it is, of course, but then again it's so freakin catchy I just have to play it over and over, and then at some point it doesn't matter how bad it is because everything about it just suddenly works and all it's cheesy points and the awful/backward decisions that went into it's creation don't matter and it's so damn uncool that it's ends up beyond cool! And just watch Mike's face in the video: the man really really really means every damn word!!!

I definitely agree with you.  I do enjoy listening to Summer of Love, but I don't think I'll ever like it in a serious fashion.  It's like the "Friday" of Beach Boys songs. 

Brian: Smart Girls or In My car (a tie, I guess)
Mike: Summer Of Love
Carl: God Only Knows (Australia 78)
Dennis: Got To Know The Woman
Al: PT Cruiser
Bruce: Deirdre (Goin Public version)

Hey, Dennis' vocal in Got to Know the Woman is great!!

"Beach Boys at Carnegie Hall - 1972" or a Live 72-73 Box Set!
"Beach Boys Ultimate Rarities" - Would contain nearly everything that hasn't officially been released (especially WIBNTLA)

I'd get both of these in a heartbeat, but at the moment I'm trying to give my family a list of products that already exist for Xmas, 2011. 

Whoops now I feel stupid...I thought this was a "what should we as beach boys fans ask for" thread...maybe I shouldn't reply to posts when I'm in a hurry...

"Beach Boys at Carnegie Hall - 1972" or a Live 72-73 Box Set!
"Beach Boys Ultimate Rarities" - Would contain nearly everything that hasn't officially been released (especially WIBNTLA)

Favorites:

Brian -So many ways I can go with this one, so I'll choose three

-"She Knows Me too Well" (For the Ballads)
-"I'm Waiting for the Day" (For the Rockin' voice)
-"I'd Love Just Once to See You" (I just love this one)

Carl - "I Can Hear Music" or if I'm in the right mood... "Shortenin' Bread (Adult Child Version)" or anything really

Dennis - "Slip on Through"

Al - "Be Here in the Morning" or "Heroes and Villains" (In Concert)

Mike - "That's Not Me" (Even though Mike's Voice cracks at one point!)

Bruce "Deirdre"

Blondie "Funky Pretty (tag)" with the Beach Boys
Or "See The Light" with The Flame.  He out McCartney's McCartney on that one...

Ricky "Here She Comes"

*Props goes to Anna Lee, the Healer for containing the most beautiful group vocals I've heard from anyone, ever...

Hmm lot's of choices...

The Warmth of the Sun

Please Let Me Wonder

That's Not Me

Surf's Up 67'

All I Wanna Do

Til' I Die

Carry Me Home

Yeah when I first heard prelude I thought it was a remix!!  It's totally awesome!!  My favorites are either Prelude/To Claudia on Thursday, 5am, I'm With You, The Island, It's You, or There's Nothing More To Say (Which is like 1/2 the album).  The Island gets high marks for it's absolutely freaky middle section, which is freakier than anything on Smiley Smile (Not knocking SS though)!!  There's Nothing More to Say is so mindblowingly beautiful.  To Claudia on Thursday has one of the most brilliant arrangements I've ever heard.   I love the buildup of the vocals throughout the song, and those chimes on the last verse are amazing.  Boettcher's arranging on this album is just unbelievable!! 

I wish the bass was louder. that's my favorite part of Smiley version. but the vocals are nice. it's really cool you added the sleep a lot part. your voice is very Broadway, by the way. makes this the theatre revue version or something.

Actually I did an earlier mix of it where the bass was wayyy too loud so I guess I overcompensated.  Hmm never got that about my voice lol.  I guess I normally sing a lot heavier than I did on that.

Sunflower is definitely my favorite Beach Boys album!!  It covers so many bases and yet totally plays as a cohesive unit.  It's awesome

Track by Track Review

1. Slip On Through - This is just a fantastic album opener.  It really kicks ass for sure!!  Dennis Rocks!  Fantastic harmonies on the chorus.  Love the ending when the bridge goes back into the chorus!  10/10
2. This Whole World - This song is just a mind blowing composition.  In less than 2 minutes Brian and the boys take us on a musical journey that's more varied and exciting than any 20 minute long-prog piece (though there are some really good ones of those too.)  10/10
3.  Add Some Music - goshdarn it this song should not be as good as it is.  The lyrics are kinda cheesy but damn do they work.  The mid section is so beautiful.  Love how everyone (but Dennis) sings a line. 10/10t's
4. Deirdre - I'm sometimes not a fan of Bruce (I feel like Disney Girls is a little overrated), but this is definitely my favorite of his compositions.  It's perfect sunshine pop!  10/10
5. Got to Know the Woman - Some people aren't that big of fans of this song but I think it's superb.  Great Vocal from Dennis.  I actually love the female backing singers on this. 10/10
6. It's About Time - Holy sh*t, a Beach Boys song that actually legitametly rocks in the studio.  Got to give props to Desper on this one. 10/10
7. Tears in the Morning - Definitely my least favorite one on here.  I think the entire thing is just a little bit schmaltzy, and I can't stand that candle line, however it's still a damn fine song.  I love the way the piano ending segues into the next track. 8/10
8. All I Wanna Do - This is possibly my favorite Beach Boys song.  The production is out of this world.  It gives me the chills every time. 11/10
9. Forever - A damn fine ballad from Dennis.  While it's not one of my top favorite Beach Boys songs it's still absolutely incredibly beautiful.  Brian's vocals at the end are awesome! 10/10
10. Our Sweet Love - A great ballad but it feels kind of like a retread of God Only Knows.  Love Brian's backing vocals on this.  9/10
11. At My Window - This is a strange one but I absolutely love it to death.  It starts out as this bizzare childish song that sounds like it could get annoying, and then all of a sudden it gets really creepy.  All of sudden you're then hit with one of the most gorgeous fades on a Beach Boys Song 9/10
12.  Cool Cool Water - Spectacular.  I personally like this more than Da Da (Maybe the box set will change my mind.)  10/10

All in all sunflower is an unbelievable album.  Though some of the songs (mainly Tears in the Morning) aren't perfect, I still wouldn't change a thing about it.  It's amazing how much joy this album brings me every time I listen to it.

10/10