Well I'm 39 now (which I can't believe) and I have fond memories of searching around the internet in 98/99/2000 searching for ANY nuggets I could find. In a way that was so exciting. Particularly I remember Napster and everyday I would type in Beach Boys or Brian Wilson to see what would pop up. Its where I first heard POB and some SMiLE tracks. But the salient point is this (and echoed to some effect by Sean Lennon): If you care to delve into the music, then it IS the most rewarding musical experience you could ever have. The sheer DEPTH of the musical catalog that falls under the umbrella of "Beach Boys' is astounding. Yes there are duds. But even the "duds" have some redeeming quality if you care to appreciate the time, place and historical circumstance in which said piece of music was created.  I always contend that there is no other musical catalog out there (released/unreleased) that can compare to the Beach Boys. So many different eras, styles, unique contributions.  It is true that what we have today I could only dream about back in my early twenties. It was then I was literally salivating for more Beach Boys.  So is it the end of the long road? Nah...there is always stuff to be discovered. EVERY year I laugh out loud: well now, where did this come from? Who knows?? Maybe some day all that SMiLE footage/Inside Pop stuff will appear. Never say never. Stranger things have happened. A prime example of this is the story of the Don't Worry Baby Master Reels. I just shake my head and SMiLE....I don't think we have reached the extreme "bottom of the barrel".

Well Birthday Morning is one of the most beautiful songs ever. What a creation. Stunningly beautiful.

What do you guys think of the Dino, Desi and Billy tracks associated with the film Follow Me? I LOVE those tracks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uoP-fWioPk Just Looking For Someone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH6TvYXzWPE Thru Sprayed Colored Glasses


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH6TvYXzWPE Like the Wind and Sea

I love these trio of Sunshine Pop Gold.  The opening bars of Thru Sprayed Colored Glasses can transport me to a car driving down the PCH on a warm summer afternoon!

SST are good...happy with you girl is my favorite track by them. I recommend others to check them out as well!

Tony

I use MP3 rocket to get tunes from youtube. I find it a great software program. Google it. That's all I'll say. lol

Well now who here is digging on Eternity's Children? Curt Boettcher involvement correct? I mean Lifetime Day...you can't get any better! Its like a slightly psychedelic Brady Bunch song! Fantastic drums in this one also.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvcLfAyM-Xw

And of course the lovely Mrs. Bluebird

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocWDIKN6xvc

Sunshine pop seems to contain slight, ever so slight, traces of psychedelia. Like an ingredient that adds to the overall flavor of the song.  Even the lyrics sometimes, seemingly so lightweight and pedestrian, seems to carry a melancholic and ethereal tinge of psychedelia: like bent sunshine. Like the lyric in Happiness Is by The Association: "watch the balloon you buy just to let fly away".  Blew my mind when I first heard that! lol Comments?

Just another heads up.  A guy Harold Green just posted some more sunshine pop songs on YouTube. Some I'm familiar with already others I'm not. check it out!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlTkOHjpV_xgcspGgbnK5u75-_g8E8Y66

I just discovered Summer Girl by New Sound Spectrum and Stop by Spring Fever which I can't stop listening to.

I am constantly amazed at the nuggets floating around from this genre. Did Brian influence this whole genre? I honestly think he did! The style anyways: the harmonies, production, backing track, overall style, theme and feel that is Sunshine Pop

In addition, I think this style/genre allows one to appreciate the song while generally putting up with the anonymity of the band! And I'm OK with that! If you can find one stellar, great, knockout track by a band then that's enough. I find some "bands" from this genre have 2 or 3 standout tracks and that's it. The history/information concerning the details of said band are lost to time. But the amazing track survives. I find perhaps I am not hung up on the details of the band (i.e. knowing who each band member was) It certainly isn't John Paul George and Ringo. With that being said I do appreciate the limited amount of information that survives (like say that Curt Boettcher produced a track). Discuss.

So Kwan_dk I've sat with your pinterest page for a couple of weeks now. I discovered fantastic tracks I never knew existed. Some of my favorites are Autumn (Thomas Group) Everyday (Main Attraction) Sit Down I Think I Love You (Mojo Men) <<<Can't stop listening to that one!  When Summer Comes (The Freshman) <<What a sunshine pop tune there! and finally I Couldn't Think About Living Without You (The Fairchilds) <<Fantastic Brian Wilson middle break there

So how often do you update your pinterest page? Its a fantastic medium/forum to spread the gospel of Sunshine Pop!

Thanks!

Oh wow that Deep Six song is amazing. Reminds me of Sandy by Ronny and The Daytonas...same type of vibe.  I also agree with Peter concerning The Turtles and Harpers Bizarre. As this is a recommendation thread, I'd like to post the link to what I think is the definitive version of Witchi Tai To

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1L9RPEM634

The tinkling bells, surf guitar lines, beautiful outro as the strings swell...well, how could one not be in sonic heaven on earth? Now think of say the 70's or 80's or any period in music. Now think about this song. Wow. I do believe that this "type" of music, this genre, is unique is presentation and style. If you want to dive into this genre of sunshine pop, you will time and again find that it most certainly has its own sound and vibe, like "punk" or "metal" or whatever style you choose to listen to. But I am amazed that such a small minority even "listens" to this genre. I mean I have been on YouTube listening to a song that has been posted a couple of years with only less than a thousand views! Out of the whole world! And all I'm thinking is "damn this is so beautiful!" "Why aren't there more people digging this?"

See this thread is working already! Just discovered "What Is Happy Baby?" by The Californians. Great tune. Never heard it before. Great Pinterest page kwan dk. Love it and that whole California vibe.

This is going to be a fantastic thread. Most people I mention this "genre" too have no clue what it entails.  And it definitely has its own "sound." Here is the wikipedia link. Pretty good summary of what sunshine pop is about:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_pop

As for the trade winds, I only just discovered them (long live YouTube).  Two of my favorites:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSqfLrfeE-A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_Z_yqSpXTU


So...what does sunshine pop do for me? Well, it stirs feelings of my original musical love: Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. Listening to "I Believe In Her" by the Trade Winds gives me feelings of peace and relaxation. I can hear the wind as it dances on heights high above my head, that warm breeze that tickles your face on a hot July day. I can see the sparkle of sunshine punching through the trees on a summer day.  My mind can appreciate these seemingly simple but incredibly complex sunshine songs. My heart can be Brian Wilson "happy sad": love lost, love now, potential love...that one girl...a mirage of summer. I can whenever I want live the endless summer by pressing play. Now that is Sunshine Pop: an obscure highly underrated genre that I am glad to have discovered on my own volition and through the help of the wonderful members of this board.

[definitive]

Love A Midsummer's Day Dream by Mark Eric...If I had to choose a favorite track it would be  "I'd Like To Talk To You"...what a great tune. And I love the bonus track "Place For The Summer"...so awesome.  Love the Yellow Balloon: Panama Red is so so great. Great quirky little track. Short and sweet. We should all start an exclusive definitive Sunshine Pop thread for those interested in that genre. I am always scratching around YouTube looking for hidden nuggets.

The La's Deluxe Edition. Always go back to it. The different mixes are great to hear. Love Lee Mavers.

Sad news about Larry. Nice interview below gives a perspective of his amazing career

http://popcultureaddict.com/interviews/larryramos/

Lot of personal responses so I'll go for it also:

Pet Sounds: favorite moments are too many to describe so I'll pick a few. The 1:21 mark of Lets Go Away For Awhile...that "cry" that occurs is just otherwordly. It literally takes me away: I just feel, hope and dream so many things with this song. I dream of peace, a perfect love and a Sunday afternoon drive with a girl who I'll probably never meet. The ending of Caroline No: the outro melody with the trains ending it all. Its my favorite song of all time but I hardly listen to it. From time to time I'll put it on. But its still my favorite piece of music because I'll never ever forget how I felt when I first heard it. Thanks Brian

POB: probably Thoughts Of You. As with Moon Dawg, I too shared this album with a girl I was involved with back circa 2002 and whom I loved. I'll never forget holding her in my arms as we listened to this masterpiece. I am glad I had that experience in life. I cannot even bear to think of it sometimes. Thanks Dennis

Superb job Joel! Outstanding...the intro is spot on. I really like your original Lonely Holiday also! Very trippy...

Come On In ...yes it is a "groovy riff". But it is a fantastic great album opener and the harmonies are out of sight! Mononotous? Hmmm...each their own as they say...

Glad to see other fellow "Association" fans here. I was just listening to "Come On In" from Birthday and I don't think I've ever heard anything so joyful and glorious. Great band, awesome harmonies and fantastic hits.  Lots of wrecking crew members played on their records also. Anyone want to form a sunshine pop band with me? I'm inspired lol

Off the top of my head here's some I "discovered" myself from being online:

1. The Yellow Balloon - The Yellow Balloon ("Panama Red is one of my favorites songs: I always listen to it but even on YouTube it has hardly no viewings. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qZqvbRmfEs
2. Tin Tin - Tin Tin (notable track Nobody Moves Me Like You) also follow - up "Astral Taxi" containing another favorite song "I Took A Holiday"
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQPf2nWFMgY
3. The Millenium - Begin  Perhaps not so much "obscure" but still not really known "worldwide". A real favorite desert island disk
4. The Zombies - Odyssey and Oracle "agree about this one."  No one knows it I know except people online!
5. Marc Eric - A Midsummer's Dream -  great sunshine pop

There are some. I have to say also that if you dig around YouTube or music forums you can find some amazing tracks to bands that may not have the greatest consistent output but have brilliant singles/album tracks.  Personally, the 60's are my favorite period in music and I always root around to find obscure and not so obsure tracks from the 60's. Then I add them to my own 60's compilation.  If it wasn't for being online or YouTube or message boards I would have missed out on tons of great music that suit my taste.

I was hard on the band back when Freedom Wind was released but I grew to like them. I enjoyed Grand Hotel much more. Too bad they have disbanded. I encourage anyone here on this board to check the band out, in particular this fan video for Weight Of The World which is incredibly poignant and sad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBmHNVZxvqI

[is]

Don't run away is a corker...easily on of my favorites...i constantly listen to it on my homemade comp of favorite 60's tunes

I can't believe how long I have been reading this board and still learn/discover new things all the time.  I've said it before and I'll say it again: what a rich, varied, complicated, inspired, crazy beautiful history this band has.  The musical treasures and stories that keep cropping up never ceases to amaze me.  Cheers to all

Disney Girls was surprisingly one of the songs that moved me the most (along with Add Some Music) of the reunion tour. I always liked the song but the perfomances I watched on youtube from the 50th shows always got me and were always great

Agnetha's backside in Money Money Money and He Is Your Brother from the Movie...yummy    Seriously, ABBA rules...high quality stuff. A "Non hit" song I love?  King Kong Song! Love it!

The bass line to Sloop is not that hard to play once you get it down.  I remember thinking when I figured it out "wow this is pretty mathematical" lol What I mean is that it follows a strict repeating part...with the exception of the "poor cook he got the fits.." part...there is no improv or every bar is slightly different...I'm thinking now...for instance on Pepper, Macca slurs and slides; every verse has a slightly varied line.  That means if you want to play along with the record you have to really engage your brain.  The sloop bass line is super cool but is very uniform.  I also remember thinking that the parts were that way because maybe you had 2 - 3 bassists playing the same lines...you cannot put your own little "lick" into the next bar...no, this is the pattern, follow it! You double or triple the line I think alot of BW's Bass lines are like that...not overly complicated but brilliant nonetheless.  Anyone agree or am I off the mark?