Yup that didn't work out well in the end did it.  Also just wanted to add that I hope Mike and all the Trump supporters here feel really awful these days. Your emotional suffering over this is my highest joy. It's what you deserve, and you know it.  

Best of the Beach Boys Vol.2 (1967):

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Llx5ZUaUXAeNTLvaExcer?si=8rU-ulHkRvi4tkia8_gcTA

What a strange compilation to release in 1967. Capitol guys who did this couldn't tell their arse from their elbow. They certainly knew very little about what music would sell in 1967.

I disagree with the song order. Here is my order, with Our Prayer hidden as originally intended by Brian:
1. Heroes and Villains
2. Do You Like Worms? (Roll Plymouth Rock)
3. My Only Sunshine (The Old Master Painter / You Are My Sunshine)
4. Cabin Essence
5. Cool Cool Water
6: Good Vibrations
7: Vega-Tables
8: Wind Chimes
9. You're With Me Tonight
10. Wonderful
11. Child Is Father of the Man
12: Surf's Up

I also figure this was a better running order than on BWPS.

Damn that made me sad to read. Racism was very real (and still is) and very overt back then and it's a shame that Mike's shithead of a brother was involved at all. I can't say I have anything good to say of the Mike, his brothers or the strange cohort of henchmen they brought in in the 70s. The Wilsons or Al never gave me any impression of racism and as for Mike I just don't know, but given where he is politically these days who knows.

I almost regret the fact that Dennis and Carl didn't split off with Blondie and Ricky to do their own thing post-Holland. They had a much more reasonable take on where their music could be heading. The Beach Boys were never going to be great again with Brian mentally living in 1960 and Mike and Al somehow believing 1965 could be replicated in 1975.

I think when Mike pulled that infamous RRHoF stunt, he basically excluded the entire group from participating in events that brought together these kind of rock legends. Nobody can stomach that fool. Brian is invited at an individual level, but it could never be together as The Beach Boys because it would mean everyone would have to see Mike's stupid face.

Mike Love at his worst - pick your moment I guess.

I agree with the OP, but it's worth noting how much commercial value a 60s band has in 2020 to justify physical releases. They weren't even selling well back then! Also, I really don't want this to come across as an "OK boomer" putdown thing, it's just that the vast majority of music consumpton are strictly digital download or streaming. I'm 28, and I haven't listened to a CD in....10 years?

I fully understand you though, the physical releases are the best. They might not very realistic anymore, unfortunately 

1974 Nassau Coliseum. That bootleg recording gives an idea of the energy going on at the time. The sound was on point, the setlist long and contained both the classics and the new material. Only misses Blondie rocking Wild Honey to be the perfect Beach Boys show.

Very happy to see Brian delivering such a strong performance! I have been worried for him, yet this doubter here has clearly got it all wrong

Honestly why does Brian bother taking lead vocal duties anymore? I keep wondering why he just doesn't stick to introducing the songs and takes a few lines, like the bridge in Surfer Girl. People are there to experience the music of Brian with Brian present. It's not like he must sing to please the audience. Brian didn't even perform for many years while the rest of the group sang his songs.

Is even really that motivated to sing the leads?

Kind of a worn American trope to label Paris as the city of love. Here in Europe it's just a nice capital city. Nothing especially magical about it, nor is it associated with love either.

What we are naziing here, is that we must treat all comments as the individual opinions which we are all entitled to  

Wow! Nice find.

If there ever was a purpose for this song, this was it  

I think God Only Knows ends badly. That repeating coda thing seems to come in too soon and as a bit of a cop-out from finishing the song in a better way

This must be the most controversial one here I think! Personally I consider that record perfection, but that's just these layman's ears 

rock n' roll, girls, Jesus, and nature, sometimes all in the same song, which, to me, is a deadly combination of rock and roll cliches.  

Isn't this also a pretty accurate summary of Dennis Wilson's life?  

You forgot to mention that he not only cowrote "Kokomo", but he also produced it - and yes, he did also produce those Still Cruisin' cuts you mentioned.

Terry also had a connection to Dennis Wilson - the two of them were part of a fairly well-known L.A. group called The Golden Penetrators - but alas, that was a competely non-musical group.

He also had an unfortunate connection to Manson, by way of his connection to Dennis...

He actually brought Manson into prominence and also wrote Problem Child? Tell me, did the devil himself father this man?

[Mike Love commercial radar intensifies]

Sigh. Please. Don’t ban me. I legitimately enjoy the instrumental Problem Child.

Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah.

Mike Love commercial radar intensifies

It reminds me of those awful new bro-country songs you sometimes have the misfortune of hearing.

And in an alternate reality, Mike runs for President as a Republican, and wins, despite 7 divorces and multiple bankruptcies!

In this day and age, that would be a minimum prerequisite to win on the Republican ticket!  

An exciting premise, but as you said I doubt anyone with the Beatles music or Beach Boys music would be very relevant today. That said, today's music would not exist if not for the pioneering sounds produced by both bands. As a mere layman, that's my theory at least 

So, no Endless Summer and no "Brian Is Back" and 15 Big Ones, the LP is released in late 1974 to great critical acclaim but poor sales. The band then decides to break up and go on solo careers and albums in the next couple of years (Brian's "Brian Loves You", Dennis' "Freckles", Mike's "First Love", Blondie Chaplin's self-titled album, Al's "Postcard from California" and Carl's self-titled LP). Ricky join the Rutles and...voilà!
 

Would've been the best thing really.

Surely an album from this period would include the commercial "It's O.K"? Gives Mike something to do also!

My 1974/75 album is quite similar actually:

1. River Song
2. Good Timin'
3. Barnyard Blues (any reason you left out this one?)
4. Hard Times
5. Out in the Country (original version)
6. Carry Me Home

7. It's O.K
8. Rainbows
9. San Miguel (Carl needs another lead)
10. We Got Love
11. Holy Man

In an ideal world, Carl would sing Holy Man and Mike would have another lead - Pacific Ocean Blue perhaps?

Surely an album from this period would include the commercial "It's O.K"? Gives Mike something to do also!

My 1974/75 album is quite similar actually:

1. River Song
2. Good Timin'
3. Barnyard Blues (any reason you left out this one?)
4. Hard Times
5. Out in the Country (original version)
6. Carry Me Home

7. It's O.K
8. Rainbows
9. San Miguel (Carl needs another lead)
10. We Got Love
11. Holy Man

Because being a boomer "grab-all" bigot is truly the aspiration of all sensible people these days 

Brian has outlived over half of all men of his year of birth by making it to 77. That's a very nice accomplishment for a man who has had trouble with health over the years. I hope he has many more years left to enjoy!

I once worked for a PBS station, so I know this one. A Capitol Forth is PBS' programming and has been going on for a long time. It's a live show, with an audience present, but ultimately aimed at a TV audience. Not political, just a birthday party for the USA.

A crying shame that the national non-political birthday party is being hijacked by that detestable embarrassment to human dignity for his own political glorification. Imagine the backlash if it were Obama promising parades tanks and aircraft...

Sad to witness, but the United States of America is going down rapidly these days. And I used to be one of few to highlight the positives of the USA in conversations with friends. Quite sad, but relieved to no longer be that guy.