Tears in the Morning.   

Cabinessence, by a nose.

It's hard to really compare Meant for You with the other songs, as it's a fragment of a song.
But IMO it's a perfect opener. Love everything about it, including its unusual brevity.

I'll go with Friends.

[Country Air]

Round#8 - Country Air January 18

You maniacs! Ah, damn you! Gosh Darn you all to hell!!!

+1   

Let the Wind Blow gets my vote.

+1   

Be With Me

Let the Wind Blow 

Easy for now...OUR PRAYER

And on a Sunday too. 

Blasphemy! 

Be With Me

It's funny. Good Vibrations on Smiley Smile bugs me because it's entirely out of step with the feel of the album... but 20/20 is such an eclectic mix, Our Prayer being there doesn't bother me at all... and to my ears, sounds wonderful no matter where it pops up. I guess I'm just not much of a purist about these things.

Be Here In The Morning

Let the Wind Blow

i genuinely like Country Air, A Thing or Two and ILJOTSY more than Let the Wind Blow. vive la difference

  +1   

Country Air is either my favorite track on the album, or damn close. A real beauty!

Be Here in the Morning

Let the Wind Blow   

Be With Me

Never Learn Not to Love

You seem unsure.

Let the Wind Blow ... though I feel my resistance crumbling 

 

Be with Me

Diamond Head.

And since we're in the neighborhood, I'll stick up for A Thing or Two. I think it's cool & catchy musically, and Mike and Carl sound just terrific on the verses. There's somehow a tension in the song I find appealing, almost like the cocky punk Mike narrator of the early 60s BBs songs is strutting around like he's still the one in control, but this pose is giving way to a new reality where his woman has the better of him.

Well, 'Let The Wind Blow' is one of my favorite Beach Boys songs. Besides having a good melody and harmonies, I like the lyrics and the incredible leads by both Mike and Brian, particularly Brian's part: "let the bees make honey, let the poor find money, take away their sorrow, give 'em sunshine tomorrow....but don't take her out of my life, PLEASE keep her a part of my liiiife." Incredible.
It just ticks all the boxes for me.

I concur - it's probably my favorite on Wild Honey as well.

The music is very subdued, it's mostly that funky sounding piano (that funky sounding piano also has great a bassline, by the way). Then, a very understated guitar lick persists throughout the song and does a great job of accentuating the piano. Later, an organ comes in and plays long, sustained notes and adds an air of tenseness to the music.

Then, there are those gorgeous background harmonies that you don't really notice - they blend in and seem to become part of the music. Then, the actual lead comes in and is absolutely superb. The delivery is very emotional and longing and the lyrics are wonderful and heartfelt. As the singing stops, it moves into a quiet passage of just the piano and backing vocals to great effect - bringing you up and then guiding you back down.

Then, it goes to the loudest section. Here, you can feel the desperation and the pleading in his voice as he's begging to let this woman he loves continue to a part of his life.

"Let the bird sing, with the coming spring, let the church bells ring, let the rain fall, let the grass grow, let the moon glow, on the fallen snow, but don't take her out of my life."

Musical magic.

Thanks guys... I appreciate the replies & the insightful writing. (And if I'd just gone with the flow and picked A Thing or Two, we wouldn't have gotten any of that!)   
Going to give it another listen or two.   

(And BTW, where does the great Dennis quote in your sig come from? If it's an interview I'd love to watch or read the entire thing.)

I really like all the tracks left, including A Thing or Two, and Carl's great vocal redeems I Was Made To Love Her in a big way for me. I'll go with Let the Wind Blow.

 

'Let The Wind Blow' is the best song on the album!

I figured 15 minutes or less before I got a reply like this. Not bad!   

Why do you think it's the best song? Idly curious. I know it gets a lot of love here, I just prefer the other tracks more.

I really like all the tracks left, including A Thing or Two, and Carl's great vocal redeems I Was Made To Love Her in a big way for me. I'll go with Let the Wind Blow.

Be with Me

As a relative newbie to the 1968-73 material, I actually like All I Want To Do. There are better songs in the world, but I dig the "OMG this is the BBs?" shock of it, and Mike's vocals are pretty cool.

Diamond Head!

Nothing on this album I don't enjoy, but I'll go with Boogalooed for this slot.