Today's song is Cotton Fields single ver.

As I mentioned before when we were discussing the 20/20 LP, both versions of this song get FIVE from me. Classic Al!

Today's song is Soulful Old Man Sunshine.

Why did it take so long to release this amazing song? Like almost 30 years? Surely the flubbed line Carl sang could've been fixed ("soulful old man Shun-shine").

Rick Henn did a fine job arranging and producing this gem. It's catchy, energetic, jazzy and gorgeously sung. FIVE!

Today's song is Celebrate The News.

Almost like Dennis goes acid rock...sorta. It's an awesome complex song with cool tympani in the fade out. I wonder what 'news' Dennis was celebrating? The end of his relationship with Capitol or Manson perhaps? "I got news for you, there ain't no blues..." I dig the song! FIVE!

Today's song is Break Away.

Best song Reggie Dunbar ever had anything to do with, haha. But seriously, what an awesome and crackin' tune this is. It should've been on an LP. I'd be more than happy to replace Tears In The Morning with Break Away on Sunflower. Great leads by Brian, Carl, Al and Mike. I was thrilled when Brian answered my question here at Smiley about this song ("what part or parts did your father contribute to this song?" which he answered "the lyrics... he got the idea from the Joey Bishop talk show..." He mentions it in his book too but he said it here at Smiley first!)

Break Away = FIVE

I remember him saying he really liked Ringo's solo stuff too.

Today's song is Cool Cool Water.

There's so much to like about CCW. The water chant from Love To Say Da Da is mesmerizing. Paul Tanner's moog synthesizer is awesome. Excellent vocals. The whole track is amazing. FIVE

Today's song is At My Window.

I really like how sweet and delicate it is. Bruce sounds great too. Makes me happy. Works for me. FIVE

Today's song is Forever.

Beautiful song, beautifully sung. FIVE

Today's song is All I Wanna Do.

Steve Desper deserves some credit for making this masterpiece an even greater one. What a beautiful song. One of Mike Love's finest moments, and one of the greatest gems from the Sunflower album. FIVE!

*Side note....
the previous year they released the hard rockin' similarly titled ALL I 'WANT TO' DO. I wonder if any fans who read the back cover at the record shop thought to themselves "geez they're releasing that song again??"

Very impressive!

Not bad Beach Boys and Beatles not bad at all. 

But only one band has their own 747 that happens to be piloted by their lead singer. 

Now that's bad ass!

The "Popeye" soundtrack by Harry Nilsson.  Featuring a second CD of Harry's demos for the movie, including a great 9-minute track of him coaching Shelley Duvall through his song "He Needs Me", which is very sweet.

From "Everything is Food":
  Everything is meat meat meat,
  Careful what you put on your feet!
  Once it lived on an ani-mule,
  Now it walks around with you!
  Everything is food!
 
And the music is arranged and conducted by some guy named Van Dyke Parks!  

I love that album and I could never understand why 'Everything Is Food' wasn't included on the soundtrack album. Instead there's a song called 'Din We' which doesn't even appear in the film.

I thought the beard story was very funny too. And thought it was cool that he says he likes Billy Gibbons' guitar playing.

I just finished watching the whole one hour interview. Definitely the best interview I've seen with Mike in recent times, maybe ever. And not one mention of Kokomo   ,unless I somehow missed it but I'm pretty sure there was no mention.

A few things he touched on that I found interesting:  He says of the song 'Til I Die: "one of the better songs that Brian wrote by himself. It's an amazing song about being in touch with your mortality, humanity...." He spoke a little about Dennis' Pacific Ocean Blue album, and said "Dennis was deep" and how he wasn't surprised that Dennis could create such a great album. He talked about the 4th of July show where Mr. T and Jimmy Page joined them on stage, mentioning that Mr. T took a train there and apparently kicked out the windows in the train because he was hot. He referred to Page as "such an incredible guitar player." He spoke a little bit about Lepiodopterology, the study of butterflies. Talked about Keith Moon writing them a letter asking to join the Beach Boys "but we couldn't because we had Dennis Wilson." Some stuff about Murry, "he was a brutal unhappy man." Much more. Check it out if you can.

Today's song is Merry Christmas, Baby.

This is my favorite track on the album. I dig the bouncy bass guitar. Neat song. FOUR

Today's song is Santa's Beard.

Little Saint Nick's unidentical twin. And equally as catchy. Cool counter vocals. Nice. FOUR

Today's song is The Man with All The Toys.

I used to like this song alot more than I do now. My problem with it is the super quiet drums. The Brian Wilson solo version is way way better and is the only remake I like better than the original. THREE.

Today's song is Little Saint Nick.

I like that it has the backbeat of Little Deuce Coupe, and I like Mike's perky vocals. I like it enough to give it FOUR.

Time To Get Alone (Backing Track) is the best thing I've heard this entire year. So amazing beyond amazing. I seriously cannot get enough of it. I must've listened to it a hundred times in the last two days.

Not a good album or time in the BB world but 'Still Surfin' is a great song. Wish I knew who did the falsetto. Obviously not a Beach Boy. Was it Adrian Baker?
I give it a 2 based on that awesome song. Everything else on this is awful.

According to wikipedia Adrian Baker sang backup vocals, but not the other regular members of the (then) current Beach Boys' touring band.

Today's song is It's About Time.

This song just kicks my ass. I love its high energy and awesome percussion. It rocks hard. Dig!!

FIVE

What does Blondie Chaplin do for fun?

According to my observations earlier this year, smoking pot and chatting up the ladies seems to make him happy 

Today's song is Deirdre.

My favorite song by Bruce. I really love playing this one on the guitar. Every time I listen to the song I think about the chords...D, G, D, G, D, Bm, C, A, A7.....anyway, yeah this is definitely worthy of a 5 vote. Great stuff.

When the Beach Boys re-recorded Help Me "Ronda" and changed the title to Help Me "Rhonda" did the sudden name change apply to every future rendition/arrangement? In other words if one of the guys recorded another new version of HMR would they ever consider spelling it "Ronda" just for fun or does it always have to be "Rhonda"? I realize that "Rhonda" was the hit, but poor ol' "Ronda"...doesn't she count too?

Today's song is Got to Know the Woman.

I love it. It might not be a masterpiece but that doesn't matter. It's catchy and lusty and rockin' and has some very creative background vocals. Works for me! FIVE!