I think the number one choice for me is Oh Darlin' on Keeping The Summer Alive

This is a beautifully written Brian track from start to end....verse and chorus have the classic brian 4-1 5-1 movements and there are 2 bridges! they're both fantastic. 

And on top of that, a wonderful lead vocal from Carl. and mike sings a nice lead on the bridge

To me this is an all-time great beach boys song, and i believe if the exact same track was on an album like Sunflower it would be regarded as so.

Before TWGMTR i might have even called this the last great beach boys song?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXUKhZMt-ns

here goes...lyrics to 'i said a prayer'


The night was long
And I ached for you
I said a prayer

I searched the dark
For signs you loved me too
I said a prayer

I prayed for love
Prayed you'd find it here
I miss you so

I said a prayer
Prayed you'd feel this love
I need you so

A sleepless night
Singing praise for you
I said a prayer

A glimpse of sun
Dawn has come, for us
I miss you so

I said a prayer
Said a prayer for you
Oooooh

I said a prayer
Said a prayer for you
Oooooh

(repeat and fade)

Good Vibrations....not a demo per say but accomplishes the same effect -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZQSUTCafD0

I feel so fine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7CZWdlyMhU

I think Patti Smith said it best

California Feelin' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hflsf1un_KY

I assume the Cocaine Sessions don't count!

I included some of those sessions in my list! Why not?

I didn't put smile stuff because I figured most people had them. But if you have any links feel free to add to thread. These demos are a great resource for anyone studying the music of Brian. Or anyone with a piano who wants to boogie to some beach boys classics     

Surfin' U.S.A. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO31uKVHzB4

Cool thanks!

Here's Don't Talk (no lyrics) as well - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCDONGlQoV4

didnt include smile session stuff. please add more if you have.


Airplane, I'll Bet He's Nice, Let's Put Our Hearts Together, Mona - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufandNVn3dQ

In The Back Of My Mind - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji-ZOmA0tsY

Here Comes The Night (no vocals) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX-hzsj6ZZs&list=PLHW3Iv2iQc4Y7J3L-r3i-tz85isgyCPUz

I Said A Prayer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYD19e88_pA

That Special Feeling - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdIw0lXoZLI

Little Children - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWKunpmYPQY

I'm Begging You Please - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BucynHQyiDw&index=4&list=PLHW3Iv2iQc4Y7J3L-r3i-tz85isgyCPUz

City Blues - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GAvTPukj_0

Sweetie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U14ozBhe2M

Saturday Morning In The City - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHeTwj-QsbE

Still I Dream Of It - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DfaFcq3U5Q

It's Over Now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU7VFXT_2us

Recently came across this piano demo and was struck by the beauty of the progression -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYD19e88_pA

Does anyone know the history of this song before it became "This Isn't Love?" I don't think the latter matches the spiritual beauty of the piano demo, and was wondering if there were any other versions or outtakes you guys knew about?

"Meant For You". My God this is a beautiful sweet song.

Was googling about the life suite and rediscovered this thread....has anyone else put together a completed one?

Would you guys have preferred a completed Life Suite and no 50 yr reunion? Or what we got? Personally I think the joy of having Brian, Mike, and Al sing together again eclipses what the life suite could have been....but at the same time I still have to wonder what it would have sounded like.

Anyway here's my version-


1. Think About The Days
2. Whatever Happened
3. That's Why God Made The Radio
4. Isn't It Time
5. Half Moon Bay
6. Strange World
7. This Beautiful Day
8. From There To Back Again
9. Pacific Coast Highway
10. Summer's Gone

I can always listen to brian songs. its pretty crazy. Theres no other artist i feel that way about...i could listen to any of brian's compositions (maybe except for some later solo stuff) and it will improve my state of being no matter what is going on

I'll agree the BB vocal blend was never as good as it was in the 1960s.  But, I think they came close to it a few times on the Surf's Up album in particular (ie.  Til I Die and the tag on Don't Go Near the Water).

I think the BBs had capability of doing great group vocals even way later into their career. It took on somewhat of a different tone and timbre, having more to do with simple aging than anything else.

They were all between 17 and 22 or so in 1963, so even later 60s stuff and certainly early 70s stuff would exhibit a different sort of vocal blend.

But their actual group vocal ability was still fully intact. I think it still shines on later era stuff like "Endless Harmony." I'd put the vocals on "Surf's Up" and "'Til I Die" up against anything they ever did. I think they took on a great vocal blend; I never needed that teen rasp from Dennis in the vocal blend on everything for decades. It sounded vibrant and was a key to the early era sound, but 1963 Dennis wouldn't have sounded the same on some of those key group vocals on the coda to "Surf's Up" for instance.

Starting especially in the 80s, and even on some later 70s stuff like "Good Timin'", I think they processed the vocals too much. I'd love to hear a 100% dry vocals-only mix of "Good Timin'."

I'm not saying they didn't have great vocal blends in the later years.  Even as late as TWGMTR.  But, to my ears, you can't beat the 60s blend. 

I would go as far to say their best vocal blends ended after Pet Sounds. To my ear their voices after that seemed to 'flatten' a little bit...not they they were off key but perhaps their voices settled into adulthood and they lost a little vibrato (just speculating). Even the late 60s high vocal points to me don't seem to match the intensity/strength of the early-mid 60 stuff.

The only later ones that come close in my opinion are the Love You backing vocals because the rough edges match the synth production / tone of the album really well.

I really like this album and the Beach boys influence is very clear!

Favorite track is 'The Noisey Eater'...the band itself calls it a modern take on Vege-Tables

Also love If I Was A Folkstar which samples Hushabye

Yes, Noisy Eater is fantastic. I did not hear the Hushabye sample though! Is it the BBs version?!

Yes, it's very faint. You can hear Brian's falsetto from the intro on various parts of the song

Oh cool, thanks! Can't believe I missed that. I will have another listen ...

Was trying to dig this up and finally found it again...a press release from the band's listening party explaining their influences. Here is the quote about The Noisy Eater -

https://www.reddit.com/r/theavalanches/comments/4qoryk/wildflower_press_release/

"The Noisy Eater draws direct inspiration from (unhinged-era) Brian Wilson’s ode to eating, ‘Vegetables’, which famously featured an orchestra of guests munching on food in the studio, under close direction from Brian…"

I really like this album and the Beach boys influence is very clear!

Favorite track is 'The Noisey Eater'...the band itself calls it a modern take on Vege-Tables

Also love If I Was A Folkstar which samples Hushabye

Yes, Noisy Eater is fantastic. I did not hear the Hushabye sample though! Is it the BBs version?!

Yes, it's very faint. You can hear Brian's falsetto from the intro on various parts of the song

I really like this album and the Beach boys influence is very clear!

Favorite track is 'The Noisey Eater'...the band itself calls it a modern take on Vege-Tables

Also love If I Was A Folkstar which samples Hushabye

vege-tables comes to mind...on the topic has anyone heard the new avalanches album wildflower? they have a song called 'the noisy eater' thats a play on the beach boys song

Summer's Gone is a better song in every aspect than Caroline, No.

I always figured not liking "Summer's Gone", or at least not loving it, was an unpopular opinion in and of itself.

I was kind of disappointed by it. It kind of meanders and doesn't move to its chord changes quickly enough. I've always felt it was the weakest song in the ending "suite" of songs. Not horrible. Good group vocals, poignant sound effects at the end. But as a composition, it's kind of bland musically.

HJ,

I'd agree that Summer's Gone is the weakest of the suite.  I really like Summer's Gone, but it's almost anti climatic after From There to Back Again and Pacific Coast Highway.  I even rank Strange World over Summer's Gone. 

Have to disagree. I find the chord progression to be beautiful and haunting, and like his work on pet sounds it is deceptively complex.

From the wind instruments to the gradual build of harmonies this song flows like a living organism behind the simple bass rhythm. I love the emotions and I always choke up when I hear it.

Summer's Gone is a better song in every aspect than Caroline, No.

When I Grow Up To Be A Man

Won't last forever...
It's kinda sad...

I've always loved that. Mike & Brian really nailed that part. It's my favorite part of the song.


Also, the coda of the Smiley Smile version of Wind Chimes is heavenly.

Good call on when I grow up. Also can't believe I forgot surf's up that's definitely top 5!!

I'd add the tag from It's Ok on to that list. Always loved that one.

Wow great call! I would definitely add that

One of my favorite hallmarks of Beach Boys/Brian Wilson songs are beautiful tags that repeat at the end of a song with gorgeous harmonies.

I put together a list of my top 10 off the top of my head...what do you guys think? Prefer tags or no tags? Anything I'm missing here?

***edited based on feedback, forgot a few classics!!

13. When I Grow Up To Be A Man
12. Keep An Eye On Summer
11. It's Ok
10. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
9. Fun Fun Fun
8. That's Why God Made The Radio
7. Time To Get Alone
6. You Still Believe In Me
5. California Girls
4. Girls On The Beach
3. God Only Knows
2. Surf's Up
1. Til I Die

God Only Knows was used wonderfully in the montage near the end of Boogie Nights-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mbh2HtJQ4k

I'd love to see the backing tracks released in one form or another. I'll Bet He's Nice in particular! It sounds so Switched-On Bach even with the boys singing.

Agreed! I think it's amazing and often-overlooked how innovative Brian's use of moog synthesizers was in 77.

And even earlier than that!

But yeah, in 1977, here they were doing a proto-new wave album with a very punk DIY ethos.

I  hope the album will one day get the recognition it deserves. Kanye West has been heralded for his albums 808s and Heartbreak and Yeezus, in which he isolated himself and used different instruments to develop a new sound to his music. I believe Brian was doing exactly that with these tracks...almost 50 years earlier.

I like to compare the song 'On Sight' to 'Let Us Go On This Way'...they're protest songs against the artists' former formulas and they use synths to create a familiar-but-innovative new sound to accomplish this.

On Sight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMdUsEtaS-c

Let Us Go On This Way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7u_ZkA7GUY

Keep being positive, The_Beach. To finish career with "Summer's gone"? They can do better than that. Imo if they started with fun ("Surfin") they should end with fun. It just seems cliched to end with sentimental song.

Respectfully disagree. TWGMTR is overall a sad/reflective album because it's about being old and reflecting on your past while coming to grips with the fact that death is inevitable.

Summer's Gone is one of my top 5 favorite beach boys songs and i couldn't think of a more beautiful close to their careers.