50 favourite Beach Boys songs

[Blue2013]

Here are my top 50 favourite beach boys songs (including covers) which I haven't worked on ranking yet.



Don't Worry Baby
I Get Around
Little Honda
Wendy
She Knows Me Too Well
Dance Dance Dance
Do You Wanna Dance?
Good To My Baby
Help Me, Rhonda
Let Him Run Wild
The Little Girl I Once Knew
Wouldn't It Be Nice
That's Not Me
I'm Waiting For The Day
God Only Knows
Hang On To Your Ego
Here Today
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
Good Vibrations (Smile version)
The Elements: Fire
Do You Like Worms?
Heroes And Villains (Smiley Smile version)
Cabin Essence (Smile version)
Wonderful (Smiley Smile version)
Surf's Up (1967 demo version)
Wild Honey
Aren't You Glad
I Was Made To Love Her
Darlin
Here Comes The Night
Let The Wind Blow
I'd Love Just Once to see You
Wake The World
Transcendental Meditation
Break Away
Cotton Fields (single version)
All I Wanna Do 1970
Cool Cool Water
Good Time
You Need A Mess of Help to Stand Alone
Had To Phone Ya
Let Us Go On This Way
Honkin Down The Highway
Ding Dang
The Night Was So Young
I'll Bet He's Nice
Airplane
Shortenin Bread (Adult Child version)
Angel Come Home
Getcha Back





Please tell me if you think I got it all wrong.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Nothing pre-1964 ? Nothing post-1985 ? Nothing from 20/20, Surfs Up or Holland ? Your choices are... Interesting.

[Blue2013]

Nothing pre-1964 ? Nothing post-1985 ? Nothing from 20/20, Surfs Up or Holland ? Your choices are... Interesting.

Cabin Essence and Cotton fields are sorta from 20/20 and Surfs Up is sorta from Surfs Up, so that counts for something right?
If I had more room I would add 409, Shut Down, Surfin USA and  Surfer Girl from pre-1963 and a bunch of other songs maybe.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Nope - the versions you've listed are from different albums, or non-album tracks. If you're going to be that specific, don't expect any latitude.

[Blue2013]

It's not really that big of a deal, but they are still the same songs. I just prefer those non album versions of them.

[SMiLE Brian]

Nice list, AGD just being cranky this morning....

[Andrew G. Doe]

Nothing from Holland, or the latest studio album ?

[smile-holland]

Nothing from Holland, or the latest studio album ?

Well... granted, there's nothing wrong with the list he made, all a top 50 list worthy IMO. Now if Blue2013 expanded his list to a top 75...

Guess it's time for your list now, Andrew. (just 50 songs   )

[Jukka]

My top 50 would be somewhat different, but I gotta admit there's not one truly shite song included on your list. Getcha Back comes close, though.

[Niko]

Oh dude...I'm listening to Getcha Back as I write this. Mike's vocals aren't great, but its a nice song! Especially the outro.

[RiC]

Don't Worry Baby
I Get Around
She Knows Me Too Well
Wouldn't It Be Nice
God Only Knows
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
Good Vibrations (Smile version)
Heroes And Villains (Smiley Smile version)
Wake The World
You Need A Mess of Help to Stand Alone
Ding Dang
I'll Bet He's Nice
Airplane

I'd propably drop off pretty much everything else but these songs. Though the rest are all great too. I just happen to like the 70's stuff and the latest album so much.

[punkinhead]

I didn't think there was much of a difference between the versions of Cabinessence on 20/20 and Smile

[TimeToGetAlone]

It's actually quite tough to narrow down to simply 50, especially when there's no criteria other than personal preference.  I tried to find a balance between representing eras and going with my absolute favourites and came up with this...

Surfer Girl
In My Room
Don't Worry Baby
The Warmth of the Sun
I Get Around
Please Let Me Wonder
Kiss Me, Baby
She Knows Me Too Well
In the Back of My Mind
California Girls
Let Him Run Wild
The Little Girl I Once Knew
Wouldn't It Be Nice
You Still Believe in Me
Let's Go Away for Awhile
Sloop John B
God Only Knows
Caroline, No
Good Vibrations
Wonderful (Smile Sessions)
Surf's Up (Smile Sessions)
Heroes and Villains (Alternate Take)
Darlin'
Let the Wind Blow
Friends
Little Bird
Busy Doin' Nothin'
Time to Get Alone
Cabinessence (20/20)
Break Away
Slip On Through
This Whole World
All I Wanna Do
Forever
Feel Flows
'Til I Die
(Wouldn't It Be Nice to) Live Again
You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone
Marcella
Sail On, Sailor
The Trader
Just Once In My Life
Let Us Go On This Way
The Night Was So Young
Baby Blue
Where I Belong
Somewhere Near Japan
You're Still a Mystery
From There to Back Again
Summer's Gone

[Gohi]

Nothing from Holland, or the latest studio album ?

I see nothing wrong with this.

[Smilin Ed H]

Can't resist this sort of sh*t.

In no order:

1   Surf's Up
2   Til I Die
3   Heroes and Villains
4   Cabinessence
5   Sail on Sailor
6   The Night Was So Young
7   I Get Around
8   Surfin' USA
9   All I Wanna Do
10 This Whole World
11 Forever
12 WIBNTLA
13 Wouldn't It Be Nice
14 God Only Knows
15 Warmth of the Sun
16 Feel Flows
17 California Saga - California
18 Darlin'
19 All This Is That
20 From There To Back Again
21 I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
22 Steamboat
23 Cuddle Up
24 Johnny Carson
25 Had To Phone Ya
26 Baby Blue
27 Angel Come Home
28 Long Promised Road
29 The Little Girl I Once Knew
30 Surfer Girl
31 Let Him Run Wild
32 Don't Worry Baby
33 In My Room
34 Lookin' At Tomorrow
35 Please Let Me Wonder
36 Little Bird
37 Time To Get Alone
38 Busy Doin' Nothin'
39 Break Away
40 Do It Again
41 You Still Believe In Me
42 Let The Wind Blow
43 Here Today
44 Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)
45 In The Back of My Mind
46 Good Vibrations
47 Angel Come Home
48 Kiss Me Baby
49 I'll Bet He's Nice
50  That's Not Me

I'm sure i could easily remove ten and replace them with another of equal quality...

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Ooh, I love lists... Here's my top 50 personal favourites (in more or less order of release).

1. Lonely Sea
2. Noble Surfer
3. In My Room
4. Custom Machine
5. In The Parkin' Lot
6. Don't Worry Baby
7. All Summer Long
8. She Knows Me Too Well
9. Please Let Me Wonder
10. California Girls
11. Little Girl I Once Knew
12. God Only Knows
13. You Still Believe In Me
14. Don't Talk
15. Here Today
16. Good Vibrations
17. Heroes & Villains
18. Cabinessence
19. Surf's Up
20. Do You Like Worms
21. She's Goin' Bald
22. Darlin'
23. Country Air
24. Here Comes The Night
25. Be Here In The Mornin'
26. Busy Doin' Nothin'
27. Time To Get Alone
28. Never Learn Not To Love
29. Lady
30. Celebrate The News
31. Slip On through
32. All I Wanna Do
33. Forever
34. 4th of July
35. Long Promised Road
36. Feel Flows
37. Til I Die
38. Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again
39. Cuddle Up
40. Trader
41. Funky Pretty
42. Mt Vernon & Fairway
43. The Night Was So Young
44. My Diane
45. Good Timin'
46. Baby Blue
47. Where I Belong
48. Our Team
49. A Time To Live In Dreams
50. Stevie

[The Dumb Angel]

My list that I very quickly came up with.

Surfer Girl
In My Room
Don't Worry Baby
Warmth of the Sun
I Get Around
All Summer Long
Please Let Me Wonder
Kiss Me, Baby
Help Me, Rhonda
California Girls
Let Him Run Wild
Little Girl I Once Knew
Wouldn't It Be Nice
God Only Knows
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
Caroline, No
Don't Talk
Good Vibrations
Heroes and Villians
Child Is Father of the Man
Wonderful
Wind Chimes (Smiley Smile)
Darlin'
Country Air
Let The Wind Blow
Friends
Passing By
Busy Doin' Nothin'
Break Away
Time To Get Alone
Cabinessence (20/20)
This Whole World
Slip On Through
All I Wanna Do
Soulful Old Man Sunshine
(Wouldn't It Be Nice) Live Again
Feel Flows
Til I Die
Marcella
Sail On, Sailor
Funky Pretty
Johnny Carson
The Night Was So Young
I'll Bet He's Nice
My Diane
California Feelin'
Angel Come Home
Baby Blue
From There To Back Again
Pacific Coast Highway

[Blue2013]

My top 50 would be somewhat different, but I gotta admit there's not one truly shite song included on your list. Getcha Back comes close, though.

I thought people would question my inclusion of Shortenin Bread. Brian Wilson is right, it's a good song.

[musicismylife101]

In no particular order

1. Surfer Girl
2. I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
3. God Only Knows
4. Good Vibrations
5. Little Bird
6. That's Not Me
7. Surf's Up
8. Till I Die
9. From There to Back Again
10. Please Let Me Wonder
11. Kiss Me Baby
12. In the Back of My Mind
13. (Wouldn't It Be Nice) To Live Again
14. In My Room
15. We'll Run Away
16. Long Promised Road
17. I Can Hear Music
18. All I Wanna Do
19. Let the Wind Blow
20. This Whole World
21. All I Want to Do
22. Don't Worry Baby
23. You're Still a Mystery
24. The Night Was So Young
25. I Wanna Pick You Up
26. Sail On Sailor
27. I'll Bet He's Nice
28. Cuddle Up
29. Devoted to You
30. California Dreamin'
31. Aren't You Glad
32. It's Getting Late
33. Good Timin'
34. Male Ego
35. Hushabye
36. He Come Down
37. The Trader
38. Isn't It Time
39. Just Once in My Life
40. My Love Lives On
41. The Warmth of the Sun
42. Little Pad
43. My Diane
44. Let Him Run Wild
45. Got to Know the Woman
46. Forever
47. A Day in the Life of a Tree
48. Summertime Blues
49. Shut Down
50. Lonely Sea

[Freddie French-Pounce]

I did a very meaningful "throw albums into playlist and delete accordingly" process, adding in a couple at the end I felt merited inclusion:

[bluesno1fann]

In no particular order:

Surfin Safari
Little Girl (You're My Miss America)
Cuckoo Clock
Lonely Sea
Surfer Girl
In My Room
The Warmth Of The Sun
Don't Worry Baby
Keep An Eye On Summer
All Summer Long
Little Saint Nick
Santa's Beard
Do You Wanna Dance?
Please Let Me Wonder
In The Back Of My Mind
Let Him Run Wild
The Little Girl I Once Knew
Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
Let's Go Away For A While
God Only Knows
Caroline, No
Good Vibrations
Surf's Up
Do You Like Worms? (Roll Plymouth Rock)
Vegetables
Gettin' Hungry
Wild Honey
Here Comes The Night
Little Bird
I Can Hear Music
Be With Me
All I Want To Do
Never Learn Not To Love
Slip On Through
It's About Time
Forever
Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again
Long Promised Road
Til' I Die
You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone
Leaving This Town
Mona
My Diane
Lady Lynda
Love Surrounds Me
Getcha Back
Maybe I Don't Know
She Believes In Love Again
I Do Love You
Make It Big

[rn57]

Think I'll go with these:

Lonely Sea
Shut Down
Surfer Girl
Our Car Club
In My Room
Be True To Your School (45)
Little Honda
Don't Worry Baby
The Warmth Of The Sun
Girls On The Beach
I Get Around
All Summer Long
Don't Back Down
Please Let Me Wonder
She Knows Me Too Well
Kiss Me Baby
California Girls
Salt Lake City
I'm Waiting For The Day
God Only Knows
Caroline No
Good Vibrations
Heroes & Villains (Smile Sessions, track 3)
Wonderful (ditto, track 9)
Wild Honey
Darlin'
How She Boogalooed It
Meant For You
Wake The World
Be Here In The Morning
Be Still
Busy Doin' Nothin'
Do It Again
I Can Hear Music
I Went To Sleep
Cabinessence
Add Some Music
All I Wanna Do
This Whole World
Feel Flows
Disney Girls
Surf's Up
'Til I Die
WIBNTLA
All This Is That
Cuddle Up
Steamboat
It's OK
Solar System
From There To Back Again

[smilethebeachboysloveyou]

Surfin' U.S.A.
Little Deuce Coupe
Fun, Fun, Fun
Don't Worry Baby
In the Parking Lot
I Get Around
Little Honda
Drive-In
Don't Back Down
When I Grow Up to Be A Man
Dance, Dance, Dance
Please Let Me Wonder
Kiss Me, Baby
Salt Lake City
California Girls
Let Him Run Wild
The Little Girl I Once Knew
Sloop John B
Wouldn't It Be Nice
God Only Knows
I'm Waiting for the Day
Let's Go Away For Awhile
Caroline, No
Good Vibrations
Heroes and Villains
Cabinessence
Wonderful
Surf's Up
Vega-Tables
With Me Tonight
Darlin'
Aren't You Glad
Country Air
I'd Love Just Once to See You
Friends
Wake the World
Busy Doin' Nothin'
Time to Get Alone
Break Away
This Whole World
All I Wanna Do
Cool, Cool Water
Til I Die
Sail On, Sailor
Roller Skating Child
Mona
Johnny Carson
I'll Bet He's Nice
Airplane
My Diane

The ones in bold are my top ten favorites.

[Blue2013]

Now if Blue2013 expanded his list to a top 75...

OK, I've worked on it today and here's 51-75:

Surfin' U.S.A.
Shut Down
Surfer Girl
Fun, Fun, Fun
The Warmth of the Sun
All Summer Long
Hushabye
Drive-In
Don't Back Down
The Girl From New York City
California Girls
You Still Believe In Me
Let's Go Away For Awhile
Don't Talk
Sloop John B
Country Air
A Thing or Two
How She Boogalooed It
I Can Hear Music
This Whole World
Deirdre
Forever
Fairy Tale Music from Mount Vernon And Fairway
It's OK
Johnny Carson


and here's the top 10-

Don't Worry Baby
I Get Around
Help Me, Rhonda
The Little Girl I Once Knew
Wouldn't It Be Nice
God Only Knows
Good Vibrations
Heroes And Villains
Surf's Up
All I Wanna Do