Non-surf/car songs to introduce someone to The Beach Boys?

[virsago]

I know it's hard to imagine the group without them, but from experience, it seems non-fans of The Beach Boys are put off by the band's very early surf & car-oriented work.  Although it's not all terrible, I can't say I blame them, as they're essentially borrowed nostalgia to me, and although it's good music, I just can't relate to it at all.  I'm trying to come up with a career-spanning compilation of deeper/underrated cuts to intrigue non-fans who may appreciate the group's more mature/evocative/thematically interesting works, with as little surf/car songs as possible, and picked a few:

Farmer's Daughter
Surf Jam
Surfer Girl
In My Room
Wendy
Hushabye
Don't Back Down
Kiss Me, Baby
She Knows Me Too Well
In the Back of My Mind
Then I Kissed Her
Girl Don't Tell Me
Let Him Run Wild
The Little Girl I Once Knew
You Still Believe In Me
That's Not Me
Here Today
Wonderful (SMiLE version)
Little Pad
Aren't You Glad
Darlin'
I'd Love Just Once To See You
Here Comes The Night
Wake The World
Anna Lee, The Healer
Little Bird
Busy Doin' Nothing
Be With Me
I Went To Sleep
Time to Get Alone
Breakaway
Celebrate The News
Got To Know The Woman
Deirdre
All I Wanna Do
Long Promised Road
Disney Girls (1957)
'Til I Die
Marcella
Cuddle Up
Sail On, Sailor
The Trader
California Saga/California
Funky Pretty
It's OK
Had To Phone Ya
Let Us Go On This Way
Mona
The Night Was So Young

Any thoughts, better picks, songs that should go, etc.?  I'd like to edit this down quite a bit to have all my surf/car-hating friends give The Beach Boys a try.

[Gertie J.]

You should add Lonely Sea and Don't Talk. Your friends might be blown away, as much as this poster.

[keysarsoze001]

I don't know that I'd include "Farmer's Daughter", but otherwise quite good. How about "I Do" as a representation of Brian's earliest attempts at aping the Wall of Sound?

[virsago]

I opted not to include Lonely Sea because I feel it's kind of weak compared to what Brian was trying to do with future songs that channeled his depression.  Farmer's Daughter, on the other hand, is a good glimpse at what was to come.  Don't Talk sounds like a good inclusion though.

I was trying to avoid outtakes/unreleased songs, although H.E.L.P. Is On The Way would fit right in, come to think of it.  Not sure about I Do though.

[positivemusic]

I'd actually been thinking about this a lot and put together the following tracklist:

The Lonely Sea
In My Room
Don't Worry Baby
Please Let Me Wonder
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
Let The Wind Blow
Passing By
Be With Me
Forever
Long Promised Road
Disney Girls
'Till I Die
All This Is That
Leaving This Town
The Night Was So Young
Still I Dream Of It
My Diane
Good Timin'
Baby Blue
She Believes In Love Again
Somewhere Near Japan
Lahaina Aloha
Caroline, No (Stars and Stripes, Vol. 1 Version)
From There To Back Again

Not sure if all these songs will fit, as I haven't burned the disc yet. I know most of these are downers, but I feel they're all beautiful and show the opposite of what people generalize The Beach Boys as being, fun, fun, fun.

[The Shift]

Here's mine, completed last night:

1. Think About The Days / The Beach Boys 1:28
2. Surf's Up / The Beach Boys 4:12
3. River Song / Dennis Wilson 3:47
4. All This Is That / The Beach Boys 4:04
5. Old Man River [Vocal Section] / The Beach Boys 1:20
6. Soulful Old Man Sunshine / The Beach Boys 3:30
7. This Whole World / The Beach Boys 1:58
8. Only With You (live) / The Beach Boys 4:09
9. Water (4th Vocal Overdub) / The Beach Boys 0:57
10. Cool, Cool Water / The Beach Boys 5:05
11. Funky Pretty / The Beach Boys 4:12
12. Add Some Music To Your Day / The Beach Boys 3:37
13. Can't Wait Too Long [A Cappella Mix] / The Beach Boys 0:51
14. 'Til I Die / The Beach Boys 2:44
15. Heroes And Villains [Stereo Mix] / The Beach Boys 4:53
16. Love Remember Me / Dennis Wilson 4:07
17. Tug Of Love (Feel The Pull) (Extra Track) / Dennis Wilson 3:46
18. Thoughts Of You / Dennis Wilson 3:07
19. You Still Believe In Me (Stereo Mix) / The Beach Boys 2:39
20. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (String Overdub…1:49
21. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Stereo Mix) / T…3:00
22. Strange World / The Beach Boys 3:03
23. From There To Back Again / The Beach Boys 3:24
24. Summer's Gone / The Beach Boys 4:42
25. Pacific Coast Highway / The Beach Boys 1:47

[Sheriff John Stone]

Here's mine, completed last night:

1. Think About The Days / The Beach Boys 1:28
2. Surf's Up / The Beach Boys 4:12
3. River Song / Dennis Wilson 3:47
4. All This Is That / The Beach Boys 4:04
5. Old Man River [Vocal Section] / The Beach Boys 1:20
6. Soulful Old Man Sunshine / The Beach Boys 3:30
7. This Whole World / The Beach Boys 1:58
8. Only With You (live) / The Beach Boys 4:09
9. Water (4th Vocal Overdub) / The Beach Boys 0:57
10. Cool, Cool Water / The Beach Boys 5:05
11. Funky Pretty / The Beach Boys 4:12
12. Add Some Music To Your Day / The Beach Boys 3:37
13. Can't Wait Too Long [A Cappella Mix] / The Beach Boys 0:51
14. 'Til I Die / The Beach Boys 2:44
15. Heroes And Villains [Stereo Mix] / The Beach Boys 4:53
16. Love Remember Me / Dennis Wilson 4:07
17. Tug Of Love (Feel The Pull) (Extra Track) / Dennis Wilson 3:46
18. Thoughts Of You / Dennis Wilson 3:07
19. You Still Believe In Me (Stereo Mix) / The Beach Boys 2:39
20. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (String Overdub…1:49
21. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Stereo Mix) / T…3:00
22. Strange World / The Beach Boys 3:03
23. From There To Back Again / The Beach Boys 3:24
24. Summer's Gone / The Beach Boys 4:42
25. Pacific Coast Highway / The Beach Boys 1:47

I like that ^ a lot...

[Wah Wah Wah Ooooo]

I like the lists so far...here's mine:

Sail on Sailor
River Song -DW
Darlin/Marcella from "In Concert"
This Whole World
God Only Knows
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
I Can Hear Music
Surf's Up
Please Let Me Wonder
Kiss Me Baby
The Little Girl I Once Knew
In My Room
Heroes and Villains
You Need A Mess of Help
Rainbows -DW (Listened to this several times last night with headphones...what a killer song)
Love and Mercy - BW from the Roxy CD
The Trader
'til I Die
Long Promised Road
Feel Flows
Sloop John B.
I Know There's An Answer

[The Shift]

Here's mine, completed last night:

1. Think About The Days / The Beach Boys 1:28
2. Surf's Up / The Beach Boys 4:12
3. River Song / Dennis Wilson 3:47
4. All This Is That / The Beach Boys 4:04
5. Old Man River [Vocal Section] / The Beach Boys 1:20
6. Soulful Old Man Sunshine / The Beach Boys 3:30
7. This Whole World / The Beach Boys 1:58
8. Only With You (live) / The Beach Boys 4:09
9. Water (4th Vocal Overdub) / The Beach Boys 0:57
10. Cool, Cool Water / The Beach Boys 5:05
11. Funky Pretty / The Beach Boys 4:12
12. Add Some Music To Your Day / The Beach Boys 3:37
13. Can't Wait Too Long [A Cappella Mix] / The Beach Boys 0:51
14. 'Til I Die / The Beach Boys 2:44
15. Heroes And Villains [Stereo Mix] / The Beach Boys 4:53
16. Love Remember Me / Dennis Wilson 4:07
17. Tug Of Love (Feel The Pull) (Extra Track) / Dennis Wilson 3:46
18. Thoughts Of You / Dennis Wilson 3:07
19. You Still Believe In Me (Stereo Mix) / The Beach Boys 2:39
20. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (String Overdub…1:49
21. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Stereo Mix) / T…3:00
22. Strange World / The Beach Boys 3:03
23. From There To Back Again / The Beach Boys 3:24
24. Summer's Gone / The Beach Boys 4:42
25. Pacific Coast Highway / The Beach Boys 1:47

I like that ^ a lot...

Cheers Sheriff… they're all tunes I never tire of, and which benefit from playing aloud or with cans. Had to throw in the Dennis Wilson songs cos they're among the very best in the entire world of Beachboydom.

Would be interested/grateful if anyone can suggest improvements/changes without altering the character/feel/ambience of the list… playlist length mustn't exceed 80mins though, for obvious reasons!

[Sheriff John Stone]

John Manning, the only thing I would change on your list would be to flip-flop No. 24 and 25. I know what you were going for, but I think I like it the original way.

I love these topics and threads. It breaks up some of the monotony(?) of listening to the same studio albums. So, I thought I'd take a shot at this one. I've been working on a career spanning comp that features non-hits, but quality tracks nevertheless. The intent is to get a reaction from the listener that says, "This stuff is really cool" and "I didn't know The Beach Boys recorded songs like these". The beginning of the comp is a little car-y/surf-y, but the songs were not hit singles. Oh, and no live cuts or Christmas songs. Here's what I came up with:

01. Radio Spot - "Where's your I.D., what's your name...."
02. 1962 Surfin' Safari - "Chug-A-Lug"
03. 1963 Surfin' U.S.A. - "Finders Keepers"
04. 1963 Surfer Girl - "Your Summer Dream"
05. 1963 Little Deuce Coupe - "Cherry Cherry Coupe"
06. 1964 Shut Down Vol. 2 - "In The Parkin' Lot"
07. 1964 All Summer Long - "Drive-In"
08. 1965 Today - "She Knows Me Too Well"
09. 1965 Summer Days (And Summer Nights) - "Salt Lake City"
10. 1966 Party - "Devoted To You"
11. 1966 Pet Sounds - "I'm Waiting For The Day"
12. 1967 Smiley Smile - "With Me Tonight"
13. 1967 Wild Honey - "Let The Wind Blow"
14. 1968 Friends - "Busy Doin' Nothin'"
15. 1969 20/20 - "Never Learn Not To Love"
16. 1970 Sunflower - "This Whole World"
17. 1971 Surf's Up - "Til I Die"
18. 1972 Carl & The Passions - "All This Is That"
19. 1973 Holland - "California Saga: California"
20. 1976 15 Big Ones - "It's OK"
21. 1977 Love You - "I'll Bet He's Nice"
22. 1978 MIU - "Matchpoint Of Our Love"
23. 1979 L.A. Light Album - "Baby Blue"
24. 1980 Keepin' The Summer Alive - "Goin' On"
25. 1985 The Beach Boys - "Where I Belong"
26. 1989 Still Cruisin' - "Somewhere Near Japan"
27. 1992 Summer In Paradise - "Lahaina Aloha"
28. 2012 That's Why God Made The Radio - "Summer's Gone"

[virsago]

I see you included Then I Kissed Her and Wonderful (SMiLE v-n). Jolly good choices they are!

And how about At My Window, Add Some Music, Good To My Baby, Our Car Club, Wild Honey, Country Air, Slip on Through, Wouldn't It Be Nice, Wind Chimes (SS v-n), I Know There's an Answer, I'm Waiting for the Day, Pet Sounds and Sloop John B? Can't anything from the aforementioned be work onto your comp?   

At My Window - It's kind of cheesy and would turn off someone just getting into the band.
Add Some Music - I think I'd add This Whole World in over this and end Sunflower's contribution at 4 tracks
Good To My Baby - This was in the earliest version of the compilation I had in mind, but I opted for the "trilogy" of KMB/SKMTW/ITBOMM instead.  To me, that's a defining moment for Today!
Our Car Club - I'm a fan of this song, but its lyrics lean a little too heavily into the whole car thing I'm trying to avoid.  If I had to include one car song, I think I'd include Car Crazy Cutie.  The vocals on that one are excellent.
Wild Honey - Darlin'/ILJOTSY/HCTN are another album-defining trilogy for me, but I think Wild Honey could work right after HCTN.
Country Air - Same reasoning as above, but I don't see Country Air working on this.
Slip On Through - Kind of a hard song to get into, in addition to my reasoning I used for Add Some Music.
Wouldn't It Be Nice - Everyone's heard this one already...
Wind Chimes (Smiley Smile version) - This version is pretty unsettling.  I'd rather go with the Smile version.  Either way, I don't think I'd add it.  If I had to add more Smile/Smiley Smile, I'd go with Our Prayer before Wonderful, then maybe With Me Tonight before or after Little Pad.
I Know There's An Answer - This could be a good substitute for That's Not Me, but I think both work.
I'm Waiting For The Day - If I subbed IKTAA in for TNM and added Don't Talk, I'd add this before IKTAA.  It fits better that way.
Pet Sounds - This entire compilation could use some instrumentals.  Maybe this could close out the Pet Sounds tracks.
Sloop John B - See WIBN.

[SIP.FLAC]

Chug A Lug.

[virsago]

Although I try to think otherwise, I just don't like Surfin' Safari.  If I had to pick anything off Surfin' Safari, I'd go with Heads I Win - Tails You Lose or Cuckoo Clock, or even Moon Dawg, but not Chug-A-Lug.

[virsago]

Also, I think I'd try to wedge The Surfer Moon in there somewhere, probably before Surfer Girl.

[buddhahat]

Here's mine, completed last night:

1. Think About The Days / The Beach Boys 1:28
2. Surf's Up / The Beach Boys 4:12
3. River Song / Dennis Wilson 3:47
4. All This Is That / The Beach Boys 4:04
5. Old Man River [Vocal Section] / The Beach Boys 1:20
6. Soulful Old Man Sunshine / The Beach Boys 3:30
7. This Whole World / The Beach Boys 1:58
8. Only With You (live) / The Beach Boys 4:09
9. Water (4th Vocal Overdub) / The Beach Boys 0:57
10. Cool, Cool Water / The Beach Boys 5:05
11. Funky Pretty / The Beach Boys 4:12
12. Add Some Music To Your Day / The Beach Boys 3:37
13. Can't Wait Too Long [A Cappella Mix] / The Beach Boys 0:51
14. 'Til I Die / The Beach Boys 2:44
15. Heroes And Villains [Stereo Mix] / The Beach Boys 4:53
16. Love Remember Me / Dennis Wilson 4:07
17. Tug Of Love (Feel The Pull) (Extra Track) / Dennis Wilson 3:46
18. Thoughts Of You / Dennis Wilson 3:07
19. You Still Believe In Me (Stereo Mix) / The Beach Boys 2:39
20. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (String Overdub…1:49
21. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Stereo Mix) / T…3:00
22. Strange World / The Beach Boys 3:03
23. From There To Back Again / The Beach Boys 3:24
24. Summer's Gone / The Beach Boys 4:42
25. Pacific Coast Highway / The Beach Boys 1:47

That, sir, is a beaut!

[Music Machine]

01. Radio Spot - "Where's your I.D., what's your name...."
02. 1962 Surfin' Safari - "Chug-A-Lug"
03. 1963 Surfin' U.S.A. - "Finders Keepers"
04. 1963 Surfer Girl - "Your Summer Dream"
05. 1963 Little Deuce Coupe - "Cherry Cherry Coupe"
06. 1964 Shut Down Vol. 2 - "In The Parkin' Lot"
07. 1964 All Summer Long - "Drive-In"
08. 1965 Today - "She Knows Me Too Well"
09. 1965 Summer Days (And Summer Nights) - "Salt Lake City"
10. 1966 Party - "Devoted To You"
11. 1966 Pet Sounds - "I'm Waiting For The Day"
12. 1967 Smiley Smile - "With Me Tonight"
13. 1967 Wild Honey - "Let The Wind Blow"
14. 1968 Friends - "Busy Doin' Nothin'"
15. 1969 20/20 - "Never Learn Not To Love"
16. 1970 Sunflower - "This Whole World"
17. 1971 Surf's Up - "Til I Die"
18. 1972 Carl & The Passions - "All This Is That"
19. 1973 Holland - "California Saga: California"
20. 1976 15 Big Ones - "It's OK"
21. 1977 Love You - "I'll Bet He's Nice"
22. 1978 MIU - "Matchpoint Of Our Love"
23. 1979 L.A. Light Album - "Baby Blue"
24. 1980 Keepin' The Summer Alive - "Goin' On"
25. 1985 The Beach Boys - "Where I Belong"
26. 1989 Still Cruisin' - "Somewhere Near Japan"
27. 1992 Summer In Paradise - "Lahaina Aloha"
28. 2012 That's Why God Made The Radio - "Summer's Gone"

I would have picked different cuts off Party, 20/20 and M.I.U. but otherwise, well played!  .

[Sheriff John Stone]

01. Radio Spot - "Where's your I.D., what's your name...."
02. 1962 Surfin' Safari - "Chug-A-Lug"
03. 1963 Surfin' U.S.A. - "Finders Keepers"
04. 1963 Surfer Girl - "Your Summer Dream"
05. 1963 Little Deuce Coupe - "Cherry Cherry Coupe"
06. 1964 Shut Down Vol. 2 - "In The Parkin' Lot"
07. 1964 All Summer Long - "Drive-In"
08. 1965 Today - "She Knows Me Too Well"
09. 1965 Summer Days (And Summer Nights) - "Salt Lake City"
10. 1966 Party - "Devoted To You"
11. 1966 Pet Sounds - "I'm Waiting For The Day"
12. 1967 Smiley Smile - "With Me Tonight"
13. 1967 Wild Honey - "Let The Wind Blow"
14. 1968 Friends - "Busy Doin' Nothin'"
15. 1969 20/20 - "Never Learn Not To Love"
16. 1970 Sunflower - "This Whole World"
17. 1971 Surf's Up - "Til I Die"
18. 1972 Carl & The Passions - "All This Is That"
19. 1973 Holland - "California Saga: California"
20. 1976 15 Big Ones - "It's OK"
21. 1977 Love You - "I'll Bet He's Nice"
22. 1978 MIU - "Matchpoint Of Our Love"
23. 1979 L.A. Light Album - "Baby Blue"
24. 1980 Keepin' The Summer Alive - "Goin' On"
25. 1985 The Beach Boys - "Where I Belong"
26. 1989 Still Cruisin' - "Somewhere Near Japan"
27. 1992 Summer In Paradise - "Lahaina Aloha"
28. 2012 That's Why God Made The Radio - "Summer's Gone"

I would have picked different cuts off Party, 20/20 and M.I.U. but otherwise, well played!  .

I'm certainly open and curious. What cuts would've you picked for those three albums? For MIU, I have a feeling most people would've chosen "Diane", but I like the flow (and vocals) on "Matchpoint".

[The Shift]

Winds of Change would be my MIU cut of choice. Hints of There & Back Again even.

[Music Machine]

Party - You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
20/20 - Be With Me
M.I.U. - Pitter Patter

[keysarsoze001]

I'd go with "There's No Other" from Party! because that's the fullest their vocals sound on that album, in my opinion.

[The Shift]

I'd go with "There's No Other" from Party! because that's the fullest their vocals sound on that album, in my opinion.

That or Mountain of Love, but probably that.

[Runaways]

I'd cut it to 10-15 songs so they can properly appreciate the tunes.

[EgoHanger1966]

Just give them a copy of Pet Sounds (the album) and some brief reading material about how important it is, best album ever blah blah blah.
That should do it.

[keysarsoze001]

I'd go with "There's No Other" from Party! because that's the fullest their vocals sound on that album, in my opinion.

That or Mountain of Love, but probably that.

Or instead of "Mountain of Love", include "Little Children" and you'll have the same thing.

[Sheriff John Stone]

I'd go with "There's No Other" from Party! because that's the fullest their vocals sound on that album, in my opinion.

That or Mountain of Love, but probably that.

I couldn't choose between "Devoted To You" and "There's No Other (Like My Baby)". I think "There's No Other" is the better choice.

If you guys have a minute, burn that mix for your car. It flows nice and is a nice change of pace - in between listens to TWGMTR that is.