Top 5 Beach Boys albums

[Eric Aniversario]

If we're not including solo stuff or compilations:

1. Friends
2. In Concert
3. LA Light Album
4. CATP - So Tough
5. Sunflower

6. Wild Honey
7. Today!
8. Smiley Smile
9. Surf's Up
10. Love You

11. 20/20
12. Summer Days (ASN!)
13. Live In London
14. Summer In Paradise
15. All Summer Long

16. Pet Sounds
17. MIU Album
18. Holland
19. That's Why God Made The Radio
20. Surfer Girl

21. Keepin' The Summer Alive
22. Party!
23. Surfin' Safari
24. Still Cruisin'
25. Surfin USA

26. Stars & Stripes, Vol. 1
27. Live at Knebworth
28. Little Deuce Coupe
29. Shut Down, Vol. 2
30. 15 Big Ones

31. The Smile Sessions
32. The Beach Boys (1985)
33. Stack-O-Tracks

[Lowbacca]

If we're not including solo stuff or compilations:

1. Friends
2. In Concert
3. LA Light Album
4. CATP - So Tough
5. Sunflower

6. Wild Honey
7. Today!
8. Smiley Smile
9. Surf's Up
10. Love You

11. 20/20
12. Summer Days (ASN!)
13. Live In London
14. Summer In Paradise
15. All Summer Long

16. Pet Sounds
17. MIU Album
18. Holland
19. That's Why God Made The Radio
20. Surfer Girl

21. Keepin' The Summer Alive
22. Party!
23. Surfin' Safari
24. Still Cruisin'
25. Surfin USA

26. Stars & Stripes, Vol. 1
27. Live at Knebworth
28. Little Deuce Coupe
29. Shut Down, Vol. 2
30. 15 Big Ones

31. The Smile Sessions
32. The Beach Boys (1985)
33. Stack-O-Tracks

Wow, a lot to talk about here..! First off, I like how Pet Sounds isn't higher than #16 (since a lot of the other LPs are just as good / emotionally & musically sophisticated) - though I wouldn't place Summer in Paradise higher than Pet Sounds, I guess. Friends at #1 is valid, Passions at #4 as well. Moving along to the bottom of your list: Stars & Stripes higher than LDC, Shut Down and 85? Interesting... care to elaborate on some of your positioning?

[Eric Aniversario]

Wow, a lot to talk about here..! First off, I like how Pet Sounds isn't higher than #16 (since a lot of the other LPs are just as good / emotionally & musically sophisticated) - though I wouldn't place Summer in Paradise higher than Pet Sounds, I guess. Friends at #1 is valid, Passions at #4 as well. Moving along to the bottom of your list: Stars & Stripes higher than LDC, Shut Down and 85? Interesting... care to elaborate on some of your positioning?

I think it's all valid because it's all opinion!  
I enjoy all these albums, from the first ranked to last ranked!  Just some more than others.  And just like with anybody else, my rankings change over the years.  Surf's Up has climbed up a bit.  Summer In Paradise dropped a bit.

Stars & Stripes has some great latter-day vocals from our Boys, albeit in the background.  Shut Down Vol. 2 has some great individual tracks, but doesn't gel that well as an album.  85 has not aged well, other than a handful of tracks.

And yes, I like SIP better than Pet Sounds.  But not by much!  They are both in the top half of my list.

Friends, In Concert, and LA have been my top 3 for almost all 20 years of my fandom.  If we include solo stuff, Pacific Ocean Blue and Orange Crate Art would make the top 6.  Probably:

1. Friends
2. Orange Crate Art
3. In Concert
4. LA Light Album
5. CATP So Tough
6. POB

[Letsgoawayforawhile]

Wow, a lot to talk about here..! First off, I like how Pet Sounds isn't higher than #16 (since a lot of the other LPs are just as good / emotionally & musically sophisticated) - though I wouldn't place Summer in Paradise higher than Pet Sounds, I guess. Friends at #1 is valid, Passions at #4 as well. Moving along to the bottom of your list: Stars & Stripes higher than LDC, Shut Down and 85? Interesting... care to elaborate on some of your positioning?

I think it's all valid because it's all opinion! 
I enjoy all these albums, from the first ranked to last ranked!  Just some more than others.  And just like with anybody else, my rankings change over the years.  Surf's Up has climbed up a bit.  Summer In Paradise dropped a bit.

Stars & Stripes has some great latter-day vocals from our Boys, albeit in the background.  Shut Down Vol. 2 has some great individual tracks, but doesn't gel that well as an album.  85 has not aged well, other than a handful of tracks.

And yes, I like SIP better than Pet Sounds.  But not by much!  They are both in the top half of my list.

Seeing Pet Sounds lower than Summer In Paradise really, really hurts.
But, I think it's really cool you have completely different tastes than most of us!

[Eric Aniversario]

Seeing Pet Sounds lower than Summer In Paradise really, really hurts.
But, I think it's really cool you have completely different tastes than most of us!

Thanks!  Yeah there's room for all of us to be different here, for the most part.

And after reviewing my list, I can now say that Holland is not where it should be...probably should be at #13, ahead of Live In London.  I meant to move it up and forgot.

[Lowbacca]

I think it's all valid because it's all opinion!  

Sure. That's not what I meant. Poor choice of words.

I enjoy all these albums, from the first ranked to last ranked!  Just some more than others.  And just like with anybody else, my rankings change over the years.

That's why I was interested in hearing some 'explanatory statement'.   All in all a rather interesting ranking.  

[Eric Aniversario]

Hmmm I realized I forgot the Christmas Album and Concert.  And as I mentioned earlier, Holland is in the wrong spot.  So this gives me a good excuse to start over again:

If we're not including solo stuff or compilations:

1. Friends
2. In Concert
3. LA Light Album
4. CATP - So Tough
5. Sunflower

6. Wild Honey
7. Today!
8. Smiley Smile
9. Surf's Up
10. Love You

11. 20/20
12. Summer Days (ASN!)
13. Holland
14. Live In London
15. Summer In Paradise

16. All Summer Long
17. Pet Sounds
18. MIU Album
19. That's Why God Made The Radio
20. Concert

21. Surfer Girl
22. Keepin' The Summer Alive
23. Christmas Album
24. Party!
25. Surfin' Safari

26. Still Cruisin'
27. Surfin USA
28. Stars & Stripes, Vol. 1
29. Live at Knebworth
30. Little Deuce Coupe

31. Shut Down, Vol. 2
32. 15 Big Ones
33. The Smile Sessions
34. The Beach Boys (1985)
35. Stack-O-Tracks

[Eric Aniversario]

That's why I was interested in hearing some 'explanatory statement'.   All in all a rather interesting ranking.  

Thanks!  How would you rank these 35?

[Junebug]

1/ Surf's Up
  2/ Pet Sounds
    3/ Friends
      4/ Sunflower
        5/ That's Why God Made The Radio

Just behind them : 20/20 and Love You.

Not trying to be controversial with #5 , i really think it's brilliant and i'm still playing it a lot. Every track on it (even the worst, Beaches In Mind) would fit on any other album and not be out of place. And  Daybreak Over The Ocean plus the final 3 tracks are to die for, amazing.

[Alan Smith]

Love You
Friends
All Summer Long
Surf's Up
Surfin' USA

                                                                 
nice variety ...I'm on board, as long as this isn't a my house is  on fire, only got time to grab 5 , followed by banishment to a remote area where I will live in a shed*, in which case I would
need to grab a 45 of WIBN/GOK if I ever wanted to be happy again.



*I will have a small portable record player in my shed for leisure time not spent on gathering food

Cheers!  BTW, the fire/evacuation/shed thing ( ) sounds a cool topic idea.

Thus far, no love for...

Surfin' Safari
Concert
Christmas Album
Party !
Live In London
15 Big Ones
MIU Album
LA (Light Album)
Keepin' The Summer Alive
Still Cruisin'
Summer In Paradise
Stars & Stripes
Live At Knebworth
That's Why God Made The Radio

Sure, lots of love. It's just that a top5 of BBs LPs is pretty much the hardest top5 I ever had to name.....

+1.  Grinding down the love to just 1/6th of the catalogue was even harder than the twofer wars threads of late.  

And if we're gonna call out Stars & Stripes, let's note no love for Nascar (ever)

[phirnis]

1. Love You
2. Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!)
3. Pet Sounds
4. Holland
5. Friends

[Lowbacca]

That's why I was interested in hearing some 'explanatory statement'.   All in all a rather interesting ranking.  

Thanks!  How would you rank these 35?

Tough call (and subject to weekly change), but here it goes:

1. Wild Honey
2. All Summer Long
3. Today!
4. Love You
5. CATP - So Tough

6. Holland
7. Sunflower
8. Summer Days (ASN!)
9. Pet Sounds
10. Shut Down, Vol. 2

11. Friends
12. The Smile Sessions
13. Surf's Up
14. Smiley Smile
15. Surfer Girl

16. Surfin' USA
17. 15 Big Ones
18. That's Why God Made The Radio
19. Little Deuce Coupe
20. M.I.U. Album

21. 20/20
22. L.A. Light Album
23. The Beach Boys (1985)
24. Still Cruisin'
25. Party!

26. Keepin' The Summer Alive
27. Stack-O-Tracks
28. Live In London
29. Live at Knebworth
30. In Concert

31. Beach Boys' Concert
32. Christmas Album
33. Surfin' Safari
34. Summer In Paradise
35. Stars & Stripes, Vol. 1

 

[Eric Aniversario]

That's why I was interested in hearing some 'explanatory statement'.   All in all a rather interesting ranking.  

Thanks!  How would you rank these 35?

Tough call (and subject to weekly change), but here it goes:

1. Wild Honey
2. All Summer Long
3. Today!
4. Love You
5. CATP - So Tough

6. Holland
7. Sunflower
8. Summer Days (ASN!)
9. Pet Sounds
10. Shut Down, Vol. 2

11. Friends
12. The Smile Sessions
13. Surf's Up
14. Smiley Smile
15. Surfer Girl

16. Surfin' USA
17. 15 Big Ones
18. That's Why God Made The Radio
19. Little Deuce Coupe
20. M.I.U. Album

21. 20/20
22. L.A. Light Album
23. The Beach Boys (1985)
24. Still Cruisin'
25. Party!

26. Keepin' The Summer Alive
27. Stack-O-Tracks
28. Live In London
29. Live at Knebworth
30. In Concert

31. Beach Boys' Concert
32. Christmas Album
33. Surfin' Safari
34. Summer In Paradise
35. Stars & Stripes, Vol. 1

 

Cool!  Thanks for taking the time to share that!  If you look closely, other than a few aberrations, a lot of our rankings are pretty similar!

[Runaways]

1. Pet sounds
2. Today
3. Smile
4. Summer days and summer nights
5. Dunno anymore :/

[EgoHanger1966]

Here's mine. Didn't count Stars/Stripes, Christmas, Stack O Tracks, or live releases. And...this could change at any given moment!

Pet Sounds
Friends
The Smile Sessions
The Beach Boys (1985)
Today!

Sunflower
All Summer Long
Summer Days (ASN!)
Love You
Wild Honey

Holland
That's Why God Made The Radio
20/20
Shut Down, Vol. 2
Surf's Up

Surfer Girl
Little Deuce Coupe
M.I.U. Album
Keepin' The Summer Alive
CATP - So Tough

Smiley Smile
Still Cruisin'
15 Big Ones
Surfin' USA

L.A. Light Album
Party!
Surfin' Safari
Summer In Paradise

[phirnis]

Full ranking:

Love You
Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!)
Pet Sounds
Holland
Friends

Carl and the Passions
Surf's Up
Today!
Sunflower
15 Big Ones
Wild Honey
All Summer Long
Smiley Smile
20/20
Surfer Girl
L.A. (Light Album)
Little Deuce Coupe
Surfin' USA
Shut Down Vol. 2
That's Why God Made the Radio
M.I.U. Album
Party!
The Beach Boys
Still Cruisin'
Surfin' Safari
Keepin' the Summer Alive
Summer in Paradise
Stars and Stripes Vol. 1

[AndrewHickey]

If I was counting Smile, the Brian 2004 Smile would go at number one, and The Smile Sessions might go in at number 5. But discounting that (and bootlegs, solo albums etc):
1) Smiley Smile
2) Love You
3) Carl & The Passions
4) Friends
5) In Concert

[Phoenix]

Doing all 35 was (so) tough but this is how it plays out for me (at the moment).

1.   Smile/The Smile Sessions 2CD
2.   Pet Sounds
3.   In Concert
4.   Sunflower
5.   Holland

6.   20/20
7.   CATP - So Tough
8.   Surf's Up
9.   Party!
10. Today!

11.   That's Why God Made The Radio
12.   Keepin' The Summer Alive
13.   Concert
14.   Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)
15.   Live In London

16.   Christmas Album
17.   Little Deuce Coupe
18.   Shut Down, Vol. 2
19.   All Summer Long
20.   Surfer Girl

21.   Live At Knebworth
22.   Stars & Stripes, Vol. 1
23.   Wild Honey
24.   Surfin' Safari
25.   15 Big Ones

26.   Stack-O-Tracks
27.   L.A. Light Album
28.   The Beach Boys (1985)
29.   Still Cruisin'
30.   Summer In Paradise

31.   M.I.U. Album
32.   Friends
33.   Love You
34.   Surfin' USA
35.   Smiley Smile

[joe_blow]

Sunflower
Pet Sounds
Friends
Today!
Love You

[TimeToGetAlone]

Since other people seem to, I might as well provide a full ranking as well...

1. The Smile Sessions
2. Pet Sounds
3. Today!
4. Holland
5. Sunflower

6. Love You
7. Surf's Up
8. The Beach Boys In Concert
9. 20/20
10. Friends

11. Summer Days (And Summer Nights!)
12. Wild Honey
13. Surfer Girl
14. All Summer Long
15. Smiley Smile

16. Carl and the Passions "So Tough"
17. Shut Down Volume 2
18. That's Why God Made the Radio
19. Live in London
20. The Beach Boys' Christmas Album

21. Good Timin': Live at Knebworth England 1980
22. Surfin' USA
23. 15 Big Ones
24. The Beach Boys
25. Little Deuce Coupe

26. Stack-O-Tracks
27. M.I.U. Album
28. L.A. (Light Album)
29. Keepin' the Summer Alive
30. Still Cruisin'

31. Beach Boys' Party
32. Beach Boys Concert
33. Surfin' Safari
34. Stars and Stripes Vol. 1
35. Summer in Paradise

[LetHimRun]

1. Pet Sounds
2. Today!
3. Sunflower
4. Holland
5. Summer Days

Smile would be second if I were to include it.

[AndrewHickey]

And since this thread seems to have switched to "rank all the albums":

1. Smiley Smile
2. Love You
3. Carl & The Passions
4. Friends
5.The Smile Sessions
6. In Concert
7. Pet Sounds
8. Surf's Up
9. Holland
10. 20/20
11 Wild Honey
12 Shut Down Vol 2
13 Live In London
14 Today!
15 Sunflower
16 Summer Days
17 LA
18 15 Big Ones
19. Surfer Girl
20. All Summer Long
21. That's Why God Made the Radio
22. Knebworth
23. 85
24. Little Deuce Coupe
25. Stack-O-Tracks
26. M.I.U. Album
27. Keepin' the Summer Alive
28. Still Cruisin'
29. The Beach Boys' Christmas Album
30. Beach Boys' Party
31. Beach Boys Concert
32. Surfin' Safari
33. Surfin' USA
34. Stars and Stripes Vol. 1
35. Summer in Paradise

[I. Spaceman]

Love You
Smiley Smile
Party
Little Deuce Coupe
Pet Sounds

[veryape]

1. Love You
2. M.I.U
3. Friends
4. Today!
5. Pet Sounds

[Aegir]

this is like asking which of your 35 children is your favorite! no can do.