Are the beach boys the most diverse band?

[Ron]

The Rolling Stones were also very diverse... they've done a lot of different stuff over the years.

Also I'll just say: Michael Jackson was very, very diverse.  He could sing many styles, and did in his career.  I think he got a kick out of it; "Black Or White" he makes the point of making it sound hip hop and heavy metal in the same song, for instance. 

With all that said, not sure if the Beach Boys are the MOST diverse, but they were very diverse.  I would give Mike Love's endless desire to make money any way possible most of the credit for that. 

[Pretty Funky]

A google search lists 'Comedy' as a genre. I'm tempted to say anything off SIP but how about "I'd Love Just Once to See You"? 

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Concerning Good Vibrations, didn't Carol Kaye call it cohesively jazz? Even so, aren't their harmony arrangements on many songs considered jazz harmonies?

Or what about the Pet Sounds instrumental, would that be closer to jazz?

[Magic Transistor Radio]

A google search lists 'Comedy' as a genre. I'm tempted to say anything off SIP but how about "I'd Love Just Once to See You"? 

Or the Cassius Love vs Sonny Wilson Wilson track

[Magic Transistor Radio]

I'd say Surfin Safari and especially 409 are closer to Garage Rock than Surfin', which isn't very rock at all.

Well, maybe now as much rock, but I think it's still more 'garage'

[wantsomecorn]

Concerning Good Vibrations, didn't Carol Kaye call it cohesively jazz? Even so, aren't their harmony arrangements on many songs considered jazz harmonies?

Or what about the Pet Sounds instrumental, would that be closer to jazz?

The live versions of Feel Flows and All This is That might be the best case for Jazz you could make. Check out the Largo 1977 video, Charles Lloyd goes all-out on them.

[MugginsXO]

The Rolling Stones were also very diverse... they've done a lot of different stuff over the years.

Also I'll just say: Michael Jackson was very, very diverse.  He could sing many styles, and did in his career.  I think he got a kick out of it; "Black Or White" he makes the point of making it sound hip hop and heavy metal in the same song, for instance.  

Agreed on both counts. I would also say folks like George Clinton covered a lot of ground and Prince obviously. Prince and MJ were huge crossover stars and covered just about every genre for them to cover. Prince legitimately did a Jazz album, an instrumental electronic album, and obviously Rock/R&B/Funk/Pop/Dance with various genre mash-ups along the way. There were even more things unreleased that weren't fit for purpose.

The Beach Boys did a selection of things for sure but I don't think they ever really stepped outside of the set of influences established in the 60s. Not that they had to either. 

[Chocolate Shake Man]

Concerning Good Vibrations, didn't Carol Kaye call it cohesively jazz?

Carol Kaye has said a lot of things. 

[zachrwolfe]

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[rab2591]

As for Jazz; Though technically not a Beach Boys track at all, the studio session of 'I Wanna Be Around' from TSS starts off with some of the wrecking crew playing their own jazz tune. So The Beach Boys have released jazz music....albeit they didn't write the tune.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

I just thought of Frank Zappa as another diverse artist. I even saw a video of him 'rapping'

[kookadams]

The beach boys are BY FAR the most diverse rock band in the sense that they did indeed touch base on all those styles/genres mentioned and will always be loved by any and every serious music pundit.  Stands the ultimate test of time.

[donald]

Think cabin essence.    an almost indescribable blend of genres.........maybe Aaron Copeland classical Americana?

[Nicko1234]

To answer the original question, no The Beach Boys certainly aren`t the most diverse band. I mean, there are some bands who attempt a dozen different musical styles on one album never mind a career.

And several other long running artists have had similarly diverse careers. A group like The Monkees, for example, recorded in numerous styles including country rock, music hall and 1920s music and their career is certainly as varied I would guess.

[CenturyDeprived]

The Beach Boys are perhaps the best band that is as diverse as they are. Few bands that have as massive a catalog of really brilliant music also have additionally ventured into as many genres over so many decades.

Another band that comes to mind as having a stunning amount of genre diversity in their catalog is The Smashing Pumpkins.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Here is the question from a different angle. How many American groups that were big before the British invasion explored as much territory as the Beach BoysPerhaps some of the best did some symphonic and avant gaurd songs like Pet Sounds or Smile, but did any of them go as far out as Smiley Smile, Holland or Love You? It seems that most of the very diverse bands came after the Beach Boys. Their contemporaries and before don't tend to branch out nearly as much. I'm taking pre  64 American groups.

[Ron]

I hate to say it, but you could argue that the Beatles were as diverse, and were only around about 8 years.  Yikes!   Really is there a genre that the Beatles DIDN'T do?  They only recorded about 200 songs, too.  They even did some eastern stuff, which the Beach Boys never did, and experimented with weird-ass time signatures.  They went as far avant garde as Smiley Smile with stuff like Revolution #9, were heavier than the Beach Boys with stuff like Helter Skelter, did straight up country songs like Act Naturally, did big band numbers like Your Mother Should Know, did lullabyes, instrumentals, harpsichord circus music like Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite, etc. 

Not that that means anything.  I'm just saying don't be too quick to try to label the Beach Boys the 'best' at something because as usual you can always bring up what most people consider to be the best band ever. 

[Magic Transistor Radio]

I hate to say it, but you could argue that the Beatles were as diverse, and were only around about 8 years.  Yikes!   Really is there a genre that the Beatles DIDN'T do?  They only recorded about 200 songs, too.  They even did some eastern stuff, which the Beach Boys never did, and experimented with weird-ass time signatures.  They went as far avant garde as Smiley Smile with stuff like Revolution #9, were heavier than the Beach Boys with stuff like Helter Skelter, did straight up country songs like Act Naturally, did big band numbers like Your Mother Should Know, did lullabyes, instrumentals, harpsichord circus music like Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite, etc. 

Not that that means anything.  I'm just saying don't be too quick to try to label the Beach Boys the 'best' at something because as usual you can always bring up what most people consider to be the best band ever. 

I'm not saying the best. No doubt there are many diverse bands. But wasn't All I Want to Do as heavy as Helter Skelter, or pretty close? And this may be unfair, but the Beatles never did rap, disco or punk. Part of what diversifies the BBs is their longevity.

Also, just because I'm saying they are as diverse as anyone doesn't mean I'm saying that makes them the best. My 2nd favorite band is Grandaddy. They had a very small range, but they did it well.

[the professor]

Jon, doesn't Dave consider Surfin to be rather "folky"?

One can invent genres and sub-genres all day (and other will say that those are not genres), so it's pointless to argue too much beyond the wonderful recognition that they could express themselves in so many styles and modes (perhaps better to use that than genre--or in addition to it). For example In the Back of my Mind" is a real "tearjerker," which some might call a genre or anecdotal word for a certain style.

I walked Redondo for 2 hours yesterday with MIC in my earphones. I am sure I heard (and sang) a little bit of everything.

The Professor

I'd say Surfin Safari and especially 409 are closer to Garage Rock than Surfin', which isn't very rock at all.