Best Beach Boys / BW inspired song??

[JK]

I would vote for BEACH BABY hands down.  For many of us in High School at the time... we thought it WAS the Beach Boys... and were disappointed that it wasn't.  A classic mid 1970s pop hit.  I recall reading that it even took Brian by surprise, at the time.  I remember her was quoted as saying it sounded "like us."

I used to hate this song in the '70s, I mean really hate it. Then about ten years ago I heard it on the magnificent comp The Warmth of the Sun and hey presto. How could I have ever hated this joyous anthem to sun and sand?  

One thing though: I can understand Carter quoting his own "Let's Go To San Francisco" at the end but I wonder what induced him to quote from Sibelius's Fifth Symphony? No matter----it's most effective.

[TheLazenby]

"Black Sheep" and "At My Most Beautiful".

[Emily]

Does it have to be musically rather than topically inspired? If not, I like Mr. Wilson by John Cale, despite the whole chicken situation.

[mtaber]

Beach Boy Blood (In My Veins) by Dave Edmunds.

[Alan Smith]

White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrQRS40OKNE&list=RDDrQRS40OKNE

The vocals, the surf guitar through to the drum sound recalling Stephen Desper's drum mix on When Girls Get Together.

Actually, I find their entire first album to almost be a cold climate response to the Americana elements explored within the Smile Sessions.

Now, this next one is pure folly on my behalf, and I haven't been able to find any concrete discussion from the band members themselves - but whenever I hear it I'm convinced it's inspired by Brian's music and life.  Either way, I hope it trips your alarms:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TRF2q-zrj0

[TimeToGetAlone]

"Bluish" by Animal Collective strikes me as eerily close to something Brian might have written in his prime. It's one of my all-time favourite songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZlXwPb_JPM

Good choice.  Love how the falsetto flows in and out.

As for me, I keep coming back to Hideaway by The Olivia Tremor Control.  Obvious influence throughout, but especially the last half minute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJobXSveRtE

[Dudd]

As for me, I keep coming back to Hideaway by The Olivia Tremor Control.  Obvious influence throughout, but especially the last half minute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJobXSveRtE

That's a great song!

[Lonely Summer]

I would vote for BEACH BABY hands down.  For many of us in High School at the time... we thought it WAS the Beach Boys... and were disappointed that it wasn't.  A classic mid 1970s pop hit.  I recall reading that it even took Brian by surprise, at the time.  I remember her was quoted as saying it sounded "like us."

I sure thought it was the Beach Boys when I heard it on the radio. Really came to love it a decade later when my
BB's obsession was in high gear. Would have been great to hear our guys sing it - Mike on the verses, Carl or Al on the chorus, definitely Carl on the bridge part "long hot days, blue sea haze". Would've been great for them - love the drumming on that record, too.

[SteveJ1980]

I've been listening to everyone's takes on this subject and have discovered some songs I'd never heard before so thanks everyone!! The fleet foxes suggestion reminded me of the opener from their album a few years ago 'sun it rises' so many BW/BB continue to touch so many corners of modern music it's just amazing!! Anywa.... Enjoy!!

http://youtu.be/rQ5B-U6LwaA

🐺🌞

[Hot Rod]

There are some real nuggets I just discovered through this thread.

I would like to add The Heavy Blinkers' track Filtered Light. For me, it's a perfect Beach Boys rip-off pop song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTD2Jn0J8Kc

[Hot Rod]

Here's one for the adventurous listeners.

Bracket are a pop punk band and all their albums have wonderful vocal harmonies. But on their latest album Hold Your Applause they actually sound like the punk version of Smile. It has weird out of place songs, strange chord progressions, beautiful pop songs, crazy vocal harmonies.

Take a listen, you won't be disappointed!

https://bracket.bandcamp.com/album/hold-your-applause

Rüdiger

[JK]

Rick Henn really nailed the Brian Wilson sound with 'Girl On The Beach'. That's a great record.

In case some here have never heard it:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMxdXCL_hqQ

Yes indeed. In fact everything on the Warmth of the Sun compilation is little short of brilliant...

[SamMcK]

Pale and Precious- The Dukes of Stratosphear

Yes!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRcXWGLummo

and I implore every Beach Boys on this forum to check out XTC's back catalog!

[Seaside Woman]

Pale and Precious- The Dukes of Stratosphear

Yes!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRcXWGLummo

and I implore every Beach Boys on this forum to check out XTC's back catalog!

Yes, especially Apple Venus Volume 1 ...

[adamghost]

Here's one for the adventurous listeners.

Bracket are a pop punk band and all their albums have wonderful vocal harmonies. But on their latest album Hold Your Applause they actually sound like the punk version of Smile. It has weird out of place songs, strange chord progressions, beautiful pop songs, crazy vocal harmonies.

Take a listen, you won't be disappointed!

https://bracket.bandcamp.com/album/hold-your-applause

Rüdiger

Holy crap, Bracket is still around?!?  We used to play with those guys in the '90s.  They were great!!!

[RangeRoverA1]

Every time I hear that song I find myself wishing the Boys would get together and record a take on it.  Maybe with a Bruce lead?

"Beach Baby" is jolly good!

[Bill Ed]

Responding to the 40th Anniversary of Brian's Back/15 Big Ones/It's OK Documentary thread made me think of this song - "Shannon" by Henry Gross. I distinctly remember laying on the beach in Wildwood, New Jersey in the summer of 1976, and this song was played on the radio constantly. What a great summer song!

Anyway, to this thread's topic, the song sounds like a Beach Boys' song, from the lead vocal to the background vocals and, of course, Henry Gross' falsetto. As far as being inspired by The Beach Boys, I've read that the lyrics were about Carl Wilson's dog, but I never knew if that was true or a rumor. Actually I think Carl appeared on one of Henry's albums. I think about this song with a Carl Wilson lead vocal (or a Brian attempt maybe?) and I think it would've been a great cover.

Cool story man, thanks for sharing I'll look up the song...

I'll go with Shannon as well. My recollection is that Gross was an opening act for the Beach Boys and that he actually offered them the song to record. He got the usual reply to the effect that "we write our own material", and the rest is history.

[beatle608]

Yes I'm Changing - Tame Impala

I know the music isn't anything like the Beach Boys, but the lyrics remind me so much of mid 60s Brian.

The new Tame Impala record, Currents, was a change in direction from the previous two, leading to many fans claiming that Kevin Parker (who bascially is Tame Impala) had abandoned them. I can't help but notice the similarities between Kevin and Brian's musical progression and the scrutiny they faced while doing so.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQL363-O_yw