Anomalous Beach Boys' Recordings

[the captain]

I was thinking...

As is the case with most bands that release a lot of albums, the Beach Boys went through phases: surf/car rock; chamber pop; simpler, pastoral pop; sonic adventurism with heavier use of production tricks and techniques; rootsy; retro...and why don't we stop there.

Anyway, Smile seems to me as not a continuation of what came before (except GV), and not really a sign of what would follow (except Smile tracks, mostly). It seems really anomalous.

But OTHER THAN that, what album and/or song really stands out to you as unlike anything else (or much else) the Beach Boys ever did, and how/why?

[STE]

How about:

Here Comes The Night (LA version): disco
Wipe Out: rap
Smart Girls (BW): rap
Cassius Love Vs. Sonny Wilson: parody
Our Favorite Recording Session: interview
He Came Down: gospel-ish
Mt. Vernon And Fairway: fairy tale


STE

[endofposts]

Don't forget "I'm Bugged At My Old Man."  Not sure what you'd call it -- a child abuse satire/parody?

How about:

Here Comes The Night (LA version): disco
Wipe Out: rap
Smart Girls (BW): rap
Cassius Love Vs. Sonny Wilson: parody
Our Favorite Recording Session: interview
He Came Down: gospel-ish
Mt. Vernon And Fairway: fairy tale


STE

[Sheriff John Stone]

While I like The Beach Boys' Christmas album very much (I think it's one of Brian's best - vocally speaking), there are a couple of songs - "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" and "Frosty The Snowman" with brass, and a couple of songs - "We Three Kings", "White Christmas", "Blue Christmas", and "I'll Be Home For Christmas" which employ strings. I know Brian brought in Dick Reynolds to do those arrangements, but I don't really care for them. Brian rarely used that big band style again. Pet Sounds was different, as was "Transcendental Meditation". I guess the Adult Child songs had some of it. But those Christmas songs are unique.

[MBE]

Well from 66-73 they all had their own feel. I think they are only Anomalous if you haven't heard Pet Sounds.

[the captain]

I think they are only Anomalous if you haven't heard Pet Sounds.

Pet what? I've never heard of that.

 

[MBE]

 

I will say one thing that almost nothing from 1967-73 would sound like "THE BEACH BOYS" to the general public but the music follows a fairly natural pattern for those who know their career in full.

[Eric Aniversario]

Nothing quite like these, before or after:

Make It Good / Cuddle Up
All This Is That
Lonely Sea
California Dreamin'

Party! album
Smiley Smile album

Acapulco Girls with Sol de Mexico ..........j/k

[Aegir]

I'm Bugged at My Old Man.. not just because it's a "child abuse satire", but it sounds weird, too.. especially the response vocals and stuff. And it comes right after Summer Means New Love! My goodness.

[Roger Ryan]

"Diamond Head" is completely out of left field as is "Mt. Vernon & Fairway".

[mikee]

"A Day In The Life Of A Tree"

I can't think of anyone else that did something like having their business manager do the vocal on  a song.  It  was art, not a joke, and it came out great IMO.  - Well maybe John Mellancamp having his Grandma sing on his album was sort of up the same alley - and that was the best thing on a damn good album.     

[MBE]

Tree is kind of out there as far as the album goes. Love You had a few more kind of offbeat choices but Tree is arranged with a lot more care.