Be My Baby or Good Vibrations

[Daniel S.]

Good Vibrations

[Mahalo]

GV 

[mikeyj]

Of course Good Vibrations is going to win most if not ALL of the votes obviously due to the fact that this is a Beach Boys board and Good Vibrations is one of Brian's crowning achievements.

[Daniel S.]

Yeah, but most of us are Spector fans too. I know I am.

[Ana-Lu]

"Be My Baby" isn't even as good as "Good to My Baby," let alone "Good Vibrations."

[mikeyj]

Yeah, but most of us are Spector fans too. I know I am.

Sure. I just think most people are still Beach Boys fans over Spector fans. I think perhaps maybe a better question would've been "Be My Baby vs. Don't Worry, Baby"? Of course I would still vote for Don't Worry, Baby, but I just think Good Vibrations is so far ahead of Be My Baby in every way.

[Daniel S.]

Well, they are considered the greatest singles of all time.  And I prefer Be My Baby over Don't Worry Baby.

[Aegir]

"Be My Baby" isn't even as good as "Summer of Love".

[Surfer Joe]

Board-bias or not, the point being made here is obvious.  It's just a shame that Spector hasn't been able to be a little more gracious over the years to the man who has added immeasurably to the luster of his legacy. I wonder if "Be My Baby" would really be quite such a widely-heralded record if not for Brian's constant plugs and homages for forty-plus years.

To put a finer point on what Brother Carl once said, I wish that no one ever had to make the inelegant observation that the teacher is staring up at the shoes of his former pupil, but every so often Spector's graceless comments compel that point.

I love Phil Spector's work.  The first time I found a cassette compilation of his music I got absolutely lost in it for months.  I gave his box set to my niece so that it would be part of her musical consciousness, and I'll give his music to my nephews as well. I'll return to his work over and over.

But Brian passed him flying forty-four years ago. Spector can't even see his six tail lights anymore.

[Daniel S.]

Well said.

[Ana-Lu]

I would much rather see a discussion - and I'm willing to start one in a separate thread - comparing Brian Wilson to his more worthy songwriting contemporaries in the 1960s, including Jobim, Legrand, Bacharach, Jimmy Webb, Morricone, Mancini, and Scott Walker.