All Summer Long

[Mujan, 8@$+@Rc| of a Blue Wizard]

The peak of the "fun in the sun" era, as well as their first "true" album. I hate Drive In and Do You Remember, but other than that, the tracks are all solid. Even the filler is actually pretty cool and goes with the "fun goofy summertime laughs and memories" aura of it all.

I give it a solid 4.

[KDS]

To me, this album is probably tied with Surfer Girl as the best Beach Boys albums from the surf / cars era.  It's so close to being perfect, but once again, the second of three of those "bit" pieces with Our Favorite Recording Sessions.  But, I know it was common during these times to have filler on albums. 

I Get Around gets the album off to a great start.  Probably the Boys' greatest rocker, and one of the great car songs of all time. 

Then, pure summertime bliss with All Summer Long. 

Hushabye has to rank as one of the Boys' best cover songs. 

Little Honda, Don't Back Down, and Drive In and great little rockers. 

I love the organ solo in Wendy.  Takes that song to another level. 

Brian is repeating himself a tad with Girls on the Beach, but when it sounds that good, who cares? 

With this album, The Boys really show that they could compete with the guys from Liverpool. 

[drbeachboy]

To me, this album is probably tied with Surfer Girl as the best Beach Boys albums from the surf / cars era.  It's so close to being perfect, but once again, the second of three of those "bit" pieces with Our Favorite Recording Sessions.  But, I know it was common during these times to have filler on albums. 

I Get Around gets the album off to a great start.  Probably the Boys' greatest rocker, and one of the great car songs of all time. 

Then, pure summertime bliss with All Summer Long. 

Hushabye has to rank as one of the Boys' best cover songs. 

Little Honda, Don't Back Down, and Drive In and great little rockers. 

I love the organ solo in Wendy.  Takes that song to another level. 

Brian is repeating himself a tad with Girls on the Beach, but when it sounds that good, who cares? 

With this album, The Boys really show that they could compete with the guys from Liverpool. 

Nice review! I have always said, and I know Jon Stebbins will agree with me on this, that if you want to know what the summer of 1964 was like, then this album captures the feel perfectly.

[Mike's Beard]

I Get Around - 5/5
All Summer Long - 5/5
Hushabye - 5/5
Little Honda - 5/5
We'll Run Away - 4/5
Carl's Big Chance - 2/5
Wendy - 5/5
Do You Remember - 3/5
Girl's on the Beach - 4/5
Drive In - 5/5
Record Sessions - 0/5
Don't Back Down - 4/5

The near perfect summer album. Brian could do this in his sleep by this point and Mike had mastered the art of the California summer experience, lyric wise. If only the spoken track had been left off!!
Overall 4.5/5

[Lonely Summer]

To me, this album is probably tied with Surfer Girl as the best Beach Boys albums from the surf / cars era.  It's so close to being perfect, but once again, the second of three of those "bit" pieces with Our Favorite Recording Sessions.  But, I know it was common during these times to have filler on albums. 

I Get Around gets the album off to a great start.  Probably the Boys' greatest rocker, and one of the great car songs of all time. 

Then, pure summertime bliss with All Summer Long. 

Hushabye has to rank as one of the Boys' best cover songs. 

Little Honda, Don't Back Down, and Drive In and great little rockers. 

I love the organ solo in Wendy.  Takes that song to another level. 

Brian is repeating himself a tad with Girls on the Beach, but when it sounds that good, who cares? 

With this album, The Boys really show that they could compete with the guys from Liverpool. 

You nailed it with this review! Girls on the Beach may seem to be a rewrite of Surfer Girl or Warmth of the Sun, but listen to those chord changes! How many times does this song modulate from one key to another? And those harmonies!
All Summer Long is the best of the early albums, all strong tracks, only one filler - OFRS.

[KDS]

To me, this album is probably tied with Surfer Girl as the best Beach Boys albums from the surf / cars era.  It's so close to being perfect, but once again, the second of three of those "bit" pieces with Our Favorite Recording Sessions.  But, I know it was common during these times to have filler on albums. 

I Get Around gets the album off to a great start.  Probably the Boys' greatest rocker, and one of the great car songs of all time. 

Then, pure summertime bliss with All Summer Long. 

Hushabye has to rank as one of the Boys' best cover songs. 

Little Honda, Don't Back Down, and Drive In and great little rockers. 

I love the organ solo in Wendy.  Takes that song to another level. 

Brian is repeating himself a tad with Girls on the Beach, but when it sounds that good, who cares? 

With this album, The Boys really show that they could compete with the guys from Liverpool. 

You nailed it with this review! Girls on the Beach may seem to be a rewrite of Surfer Girl or Warmth of the Sun, but listen to those chord changes! How many times does this song modulate from one key to another? And those harmonies!
All Summer Long is the best of the early albums, all strong tracks, only one filler - OFRS.

Thanks, LS

[You Kane, You Commanded, You Conquered]

Easily one of their top 10 albums, not a dull moment to be found, even OFRS is kinda fun!

[JK]

Easily one of their top 10 albums, not a dull moment to be found, even OFRS is kinda fun!

And it segues nicely into "Don't Back Down"----Brian's forgotten note is the first one in that song (probably said that before)...

[You Kane, You Commanded, You Conquered]

Reminder that if you don't play ASL every day on every summer you're doing summer wrong.

[thr33]

All Summer Long (Mono, 2015 AP release)

Side 1:

1. I Get Around - *****
This has such a unique sound to it, and the falsetto here is almost haunting. Maybe my favorite Beach Boys Song

2. All Summer Long - *****
Very strong song to follow-up, love the instrumentation here.

3. Hushabye - *****
This one is phenomenal too. What a strong start to the album.

4. Little Honda - *****
This is one of the better car (er, motorcycle in this case) songs. High energy and exciting.

5. We'll Run Away - *****
Great overall performance and very emotional delivery, love this song.

6. Carl's Big Chance - **

Side 2:

7. Wendy - *****
Awesome song opening side 2. Love the instrumental break here too.

8. Do You Remember - ****
This song doesn't try to do too much but is fun. I like it.

9. Girls on the Beach - ****
Great song, the harmonies here are something else.

10. Drive-In - ***
This is fine. This is one of two songs in the AP releases with a bad mix.

11. Our Favorite Recording Sessions - *

12. Don't Back Down - ****
Great song, this one also has a bad mix though. Happy they did it live eventually

Overall Rating: ****
Lots of amazing songs, this is either their strongest to this point, or the second-strongest after Surfer Girl. Nearly all hits, few misses.