Paging all board members: BB songs we all agree on

[Mike's Beard]

Finally getting around to posting on this thread.

I can't freakin' STAND "Don't Hurt My little sister", as it is one of the the reasons I feel Today is highly overrated, same with In The Back Of My Mind (I like the instrumental track, but the vocals don't fit  and sound hurried). Those two songs and Don't Back Down just so happen to be my 3 least favorite BB tracks.

Really? You have heard BB85 I take it?

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Yeah, and I actually don't dislike it, minus California Calling, I'm So Lonely, and It's Just a Matter of Time. To be honest, I'm not a big fan of the pre-Pet Sounds material as compared to what came later (as my favorite songs generally range from 1966-1972), but the songs listed in the post you quoted are the only ones I can honestly say I do not care for.

My thoughts on ITBOMM have been posted numerous times on this site. Don't Back Down...I actually find Brian's vocals to be cringe-worthy, esp the "who's got GUTS" part. Now as far as DNMLS...to me, it sounds muddy and entirely too busy and over produced. To be honest, it's not a well-written song either.

I'm not all giddy over Girls on the Beach either. I could either take it or leave it. There...I said it.  I'm prepared to get shat on now.

[Ebb and Flow]

Consider yourself shat on.  "Girls On The Beach" alone is arguably better than anything made after Holland.

I'm not saying that preferring everything post-1966 is horrible, but it seems like hating on all of the early stuff is the hip thing to do these days...and consequently later albums like Sunflower and Surf's Up are overrated in fan circles.  I'm a fan of pretty much all of their eras and can find good (and bad) stuff on all of their albums.

Except Summer In Paradise.  That one's just awful.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I too can find good and bad stuff on all their albums (well, I can't find anything bad on Pet Sounds, but yeah...). Hell, even SIP has "Strange things happen".  See, the thing is, for the longest time,growing up,  I actually hated the Beach Boys. Later on, when I did become a fan, it still took a long time for me to give the earlier material a shot. And for the most part I like it, minus the LDC album and the songs mentioned earlier. Actually, listening to "Party" without the party overdubs is revelatory.  Still, PS thru   Holland are my  favorites. Not because it's the "hip" thing to do, but because that time period happens to be my favorite.  And to be fair, Smiley Smile was the album that turned me on to the Beach Boys.

[TdHabib]

I seem to be one of the few fans left who thinks that 1964-1967 is the best period of the Beach Boys, along with I'd say 1969-1970. The rest, of course, has a lot of offer but I tend to think of the best BB songs along the lines of all the stuff on "Pet Sounds," "California Girls" everything on All Summer Long and Today and the SMiLE material.

[Jay]

What about Anna Lee The Healer? Busy Doin' Nothing? Getcha Back? Roller Skating Child? The Night Was So Young? Can we include "bootleg songs", like My Solution, or Over The Waves(aka: Carnival)? Sorry guys, but I hate Sound Of Free.  But since there is the embryonic River Song riff in the song, I would include it based on historical reasons only.

[buddhahat]

[
By the way, my fave BBs track of all time isn't on the list yet: Days On The Surf Frontier.

Vote it off guys, by all means, but please give good reasons.

Sorry Wee Helper, I do not know this song, and google is turning up zilch. If you can tell me what year it's from, I'll put it on there.

What about Anna Lee The Healer? Busy Doin' Nothing? Getcha Back? Roller Skating Child? The Night Was So Young? Can we include "bootleg songs", like My Solution, or Over The Waves(aka: Carnival)? Sorry guys, but I hate Sound Of Free.  But since there is the embryonic River Song riff in the song, I would include it based on historical reasons only.

Many of the ones you mention are already scratched unfortunately, but Busy Doin Nothin is already on there and fortunately nobody's touched it (yet)! Added Anna Lee too.

I've added Carnival and My Solution, but they've been instantly scrubbed I'm afraid as I was never particularly keen on either.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I seem to be one of the few fans left who thinks that 1964-1967 is the best period of the Beach Boys, along with I'd say 1969-1970. The rest, of course, has a lot of offer but I tend to think of the best BB songs along the lines of all the stuff on "Pet Sounds," "California Girls" everything on All Summer Long and Today and the SMiLE material.

Actually, I always thought most fans feel that way.

[TdHabib]

What about Anna Lee The Healer? Busy Doin' Nothing? Getcha Back? Roller Skating Child? The Night Was So Young? Can we include "bootleg songs", like My Solution, or Over The Waves(aka: Carnival)? Sorry guys, but I hate Sound Of Free.  But since there is the embryonic River Song riff in the song, I would include it based on historical reasons only.

I love every song you mentioned.

And yes Billy I suppose most fans feel that way, but of late it seems that some of have been putting down the earlier stuff in favor of the more experimental work. I still think "California Girls" is perhaps the most magical record they ever made.

[LostArt]

You have my permission to remove Anna Lee The Healer.  Never much liked it.

[Mike's Beard]

I seem to be one of the few fans left who thinks that 1964-1967 is the best period of the Beach Boys, along with I'd say 1969-1970. The rest, of course, has a lot of offer but I tend to think of the best BB songs along the lines of all the stuff on "Pet Sounds," "California Girls" everything on All Summer Long and Today and the SMiLE material.

Actually, I always thought most fans feel that way.

For me their "Golden Era" was from "Today!" through to "Holland".  Granted their was still a misstep here and there within this period but overall I think during this 8 year reign they made some of the most beloved, exciting and most of all original music of ALL time.

I'd split these albums into 3 distinct sections

a) "Today!"/ "Smile"is Brian's development and overall (consistant) peak as producer/songwriter/innovator/genius.

b) "Smiley Smile"/"20/20" finds Brian still the dominate musical force but by this point he no longer holds a masterplan for the bands future. As a result partly through desire and partly though necessity the other members are getting their oats at songcrafting.

c) "Sunflower"/ "Holland" ~ the group truly blossom and all make great music under the overall supervision of Carl.

[Jay]

What about Anna Lee The Healer? Busy Doin' Nothing? Getcha Back? Roller Skating Child? The Night Was So Young? Can we include "bootleg songs", like My Solution, or Over The Waves(aka: Carnival)? Sorry guys, but I hate Sound Of Free.  But since there is the embryonic River Song riff in the song, I would include it based on historical reasons only.

Many of the ones you mention are already scratched unfortunately, but Busy Doin Nothin is already on there and fortunately nobody's touched it (yet)! Added Anna Lee too.

I've added Carnival and My Solution, but they've been instantly scrubbed I'm afraid as I was never particularly keen on either.

[/quote]Sorry, I didn't look at the list to carefully. How about Slip On Through? That song kicks about ten kinds of ass. 

[buddhahat]

. How about Slip On Through? That song kicks about ten kinds of ass. 

Good call! I can't believe it's not on there already.

I've added Our Sweet Love too as that is a particular favourite of mine.

[MBE]

I would say the regular studio albums from 1964-73 (not counting things like Party or Xmas) are all peak Beach Boys. I would throw in the Surfin USA LP too.

[punkinhead]

What about Anna Lee The Healer? Busy Doin' Nothing? Getcha Back? Roller Skating Child? The Night Was So Young? Can we include "bootleg songs", like My Solution, or Over The Waves(aka: Carnival)? Sorry guys, but I hate Sound Of Free.  But since there is the embryonic River Song riff in the song, I would include it based on historical reasons only.

Whatcha mean by this?

[Jay]

What about Anna Lee The Healer? Busy Doin' Nothing? Getcha Back? Roller Skating Child? The Night Was So Young? Can we include "bootleg songs", like My Solution, or Over The Waves(aka: Carnival)? Sorry guys, but I hate Sound Of Free.   But since there is the embryonic River Song riff in the song, I would include it based on historical reasons only.

Whatcha mean by this?

Most of the melody of Sound Of Free is the basic structure that became River Song.

[punkinhead]

ah, i see, i need to give it a re-listen....wouldn't that song be more amazing remastered?

[Jay]

ah, i see, i need to give it a re-listen....wouldn't that song be more amazing remastered?

It starts at about 49 seconds into the song, and goes through to the end, I think. It might be best if you compare this to the River Song outtake that The Beach Boys did, rather than Dennis' version. You may be able to pick it out more easily.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3klpbjKu-1w&feature=related

[brother john]

I've always been distinctly underwhelmed (i.e. dislike) by I Know There's An Answer and I'm Waiting For The Day and I often tend to skip over them when I listen to PS. Those two and That's Not Me are the weakest on the album by a LONG way IMHO, and the only blemishes on an otherwise other-worldly piece of work.

[buddhahat]

I've always been distinctly underwhelmed (i.e. dislike) by I Know There's An Answer and I'm Waiting For The Day and I often tend to skip over them when I listen to PS. Those two and That's Not Me are the weakest on the album by a LONG way IMHO, and the only blemishes on an otherwise other-worldly piece of work.

Thanks for the input Brother John - A brave man who opts to scratch 3 from Pet Sounds!

[Mike's Beard]

The one song from PS I really don't care for is "Let's Go Away For Awhile". I think it's the one tune off the record where Brian did lead the group too far off the beaten track musically.  "Brian's ego music" ho-hum!

[slothrop]

The one song from PS I really don't care for is "Let's Go Away For Awhile". I think it's the one tune off the record where Brian did lead the group too far off the beaten track musically.  "Brian's ego music" ho-hum!

I actually dig it as the B-side to GV more than as a PS track. It makes for one of the best (but, I suppose, one of the most "egoistical" too) 45s ever.

[buddhahat]

It's scratched.

Personally I think it's absolutely incredible. It has all the ingredients to make it muzak, yet it's something so much greater. Definitely a beguiling and wonderful track.

Only 5 left on Pet Sounds now ...

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I like it more than the original Pet Sounds version of Pet Sounds, which to me only hit it's stride with Brian's band. The version on the Live DVD is my personal favorite one that I've heard.

[buddhahat]

I like it more than the original Pet Sounds version of Pet Sounds, which to me only hit it's stride with Brian's band. The version on the Live DVD is my personal favorite one that I've heard.

Sorry I'm confused - what other version of Let's Go Away are we talking about? Was it in a different form on the b-side to Good Vibrations? Or are you just comparing the version he performed live with the original?