Almost Perfect!
It's a nice package to add to your CD collection if you're a Beach Boys fan. Personally speaking, most of my favorite BB songs are included on this extraordinary compilation. Some of their best work is included here. Although, I would have left off 409, Why Do Fools Fall In Love, Then I Kissed Her and California Dreamin' and replaced them with Darlin', Heroes & Villains, I Can Hear Music and the stereo version of Good Vibrations. For me, that would have been the perfect Beach Boys CD. However, this one comes pretty close. Close your eyes, turn it up and let the lush, layered harmonies take you back to a summer past. These guys were arguably the second most important pop music band in history, but sadly enough were and always will be in the Beatles' shadow.
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Must be heard and seen
However, on a trip to YouTube, I stumbled across the Mamas and the Papas version of California Dreaming which along with The James Gang Live version of Walk Away is one of my favorite songs. I will admit that in the past I tolerated the Beach Boys and would probably never knowingly spend money on them. After listening and watching the Mamas and the Papas several times, I went searching for other versions(by the way, the host that introduces them on the Hollywood Palace is none other than Arthur Godfrey who probably none of you know but who was American Idol and Star Search all rolled into one before those shows were even considered. Read up on him in Wikipedia. According to IMDB that performace was in January 1966). Alright, enough nostalgia. I looked for other versions just for kicks and found the Beach Boys and said 'why not?' To say that I was amazed was an understatement. As good as the Mamas and the Papas version is, this version is far far better but in a much different vein. The sax solo alone is worth the price. Spooky, too, as another poster on YouTube noted, the figures that fade out of the video are the remaining members of the Mamas and the Papas. This is a great video and just having purchased the album, I can attest that the audio is the same as the video. As far as the other cuts are concerned, I may have heard them over the years but this was a no-brainer for me. It is worth both the money and the rating and for those of us who live in California, this cut is the one to play while driving down Highway 1 along the coast and for those who don't live here, well, you can dream and do watch the video.
Every generation should take the time to soak them in
I think this may actually mark their 100th collection of hits. I know what your thinking, `Not another Beach Boys Collection?!' Yes folks it's true. Between different labels and versions releasing material, it's a little tough to tell anyway. Let's face it; no one defined the sounds of summer like The Beach Boys in the 60's. This collection focuses solely on their `beach' or summer sounds. Excluded is material from the pinnacle Beach Boys album Pet Sounds, and probably any other Brian Wilson-penned progressive and experimental material.
If you grew up during that time, this collection of 28 songs is sure to take you back to a simpler time. For others out there it will remind you of your parent's old record collections. A lot of you will recall the music from a movie or television commercial. And then there are others who will say, `who are the Beach Boys?' Shame on you, by the way. No matter how you slice it, The Beach Boys still remain a symbol of summer with there care-free songs, beautiful multi-part vocal harmonies, and relaxing melodies. Every generation should take the time to soak them in.
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beach boys 2007 new release
He says they never sounded better. I purchased this for my dad who is a huge Beach Boys fan. The updated sound to those good old oldies is great and love hearing their new music.
Fine collection of some lesser known Beach Boys tunes
Those who liked that disc will find a few more hits here - "409", "Wendy", "All Summer Long", but will mainly be treated to other cuts that accompanied the better known tunes along the way of a career that reached heights surpassed only by the Beatles, with the astonishing masterwork "Pet Sounds", and rapidly sunk as "Smile" folded, the members began fighting, and drugs took their toll, especially on Brian Wilson. "The Warmth of the Sun" is a welcome companion piece to "Sounds Of Summer", the superb greatest hits collection from 2004.
Most of the cuts on this CD are remixes, and don't sound bad, although getting the original albums provides a better picture of Wilson's legendary studio prowess and how it grew. Nobody outside of George Martin made records that sounded as good as the Beach Boys, even though most were recorded in mono.
The picking points here would be the selection of tunes - I would have liked to see "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" instead of the annoying "Wendy", and the guitar riff of "Don't Hurt My Little Sister" is one of rock's greatest, and can only be found on "Today (And Tomorrow)". Other than that, the inclusion of "Surf's Up" and the few good cuts from the mid-70's, "Sail On, Sailor", "California Saga" and a fine cover of "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" make this a good anthology, indeed. I still hope Brian Wilson may someday release "Smile" from the 1967 sessions, but I doubt that will happen. One can hope, though.
You can see a complete list of all The Beach Boys discography, or go back to the The Beach Boys tabs
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