Every Beach Boys Album Ranked!
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- Here's a video I've been meaning to get around to for a long time, and with this quarantine going on I figured it was the perfect opportunity to finish it. Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy and I hope you enjoy my breakdown of each album. I'm sure plenty of people will disagree with me, seeing as how there are so many different eras of the Beach Boys that different people are attracted to, but I thought about each album long and hard and I'm feeling good about each score I gave. Let me know your thoughts and thanks again for watching!
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I am listening to their entire discography for the first time. I just finished Holland.
I’m excited for you, it’s quite the journey. Let me know what your favorite ends up being
@@MikeGodetteMusic I am about to listen to the Light Album now. It contains my favorite Beach Boys song "Good Timin".
Holland is the best
didn't know thye did disco?
i LOVE how you completely ignored student demonstration time, as it should be
OMG that's my least favorite song on the Surfs Up album also
@@tubecrazy65 it’s the only weak spot on the album, it’s not unlistenable but definitely a lame song.
@@charlestonson2200 sucks that it's right smack dab in the middle of the record. Ruins the flow
@@charlestonson2200 I hate that album, it’s boring, sorry
I like it. It’s got a fun hard blues rock feel. What’s wrong with it?
Great review of the Beach Boys album catalogue - Holland, to me, has to be an S. Sail on Sailor and Trader opening either side is such an incredible intro. Only with you, Funky Pretty, Steamboat, Leaving this town and the California Saga suite make this album such a great listen from start to finish. Brilliantly produced and sounds awesome on a good hi-fi.
Funky Pretty reminds me of a HeatWave song.
Here are a few corrections from errors I made in this
1. Al Jardine's first lead was on "Christmas Day", not "Little Saint Nick"
2. Holland is not a concept album, the spoken word medley at the end originally came as a bonus EP and wasn't originally intended for the album
If anyone has any others please feel free to add on to this
Mike Godette Music Good vibrations was intended for pet sounds not smile.
@@Townshend90125, I think, while it was written with the rest of Pet Sounds, it was intended to be a single. But the rest of the band or Capitol wanted it on SMILE.
The bonus EP with Holland was the band's idea. They didn't want Brian's rambling, disjointed tome to be a part of their album.
Yes. It would be unfair to lower the ranking because of the bonus EP tracks
#2 - Mt.Vernon&Fairway Wasn't intended as part of Holland??? That's first I heard of that•
there's an interview of Paul Mccartney saying the Beatles "stole" the 'la la la la la' vocals from the Beach Boys (probably "You're So Good To Me")
Little Deuce Coupe is a spectacular album whether you like cars or not, i know nothing about cars but the flow and consistency of good songs is too good
It could have gotten dinged a little since four of the songs had already been on previous albums.
I think every BB fan will find slight variations to their opinions on album ranking, but overall, this list is pretty solid. I originally would have put Pet Sounds and SMiLE alone in a top tier, but recently have realized how much I overlooked Today! That album really surprised me and especially since many of it's songs were showcasing Brian's peak in creativity two albums before Pet Sounds. It makes me wonder what happened following that album that waned Brian's creativity. Probably pressure from the industry and fellow bandmates. Summer Days (And Summer Nights) was not a bad album, but it seemed like a step back. And I share your idea with Beach Boys Party. I hardly regard it as one of their main studio album releases, even though it technically is. Brian adopted the idea of "playing the studio" as if it were it's own instrument. That characteristic is completely lost in Beach Boys Party. Thanks for the video, it was a good one!
Thanks a lot! And yes I was in the same boat initially I really liked Today! But the more I listened to it the more it grew on me and became one of my favorites. That second side is one of the best sides of an album I’ve ever heard in my opinion. We’re on the same page with Summer Days and Summer Nights too. Thanks for watching glad you enjoyed!
I recall an interview with the Beatles and they were discussing how they (The Fab Four) could possibly compete with Pet Sounds. If I recall correctly that album influenced them. mind you, at the time the Beatles were number one second to none.
"Today!" Is one of the Beach Boys best earlier albums, and a signpost on the way to "Pet Sounds." The reason "Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!) was a lesser album was because the suits at Capital Records wanted Brian to be less serious, less deep, in his songs. They didn't want thoughtful introspection, they wanted more fun songs. Capital's suits couldn't appreciate the artist they had. Had Brian been left alone, I'm sure he would have made another brilliant album like "Today" in "Summer Days", introspective AS WELL as light-hearted for the summer theme the album was about. Had Brian been left alone.
@@chrisfreeman9960 It's cool how you can see so many signs of the budding young musician in early albums. The song "Lonely Sea" on "Surfin' USA" is a great example. Certainly not as mature in song writing, but definitely a window of creativity into Brian's melancholy mind. I'm so thankful for all the music he made then, but like all other fans of his, we could only dream of the kind of music he would be capable of if his family and peers got 100% behind him.
Today is amazing!
Sunflower is an automatic S
Cool and thoughtful list. There is something very special about Smiley Smile though. I would put it above "S" if that's possible. it's more than an album. It's a feeling.
Regarding your comments on Holland, the "Mt. Vernon & Fairway" fairy tale was a separate EP included with the LP. It was a concession to Brian for him to do what he wanted so he would be more included on the album, which he otherwise really wasn't -- other than some vocals. It was eccentric, charming, but hampered by Brian's inability to narrate well or do cartoon voices (also the only flaw to his epic That Lucky Old Sun, which should've been narrated by Van Dyke Parks).
I never even really knew it was meant to be taken seriously so I always enjoyed it.
Lucky old sun is his best solo album..
Hey, first of all thanks to you I got into the beach boys so I have to thank you for that because their music is incredible. I've listened to all the albums up to love you so far. I think the fairytale in the Holland Album was written by Brian Wilson seperately from the rest of the group and added in with the rest of the songs. There is an interesting documentary on youtube called Brian Wilson songwriter, that gives some background stories to (most) of the albums. I definitely have to listen to some of the albums some more to get a better understanding of how I would rank them . Especially the beginning period is a bit of a blur (Surfin Safari-All Summer long), because I listened to all these albums in one week on repeat together. But I agree you can hear the evolution of Brian Wilson songwriting and I really like this period. Right now my top albums would be :
Smile Sessions(I also like the Brian Wilson solo version because it seems a bit more cohesive) I love both versions for different reasons. I took me quit a few listens all the way trough to realise how great this album is.
Pet Sounds
Today
The Beach boys love you
Friends(I think Wayne Shorter plays saxophone on transcendental meditation)
I haven't listened to the Christmas album yet so i'll check that one out.
Wow thanks so much for checking them out. One of my musical missions is to turn as many people on to the Beach Boys as possible so I'm glad to see that it's working to some extent lol and I'd recommend re listening to the albums you're less familiar with now that you've gone through all of them. We definitely agree on some of our favorites, I had no idea Wayne Shorter was one Friends, that's wild! I'd highly recommend the Christmas one too. Granted it's a holiday album but musically I think it's incredible and the orchestral arrangements are amazing and almost remind me of some of the stuff from Pet Sounds. I had always thought that Brian did the arrangements on that album so I was surprised when I found out that it wasn't him. I haven't seen that Brian Wilson songwriter documentary either so thanks for letting me know. There's so much history with this band and there's always new stuff people are turning me on to. Thanks again for checking out the video and for the great request!
Love Holland but the fairytale is not so good .
Thank you for this labour of love! You show a very helpful and valid path through this massive body of work. I am just beginning to listen to every regular studio album by The Beach Boys. So your insightful suggestions are very useful for it. 👍🏻🍀
I’m up to surfer girl and agree with you so far.. Surfer Girl is incredible
What's an S & makes it above a A?
Great video.
I think for me personally Sunflower is my favourite from that third phase but I can understand why Friends would be considered as such too.
Thank you sir! Yeah I’ve always gravitated towards friends, I love sunflower too there’s just a couple tracks on there that I tend to skip over but overall it’s definitely an amazing album
_Sunflower_ should've been a double album, IMO. They recorded more than enough material for one during that time. Unfortunately, their waning commercial clout didn't allow for it from their label. 😔
I know this is an older video, and idk if anyone’s told you yet, but the intro part in “Don’t Go Near The Water” was actually written by Brian and the rest of the song was entirely Mike and Al’s.
Great video! my top 5: sunflower, pet sounds, friends, surf's up, wild honey
Surfs up gets an A? That’s wild to me. Such an incredible album (besides student demonstration obviously). I’d also give Love You an S. Such a groundbreaking album. Basically the genesis for synth pop and new wave. Brian has said on multiple occasions that it’s his favorite album. So many incredible songs on there.
That actually is true. Love You is considered to be one of the very first if not the first synthpop album(s).
I like Surf's up and I listen to it regularly but it's definitely not S
@@paninovevo1162 I can’t argue with you obviously because music is subjective, but what’s your reasoning?
@@haroldbailey9011 Music isn't subjective, like p say...
@@knockedoutloaded279 Which p you referring to? And do you really believe that?
Pet Sounds is undeniably their greatest album, but my favorite has to be Holland. I just love the lazy river feel of all the songs, and Carl Wilson's voice is at is best on songs like The Trader and Steamboat. I don't count the Pied Piper story as part of the album, since it was just an EP of bonus material Brian had written. If I were to do a list of my 50 favorite Beach Boys song, every last song from Holland (including the bonus track We Got Love) would be on there. Great video!
Thanks man! Holland is definitely held in high regard by a ton of BB fans I need to keep listening and see if it grows on me more. I e always especially loved the Trader. Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for the kind words!
_Holland_ was definitely their last *great* album, as far as I'm concerned.
Holland is my fav too.
What a great video, I’m becoming a big Beach Boys fan. Such an under-appreciated and genius group of musicians.
Thank you for doing this --- a real pleasure. I look forward to others.
"Girl Don't Tell Me", according to Brian, was his attempt to write a song like "Ticket to Ride"
Man, little deuce coup is a great album, with cherry cherry coupe, car crazy cutie, a young man is gone and many others
The 6 songs at the end of Holland is an EP called Mount Vernon and Fairway. It was a bonus 45 record that came with the release of Holland. Mount Vernon and Fairway is a fairytale that is separate from the Holland album.
Sunflower is amazing, I love the influence of Bruce/Dennis, they were so talented they and Carl are especially talented (Of course Brian is the most talented though)
Pet sounds my friend.
Love goin on, livin with a heartache
Goin' On is a wonderful song! Also Santa Ana Winds is not that bad
Al Jardine did not sing lead on "Little Saint Nick"; that was Mike Love. Al's first vocal was "Christmas Day".
Thank you, someone else also pointed that out. I just pinned all my mistakes and corrections from the video
Mike Godette Music A Young Man Is Gone also is on Spirit Of America
Fun fact, the original vinyl version of Holland didn't have the last six songs on the lp. The album originally ended with funky pretty. The whole album was a concept album and the last 6 songs that seemed random, were recorded during the sessions of holland, but were cut out because Brian wilson thought they were unrelevant to the album. So vinyl releases of Holland didn't have those last 6 songs. They were added on later releases just as bonus tracks.
Those 6 songs were included in the original Holland album, only that they were in a separate 7"EP
Not true, they were on an EP that came with the LP.
Great list mate👍🏻
I got into the Beach Boys via their reissued twofer CDs my friend gave to me.
The period after Pet Sounds into the 70s is a completely overlooked and superbly rewarding listen.
Some fantastic songs and albums in that era👌🏻
Sunflower is S but I love the list. I agree.
Still Cruisin was originally supposed to collect a bunch if soundtrack songs. That’s why old tracks were on it; they had been used in recent movies.
This is very good, well done for putting it together. Should have more likes for sure. I've been digging more extensivly into their back catalog only relatively recently...and I see I only currently own: 1 S; 2 A's; 2 B's; and 1 C!!! Curious about GMTR now as well. Cheers
Swap Wild Honey and Surfs Up to the S category for the Xmas album and Friends , and I would go along with most of your ratings. Also Santa Ana Winds and Living with a Heartache are great songs from KTSA
Still Cruisin' should've been a better album, because they did a handful of other soundtrack songs (that was the theme of the album -- all from movies) that weren't included, for whatever reason. The older songs were included because they were featured in movies in the 80s, like "Good Morning Vietnam".
Glad someone appreciates their Christmas album, one of my personal favourites.
Summer Days hands down is their greatest album. I even put it ahead of Pet Sounds, which to me is a great half album with a lot of clinkers
I agree with you
The Beach Boys Today > Pet Sounds > Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)
BUT they're all VERY close
@@utub1473 I think if you took the best of each of these releases you'd have the perfect album
@@mountart2 Absolutely. Take songs like "In The Back Of My Mind" and "Please Let Me Wonder," pair them with "God Only Knows," "Wouldn't It Be Nice," and "You Still Believe In Me," and finish it all off with "Girl Don't Tell Me" and "And Your Dreams Come True."
That's a perfect album.
Yeah I think some of Pet Sounds ventures in the direction of a grueling listen depending on one’s mood, but even those songs were extremely well-made and groundbreaking.
You're naming many albums and songs I'm obvious to. Makes my musical tastebuds salivate.
Never have I ever stood up, pointed at the screen, and said “YES, this guy gets it!” until now. Absolutely incredible video!
you're like the only one that doesn't think Summer in Paradise is the worst one lol
I like how our reviewer took the "food is terrible, and such small portions" approach to their review of Still Crusin'. Basically it's "This albums sucks, AND it's nowhere near long enough!"
Good rating and fun to listen to, thanks! Of course we'd all rate them differently and that's good.:) I still have a big spot in my heart for KTSA, the first BB album I bought. Goin' On really sold me on them even though the lyrics were iffy... Loved the sound of that record and loved the two Randy Bachman (of The Guess Who) Carl Wilson songs. From there I discovered the rest:)
Thanks a lot man! And that's a surprising first Beach Boys album to hear but could definitely explain why you enjoy it. I went in the complete opposite order lol all of the later albums I had heard way later down the road after hearing all the early stuff. And I had no idea Randy Bachman was on that album. So much info that I still don't know about the Beach Boys haha
@@PrinceVegita1 That definitely seems to be a sentiment that a lot of people share. I haven't read enough stuff on Mike Love to have a good enough opinion yet, I've been meaning to read his book. I did see an interview with him and he wasn't as bad as people paint him out to be, but I do try to give him credit in this video with any songs I like that he contributed to. Good music is good music to me, regardless of who wrote it. I do know that there is a lot of hatred for him though from a lot of the community but I don't know enough yet to have a strong opinion either way. I've been too focused on researching Brian for these past few years lol
@@PrinceVegita1 I agree. If Mike Love, is a jerk, and I don't really know, the music is still just as good!:)
@@MikeGodetteMusic I think a lot of times you always enjoy the first album you hear by a group the most, but I would rate some of the BBs albums higher than KTSA. I think Randy didn't play on the album he just wrote with Carl, another one they wrote: "What's Your Hurry Darlin '"ruclips.net/video/NbTpuRTgmzY/видео.html
I'm still getting through. Pet Sounds is a no-brainer for sure, but Holland is blowing me away. Maybe it's just me
Hey Mike I'm an avid Beach Boys fan also we are pretty much on the same page on the rankings
I saw Brian's pet sounds tour and it was well worth what we paid for the tickets it was a night I'll never forget as long as I live
Form one Beach Boys fan to another I'm glad we have the same love passion and depths of America's favorite band of all time
Thanks so much Condy! I saw the Pet Sounds tour a few years back as well and saw Brian’s most recent Christmas Album tour. Such special moments that I’ll always cherish. Thanks for the kind words and if you’re interested check out our Beach Boys podcast...
ruclips.net/p/PLz-voH7EJ1YMiTyRLhIV61kk_XbaD_tYT
@@MikeGodetteMusic Hi Mike I I would like to have your opinion I'm going to list my ten favorite Beach Boys albums and would like to know what you think
1 Per Sounds
2 20 20
3Sunflower
4 Today
5 Summer Days And Summer Nights
6 All Summer Long
7 Concert
8 Shut Down Volume 2
9 Surfer Girl
10 Wild Honey
Fascinatingly, i think Love You is my favourite, then Smiley Smile or Friends.
:-)
Really neat visual way of doing this! Agree with most of your assessments. However, I think SUNFLOWER is every bit as good as PET SOUNDS, although certainly they're different animals. Other than the mawkish "Tears in the Morning," every song is solid, and five or six of them are brilliant. And the true stereo recording makes the record sound like nothing ever before or since. It's a true "team effort," whereas PET SOUNDS was almost a BW solo album. It's leaps and bounds above the other albums that got the same rating from you.
I have never heard a Beach Boys ranking like this one. I agree so much with this one. It is almost like I would rank them.
Love this video! As an avid BB fan I agree with most of what you say. I love Today and of course Pet Sounds. However, I don’t think KTSA is so bad
Thanks man! And a few people have said that to me, I’m gonna listen again with an open mind and see if it’s better then I originally thought. Glad you enjoyed the video! I’m gonna do a Beatles one next
The reason that the original cuts at the end of Still Cruisin' appears in movies, so they fall into the same category as most of the other songs for this album.
Ok last critique 😂. By the way, thank you so much for doing this and I thoroughly enjoy this. I just have no one else to talk to about this haha. But I can’t believe you only like “I do love you” on the self titled album. If you take away the 80’s production sounds, or even listen to it in context of the times, I think it has some other really catchy songs. Getcha Back, California Calling, I’m So Lonely, Male Ego. Listen back when you can
One of the few songs you like on the LA album is the disco version of Here Comes The Night?
“Girl don’t Tell Me” is very clearly an homage to The Beatles’ “Ticket to Ride”, right down to the ri-hi-hide/wri-hi-hite chorus.
He wrote it for The Beatles...
Loved the video, though I have to admit i actually really like Keepin the Summer Alive and especially Beach Boys '85. "Goin On" is a great song from KTSA and I like the majority of the songs on Beach Boys '85, especially "Where I Belong" and "Maybe I Don't Know."
Really good rankings, only things I would argue about are I would give Love You an S, Carl and the Passions a C and finally Holland an S. Still great video!
My rankings
Surfin safari - D
Surfin USA - B
Surfer Girl - A
Little deuce coupe - A
Shut down volume two - B
All summer long - S
Christmas - B
Today! - S
Summer days - S
Party! - D
Pet Sounds - S
Smiley smile - A
Wild Honey - A
Friends - A
20/20 - A
Sunflower - S
Surf’s Up - S
Carl and the Passions - S
Holland - S
15 Big Ones - D
Love You - S
MIU - E
L A light album - B
Keepin the summer alive - E
Beach Boys - C
Still Crusin’ - E
Summer in paradise - E
Stars and Stripes - D
Smile Sessions - S
That’s why god made the radio - A
Mike: "A Young Man is Gone" is the Four Freshmen hit "Their Hearts Were Full of Spring" with the words rewritten by Brian as a tribute to James Dean....love your channel....Carry on....
I dont know if you already knew this but Brian and van dyke parks also worked together on the album 'orange crate art'
I have a fondness for Still Cruisin just for it being on in the house growing up, and I love Somewhere Near Japan and Island Girl
Being a huge fan since ‘63, and being really familiar with ALL of these albums, I have to disagree with more than a few.
Little Deuce Coupe- A
Summer Days(and Nights) should be an S, while Today w/b an A.
Wild Honey-C, Sunflower-S
Friends- B
MIU- E
15 Big Ones- D
Love You- E
Beach Boys- B it does have some really good songs(Where I Belong, Getcha Back)
I know this is 4 years later from your video, but I just felt strongly on these differences.
Good video!
A very nice job of collating and categorizing. I am in general agreement with all except.Surf’s Up and Holland, which should be classed as “S” albums. The only mark against Surf’s Up is Student Demonstration Time. It is not a bad song, at all, but it does break the mood of the album. The second side is one of my favorite sides of any album, right up there with the first side of Magical Mystery Tour. It really does make a difference whether your listen to Vinyl or CDs. Very well done. Thank you for taking the time to present a comprehensive examination of the rankings of one of my favorite groups.
Can't really fault your choices, Mike. I would have made two changes giving an S to Holland and Surf's Up. Without the spoken word EP being added to the CD, Holland is a fantastic album made under trying conditions a long way from home.
Out of all the BB albums, it's SMILE that sits at the very top, above Pet Sounds, in my opinion. What an absolutely incredible record, such a tragedy that it was never released when it was made.
I believe it would have left Sgt Pepper in it's wake and certainly stolen it's thunder. As mind blowing as Pepper is, SMILE is on another level, not by a lot, but it's just insane no matter how many times I hear it.
Good call for TODAY, some beautiful songs on that one. Friends too. Sunflower is an interesting one, a group in transition maybe like when you leave home for the first time and have all the freedom you want.
Anyway, thoroughly enjoyed your appraisal and will check out your other videos. Thanks!!
I like to hear other peoples thoughts. It's so hard to rank BB albums because of the band's history and Brian coming and going etc. I can't really ever count SMiLE because for me it was finished by Brian with the Wondermints and the sessions are more a compilation, and although I'm glad we have them. I just don't think either are actually what was intended for 67. Also it's hard with that ranking system for me Pet Sounds is on a level all on its own and sunflower and surf's up close behind. But of course all this is all subjective and I love your rankings because I love to hear other people's attention. Oh and also the Manson stuff probably goes a little deeper than just a couple stolen songs with a very weird link between Polanski, Terry Melcher and Manson. But I'll let people put the dots together themselves. Killer video !! Loved it
The poed piper stuff is not part of the Holland album. It was something Brian was working on that was included as a bonus Disc with the original LP. That’s why it’s tacked onto the end of the CD. So it’s part of the Holland package, but not part of the album proper.
Thanks, Great job. I listen to their entire discography every year at least once ( except for Summer in Paradise and Stars and Stripes). Summer in Paradise was made without Brian.) I love every all of these albums. I would rate Party as an S ( try listening to this after a martini!) Also, I would give Surf Up and Holland an S.
I don't consider _Stars and Stripes_ a true BB album; it's really more of a 'various artists' tribute album with the band themselves just happening to be contributing backing vocals to the recordings.
I really like how positive you are towards a lot of these records. In my experience, the Beach Boys (excluding Pet Sounds) are kind of a hard sell to someone from anywhere other than California, and there can even be barriers for entry even for some Native Californians, with some finding their music to be cheesy. I, however, am a Californian through and through, and this is probably my all-time favorite band.
It’s been a while since I really did any kind of deep dive with the band so I decided to listen to all of their records in chronological order, including solo work, and these would be my rankings so far:
Bruce Johnston- Surfers’ Pajama Party (rank= B, a really cool live album)
Surfin’ Safari (rank=C, vocally and musically thin but a decent start)
Surfin’ USA (rank=B, double tracking the vocals made a big difference, you can tell they are getting better at their instruments)
Bruce Johnston- Surfin’ Round the World (rank=B, Musically this record is fantastic, with some vocals almost being intrusive to the songs, some great surf rock, with edge even, with some softer Rock as well)
I’m having fun checking these records out, especially since I never fully listened to Surfin’ Safari or ever heard any of Bruce Johnston’s stuff but I’ve been pleasantly surprised so far. I was worried some of this early stuff would be amateurish, and there is a little of that but it’s made up for in different ways. On the Beach Boys’ first record, they bring big ideas but are kind of shaky in terms of subject matter but they are pros by the second record. With Johnston, his first record is basic surf party rock, but it’s a live album that captures a scene so completely, it’s almost an important historical document. We see so much of the mid & late 60s and mid 50s early rock scene documented so thoroughly that it’s refreshing to hear something done like this for the pre-Beach Boys California Surf Rock scene. It was recorded on the UCLA campus with an audience, and you can almost picture it as the soundtrack of a big frat party. By his second solo record, he’s a pro also.
When we lived in Inglewood we lived only 3 blocks from the Beach Boys. My baby sitter went to school with Dennis and Carl.Mike Loves sister Maureen playe the harp at the church where I was babtized. She was the harp accompanyment to my moms singing performance one sunday. My favorite albums are Pet Sounds Sunflower and Holland.
This was a great breakdown. Feel like Holland should be higher. Christmas Album is half covers and Shut Down has a bit of filler. Would have those lower. Think I agree with every album you have in A, except I'd switch sunflower and Friends.
Spot on with That's Why God Made the Radio. Couldn't believe how good it was. Same thing for BW's That Lucky Old Sun album. So good.
Smile was a weird album but I think that’s what Brian intended it to be in my personal opinion I think Brian made smile as the gateway to how he saw the world to show us how he saw everything
Good review video! I personally think “friends” through “L.A.” is the best of their music, with sunflower being the peak. I also have a soft spot for “still cruisin’” especially the tracks “make it big” and “somewhere near Japan.” The early stuff never really resonated with me, and while pet sounds is genius, it’s so melancholy to me that I hardly ever listen to it.
Wow did I hear you say that you like “Here Comes the Night”? I thought I was the only one 😮 I love it to death ❤
Good video and nice idea to show the albums stacked next to their grades. For most of the albums, your grade is within one tier of where I'd grade them myself, but I have a few major exceptions:
Every Beach Boys person on the internet nowadays loves Friends, so I must be missing some gene other fans were born with. I have heard Friends for at least 15 years now and have never liked it, any of it really, so I'm not likely to get turned around on it at this point. I'd give it a D. I feel pretty well connected to the rest of Beach Boys diehards via most opinions, but it bugs me that Friends is always such a disconnect... I do love the albums just before and after it, Wild Honey and 20/20.
The Christmas Album? I have had it since I was a kid and I like it, just never thought it was outstanding musically. If I had to grade it I'd give it a B, but really I wouldn't grade it at all, since I don't consider it a proper studio album. But I gotta say, like you, it is one of my favorite Christmas albums.
Your criticism of Still Cruisin' is valid, but it applies equally to Little Deuce Coupe. Given your reasoning, I don't see how you can grade them so far apart. Both albums are about half previously released hits, plus one new hit single and some "filler" tracks. Personally I'd put Still Crusin' a little ahead since I love Kokomo and since it was a more important album for the Boys career/legacy, but I'd give both albums a C or D.
Party is, to me, the definition of a weak effort. That's OK, doesn't take anything away from the band overall, but I don't think it is right to call it a good album. Being the source of the surprising hit Barbara Ann saves it from an E and bumps it to a D for me.
Holland and The Beach Boys 1985 self-title both deserve to be two tiers higher in my mind. At least you like Holland, but man it hurts my feelings that you don't like the self-title! It is miles ahead of MIU and LA to me. We're further disconnected since you picked "I Do Love You" as your favorite from it; that song doesn't make the top half of the album for me. How can any Beach Boys fan not love "Where I Belong"?? It is my all-time favorite non-single BB song.
Overall good stuff though, thanks again for a great video!
Thank you for your review! I thoroughly enjoyed it. My list would only have Pet Sounds and Smile in the S row. I think they stand far above the rest. My A row would include Sunflower, Surfs Up, Today, Friends, Wild Honey, Summer Days, and Surfer Girl. B row would have Love You, Holland, Carl and the Passions, 20/20, Smiley Smile, Christmas Album, That’s why God Made the Radio, All Summer Long, Shut Down Vol 2. C Row would include Surfin’ USA, Little Deuce Coup, Party, LA Light Album. D row= Surfin’ Safari, The Beach Boys, MIU, Keepin’ The Summer Alive, 15 Big Ones. Bottom row= summer in Paradise, Stars and Stripes, Still Crusin’.
Some day when Adult/Child gets released, I would put that in the B row.
Yes: "Girl Don't Tell Me" was based on "Ticket To Ride".
Brian Wilson was a gifted composer. Close to Motsart. Just my opinion.
Holland is better than Carl And The Passions ‘So Tough’, but Holland is not as strong as Sunflower or Surf’s Up, perhaps the Beach Boys’ two greatest works, outside Pet Sounds.
I never count Stars & Stripes as a real Beach Boys album, because though the boys are on it, it’s not their album and it’s made up of interpretations of past tunes.
Yeah it's definitely an album I always skip over and don't really give any time of day lol unfortunately you have to use the albums they put on these tier lists though so I had to include it
I hear ya, Stars and Stripes is different and not a proper new studio album. There are no new songs, but they are all new studio recordings! I enjoy listening to it quite a bit actually. I also like 1990s country music a lot, so that helps.
I've seen some recent lists (not this video) which want to include the 2018 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra album as a studio album. I think that whole album was created using music editing software, no new studio work from the Beach Boys, so at least Stars and Stripes is more worthy than that.
they are my all time favorites, but after LOVE YOU it was sadly over. surfin' safari is what it sounds like : a bunch of kids. the beach boys were never a garage band. they were a living room band. surfin' usa is a HUGE improvement; a giant leap forward. the lonely sea is one of my all time favorite songs. the first glimpse we get of bw's more melancholy side. to me surfer girl, little Deuce Coupe, shut down volume 2, all summer long, Christmas album, TODAY! (my all time favorite album by ANYONE), summer days/nights, pet sounds, SMiLE! sessions, smiley smile (in the 70's this album was my favorite album by anyone of the previous decade, then i heard TODAY! and the doors's debut), wild honey, friends and 20/20 are all classic albums. i don't really count party! as a studio album. i could live without it. i like most of sunflower. i like much of surf's up. i really can't get into much of carl/passions and holland. i appreciate them more than i actually enjoy them. Mount Vernon and Fairway however is amazing. 15 big ones is/was a HUGE disappointment. the bb recorded it under duress. their label was threatening to sue them for not meeting the obligations of their contract. they owed the label two more records.they went into the studio and attempted to record two albums at once. they were going to record one album of covers and one album of new material, but the clock was ticking and they were running out of time. so they presented what they had recorded thus far as one album to buy them more time. this album should have been either all covers or all new material, not a mash-up. around this time they also recorded their second Christmas album hoping that would fullfill their contract, but the label rejected it. they did not want a Christmas album. it would take decades for this material /their second Christmas album to finally be released. LOVE YOU is my favorite album of the 70's. it is their last truly great, classic album. it was the last time they attempted to move forward. originally love you was to be a solo brian album called brian loves you. special note should be made of nearly every member of the band walked out during love you's recording process not knowing what to make of what brian was doing; dennis and carl MAY have hung around the studio more than the others. after this the bb stopped even atempting to move forward. mike love seized control of the band. they then proceeded to attempt and failed to regain their former, early era glory. i wish they had retired the BB name or retiring from recording after love you. the beach boys are my all time favorite band, but i do not listen to any of their post 1977 love you albums. even bruce says they sound like old men on MIU. l.a. light album has a very few good songs, but everything else post-love you i just wish would cease to exist. still crusin' to me isn't a studio album; just a compilation with left overs. That's Why God Made the Radio is a good reunion album.
S: The Beach Boys Today, Summer Days (And Summer Nights), Pet Sounds, Friends, Sunflower, Surf's Up, The Beach Boys Love You
A: Smiley Smile, Wild Honey, 20/20, Carl and The Passions "So Tough", L.A. Light Album
B: Surfer Girl, Shut Down Vol. 2, All Summer Long, The Beach Boys Party!, Keeping The Summer Alive
C: Holland, 15 Big Ones
D: Surfin' Safari, Surfin' U.S.A., Little Deuce Coupe, The Beach Boys Christmas Album
F:
Haven't listened: M.I.U., S/T, Still Cruising, Summer In Paradise, Stars And Stripes Vol. 1, Smile Sessions, That's Why God Made The Radio
Years and years ago at this point, an acquaintance of mine got me the legacy edition of "Pacific Ocean Blue", released in 2008. I paid for it of course, but he had Amazon and I didn't. It's a really solid album, and since I frequently misplace things, I downloaded it onto my Spotify playlist.
If given the choice to listen to only one group I'd choose the Beach Boys.
The first album cover of Beach Boys Love You was actually embroidered....good eye
the Love You album was designed by Dean Torrance of Jan & Dean
HI Mike,
Well done. I listened to the entire presentation, and your were thoughtful in your critiques. I agreed with your S line, and like you, not a fan of the 80's stuff. Which albums were made after the deaths of Dennis and Carl? The Beach Boys' stage had a revolving door of musicians, which also would affect sounds and arrangements. Thanks for your research and the time it took to listen to all the albums, rate them, then write and record your commentaries.
Thanks for the kind words and thanks for listening to all of it! If you’re interested check out our newly launched Beach Boys Podcast on the channel. We’ve been going deep on some of these albums and the back stories on how they were made. Here are the episodes
ruclips.net/p/PLz-voH7EJ1YMiTyRLhIV61kk_XbaD_tYT
Dennis died between Keeping the Summer Alive and The Beach Boys(1985), but he last shows up in a significant way on Light Album where he is a massive presence. Carl's on everything but Thats Why God Made the Radio
Interesting Ranking!
However I would move the first 2 Boys LPs up to A, as they are so full of joy of Life😊
In contrast I would move Wild Honey and Carl and the passions down to C, as I find that them boring apart from the title Track Wild Honey and the 2 Dennis Songs on Passions.
Also I'm in slight doubt about "Smile". The expectations in those heady days of 66 and 67 was very high. Smiley Smile disappointed and the refusal the play Monterey hurt the Boys. When Smile finally appeared as that giant 4 CD box, I couldn't help being disappointed again, too much experimentation not enough great tunes! In contrast their last album God made the radio was a joy, especially the last 3 Songs
You don’t like ANY songs on keepin the summer alive??? Goin’ On is one of the greatest songs they’ve EVER made. The vocal harmonies on that are incredible. And Carl does a phenomenal job on Oh Darlin’! The chorus has such amazing feel with the horns
Keepin the summer alive is the one album that I’ve changed my opinion on the most since making this video. I have to admit that at the time I made this video I didn’t give a lot of the later albums as many listens as I should have and keepin the summer alive was definitely the album that grew on me the most. I wouldn’t say I love every song on there but it definitely has a few hangers. Goin On is definitely my favorite :) thanks for listening!
@@MikeGodetteMusic awesome! And yes thank YOU
Girl Don't Tell Me is actually quite of a rip-off of Ticket To Ride, if you think about it.
Brian wrote it with The Beatles in mind, I mean, thinking about offering it to them.
But by the time this happened -If that ever happened-, The Beatles had already moved forward to Rubber Soul, so it was turned down and Brian made it with Carl.
I think it still sounds more like Help! (Being directly inspired by Ticket To Ride) than Rubber Soul
I couldn't agree more with this tier list
But for real! People need to get more in tuned with The Smile Sessions!!
for me there should only be 4 albums to make the top tier, pet sounds, surfs up, sunflower and smile sessions. the early stuff is great but not on the same level. also id have la Light album higher as its very underrated, and the only album to make the bottom tier should be summer in paradise (the anti pet sounds) smiley smile definitely a contender for bottom tier too, always hated it.
Before watching, I'm going to say that "Summer in Paradise" HAS to be the lowest rated album.
After watching: It's my least favorite piece of work from the band. The songs are forgettable, there is not much harmony, and Mike sings lead as if he's in a coma. This is also an album completely produced by Mike, and it sounds like it. Awful.
At least on "Still Crusin'," there are songs like "Somewhere Near japan" which actually sound like Beach Boys songs. Plus the exquisite "In My Car" by Brian.
I like your list, it’s similar to mine
My top 5: The SMiLE Sessions, Pet Sounds, Holland, Surf's Up, Wild Honey. If I could include Dennis's Pacific Ocean Blue or Brian's That Lucky Old Sun, I would consider them serious contenders for top 5 placement.
I think “Stars & Stripes” is god awful with one major exception. Willie Nelson doing “Warmth of the Sun” with the boys is absolutely fantastic.
Party was probably a hold over album while they were writing Pet sounds
Where's The Beach Boys Concert album?
Such a nice review! Regards!
I listened to this really sceptical about the possibility of covering such a haul in less than 35 minutes but you did a great job. I know all the albums and would strongly disagree with several ratings but importantly it made me reassess, want to go and listen and feel excited. These rankings should always be done by people who love the artist enough to admit there are stinkers like Still Cruisin. Main disagreement: BB Party. Fun once or twice D. And Summer Days is an S. And the graphics were really effective.
'Holland' is a definite S for me. You've been listening to it the wrong way, it seems. The album ends with "Funky Pretty". The story of the magic transistor radio is called "Mt Vernon and Fairway", a bizarre experiment by Brian. It came with the 'Holland' album as an extra EP, but is not part of the actual album.
Where would you place Adult / Child on the list? Assuming you’ve heard it. If you haven’t, fair enough, since it’s only a bootleg.
You put Keepin'The Summer Alive on the same level as Summer In Paradise????
Sunflower should be in the top tier. So Tough should swop places with LA Light. KTSA should be a C. Just my two cents.
Yeah I know a lot of people think sunflower is one of their best. I love most of it there are just a couple of songs that I was never crazy about that knock it down a tier for me. I do need to give KTSA another chance too a lot of people have been saying that’s one of the better later albums. Thanks for watching and thanks for your input!
Thank you for your opinion. I learned a lot about my favorite group. I wonder if/how much Jimmy Buffett is/was influenced by them?