Signifying a momentum shift in the influence of Brian Wilson, the nineties to early aughts saw a handful of curious, if not downright mysterious Beach Boys/Brian Wilson tribute compilations. With eclectic, avant-garde artists and names like Smiles, Vibes & Harmony, these comps began to emerge intermittently. Spurred by interest in the legendary abandoned Smile project reaching a fever pitch, these hidden relics provide fascinating insights frozen in time. All these decades later, artists of all varieties continue to look at that specific era’s creative burst and beyond for endless inspiration. To quote the promotional description for the Japanese compilation Smiling Pets: “Sure, there’s a little schlock, but not that much”.
Category: The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album
Imagine songs like “Merry Christmas, Baby” or “Christmas Day,” but with new titles and lyrics removed from Christmas, delivered on a record that didn’t bear a kitschy cover of the band putting ornaments on a tree. If this was the case, would the Christmas Album get the respect it deserves?
The Beach Boys :: Feel Flows – The Sunflower & Surf’s Up Sessions 1969-1971
The vaults have been emptied for Capitol’s oft-rumored Feel Flows box set: the Sunflower and Surf’s Up sessions. While the previous archival project’s sets were impressive, this is the mother lode. A sprawling collection including 100+ previously unreleased cuts, the scattered formula rounds up unreleased tracks, alternative endings, studio highlights (instrumental and A capella vocal takes), live recordings from various eras, and fresh outtakes.
The Beach Boys :: 20/20 Sessions
In the final weeks of 2018, Beach Boys fans were treated to something unexpected: a rare copyright term limit, digital-only, release of three collections from their vaults. The emancipated material includes the Friends Sessions, the live performances that document Beach Boys On Tour. and I Can Hear Music: The 20/20 Sessions.
While all possess their individual highlights, it’s this final volume that particularly stands out. […]
The Beach Boys :: Sun…Baked (A Medley)
Faded, bearded and worn-in like 15 year old denim; saltier than the rim of a pitcher of margaritas. Aquarium Drunkard presents nearly three hours of (mostly) ‘post-Murry’ Beach Boys. Unbending never […]
The Beach Boys: The River’s A Dream In A Waltz Time
Our enthusiasm for 70s era Beach Boys and the creative stretch of brothers Carl and Dennis Wilson runs deep, notably during the course of albums Surf’s Up , “So Tough” , and Holland . And […]
Cease To Exist: Charles Manson / The Beach Boys Association – A Documentary
Cease To Exist – 2008 documentary exploring the music motive to the Manson murders and Charles Manson’s relationship with Beach Boys’ drummer Dennis Wilson and record producer Terry Melcher. Written and […]
The Beach Boys :: That Same Song (with Gospel Choir)
This clip, from an NBC special on connection with the release of the 15 Big Ones album, featuring the Beach Boys singing “live” with the Alexander Hamilton Double Rock Baptist […]
Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson And The Story of SMiLE
Brian Wilson And The Story of SMiLE. 2004 David Leaf directed oral history of Smile. Originally presented by Showtime, the documentary is loaded with archival footage corresponding around the release […]
Beach Boys :: Unknown Harmony – 1968, A Capella
Looped a capella track (reportedly) culled from a 1968 studio session known in fan circles as “Unknown Harmony.” I copped this five or so years ago via the fan-made compilation […]
The Beach Boys :: Rehearsal Session 1967
Dug reading all of your thoughts on the upcoming Beach Boys SMiLE sessions earlier this week. After posting it, a deluge of emails came in requesting that we re-post the Beach Boys rehearsal sessions that […]
The Beach Boys :: SMiLE Sessions
We all knew this day would eventually come, it was only a matter of time. Earlier this month it was announced the sessions from the Beach Boys fabled Smile sessions […]
The Beach Boys :: Ganz Allein (In My Room)
I caught wind of this German take on the Beach Boys “In My Room” via a collection of non-English covers over at When You Awake last year. While I wouldn’t go so far as […]
The Beach Boys :: Beach Bros (A Compilation)
Beach Boys fans: A year and half ago the Rising Storm’s Brendan McGrath put together a compilation of some of his favorite cuts from the latter day Beach Boys records. He called […]
The Beach Boys :: Pet Sounds (A Capella)
So, while we’re at it …the a capella mixes from Pet Sounds are nothing short of ear candy, and while the LPs noted production theatrics are well deserved, I’m never short of blown away […]