Favorite Musical Artists: The Beach Boys

It may have been fate that I was listening to the final half-hour of Rich Russo’s Anything, Anything this past Sunday night, as I caught his segue of Barenaked Ladies’ classic “Brian Wilson”, preceded by a partial live cover by the man himself. While the other members of the Beach Boys certainly played a major role in the group’s success (as evidenced by some fine work while Wilson was in the depths of his long-lasting mental health issues), there’s no question that Brian Wilson deserves his accolades as a musical genius; I’m not sure who else has been included in lists of top singers, songwriters, AND producers by major music publications. Except for when one of my dorm neighbors in college frequently played the underappreciated Surf’s Up album, I was always more inspired by the band on a song-by-song basis: not just the big hits, but many of their more obscure tracks as well. Although Brian Wilson’s melodies and vocal arrangements get the most attention, many of the band’s lyrics are also notable, initially evoking both the joys and difficulties of the teen years, and tackling more sophisticated topics later with the likes of “Long Promised Road” and “Til I Die”.

 

Favorite songs:

 

Don't Worry Baby 

Wouldn't It Be Nice

Barbara Ann

All Summer Long

Please Let Me Wonder

 

In My Room

Long Promised Road

Help Me, Rhonda

Fun, Fun, Fun

When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)

 

Sloop John B.

Good Timin'

Surf's Up

Darlin'

Surfer Girl

 

Good Vibrations

California Girls

Disney Girls

Wendy

Surfin' U.S.A.

 

Holiday bonus – just about everyone is familiar with the classics “Little Saint Nick” and “The Man With All The Toys”. They also did a stunning version of “Graduation Day”.