Random Beach Boys moments that make you thankful to be a fan

The instrumental intro to California Girls is quite something.
Harmonies of: warmth of the sun/please let me wonder/girls on the beach
too much to list..........................

 

They're in my top 3 of all time artists...#2 actually.

 

All four glorious episodes of Rock 'n' Roll Dad.

"I'm a Genius too you know!"

http://www.peterbagge.com/baggeextras/swfs/MurryWilson1.swf

http://www.peterbagge.com/baggeextras/swfs/MurryWilson2.swf

http://www.peterbagge.com/baggeextras/swfs/MurryWilson3.swf

http://www.peterbagge.com/baggeextras/swfs/MurryWilson4.swf

 

that show in ann arbor in 1966 is the one that gets me there.

 

Carl's reaction to Brian's comment

 

I like listening for all of Brian's falsetto moments long after he supposedly lost the ability to sing with that voice. An example is the little ascending line one of the chorus of "Brian's" sings in "Let It Shine" at around 0:50

 

I was there. Awesome to hear the recording of it many miles later.
The sky was the limit for them then, on the heels of the release of Good Vibrations and in the midst of the Smile sessions.
Another moment for me is Sunflower..all of it. After the disappointments (for me) of their output after that night in Ann Arbor, this album was like an Indian summer...all good tracks, well produced, REAL stereo, each member contributing, new label, even a gatefold cover with great photos. Then things got a little dicey and then, with isolated exceptions, Endless Summer pretty much ended the flow of great new stuff, rendering them an oldies revue, like a flower from 1963-66 encased in amber. Seeing them live often in the 70s, I saw the transition in real time. The band slogging through its new stuff for 90 minutes to polite applause, ending with everybody going crazy to a closing medley of surf and car songs, with the tail eventually consuming the dog.
Can't blame them. They gave the people what they wanted.

 

Numerous great times.... But sitting and relaxing with Pet Sounds has happened, when Carl's voice absolutely brings a sublime feeling of total bliss when "God Only Knows" envelopes me....

 

'She's Got Rhythm' from the otherwise disappointing M.I.U. Album has a helluva Falsetto from Brian. Always picks me up

 

"a half a dozen deer with Rudy the lead" and "he's cruising every pad with a little surprise" from Little Saint Nick.

The piano roll before and the drum riff after "pink slip daddy" in Little Deuce Coupe.

Those low piano notes in Darlin'.

The choruses in Don't Worry Baby a full tone above the verses, and the transitions between.

The definitive version of Do You Wanna Dance.

The high notes and general smoothness of I Can Hear Music.

The immediacy of the (non-)intro to Heroes and Villains.

Let Him Run Wild, especially the way the melody goes back to the tonic just before the chorus.

The rhythm, the flute (?), everything about I'm Waiting For the Day, the best song on Pet Sounds (although if you would select the next one on this list, I won't complain).

God Only Knows.

 

Mike Love allowed Brian Wilson to sing lead on a song about transcendental meditation for the Beach Boys produced Friends album. When Mike Love allowed Brian Wilson to do that, it showed a lot of class and humility on Mike Love's part.

 

The harmonies on Hushabye, heard especially well on the "vocals up" version on the Perfect Harmony comp. (I also like the drumming on that track - its Dennis, I think, not Hal Blaine.)

And another vote for the coda of God Only Knows, the most beautiful 45 seconds in all of popular music.

 

You guys might think i'm nuts but...

I LOVE the Monkey's Uncle!



Okay, it's pure dorkiness personified but it's just a terrific snapshot of early 60's white American culture. (and it's brilliant!)

It has some of the lamest lyrics in any pop song but its all goofy fun.
Check out Mike and Annette Funicello's groovy dancing at 1:21, dig?

I believe this song also features the highest note Brian sang in the studio.

Now everyone after me,

ah, Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa!

 

seein mike n bruce this weekend!

 

BW's falsetto outro on Don't Back Down is one of my all time favorite Beach Boys moments. It was such a shame it was cut short for the stereo mix.

 

Hearing the beginning notes in the stereo mix of Wouldn't it Be Nice.
Hearing the same song over and over on my sister's little record player when I was 4.
Hearing Feel Flows for the first time over the end credits of Almost Famous.
Using Don't Worry Baby for a stereo speaker placement and phase test over and over and absolutely falling in love with the song over and over. Man, those harmonies swooping in get me every time to this day.

 

Fade to Vegetables - another example of Smile instrumental and vocal wizardry. How does he do it?

The falsetto I wanna cry in You Still Believe in Me

Time to Get Alone - especially the Hawthorne mix but always the standout on 20/20 for me since I bought it (along with a hundred or so other fans) when it was released

Hushabye - used to torture my college roommates by playing this over and over

it might have my wife on it - always makes me laugh, classic Brian

 

Kiss Me Baby!

 

Their energetic performance on the TAMI show:

 

For me, it's Brian's vocals from the early 60's. It's the one thing that the group could never replace - that sense of longing, nostalgia and loneliness that was in the tone of Brian's voice. Just wonderful.

The intro to "Hushabye", his first verse in "Kiss Me, Baby", the note shifts on "Lonely Sea", the incredible "Warmth of the Sun" . . . . there are so many.