Made In California – The Greatest Box Set Of All Time
Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of the Beach Boys vs Made in California. I’ll go with Made in California (just). Good Vibrations’ unique selling point in the early 90’s was undoubtedly the official release of tracks from the Smile vaults. Finally, Smile was out there for all to hear, and it was fantastic. Fast forward 20Continue reading “Made In California – The Greatest Box Set Of All Time”
Surfer Girl – A Lean, Mean, Music Machine
The best of the ‘early’ ones, 25mins and 30s of target hitting across 12 songs. I sometimes have a tendency to forget about the early albums. Unforgiveable really, but the breadth of The World’s Greatest Band is extensive, and as a glass-half full person I naturally tend towards their 70’s output. I deliberately set thisContinue reading “Surfer Girl – A Lean, Mean, Music Machine”
Brian Wilson Rapping – It’s Not The Worst Thing He Has Recorded!
A memory during a lockdown walk. 1994, and I am desperate for Brian Wilson ‘stuff’. I have just read the Wouldn’t It Be Nice Landy influenced autobiography. I have just bought the Brian Wilson ’87 solo album (and although also Landy influenced, loved it). I want more. I read reference to the unreleased Sweet InsanityContinue reading “Brian Wilson Rapping – It’s Not The Worst Thing He Has Recorded!”
Male Ego and BB’85 – The Beach Boys at Their Best (Worst)
The 1985 Beach Boys eponymous album, known as BB’85, is considered by many to be down there with their very worst. On that basis, and influenced by the back photo (chinos, jumpers, caps, nylon harringtons – think Russ Abbott when he was a pop star, although Carl thankfully didn’t get the memo), I never evenContinue reading “Male Ego and BB’85 – The Beach Boys at Their Best (Worst)”
2 down, 1 to go. The Beach Boys, The KLF, and Lawrence from Felt/Denim/Go-Kart Mozart
I know what you are thinking, what could possibly link the three different musical entities above? I can link Felt (Britain’s most esoteric indie group, led by the enigmatic Lawrence) with The Beach Boys, as the only cover Felt ever recorded was ‘Be Still’ from Friends. But the purpose of this post isn’t a directContinue reading “2 down, 1 to go. The Beach Boys, The KLF, and Lawrence from Felt/Denim/Go-Kart Mozart”
Roy Wood and the Best Beach Boys Pastiche Ever
‘pastiche – an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period’ What makes a great Beach Boys pastiche? Well, for me it’s the combination of influence and individuality. By that I mean the song is influenced by the Beach Boys, but still bears the hallmarks of an individual style.Continue reading “Roy Wood and the Best Beach Boys Pastiche Ever”
Do The Beach Boys sound like Daft Punk? Play the 40 seconds challenge and find out!
Okay, let’s get right to it – this blog is about the Beach Boys, and experiencing their music during Covid lockdown (which is still very much continuing here in Scotland). As I was doing my daily lockdown walk in the rain, I stumbled upon something. 40 seconds of musical gold to be exact. I wantContinue reading “Do The Beach Boys sound like Daft Punk? Play the 40 seconds challenge and find out!”
Dr. Strangetimes or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying During Lockdown and Love the Beach Boys Even More 