Best of The Beach Boys

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Best of The Beach Boys
Best of The Beach Boys cover
Compilation album by The Beach Boys
Released 11 July 1966
Recorded January 1963 - May 1965
Genre Rock
Length 28:00
Label Capitol Records
Producer(s) Brian Wilson
Professional reviews
The Beach Boys chronology
Pet Sounds
(1966)
Best of The Beach Boys
(1966)
Best of The Beach Boys Vol. 2
(1967)


Best of The Beach Boys is the first compilation album by The Beach Boys, released in the summer of 1966 just two months after Pet Sounds. It includes many of their most popular songs from 1963 to 1965. The album reached #8 on U.S. charts and soon went gold. Brian Wilson is said to have been irritated by the label's decision to release a compilation of the group's older material at a time when the group's music was rapidly becoming more complex and sophisticated.

The UK edition of the album, with a revised track order, was issued later in the year, reaching #2 on British charts.

Although Best of The Beach Boys is currently certified double platinum in the US, it is now out of print, supplanted by more comprehensive compilation albums.

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Surfin' USA" (Brian Wilson/Chuck Berry) – 2:28
  2. "Catch A Wave" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 2:18
  3. "Surfer Girl" (Brian Wilson) – 2:26
  4. "Little Deuce Coupe" (Brian Wilson/Roger Christian) – 1:50
  5. "In My Room" (Brian Wilson/Gary Usher) – 2:13
  6. "Little Honda" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 1:51
  7. "Fun, Fun, Fun" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 2:18
  8. "The Warmth Of The Sun" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 2:50
  9. "Louie, Louie" (Richard Berry) – 2:23
  10. "Kiss Me, Baby" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 2:35
  11. "You're So Good To Me" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 2:13
  12. "Wendy" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 2:22

[edit] British Version

The British version of Best of The Beach Boys was released in mid-1966 with 14 songs, instead of the usual 12 found on American albums. Because of this, Capitol in the UK created far superior "Best of" albums than their counterparts in America.

The following songs were found on the British version of Best of The Beach Boys:

  1. "Surfin' Safari" – 2:05
  2. "Surfin' USA" – 2:28
  3. "Little Deuce Coupe" – 1:50
  4. "In My Room" – 2:13
  5. "Fun, Fun, Fun" – 2:18
  6. "I Get Around" – 2:12
  7. "All Summer Long" – 2:05
  8. "Do You Wanna Dance?" – 2:18
  9. "Help Me, Rhonda" – 2:45
  10. "California Girls" – 2:37
  11. "Barbara Ann" – 2:05
  12. "You're So Good To Me" – 2:13
  13. "Sloop John B" – 2:55
  14. "God Only Knows" – 2:49

[edit] Sources

  • "The Nearest Faraway Place: Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys and the Southern California Experience", Timothy White, c. 1994.
  • "Wouldn't It Be Nice - My Own Story", Brian Wilson and Todd Gold, c. 1991.
  • "Top Pop Singles 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
  • "Top Pop Albums 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
  • All Music Guide.com
The Beach Boys
Brian Wilson | Carl Wilson | Dennis Wilson | Mike Love | Al Jardine | Bruce Johnston
Studio albums
Surfin' Safari (1962) | Surfin' USA (1963) | Surfer Girl (1963) | Little Deuce Coupe (1963) | Shut Down Volume 2 (1964) | All Summer Long (1964) | The Beach Boys' Christmas Album (1964) | The Beach Boys Today! (1965) | Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) (1965) | Beach Boys' Party! (1965) | Pet Sounds (1966) | Smiley Smile (1967) | Wild Honey (1967) | Friends (1968) | 20/20 (1969) | Sunflower (1970) | Surf's Up (1971) | Carl and the Passions - "So Tough" (1972) | Holland (1973) | 15 Big Ones (1976) | Love You (1977) | M.I.U. Album (1978) | L.A. (Light Album) (1979) | Keepin' the Summer Alive (1980) | The Beach Boys (1985) | Still Cruisin' (1989) | Summer in Paradise (1992) | Stars and Stripes Vol. 1 (1996)
Live albums
Beach Boys Concert (1964) | Live in London (1970) | The Beach Boys in Concert (1973) | Good Timin': Live at Knebworth England 1980 (2002)
Related articles
Song List | Lead Vocalists | Capitol Records | Brother Records | Sea of Tunes | Discography | Solo Discography