Best of The Beach Boys

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 '65. The album reached #8 on the US 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 the UK 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.

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

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.

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. "Fun, Fun, Fun" – 2:18
5. "I Get Around" – 2:12
6. "All Summer Long" – 2:05
7. "In My Room" – 2:13
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

References

• 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.
• Allmusic.com