Good Vibrations – Best of The Beach Boys

Good Vibrations – Best of The Beach Boys is the fourth official compilation album by The Beach Boys, and the first by their Brother Records imprint. In June 1974, The Beach Boys' old label, Capitol Records released a double-album compilation of the band's 1962-1965 hits called Endless Summer, to capitalize on their recent surge of success while the band toured incessantly. When the unofficial release turned out to be a surprise smash, a successor, Spirit of America, was rushed out in the spring of 1975 and was almost as successful. Deciding to issue an official compilation in the wake of their sudden commercial explosion at home, The Beach Boys opportunistically released Good Vibrations – Best of The Beach Boys to the public.

Having temporarily received the licensing rights to all their Capitol albums from Pet Sounds onwards, the band was able to exclusively use post-1965 material, including their contemporary works, to create a more diverse collection.

Released in June 1975, Good Vibrations – Best of The Beach Boys did well, reaching #25 in the US, but the two Capitol collections were more attractive to shoppers, and far outsold this collection.

Due to newer and more comprehensive compilations, Good Vibrations – Best of The Beach Boys has long since been deleted.

Track listing

Side 1

1. "Sail On, Sailor" (Brian Wilson/Tandyn Almer/Jack Rieley/Ray Kennedy/Van Dyke Parks) – 3:18
2. "Sloop John B" (Trad. Arr. Brian Wilson) – 2:56
3. "God Only Knows" (Brian Wilson/Tony Asher) – 2:50
4. "Darlin'" (Brian Wilson) – 2:12
5. "Add Some Music to Your Day" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love/Joe Knott) – 3:34
6. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (Brian Wilson/Tony Asher/Mike Love) – 2:22

Side 2

1. "Good Vibrations" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 3:36
2. "Do It Again" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 2:25
3. "Caroline, No" (Brian Wilson/Tony Asher) – 2:18
4. "Friends" (Brian Wilson/Carl Wilson/Dennis Wilson/Al Jardine) – 2:30
5. "Surf's Up" (Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks) – 4:12
6. "Heroes and Villains" (Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks) – 3:37

Good Vibrations – The Very Best of The Beach Boys (Brother/Reprise MS 2223) hit #25 in the US during a 23 week chart stay.

Sources

• "The Nearest Faraway Place: Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys and the Southern California Experience", Timothy White, c. 1994.
• "Top Pop Singles 1955–2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
• "Top Pop Albums 1955–2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.