Happy birthday?

[db44]

Mike Love is 63 today.

Some Beach Boys fan despise Mike, for all that he did to curb Brian's enthusiasm and creativity. This is true. However there stillwouldn't have been a Beach Boys band without Mike, so to hate Mike as some do seems like putting the cart before the horse to me.

Happy birthday, Mike!

[bekahbeans]

Happy Birthday, guy-who-was-in-a-lesser-band-than-the-Beatles.


bwahaha! Just kidding!


kinda...

[db44]

Just remember: Without the Beach Boys, the Beatles later stuff may not have been as impressive.

[bekahbeans]

*sigh* I must admit that is true.

Thank you, Beach Boys.

[Sinister]

As Jimi Hendrix once said in the song Third Stone From the Sun, "you'll never hear surf music again".

Just kidding Dave.. Having never owned a Beach Boys album myself, which album would you recommend for those who want to get their feet wet.

[db44]

It depends on if you truly mean getting your feet wet. 'Cause of course the early stuff is the surf music, all about getting wet.

Pet Sounds is considered their masterpiece, and widely known as the inspiration for Sgt. Pepper's. Paul McCartney still calls it his favorite album of all-time. So I guess that's a good place to tell newbies to start. "Wouldn't it be Nice," "God Only Knows" and "Sloop John B" are the three big hits from PS, with "Caroline, No" being a lesser-hit. PS is also considered by some to be the first-ever concept album, as according to Brian the songs are all about love. It was also the pinnacle before things fell apart, as mentioned in the "For Dave and Shawn" thread.

A bunch of albums are available as 2-fer CDs now. One I would suggest, and I think Katie will back me up on this is the Sunflower/Surf's Up CD. Sunflower has Brian's favorite song that he wrote, "Add Some Music." Also the Dennis Wilson song "Forever" is there, which is also known as Uncle Jessie's wedding song from Full House.

The second album, Surf's Up is a must for Beach Boys fans, so I guess it's like their cult album. You want to talk about getting your feet wet? Well the first song is "Don't Go Near the Water" and a little later there's "Take Good Care of Your Feet." This is an odd album, mixing some great songs and "important" (to BB fans) songs with some rather weird stuff. The out there stuff is "...Feet" and "A Day in the Life of a Tree." The notables for fans are "Disney Girls," "Long Promised Road," "'Til I Die," "Feel Flows" and "Surf's Up." The latter was to be the jewel from Smile, had it ever came out.

"Feel Flows" is also in the movie Almost Famous, which also has a scene about Pet Sounds. Director Cameron Crowe is a huge Brian fan, and Crowe says his gift to every actor/actress in his movies is a copy of Pet Sounds.

[sofia22]

happy birthday

[princessKT]

I'd have to agree with everything Dave has said. I actually like Sunflower/Surf's Up more than Pet Sounds, and I have a feeling you would too James. It has some great songs that I've really grown to love. When Dave made me listen to Feel Flows, I couldn't believe it was the Beach Boys. These albums have more of a harder feel to them, but at the same time have songs that are pure earlier Beach Boys. (Disney Girls, probably an example)

I do love Pet Sounds though, even though it took me a few listens to really understand why it's usually put as the #2 album of all time. I still don't know if I can completely agree with that, but it is damn good. God Only Knows has to be one of my top 5 favorite songs of all time.

The one thing I've noticed lately is that a lot of Beach Boys songs are being put in movies.. recently, Love Actually and 50 First Dates are examples. Love it!

[db44]

^
||

The testimony of a convert. ;)

[princessKT]

Dun dun dun.. :eek:



:p

[stk]

IMHO, The Beach Boys were the American equivalent to the Beatles. Mike Love was an essential core of the band and co-wrote or made fantastic contributions to a lot of their best stuff. The drag about Mike is the chip he carried on his shoulder for years. I met him here on Maui and briefly talked to him about his career. Believe it or not, (and this was in the 90's) he still comes across as pretty arrogant about it all. Too bad.

[db44]

To many in England, the Beach Boys were their U.S. Invasion.

[Sinister]

Thanks Dave and Katie! I almost picked up a Beach Boys CD last week, but after forking over $120.00 for the George Harrison box I thought I should probably call it quits. Oh well, next time..

Sorry for taking so long to reply, life has thrown me a curveball or two in the last few weeks.

[bekahbeans]

George Harrison is a much wiser choice anyway. *nods*

[Sinister]

I Agree

[princessKT]

Sorry to hear that James. Hope things are better!

[Sinister]

Thanks princess!

[db44]

As much as I love the Quiet One, Brian is more my idol.