Search - Beach Boys :: Beach Boys - Greatest Hits

4 1/2* With a Few Exceptions, A Great Collection

M. Allen Greenbaum | California | 09/17/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After a slight backlash in the 80's and 90's (overexposure, for one thing), it's ok to love the Beach Boys again (even the much maligned "Kokomo")! Their genius reached its apex, as everyone now knows, with the almost mythic "Pet Sounds." This compilation includes six songs from that 1966 masterpiece, including the beautiful, complex "Caroline, No" (a song not included on the newest Beach Boys compilation album of June 2003). The musical growth of this band was incredible, and they've influenced groups from the Rolling Stones (listen to the "Flowers" CD) to, more obviously, the Ramones.This is an excellent collection of their material, although some of the later material is on the conservative side of "Middle-of- the-Road" adult music. These include the shrill "Wild Honey," "You're So Good to Me (thin vocals, and the typical plodding, unimaginative bass line which is somehow more annoying here)," "I Can Hear Music (except for the harmonies)" "Lady Lynda (except for the chorus)," the limp platitudes of the truely awful "Disney Girls," and the inexplicable "Cotton Fields." Strictly county fair material. Of course, even these songs will have their fans. More importantly, the album contains early surf/party cuts (e.g., "I Get Around," "Fun, Fun, Fun"), a good sample of their sweet/sad, more personal songs (e.g., the superb "In My Room," "Don't Worry Baby," "Darlin'," Wouldn't It Be Nice"), and some of the more ground-breaking material ("Good Vibrations," "Caroline, No," and four others from "Pet Sounds").
Excellent liner notes by Peter Doggett, including 3 pictures of the band. Apparantly this CD is a bit scarce right now (I bought a used one through Amazon); the good news is that there are plenty of other collections to chose from."

NOT Bad studio mix

D. Cross | Hollywood, CA USA | 07/29/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"RE: the reviewer who complained of "bad studio mix" - that's the way things were done in the '50s, Mr. Pro. Considering that most of these songs were recorded on 2, 3, or 4 track, I'd say the mix is pretty darn good. As for the Boys' vocals being so loud... DUH! It was mixed for radio play and commercial success, the hallmark of which was the Boys' vocals.

If you want the absolute best sound quality on a BB best of, go with "Sounds of Summer." Even if you own all the albums, the remastering in that collection is fantastic."

A Very Good Singles Collection

lennondude | USA | 02/05/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Contrary to some of the voiced complaints, the 1999 remastered version of this CD sounds wonderful. There are no problems with the endings of Help Me Rhonda and Fun, Fun, Fun. These may have been problems on the 1995 version but not on this disc. Worth noting is that 19 of the 20 selections are in the original mono single versions(the exception being Kokomo). This is clearly stated on the back of the CD. As far as content, when Capitol issued this in 1995, it was not Volume 1. It was just meant to be The Beach Boys 20 Greatest hits(in Capitol's opinion). The follow up Volumes add the rest of the best. If you hate mono, skip this disc;if not you'll love it."