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Post by B.E. on Jun 4, 2023 12:32:33 GMT
Considering KDS' thread revisiting the best and worst songs of Brian, Carl, Dennis, Mike, and Al's solo albums is wrapping up, I thought this might be a good time to vote on, and discuss, our top 10. I'm sticking with the founding/primary members, but I'm expanding to include all studio albums (including some of Mike's which are often omitted), live albums, and Bambu (The Caribou Sessions). I'm not including solo compilations, such as, Summertime Cruisin': The Unforgettable Favourites of Mike Love and Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys and Playback: The Brian Wilson Anthology.
Voting is open!
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 4, 2023 12:37:35 GMT
No Blondie bums me out a little: while I don't LOVE his 1977 album, I'd end up rating it higher than quite a few of these.
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Post by B.E. on Jun 4, 2023 12:42:29 GMT
No Blondie bums me out a little: while I don't LOVE his 1977 album, I'd end up rating it higher than quite a few of these. I considered it, but then I'd have to include Bruce and David and that list would have ballooned (as would my time researching every album they all released!). Edit: It also got me thinking: I bet there aren't more than a handful of people who have actually listened to every single Beach Boys related album that's been released. Quite a few aren't easy to find. Or, at least, that used to be the case. Thanks to YouTube (and elora ), interested fans can finally hear some of these albums.
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 4, 2023 12:44:25 GMT
Fair enough. Plus, that gives me the chance to complain!
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 4, 2023 14:32:15 GMT
In order:
1. Pacific Ocean Blue 2. No Pier Pressure 3. Youngblood 4. Imagination 5. That Lucky Old Sun 6. Brian Wilson 7. In The Key Of Disney 8. Bambu 9. Live At The Roxy 10. Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin
- I did not include any Mike Love solo albums. The only one in consideration was Looking Back With Love but the production and song selection knocked that one out. Mike's weak voice/vocals, and again, song selections also disqualify his later efforts.
- A Postcard From California was considered but there's only one keeper - "Don't Fight The Sea" - on that album. Not enough.
- Bambu was a tough one to rank and I'm still not entirely comfortable with it. It was such a decrease in quality from Pacific Ocean Blue, but it did include "Constant Companion", "Love Remember Me", "Cocktails", "It's Not Too Late", and "Common" which pulled it through.
- Despite "Heaven" - and that made me think hard - I just couldn't go with Carl Wilson. Too boring.
- I'm expecting all of the other posters to rank Reimagines Gershwin higher. While I recognize the quality of the production and Brian's vocals, those Gershwin songs don't resonate with me enough. I respect them a lot; I just don't find myself longing to hear them.
- In The Key Of Disney is a grower with me. Brian sounds into it and his outstanding vocals reflect that.
- Live At The Roxy made it based mostly on the setlist. Brian "went for it" and I appreciate that. I especially like "The First Time".
- Imagination deserves more respect. There's not a bad song - and some very good ones - on that album, and Brian sings them well.
- As much as I love Christmas music, sorry, but Brian's and Mike's Christmas albums were big disappointments. No representation here.
- No Pier Pressure leaps them all...except Pacific Ocean Blue, of course.
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 520
Likes: 532
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Post by Emdeeh on Jun 4, 2023 17:24:04 GMT
I'm the person who voted for all of Carl's, all of Dennis', and all of Al's solo projects, plus a few of Brian's (TLOS, Disney, and NPP). As much as I love Smile, I couldn't bring myself to vote for BWPS, because of how sterile the studio recording feels in comparison to the live version from NPR. Now, if the NPR version (digital only) had been included, I would have voted for it.
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Post by B.E. on Jun 4, 2023 19:48:32 GMT
In order:
7. In The Key Of Disney 9. Live At The Roxy 10. Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin
- Despite "Heaven" - and that made me think hard - I just couldn't go with Carl Wilson. Too boring.
- I'm expecting all of the other posters to rank Reimagines Gershwin higher. While I recognize the quality of the production and Brian's vocals, those Gershwin songs don't resonate with me enough. I respect them a lot; I just don't find myself longing to hear them.
- In The Key Of Disney is a grower with me. Brian sounds into it and his outstanding vocals reflect that.
- Live At The Roxy made it based mostly on the setlist. Brian "went for it" and I appreciate that. I especially like "The First Time". Sorry to chop up your post, but for now these were the comments I wanted to respond to. But before I do, SJS, did you cast your votes by checking the boxes? I just notice that there aren't any votes for Live at the Roxy accounted for and I want to make sure your picks are counted. First, I haven't really started putting together my top 10 yet, but two albums that I knew I'd strongly consider were Live at the Roxy and At My Piano. And I thought those might be outsider picks, as in I might be the only one voting for them...wrong! They've both already been included in posters' top 10s. Which is cool. I only recently got into Roxy, and I listened to it again last weekend, and I think it's a very good live album. Brian sings pretty well and - just as importantly - he's in great spirits. It's an exciting album and probably as good of a document of his late career return to performing as you could ask for. The band is great. It's a double album with great song selection. It's really, really good. And I found myself comparing it to Beach Boys live albums. I'm not saying it's the best Beach Boys related live album, but it holds its own! Which is saying a heck of a lot considering it was released decades after their heyday. And I have to be honest, not having to hear Mike's (occasionally...or often) awkward/corny/lame stage banter makes a big difference. It's nice to be able to put on a live album and just let it play and enjoy it without reservation. And I'm not a Mike hater. I'm just as likely to cut him some slack in this area as sometimes I think he's alright in that role. Some of his bits are fine, some are funny, but on the whole? He really wasn't very good at it. I've heard all the defenses, including needing someone to talk to the crowd while the group tuned their instruments and whatnot, but I don't find that very convincing. None of my other favorite artists seemed to have a problem performing their songs in concert without the awkward stage banter. And what's odd to me is, people seem to think he's the one with the confidence to succeed in that role, but often he sounds like he lacks confidence when speaking to the crowd. It often doesn't sound very natural (to be clear, I'm talking about live recordings throughout the '60s, mostly). It's also nice to see Disney getting some love, but I'm not sure how many more votes it will get. As for Gershwin...don't be so sure. It might not make my list at all! Carl's debut is another that's on the periphery. I'm guessing it won't make it either. Look, as flawed as most of these albums are, I still like most of them! I also notice that Like A Brother has already gotten two votes! That's one that I plan to listen to. I've heard Carl's tracks once or twice but the production was a major obstacle. It's just hard to look past. I remember it being just egregious. But I'm also a fan of Gerry's, so I'd like to give the whole album a chance. Maybe I'll be able to get into it. (That said, it's got virtually no chance of making my top 10.)
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Post by B.E. on Jun 4, 2023 19:56:28 GMT
As much as I love Smile, I couldn't bring myself to vote for BWPS, because of how sterile the studio recording feels in comparison to the live version from NPR. Now, if the NPR version (digital only) had been included, I would have voted for it. Excuse my ignorance, but what is the NPR version? Is that the same as the concert that was included on the 2005 DVD (which appears to have been recorded in Burbank, CA on September 26, 2004)?
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 4, 2023 20:07:02 GMT
Sorry about that, B.E. I made the correction on the vote.
I agree with your review of Live At The Roxy. Good setlist. Good band. Good vocals.
Now you really have me curious how Gershwin and Disney will come in. Our board is comprised of a lot of free thinkers. We don't always follow the norm.
I probably should've gotten Like A Brother out of mothballs, but as I remember, I usually come away disappointed, other than Carl's tracks of course.
I am expecting Brian Wilson And Friends to get at least one vote!
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 4, 2023 20:17:41 GMT
I only recently got into Roxy, and I listened to it again last weekend, and I think it's a very good live album. Brian sings pretty well and - just as importantly - he's in great spirits. It's an exciting album and probably as good of a document of his late career return to performing as you could ask for. The band is great. It's a double album with great song selection. It's really, really good. And I found myself comparing it to Beach Boys live albums. I'm not saying it's the best Beach Boys related live album, but it holds its own! Which is saying a heck of a lot considering it was released decades after their heyday. And I have to be honest, not having to hear Mike's (occasionally...or often) awkward/corny/lame stage banter makes a big difference. It's nice to be able to put on a live album and just let it play and enjoy it without reservation. And I'm not a Mike hater. I'm just as likely to cut him some slack in this area as sometimes I think he's alright in that role. Some of his bits are fine, some are funny, but on the whole? He really wasn't very good at it. I've heard all the defenses, including needing someone to talk to the crowd while the group tuned their instruments and whatnot, but I don't find that very convincing. None of my other favorite artists seemed to have a problem performing their songs in concert without the awkward stage banter. And what's odd to me is, people seem to think he's the one with the confidence to succeed in that role, but often he sounds like he lacks confidence when speaking to the crowd. It often doesn't sound very natural (to be clear, I'm talking about live recordings throughout the '60s, mostly). Absolutely! Live At the Roxy was probably among my first half-dozen Beach Boys-related albums ever, not counting the Endless Summer I had because it was in my parents' collection. So maybe I have more of a soft spot because of that. But really it was also our first commercial recording with his classic, Wondermints-centered band: remember, he only assembled it after Imagination. And that meant a LOT to me. I used to listen to this all the time. Great song selection, great performances in general. And yes, I agree with you about the lack of Love... His stage banter drives me nuts. I've said before how much I hate how he chimes in on other people's performances all the time (e.g., Knebworth's "Lady Lynda," how he hams it up with "Al Jar-diiiiiine" on the final few notes; or "how 'bout that Carl Wilson!?" as he ends "Darlin"). It's like he just has to be included in every moment, and it drives me crazy. Plus, I just don't find him funny in those instances. He reminds me of an 8-10 year-old kid who has been given some attention or laughs from adults and so just overdoes it to keep it rolling.
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Post by jk on Jun 4, 2023 21:48:20 GMT
What did I vote for? POB, BW88, OCA, Like a Brother, Live at LV, TLOS, Postcard, NPP, At My Piano and LPR soundtrack... - I didn't include Bambu (as released with POB) because I much prefer the Dan Addington boot Ultimate Bamboo. - I regard the four Brian albums and OCA as BW's best work away from the BB format. - Like a Brother goes places no other BB-related album goes, not least thanks to the input of Lamm and Beckley. - I have a soft spot for Live at Las Vegas, as it was my late pen pen pal who burned it for me. And Postcard is a wonderfully warm listen. - Which leaves the OST of LPR, a damn good selection of tracks if I say so myself.
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 520
Likes: 532
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Post by Emdeeh on Jun 5, 2023 2:43:25 GMT
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Post by kds on Jun 5, 2023 13:09:23 GMT
In no particular order, my list is pretty Brian heavy. I'm actually thankful for the inclusion of live albums here as it would've been difficult to list a Top Ten BB solo studio albums
BW 88 - Despite the production flaws, there really is a lot of top notch material on this album. Imagination - Despite the production flaws, there really is a lot of top notch material on this album. Live at the Roxy BWPS - Is it as good as the live version or the incomplete Beach Boys version? No. But, it's still a very good album IMO. What I Really Want for Christmas - A lot of covers, but a well done later era Brian album. That Lucky Old Sun - Probably my favorite BB solo album. NPP
Pacific Ocean Blue - I'm not as high on this album as many BB fans, but it's a no brainer for Top 10.
Live in Vegas Postcard
I actually like Live at the Roxy and Live in Vegas better than most of the officially released BB live albums.
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 5, 2023 19:25:26 GMT
OK, here are my 10 in approximate order of favorites. Both of Carl's albums and GIOMH would be hanging around the fringe of my list.
1. That Lucky Old Sun, B. Wilson 2. Brian Wilson Presents Smile, B. Wilson 3. Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin, B. Wilson 4. Pacific Ocean Blue, D. Wilson 5. Brian Wilson, B. Wilson 6. No Pier Pressure, B. Wilson 7. Imagination, B. Wilson 8. Live at the Roxy, B. Wilson 9. Postcard From California, A. Jardine 10. What I Really Want For Christmas, B. Wilson
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Post by kds on Jun 5, 2023 20:24:38 GMT
Sorry about that, B.E. I made the correction on the vote.
I agree with your review of Live At The Roxy. Good setlist. Good band. Good vocals.
Now you really have me curious how Gershwin and Disney will come in. Our board is comprised of a lot of free thinkers. We don't always follow the norm.
I probably should've gotten Like A Brother out of mothballs, but as I remember, I usually come away disappointed, other than Carl's tracks of course.
I am expecting Brian Wilson And Friends to get at least one vote! Perhaps if it included the live version of Hold On Dear Brother than was on the DVD, I'd have voted for it.
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