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Post by carllove on Mar 14, 2022 2:21:23 GMT
These are probably the ones most out-of-step with my own thinking/tastes. #29 being too high, #52 lacking production-wise, and the others just not really even being in consideration. That said, our lists are very similar, and I recognize that 3 of the 5 I pointed out were ranked near the very bottom of your list. What actually surprises me most isn't the selections you made, but the ones I assumed I'd also make but eventually had to drop. For example, "Dance Dance Dance" (#17). ( Your rankings in parenthesis.) As great as it is, I think it's too much of a "surface" enjoyment for me. It sounds great. The arrangement, the performance, but I don't think I really connect with it enough. I think I feel similarly about "Lady Lynda" (#58). That one also stands out for the era as being something of a return to form, vocally, but that doesn't help when pitted against the classic era. Another later period hit I thought I'd have room for was "Getcha Back" (#54). And I ended up only having room for "Summer's Gone" from TWGMTR. I think I only mustered 4 songs from 1980-onward. Stiff competition! Geez, then there was "Lonely Sea" (#51). I can't believe I had to drop that. That's a magical track! There's a few others...but there's one big one. I'm hesitant to point it out because I may have to turn in my Beach Boys badge...."Cabin Essence" (#10). Hey, what can I say? I had to make room for "Alley Oop". Yes, some favoritism played a part in the rankings (or inclusion) of those five tracks you highlighted above. But, I can also say that I analyzed every song that I ranked or included. I literally broke each song down intentionally as to not be influenced by my emotions. I looked at each song as unbiased as I could, and only used my bias in some rankings. However, as diehard fan of the group for 48 years, I felt that my bias had some merit. You know, in some cases, I also thought about how Brian Wilson would rank some of the songs based on what I've read. I value his opinions a little.
It's OK - I think it's simply a great song, not just because of any particular melody, arrangement, tag, or lyric, but because the song emotes a certain feeling, a positive feeling that only a B. Wilson/M. Love song can accomplish. It simply makes me (the listener?) happy and want to hear it over and over.
Roller Skating Child - Other Brian's hoarse and off-key vocal tag, I always thought that Roller Skating Child stood "right there" with all of Brian's other fast, rockin', fun songs. On Love You, Brian still had it. He was still composing and arranging at a very high level. Roller Skating Child is an example of this.
Match Point Of Our Love - Again, I think this song has it all - melody, arrangement, and especially Brian's lead vocal. And, I didn't/don't care what others say about the lyrics. I think they are perfectly fine, clever even. Very cool song. I wish it would've gotten more exposure.
Spring Vacation - Many fans dismissed it and I never knew why. It has a great intro, a good - and familiar - Mike Love lead vocal, harmonies are full, catchy lyrics, and a fine melody. It's also emotional (sentimental). And, even Brian in particular sounds enthusiastic and into it. Really, this is an excellent, classic Beach Boys' song. I think it would've worked in any Beach Boys' period.
Here Comes The Night - Never mind that I always liked it. Here Comes The Night (both versions) is an excellent song. Period. The 1979 version elevates the original, which was kind of basic, IMO. The 1979 version has a nice intro, crystal clear harmonies (they were back!), another great latter-day Carl Wilson lead vocal, and lyrics that work perfectly for this disco song. I think they pulled it off well. Here Comes The Night has this stigma of being a failure, but it wasn't. It hit #44 in the U.S. and #37 in the U.K.
So Sheriff - then did you go by what songs were best versus your emotional connection to a song? If so - your criteria was the exact opposite of mine. I don’t think I could even fathom figuring out what songs are the best. Maybe if I were Joshilyn. I just don’t have that much musical knowledge. I was purely emotional based. Did you let emotions figure into any of your decisions? Gotta say though - this has been a great thread. Good to see so much Beach Boys discussion on this site, because this board does get criticized, and perhaps rightly so, for veering off track.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Mar 14, 2022 2:31:26 GMT
Yes, some favoritism played a part in the rankings (or inclusion) of those five tracks you highlighted above. But, I can also say that I analyzed every song that I ranked or included. I literally broke each song down intentionally as to not be influenced by my emotions. I looked at each song as unbiased as I could, and only used my bias in some rankings. However, as diehard fan of the group for 48 years, I felt that my bias had some merit. You know, in some cases, I also thought about how Brian Wilson would rank some of the songs based on what I've read. I value his opinions a little.
It's OK - I think it's simply a great song, not just because of any particular melody, arrangement, tag, or lyric, but because the song emotes a certain feeling, a positive feeling that only a B. Wilson/M. Love song can accomplish. It simply makes me (the listener?) happy and want to hear it over and over.
Roller Skating Child - Other than Brian's hoarse and off-key vocal tag, I always thought that Roller Skating Child stood "right there" with all of Brian's other fast, rockin', fun songs. On Love You, Brian still had it. He was still composing and arranging at a very high level. Roller Skating Child is an example of this.
Match Point Of Our Love - Again, I think this song has it all - melody, arrangement, and especially Brian's lead vocal. And, I didn't/don't care what others say about the lyrics. I think they are perfectly fine, clever even. Very cool song. I wish it would've gotten more exposure.
Spring Vacation - Many fans dismissed it and I never knew why. It has a great intro, a good - and familiar - Mike Love lead vocal, harmonies are full, catchy lyrics, and a fine melody. It's also emotional (sentimental). And, even Brian in particular sounds enthusiastic and into it. Really, this is an excellent, classic Beach Boys' song. I think it would've worked in any Beach Boys' period.
Here Comes The Night - Never mind that I always liked it. Here Comes The Night (both versions) is an excellent song. Period. The 1979 version elevates the original, which was kind of basic, IMO. The 1979 version has a nice intro, crystal clear harmonies (they were back!), another great latter-day Carl Wilson lead vocal, and lyrics that work perfectly for this disco song. I think they pulled it off well. Here Comes The Night has this stigma of being a failure, but it wasn't. It hit #44 in the U.S. and #37 in the U.K.
So Sheriff - then did you go by what songs were best versus your emotional connection to a song? If so - your criteria was the exact opposite of mine. I don’t think I could even fathom figuring out what songs are the best. Maybe if I were Joshilyn. I just don’t have that much musical knowledge. I was purely emotional based. Did you let emotions figure into any of your decisions? Gotta say though - this has been a great thread. Good to see so much Beach Boys discussion on this site, because this board does get criticized, and perhaps rightly so, for veering off track. Frankly, yes I did. I started with that premise. I approached it as if I were commissioned by a magazine or a book to list the "Greatest" or "Best" Beach Boys' songs for the purpose of educating the reader. I wanted to create a list or rankings that a new or prospective listener could refer to - and use in selecting which songs to buy or listen to. As I have been mentioning, it's impossible to ignore your personal likes and favorites. In the end, it's YOUR OPINION and the rankings reflect that. There are no factually correct lists. But I tried for that!
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Post by carllove on Mar 14, 2022 2:47:40 GMT
Dang Sheriff - That was a massive undertaking. How long did that take you?
I must say I could never even attempt to go there. It would be for me like Brian trying to put Smile together. I would eventually end up in bed for several years. I just can’t even fathom it.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Mar 14, 2022 11:37:38 GMT
Dang Sheriff - That was a massive undertaking. How long did that take you?
I must say I could never even attempt to go there. It would be for me like Brian trying to put Smile together. I would eventually end up in bed for several years. I just can’t even fathom it. I started by going through each album from Surfin' Safari to That's Why God Made The Radio and choosing the "aces"/hits/no-brainers - and we all know which songs they are. Other than Pet Sounds which had about 10, most albums had 3-4 songs that made the master list. Surprisingly, that brought me to around 100 songs. I then went back through the albums again and found a few songs that I overlooked or that I just barely excluded the first time around. That initial process/master list didn't really take that long.
Then the rankings began. I knew which songs would comprise the Top Ten, but I had a hard time deciding the order. Of all of the levels, the Top Ten order was the most difficult. I took that very seriously, and honestly, I'm still not sure about what I came up with. The next hardest decision was 90-100. There were so many songs that were "even" in quality, and I guess that's when favoritism took over and influenced the final decision. I kept taking a song off and putting another one on.
One of the hardest parts was deciding on the merits of some of the hits like "Kokomo", "Rock And Roll Music", and "Come Go With Me". I didn't think they belonged on the list and/or didn't belong that high - based on the actual qualities of the song (lead vocals, backing track, lyrics, etc.). On some of those hits which charted high(er) that I DIDN'T like, I found myself asking, "Is it me, or are those songs actually overrated. Would a new fan want to hear those songs or are there better lesser-known ones?"
After I thought I was pretty much finished, I would revisit the list every couple of days or once a week. I found myself changing the rankings based on some songs that I was CURRENTLY digging - or songs that we might've been discussing on our Single Of The Week thread! I was considering other opinions. Or, maybe Brian, Mike, or Al would mention a song in an interview which would cause me to take another look. Sometimes I would come across another Beach Boys' Greatest Hits list on the internet or another message board that caused me to re-evaluate mine. Anyway, it got to the point where I was perseverating over whether one song should move up one notch to #73 or another should drop one notch to #91. That's when I decided to post the darn thing, but I was actually editing the list as I was posting it. I'm still second-guessing some of the choices.
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Post by Kapitan on Mar 14, 2022 12:31:03 GMT
Spring Vacation - Many fans dismissed it and I never knew why. It has a great intro, a good - and familiar - Mike Love lead vocal, harmonies are full, catchy lyrics, and a fine melody. It's also emotional (sentimental). And, even Brian in particular sounds enthusiastic and into it. Really, this is an excellent, classic Beach Boys' song. I think it would've worked in any Beach Boys' period. I wasn't surprised to see this one on your list, but I would have on anyone else's. I just know you've been its champion all along.
One thing that turned me off from it was the studio footage of Brian and Mike butchering it--I'm pretty sure I saw and heard that presumably as a teaser EPK(?) before the album was out. It just seemed so bad, it left a very bad taste in my mouth.
Over the years I've warmed to it, but it still is closer to my bottom 100 than top 100. I just don't like it ... except the most honest lines in the entire album are found in that song: "easy money / ain't life funny? / hey what's it to ya? / hallelujah."
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Post by kds on Mar 14, 2022 12:35:51 GMT
That would be me. If I attempted a Top 100, it would be like Brian putting GV together. Kds - You are not let off the hook. Now get on it. I’m still a bit traumatized by the whole experience, but feel like I came up with the best representation of my tastes as I could without too much second guessing other than maybe “Surf’s Up”. Actually, I could build off my BB Spotify playlist that I created a few years ago. I think there are around 140 songs on there, and knocking it down to 100 shouldn't be too trick. It's the ranking that would be tricky.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Mar 14, 2022 12:42:10 GMT
Spring Vacation - Many fans dismissed it and I never knew why. It has a great intro, a good - and familiar - Mike Love lead vocal, harmonies are full, catchy lyrics, and a fine melody. It's also emotional (sentimental). And, even Brian in particular sounds enthusiastic and into it. Really, this is an excellent, classic Beach Boys' song. I think it would've worked in any Beach Boys' period. I wasn't surprised to see this one on your list, but I would have on anyone else's. I just know you've been its champion all along.
One thing that turned me off from it was the studio footage of Brian and Mike butchering it--I'm pretty sure I saw and heard that presumably as a teaser EPK(?) before the album was out. It just seemed so bad, it left a very bad taste in my mouth.
Over the years I've warmed to it, but it still is closer to my bottom 100 than top 100. I just don't like it ... except the most honest lines in the entire album are found in that song: "easy money / ain't life funny? / hey what's it to ya? / hallelujah."
I respect your opinion, and as I mentioned, it's not everybody's cup of tea. It barely made my cut; I put it at #96. I can't add much more than what I posted above. I guess I have a soft spot for those "good feel" BB songs like "Do It Again", "It's OK", "Good Timin'", and "Spring Vacation". The feel of the song enters into the equation and usually elevates the song, for me anyway.
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Post by Kapitan on Mar 14, 2022 12:43:47 GMT
For sure no objections on my end, either. It's YOUR list! It's funny how different opinions can be ... and frankly, if that weren't the case, we wouldn't really have a need for boards like this.
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Mar 14, 2022 12:53:15 GMT
I did my first trim over the weekend, currently sitting around 170 songs including a number of non album tracks. I think I'm trending more towards a favorites list, but "greatness" will still play a role. For example and since we're talking about it, Spring Vacation will be on my list and while I might have it in my personal top 20, it will end up being quite a bit lower.
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Post by kds on Mar 14, 2022 12:53:24 GMT
I've warmed up to Spring Vacation in the last 2-3 years. It's still my least favorite song on TWGMTR.
I still kind of hate the sound of it though. When the song kicks it, it just sounds so generic like an early to mid 00s John Mayer song.
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Post by Kapitan on Mar 14, 2022 12:59:09 GMT
I still kind of hate the sound of it though. When the song kicks it, it just sounds so generic like an early to mid 00s John Mayer song. YES
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Mar 15, 2022 3:04:15 GMT
Okay, I'm very pleased with how my top 100 came out. It's pretty darn accurate, I think. Now, to be clear, this is a ranking of my favorites. Ultimately, I didn't really consider "greatness" much, but you might think I did because I like the hits most! By the way, if my ranking appears to be in quasi-chronological order, that's not a mistake or laziness, I really do prefer the earlier stuff, generally-speaking. 01. Wouldn't It Be Nice 02. Surfer Girl 03. I Get Around 04. Please Let Me Wonder 05. Little Deuce Coupe 06. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times 07. Heroes and Villains 08. California Girls 09. God Only Knows 10. In My Room 11. Help Me Rhonda 12. Don't Worry Baby 13. You Still Believe In Me 14. Forever 15. Girls On The Beach 16. This Whole World 17. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) 18. Kiss Me Baby 19. Surf's Up 20. She Knows Me Too Well 21. We'll Run Away 22. Til I Die 23. Our Prayer 24. Sloop John B 25. Fun Fun Fun 26. Keep An Eye On Summer 27. That's Not Me 28. Marcella 29. Wild Honey 30. Surfin' Safari 31. You're So Good To Me 32. I'm So Young 33. Surfin' USA 34. There's No Other (Like My Baby) 35. Hawaii 36. Catch A Wave 37. Good Vibrations 38. I Know There's An Answer 39. California Saga 40. Let The Wind Blow 41. I'm Waiting For The Day 42. Good To My Baby 43. Little Saint Nick 44. Be True To Your School 45. Custom Machine 46. The Ballad of Ole' Betsy 47. The Warmth Of The Sun 48. Do It Again 49. Cuddle Up 50. Hushabye 51. Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow 52. All Summer Long 53. Wendy 54. Darlin' 55. We Three Kings Of Orient Are 56. Disney Girls (1957) 57. Here Today 58. Sail On, Sailor 59. In The Back Of My Mind 60. Slip On Through 61. Good Timin' 62. When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) 63. Blue Christmas 64. Anna Lee, The Healer 65. Barbara Ann 66. Aren't You Glad 67. All I Want To Do 68. I'll Bet He's Nice 69. Angel Come Home 70. Here Comes The Night 71. Little Bird 72. The Lord's Prayer 73. Tears In The Morning 74. Little Pad 75. Don't Back Down 76. The Night Was So Young 77. All I Wanna Do 78. Let Him Run Wild 79. Cotton Fields - 20/2080. Goin' On 81. Caroline, No 82. Time To Get Alone 83. Love Surrounds Me 84. Car Crazy Cutie 85. Hold On Dear Brother 86. My Diane 87. Baby Blue 88. I'm Bugged At My Ol' Man 89. Come Go With Me 90. Where I Belong 91. Kokomo 92. I Can Hear Music 93. Summer's Gone 94. You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone 95. Pom Pom Playgirl 96. All This Is That 97. Alley Oop 98. Do You Wanna Dance? 99. And Your Dream Comes True 100. Only With You 1962-1966: 56 songs 1967-1973: 32 songs 1976-2012: 12 songs A few questions/comments for you, B.E.:
- Little Deuce Coupe...at #5? - She Knows Me Too Well - #20 - yes! - We'll Run Away - #21 - really? - I'm So Young - #32 - had it on my list for the longest time, eventually nixed it - Here Comes The Night - #70 - the Wild Honey version? - Caroline No - #81 - that low?
- Love Surrounds Me - #83 - I'm Bugged At My Ol' Man - #88 - maybe the most surprising choice of any list so far - a lot of Party songs...surprising - Thank You for recognizing the Christmas Album - I like the abundance of Dennis songs
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Mar 15, 2022 13:56:47 GMT
I've worked my way down to 114 songs, really struggling to cut anything else. Probably would have been easier if I just went with my 100 favorites. These last cuts I'm going to have to ask myself if I want to cut stuff that is well regarded, but I don't care for, or cut my favorites.
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Post by kds on Mar 15, 2022 15:15:01 GMT
Alright, I might give in to Pier Pressure, and make a list. Although, I'll say that my list will be personal favorites, so I'm not really going to go by highly regarded or highly charting songs. I feel like if I combine my preferences with how well regarded the songs are, I'll be stuck at 175 songs forever.
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Post by jk on Mar 15, 2022 21:32:42 GMT
Faced with the daunting prospect of putting 100 songs in some sort of order (30 has been my limit in the past), I've chosen a different tack. First off, I'll say I love most of the 100 songs in this list. Some songs I "merely" like had to be left off but you'd know all about that. Knowing me, I'll be back to iron out the inevitable visual blemishes that creep in during the cut-and-paste process but the selection of songs will stay the same.
409 I Do Darlin' Hawaii Wendy Be Still Deirdre It's O.K. Marcella 'Til I Die The Shift In My Car Hushabye Baby Blue Feel Flows Surfer Girl 4th Of July Lonely Sea San Miguel Country Air Pet Sounds Wild Honey Make It Big Surfin' USA Here Today Break Away Disney Girls Still Cruisin' Barbara Ann Noble Surfer Funky Pretty Isn't It Time Sloop John B Solar System I'm So Young Cabinessence Salt Lake City Catch A Wave Johnny Carson I Bet He's Nice All I Wanna Do We'll Run Away A Thing Or Two Summer's Gone Finders Keepers Good Vibrations Our Sweet Love Slip On Through With Me Tonight Custom Machine Surf's Up (1971) Spirit of America Cool, Cool Water I Can Hear Music Carl's Big Chance Good To My Baby Don't Worry, Baby Leaving This Town Farmer's Daughter Little Deuce Coupe Girls On The Beach Angel, Come Home Heroes And Villains Celebrate The News Just Once In My Life Long Promised Road We're Together Again Dance, Dance, Dance Pacific Coast Highway Cherry, Cherry Coupe Please Let Me Wonder You're So Good To Me Think About The Days She Knows Me Too Well In The Back Of My Mind I'm Waiting For The Day I Was Made To Love Her Help Me Ronda (sans h) Cottonfields (45 version) Got To Know The Woman Don't Hurt My Little Sister Let's Go Away For A While Summer Means New Love California Saga (complete) From There To Back Again Why Do Fools Fall In Love? A Day In The Life Of a Tree Day Breaks Over The Ocean That's Why God Made The Radio Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring There's No Other (Like My Baby) Can't Wait Too Long (2fer version) Little Girl (You're My Miss America) Be True To Your School (45 version) Here Comes The Night (1967/1979) I Just Wasn't Made For These Times Wind Chimes (Smiley Smile version) Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) Our Favorite Recording Sessions/Don't Back Down Fall Breaks And Back To Winter (Woody Woodpecker Symphony)
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