Customer Reviews

BEACH BOYS GREATEST HITS

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

As a Beach Boys fan and experienced music producer, I can applaud the selection of commercial favorites offered in this album.

The problem with this CD is that the track mixing was performed with the skill of a deaf monkey on an acid flashback.

For instance, on all tracks in general, the Boy's voices are disproportionately louder than the music, losing not only the punch and drive of the instruments, but over-exposing the little flaws commonly found in tight vocal harmonies and removing the "grace" that hotter tracks (or reverb) usually provide.

In particular, I will point out how "Fun, Fun, Fun" just drops off before it's over, and does so in one of the best chordal variations in the song. Additionally, the ending of "Help Me Rhonda" is simply comical. As the song nears its conclusion (before the fadeout), the vocal volume goes from normal, to inaudibly low, as if someone is just pushing the mixing console sliders back and forth every two bars. Honestly, this has to be either a toddler at play or a graduate of the Jack Daniels School of Audio engineering.

So, while I am happy about the song selections, I would like to see the entire album remixed by a professional.

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.

What? You don;t have any Beach Boy records? The shame of it all. Go out and buy this album. Other than the awesome Pet Sounds, this should be the only Beach Boy album you'll ever need to buy. It's a bargain to have all these classic party tunes on one CD. The first 19 tunes are all Sixties classics, then on the last song you jump ahead to 1988. But that's pretty much how long it was since the beach Boys were on the charts. This sampler is awesome. A must buy.

Another awkward collection from Capitol. The non-hit versions of "School" and "Rhonda" as well as sequencing that does not make any sense. The band made so much money for Capitol in the 60s and deserves a better collection than this. The whole catalogue is a shame. All of the twofer CDs are out of print. Most of the original albums are out of print, as well. This band deserves to be remembered for more than just Endless Summer and Pet Sounds. What remains of the Beach Boys' catalog is the tip of a very large iceberg of fine music.

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.

The sound quality of this CD is truly AWFUL ... maybe the worst I have EVER heard. Amateurish. You could take old vinyl albums and record with a casette recorder in front of a speaker and do better. Anyone who heard these songs on a car radio in the 60's would be disappointed in this CD, and the Beach Boys would be insulted to think it is being foisted on the public. DON'T BUY IT unless you truly don't care what it sounds like.

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.

This is a great introductory cd for anyone interested in the Beach Boys. It has some of their most memorable songs, although, as someone pointed out, on a couple of them the sound isn't all that great, but it's hardly noticable. Actually, the only noticable problem my ear picked up was the volume on Help Me, Rhonda. It would've been nice to have In My Room, and When I grow Up To Be A Man on this album too, but it's all about money, so you'll have to get Volume 2 if you want those songs.

some of the most important songs ever.this group was everything that the beatles weren't at first.that being original.solid song-writting and endless melody.this music will never die.the songs are timeless.

I think this CD is definetly one of the best of the 90's. It has great hits like Surfin' USA, Sloop John B, Kokomo, Be True to Your School, and many other more wonderful songs! Some time in the next century or even millenium, I think it should win CD of the year. It sure does make you feel good, especially when you listen to it when you are driving or riding in a Beamer convertible(How do you like that, mom?). If you have never listened to this you should, because if you like the 60's to the 90's music, and music about surfing, cars, and girls, and rock music you'll love this CD!