Customer Reviews

The Beach Boys Greatest Hits: 20 Good Vibrations

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

 

 

This is the "original" version of the 20 Good Vibrations compilation (before it was updated and became the first volume in a 3-CD series), which was released in '95. I recently reviewed the (also out-of-print) Endless Summer CD, and one of the gripes that I have about that collection also applies to this one. For some reason, Capitol didn't include the hit single versions of "Be True To Your School" and "Help Me Rhonda," but the earlier, inferior album versions. "Fun, Fun, Fun" is also the album version, which is has a different, much shorter fade than the single version but is the same otherwise (that is, it's not a completely different recording). I personally like both versions of this song equally (or almost equally!). The album versions were, however, replaced with the single versions on the CD's update. The songs that existed in stereo at the time are in their stereo mixes (including "Fun, Fun, Fun" --- I've actually never heard the album version in mono!); all of the tracks except "Kokomo" are in mono on the update, which could be good or bad (or really neither one) depending on how you look at it (and hear it!). Another odd thing about this CD, which I guess isn't really a big deal but that I couldn't help noticing, is that a couple of the songs are in what I think are very strange positions in the track sequence. Tracks 14-16 are from '66, and so is track 18, but track 17 is "409" (from '62)! There's QUITE a contrast between "409" and the songs from '66! And, track 19 is "Catch A Wave" (from '63), which comes after "God Only Knows" (on the aforementioned track 18) and before "Kokomo" (from '88) on track 20! Weird! All of the songs are in chronological order on the update. Depending on how you feel about the single and album versions of "Be True To Your School," "Help Me Rhonda" and "Fun, Fun, Fun," the mono and stereo mixes, and track sequence, this CD may be better overall than the update, or vice versa; personally, I like both, although I do prefer the single versions of "Be True..." and "Help Me Rhonda." However, the BEST single-disc BB comp currently out there is... Well, if you've read my reviews for certain other Beach Boys CDs, you should know which one I recommend...

This greatest hits album contains most of the classic hits from the Beach Boys. Great music for a tiki party!

No music collection would be complete without The Beach Boys. Their most popular songs are compiled on this CD. This was a great choice. Delivered on time and the quality was excellent. Thanks Amazon!