Caroline Now: Tribute to the Beach Boys

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 15, 2000)
• Original Release Date: August 15, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Efa Imports
• ASIN: B00004VWBE
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,189 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Lady - Eugene Kelly

2. I Wanna Pick You Up - Alex Chilton

3. All I Wanna Do - June & The Exit Wounds

4. Wind Chimes - Katrina Mitchell & Bill Wells

5. Anna Lee, The Healer - The High Llamas

6. Ne Dis Pas (Girl Don't Tell Me - French version) - Souvenir

7. Lines - Duglas T. Stewart

8. Busy Doin' Nothin' - Camping

9. Good Time - Stevie Jackson

10. Endless Harmony - The Free Design

11. Go Away Boy - The Pearlfishers

12. Stevie - Saint Etienne

13. Honkin' Down The Highway - The Radio Sweethearts

14. Lonely Sea - Eric Matthews

15. Rainbow Eyes - Kle

16. Let's Put Our Hearts Together - Chip Taylor & Evie Sands

17. Pet Sounds - Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra

18. Heroes & Villains - Malcolm Ross

19. Only With You - Norman Blake

20. Caroline, No - The Aluminum Group

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.co.uk

Tribute albums are usually terrible. That said, there are several reasons why this one--a tribute to Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys--isn't, but it's mainly down to the quality of everyone involved. The usual songs aren't exhumed; instead we are treated to delights such as legendary Half-Japanese naïve poet Jad Fair's one-take version of the Honeys' 1977 pop gem "Do Ya" and Stevie (Belle & Sebastian) Jackson's intimate take on the Beach Boys reject "Good Time". Throughout, there's an obvious love and quite stunning level of research--from the beautiful rare photographs of Brian taken by ex-housemate David Dalton to the copious sleeve-notes and exclusive Brian interview in the sumptuous 28-page booklet. Other highlights include former Josef K/Orange Juice member Malcolm Ross's lounge reading of "Heroes and Villains"; St. Etienne's subtle reading of the unreleased "Stevie"; Katrina (the Pastels) Mitchell's sparse, whispered cover of "Wind Chimes"; and many more besides. Caroline Now! is a fitting tribute. --Jerry Thackray

Product Description

2 LP set. Originally released by Marina in 2000, Caroline Now! celebrates the songs of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys with a main focus on their lesser known gems including previously unissued compositions. It features exclusive contributions by such eminent Wilson-o-philes as Alex Chilton, Teenage Fanclub's Norman Blake, Kim Fowley and Belle & Sebastian's Stevie Jackson. Most of the tracks appear in quite different sounding reworks. Highlights include The High Llamas' electronic version of "Anna Lee The Healer" and Saint Etienne's sparse "Stevie." The legendary '60s group The Free Design specially reformed for this occasion with their first recording in 30 years. The 24-page booklet features extensive liner notes, an exclusive Brian Wilson interview and many rare photographs. Get ready for some good, good vibrations! --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Surprise, October 6, 2000

By 

A Masconi (Abergele, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Caroline Now: Tribute to the Beach Boys (Audio CD)

I have to admit - I was skeptical. I didn't really think the world needed another tribute album.

Perhaps if all tribute albums approached the genius of "Caroline Now" - I'd change my mind.

It's worth the price for the booklet alone: unpublished photos, extensive and informed liner notes, just really really cool.

Musically it's surprise after surprise - Alex Chilton sounds better than he has since 1974, Eric Matthews is stellar, High Llamas, Eugene Kelly, Pearlfishers, Stevie J. from Belle and Sebastian - straight class.

Artists from different eras sit side by side, united by the music.

For some, it may be the first exposure to forgotten work from The Beach Boys lesser known catalogue - obviously this compilation is the work of true fans.

Highly recommended. This really essential comp does Brian's (and the others') legacy proud.

Thank You Marina.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More Than Just Fun in the Sun, August 20, 2000

By 

Doug Simpson/Graphics Dept. (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Caroline Now: Tribute to the Beach Boys (Audio CD)

Exquisite! For long-time Brian Wilson/Beach Boys fans, there's more to the artists' work than just "Good Vibrations." This loving tribute focuses on little-known Beach Boys tunes written mostly by Brian Wilson (there are also a few by his brother Dennis and other Beach Boys alum). The real treat is hearing a different side to Brian Wilson than most fans may know, where Wilson wrote about melancholy, simple pleasures like "Wind Chimes" and holding his baby daughter in his arms. The mostly UK twee-pop bands do a fine job covering the tunes, with mostly low-key arrangments. If you're a casual Wilson listener, skip this. If you have explored Pet Sounds and anything past 1967, then this is a treat.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect tribute to the Beach Boys, March 9, 2003

By 

Sandy Starr (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Caroline Now: Tribute to the Beach Boys (Audio CD)

This superb tribute to the music of the Beach Boys, by an eclectic range of musicians, is a must-have for dedicated Beach Boys fans who enjoy the band's rare and lesser-known songs. Tribute albums are often redundant exercises, and have a bad reputation, but this one actually reworks the material in interesting new ways and exposes the listener to lesser-known parts of the Beach Boys back catalogue.

Brian Wilson has become perceived as something of a musical god in recent years, and while it's great to see him getting the recognition he deserves and touring with his excellent new band, it's often forgotten that other members of the Beach Boys wrote great music too. The selection of songs on this tribute album redresses the balance, representing both Brian's best songs and those of the rest of the band.

A variety of approaches are taken to the music. Songs that originally seemed slight or underdeveloped when recorded by the Beach Boys are fleshed out, for example `Wind Chimes' from `Smiley Smile', sung beautifully here by Katrina Mitchell. A threesome of tracks from `Love You' - `I Wanna Pick You Up', `Honkin' Down the Highway' and `Let's Put Our Hearts Together' - are freed from that album's chunky, synth-oriented production, and take on a life of their own.

Sometimes, it's just a matter of boiling a song down to its original essence - for example, Malcom Ross' reworking of `Heroes and Villains' from `Smiley Smile' simply teases out that song's breezy Hawaiian flavour. Other reworkings are more extreme - Camping turn `Busy Doin' Nothing' from `Friends' into a patois/dub piece (which won't be to everyone's taste), and the Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra mutate the title track from `Pet Sounds' almost beyond recognition, into a hilarious sci-fi concoction.

The selection of artists represented on the album is impressive. Alex Chilton of the Box Tops (who used to support the Beach Boys on tour) sings a wonderful version of `I Wanna Pick You Up'. Chart toppers Saint Etienne deliver an ingenious combination of the rare Brian Wilson song `Stevie', and `My Diane' from `MIU Album'. 60s vocal group the Free Design reformed especially to record a gorgeous version of `Endless Harmony' from `Keepin' the Summer Alive'. Critically acclaimed singer Eric Matthews does a lovely job of `The Lonely Sea' from `Surfin' USA'. And the High Llamas, best known as obsessive fans of/successors to the Beach Boys, attempt a bubblegum electronica take on `Anna Lee, the Healer' from `Friends' - which doesn't quite come off, but is interesting.

There's also an opportunity to hear great versions of lost songs, that are otherwise only available on bootlegs - most notably the joyous `Rainbow Eyes', performed by Kle, which was originally meant to appear on Brian Wilson's unreleased second solo album `Sweet Insanity'.

Finally, the packaging of this album deserves praise. A new interview with Brian Wilson is included in the CD booklet, which is nice, but basically consists of: `Brian, how do you feel about the fact that all these famous people really love your songs?' `Well, gee, golly, it's just great, it fills me with spiritual love!' And you have to laugh when you read the pun on the back of the CD booklet: `Mike Love not war'.

There's also a serious point to this pun - namely, that the Beach Boys should be celebrated for all the great music they've made over the years, and not dwelled morbidly upon for their personal problems and petty squabbles.