Customer Reviews

Perfect Harmony

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Tracks that separate out the vocals and non-singled album tracks like "Our Prayer", beautiful though they may be, are pieces best appreciated by those already in the Beach Boy fanatic fold: those listeners hoping to assess the components that make up the sound of "America's band".

If you're looking for a compilation of best known hits, this is not the place. ("Sounds of Summer" is the best moderately priced overview for starting fans.) If however you've already been hooked by the Boys harmony and Brian's fantastic melodies and production, here's a chance to "peek inside" the vocals that helped his best work to tick.

The tracks chosen here do a good job of presenting the Beach Boys vocal blend to best advantage, though being assembled from various albums there's not necessarily as cohesive a sound as you'd get with one of their classic original albums.

This CD contains the most beautiful harmonies by the Beach Boys. Their rendition of the song Hushabye is breathtaking. It begins with "The Warmth of the Sun," includes of course Surfer Girl, Don't Worry Baby, and God Only Knows -- and even offers several vocals only versions, including "Wouldn't It Be Nice." If you like the Beach Boys, you'll love this CD.

This excellent collection of songs highlights what was the 2 biggest Beach Boys strengths, 1. Obviously, the unbelievably beautiful way this group could harmonize, and 2. Brian Wilson's gifted songwriting(and producing)skills. The vocals-only cut of 'Wouldn't It Be Nice' strips the song down so the listener can hear just the, yup, perfect harmony, and also the great lyrics. Also included is what I consider one of the finest songs ever written and recorded, 'Don't Worry Baby', a simple tune about a car race(but, MAN, what a great song!). The CD ends with the somewhat obscure, but hauntingly beautiful 'Our Prayer'(another vocal masterpiece), followed by 'Good Vibrations'. Don't know why, but those 2 songs go great together. This is a really great CD, in every way. BUY IT, ENJOY IT!!!!

After 36 years the joy of life jumps out still.Simple musical masterpieces that span into 2000.The expression of youth .Brian Wilson makes it sound so smooth the mark of a pro.

We can outgrow the surfing and car songs but these songs are timeless. The vocals are wonderful, especially Brian Wilson's falsetto. A grand collection which showcases the group's singing and harmonizing.

Wonderful album. I grew up in California during the 50's & 60's, and many of the songs on this album are positive reminders of those days. During our free time, my friends & I would try to emulate the vocal harmonies of the Beach Boys by singing songs like Sloop John B and Barbara Ann. While we had a lot of fun, we never really came close to the real thing. And this album with the vocal only version of `Wouldn't it be Nice' is the real thing for the vocal harmony of the Beach Boys.

An incredible CD! While I have always liked the Beach Boys, sometimes as much because they represented so much that is California, as because of their music, I don't think I appreciated their musical perfection as much as I should have. This CD brought me to that point of appreciation. By removing the instrumental tracks completely on "Wouldn't It Be Nice?" their incredible ability to harmonize comes blazing through (and I am not particularly fond of acapella renditions). Because the instrumental tracks are missing, the song gets awkward in spots, but the beauty of the harmony overwhelms any awkwardness. The vocals up versions of "Hushabye" and "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man), while not nearly as persuasive, do reinforce the listeners appreciation for the skills da boys have by accentuating the vocal elements of the songs. In addition, if you, like me, can take or leave "Surfin' USA," Surfin' Safari," or "Shutdown," but LOVE "Surfer Girl," "The Warmth of the Sun,' etc, then you will believe this CD was put together just for you. I have recently been "trying to wear out 'Endless Summer'," but it has suddenly been relegated to the shelf. This CD is THAT GOOD! Hope you enjoy it. I DO!!!!!!! (I guess that shows, doesn't it?)

We've always liked the Beach Boys' harmonizing and happy or beautifully poignant sounds, but when we heard this album we really learned that they are not just good-time boys but craftsmen -- true musicians with a rare, one might even say unique, musical 'vision'. It would be difficult to choose a favorite: the songs are simply one very pleasant surprise after another. This is an excellent compilation; all the songs somehow have a unity and create a world of their own. Totally involving. Listen especially to the short 'Our Prayer' -- it is truly inspired and for the ages.

I've never been a Beach Boys fan, but here Brian Wilson manages to restrain his misogynist braggadocio, his enthusiasm for the internal combustion engine (that primitive pollution-emitting noise machine), and his chauvinism (in the original sense of the word--I'm thinking of "Be True to Your School"). "The Warmth of the Sun" is truly a worthwhile piece of work, harmonically inspired, a pure and lilting exposition of the Beach Boys's weltanschauung (or weltschmerz).

Also recommended: PENTATONIC SCALES FOR THE JAZZ-ROCK KEYBOARDIST by Jeff Burns.