Customer Reviews

Still Crusin

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

First off...If your looking for "Make It Big" (the title track from the movie, "Troop Beverly Hills") be forewarned....This is not the same version as the one in the movie. It's still pretty good, however not AS good as the one in the movie. The other thing is despite the fact that this cd covers most of the Beach Boys songs used in movies, there is song that was not on here. It was "Daddy's Girl" from the 1989 movie, "She's Out Of Control". But overall this cd was adequate. It has its good songs and its more average songs...."Make It Big" was definitely my favorite song on this album. This cd is worth checking out for all you Beach Boys fans out there.

Highlighted by the surprise #1 hit "Kokomo", this 1989 disc from the Beach Boys is a compilation of a few old classics with some newer songs, many of which appeared on soundtracks of the day.

Of the new songs (besides "Kokomo", of course), the standouts include the title track, the rap crossover "Wipe Out" (before incorporating rap with rock was cool, the Beach Boys did it with the Detroit based rappers the Fat Boys), "Somewhere Near Japan", and "Make It Big". "In My Car" and "Island Girl" are B's, but not bad at all. The last three songs are gems from their older work that still sound just as great today as they did 35 years ago.

Nowhere near as challenging an artistic creation as "Pet Sounds", this is still a lot of fun to listen to, and showed that the Beach Boys were still capable of writing songs that were both fun and catchy, and able to reach younger audiences in addition to longtime fans. A great disc for some summertime fun and behind the wheel, this album is highly reccomended.

I've been a fan of the Beach Boys since I was about eight years old. I was worried about getting this CD, because, after listening to all of their older classics, I was hoping this wasn't just some CD an older group put out that wasn't very good. As it turned out, I had Nothing to worry about. This CD is GREAT!! I listen to it over and over again. I can't say a particular song to listen to, because they are all wonderful. An absolutly wonderful addition to any CD collection, whether you are a Beach Boy fan or not.

I bought this Album when I was desparate to hear more wonderful Beach Boys songs. I came across this one and I bought it and it was a colllection of some of the best songs I ever heard. My favorites on this album were "In My Car" and "Kokomo". To all curious Beach Boy fans who want to hear more from the Beach Boys library and those who like 80's rock this would be the album for you.

Wow. I bought this album on tape the day it came out, and I just had to upgrade to CD. Along with the oldies "Wouldn't it Be nice," "I Get Around," and "California Girls", there are some great new songs.. Kokomo was an instant classic. The remake of "Wipeout" with the Fat Boys just makes you want to join in. The other songs are all classic Beach Boys too!!

With the surprise number on hit "Kokomo," the Beach boys returned to the studio with Terry Melcher, who had worked on their cover of "California Dreamin," and produced a magnificent album. I think the Melcher is a superb producer, and he knows the style, the feel, and indeed, the soul of the Beach Boys. On the '85 album, they borrowed Steve Levine from Culture Club (i.e. Boy George!), and he gave us a very synthesize, almost Pet Shop boys album. Personally, '85 is one of my favorites, but admittedly the sound is alien to the beach boys. However, using Melcher, they brought a more familiar sound that would be ahem more commercial.

The Boys have always been prisoners of their early past. Most people see them as an average white surfer band, even though songs like "Good Vibrations" or "Cabinessence" are light years away from surf music. This CD gives you glimpse into other sides of the band. True that had been reduced to doing film sound tracks-"Make it Big" for a Shelly Long film, and the three big ones recycled on the end.

Island Girl was a wonderful peace with a heavy calypso-reggae fell to it, with typical lei'd-back nonsense that makes you feel good in a Utah winter.

Somewhere Near Japan is a perfect masterpiece in the style of Sail On Sailor and Trader. I was absolutely mesmerized the first time I heard this song. I feel fortunate that I caught the Boys in concert in 1990, and heard them play this song, which was their newest single. Ti flopped, but I still adore the song.

The biggest treat is having Brian Wilson sing on this album. He does some of the backing vocals, and does a Eugene Landy piece called "In My Car"-once again trapped by their past. For some reason, B. Wilson takes up this same theme on his recently remastered solo album "Let's Go To Heaven In My Car." And he does a better job of it on his solo album than this album.

OK, the oddest track is "Wipe Out," which the beach boys recoded with the now defunct Fat Boys. By the way, that is what rap music sounds like, for those over 50. You have to see Mike Love perform this song in concert-yes, he does rap it! Outrageousness!

Well, hard core Beach Boys already own this album, but I do recommend it for the curious. TI is one of their better post-Pet Sounds albums. Ore good ones are the '74 concert album, Beach Boys '85, LA: Light Album, or Summer in Paradise.

Growing up in the 80's after Cocktail catapulted The Beach Boys back onto the charts with Kokomo (and Troop Beverly Hills & Full House), this album was one of my favorites as a kid, and is still amazing 20+ years later.

I remember having the cassette (back when cd's were beyond my budget and were just seeing some success) and wearing it out after it had gone out of print. I tried for years to track down the cd, but it was very expensive used and almost impossible to find. And listening to this brings back some amazing memories.

And thank you so much Amazon for making this available in MP3 format! Here comes the WIPEOUT!!!

This CD is special to me. Most of the songs are from the '80s, when I was a teenager. I've liked the Beach Boys since I was 9, and it was great seeing them make the '80s comeback they did. Both "Wipeout" and "Kokomo" are wonderful to listen to, and I hear them often. Both were huge hits during my high school days, and it takes me back everytime I hear them. The other songs are fun to listen to also. Of course, the '60s songs add a very nice touch. It was those songs that captured my attention from the start, when I was 9, the '60s hits, but no Beach Boys collection would be complete without this CD. It's one of my favorites.

After the first time I heard this album I couldnt believe how rockin the Beach Boys still were. This is one of my favorite Beach Boy albums to play out of my beach Boys collection. It has the Beach Boys great hit "Kokomo" this was the first album "Kokomo" appeared on. Bruce Johnson does some great singing on "Somewhere Near Japan". The Beach Boys track "Wipe Out" with rappers the Fat Boys is a great addition to the album. Al Jardine has a great performance on "Island Girl". Still Cruisin also contains "I Get Around", "Wouldnt It Be Nice", and "California Girls" because at the time this album was released those 3 song's were featured in current movie's. Here is the track listing of the album : 1.Still Cruisin 2. Somewhere Near Japan 3. Island Girl 4. In My Car 5. Kokomo 6. Wipe Out (featuring the Fat Boys) 7. Make It Big 8. I Get Around 9. Wouldn't It Be Nice 10. California Girls

This album is another well worth it Beach Boys album tracks 1-7 are all good and 8,9,and 10 bring back that good ol Beach Boys sound.

I was actually in my pre-teens when this came out and it was the first Beach Boys album that I had ever owned (thought it wasn't the last). I had already enjoyed a long love affair with the music of the Beach Boys up to that point. At a time when California was real big on everyone's list, the tracks of this CD only cemented it for me. I can honestly say that to this day it is still my favorite of all of their albums.