Summer in Paradise

The Beach Boys | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 3, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Brother Entertainment
• ASIN: B000001YJH
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #63,307 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Hot Fun in the Summertime

2. Surfin'

3. Summer of Love

4. Island Fever

5. Still Surfin'

6. Slow Summer Dancin' (One Summer Night)

7. Strange Things Happen

8. Remember (Walking in the Sand)

9. Lahaina Aloha

10. Under the Boardwalk

11. Summer in Paradise

12. Forever

Editorial Reviews

1. Hot Fun in the Summertime 2. Surfin' 3. Summer of Love 4. Island Fever 5. Still Surfin' 6. Slow Summer Dancin' (One Summer Night) 7. Strange Things Happen 8. Remember (Walking in the Sand) 9. Lahaina Aloha 10. Under the Boardwalk 11. Summer in Paradise 12. Forever

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars All that was missing was Brian - as usual, February 17, 2007

By 

Tuco (Phoenix, Az USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Summer in Paradise (Audio CD)

This is nowhere near as bad an album as some of it's reviews, although the Surfin' remake is just as bad as you've heard, if not worse.

There are several track here worth having if you're a BB fan looking for more stuff you havent heard. Strange Things Happen/Still Surfin'/Lahaina Aloha/Under the Boardwalk are all must haves, Summer in Paradise is good here but sounds MUCH MUCH better on the live version in circulation, and there are several mediocre tracks(Hot Fun in the Summertime, Island Fever) along with some typical Mike Love throwaway tracks("Sum-Sum" Summer of Love).

During the early stages of recording, Al Jardine was "suspended" from the band for a supposedly "severe attitude problem", returning only during the final weeks of production. Historically speaking, it was the only Beach Boys album of new material NOT to chart. A source close to the band once reported the album sold only 1,000 copies when first released(although the band reported it at 145,000 which was possibly the number of albums actually shipped to record stores). As a result of the poor sales, several tracks were remixed for a subsequent overseas release, with lesser results.

What really holds this album back more than anything is the electronic drum machine used on almost every track. This gives nearly every song an over-processed, 80's, demo-type sound and cheapens the proceedings, but not enough to make tha album unlistenable by any means. Comparatively speaking, in my opinion, Summer in Paradise is no worse than Brian's recent Gettin' In Over My Head solo effort.

You might notice while listening that nearly every song on the album has lifted a previous BB/Brian Wilson harmony. This goes right along with Love's lyric on Summer in Paradise "Surfer's recycle, now don't ya know, all the way from California, down to Ko-ko-mo."

But despite the issues described above, Summer in Paradise is a must-have for any real fan or those who just want to hear some of Carl's last work. We all love the Beach Boys most for their vocals & harmonies and both are in EXCELLENT form here - even if some of the lyrics are stale.

For Carl fans, don't miss his later CD collabration with Beckley and Lamm titled Like A Brother - Carl's lead on the track I Wish For You is simply magnificent!!

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars It's out of print for a reason, March 24, 2005

By 

Greg Brady "columbusboy" (Capital City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Summer in Paradise (Audio CD)

This is the worst album to bear the Beach Boys name they've ever released. The band has abandoned all hope of having anything interesting to say lyrically and has decided their only hopes of "mattering" again is to find the proper assortment of surf/beach/chick cliches to stitch together. If you need proof of their complete lack of creativity, track 1 is a Sly Stone cover, track 2 is a remake of their first ever chart single coupled to a semi-metal guitar and 80s drum machines, track 6 pastes some new lyrics onto the hook for the Danleers' "One Summer Night", track 8 is a Shangri-Las cover, track 10 covers the Drifters, track 12 is a gimmick cover of the "Sunflower" track with TV star John Stamos (who's a band fan).

It's hard to know where to start explaining how bad this is, but we'll suffice to say that "Summer of Love" is the worst rap song (yes, worse than the thing they did with the Fat Boys, where at least they had the sense to not do the rapping themselves) from a white guy ever, if not the worst committed to record, complete with "scratching". I leave you with the lyrics..if you still feel obliged to drop the money on this bomb, it's your fault:

"Summer of Love"
(by Mike Love/Terry Melcher..so as to give discredit where discredit is due..)

I can't wait til summer (yeah)
Cause it's gonna be a summer of love
Hey now (well it's a love thing)

People all around the world in every nation
Like to get together for some excitations
If you're a girl appreciates her recreation
Why don't you let me take you on a love vacation

Yeah I'll take you to the movies
But I'm no fool (wah wah oooo)
First I'll get you on the beach
Or in a swimming pool
Doing unto others is the Golden Rule
But doing it with you would be so
Very cool

Girls are always ready for a summer of love
Goin' out and lookin' for love (girls are always ready)
Girls are always ready for a summer of love (sum sum summer summer of love)
Goin' out and lookin' for love (sum sum summer summer of love)

I can't wait til summer (yeah)
Cause it's gonna be a summer of love
Hey now (well it's a love thing)

Everytime the weather starts to gettin' hotter
Don't worry about it toss your clothes and hit the water
We'll be California dreamin' bay watchin' everyday
Just off the Malibu in surfin' U. S. A.

Now no girl ever wants to leave their
Love back home (wah wah oooo)
So if you miss him, baby
Call him on the phone
But make it quick
We're almost in a party zone

Cause summer days and nights
Aren't meant to spend alone

Girls are always ready for a summer of love
Goin' out and lookin' for love (girls are always ready)
Girls are always ready for a summer of love (sum sum summer summer of love)
Goin' out and lookin' for love (sum sum summer summer of love)

I can't wait til summer (yeah)
Cause it's gonna be a summer of love
Hey now (well it's a love thing)

Now summer is a time when there're no strings attached
But we could get together if you come on back
I'd like to tell you if it's any satisfaction
You'll always be my summer season's main attraction

Girls are always ready for a summer of love
Goin' out and lookin' for love (girls are always ready)
Girls are always ready for a summer of love (sum sum summer summer of love)
Goin' out and lookin' for love (sum sum summer summer of love)

I can't wait til summer (yeah)
Cause it's gonna be a summer of love
Hey now (well it's a love thing)

20 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The last original Beach Boys album, I fear., January 29, 2002

By 

Kendal B. Hunter (Provo, UT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Summer in Paradise (Audio CD)

First of all, this album is not as bad as critics make it out to be. If you own a lot of the 1970's Beach Boys albums, then you know whereof I speak. In fact, it is an exceptional album, considering most of their post SMiLE fare. I think the main complaint is that there is no Brian Wilson, since he was off doing his solo projects, which I highly recommend, especially his remastered '88 solo album.

This album was one of their best albums. It has superb production, great orchestration, great vocalizations, and so forth. You can actually enjoy the songs. True, many of these songs are throwbacks to the Surfin USA phase of their development. But, by golly gosh darn it, this group is absolutely heaven to listen to! No other group can make me weep, except the Beach Boys. There is something spiritual and innocent to their music-"God Only Knows," "Light Album," "The Lord's Prayer," and so forth.

This music is great! It brings back images, these pastoral images of the California Myth. Hot Fun in the Summertime-yes, a lame title-but killer music and harmonies. "Strange Things Happen" is the half sister to Carl Wilson's "Fell Flows," both having a jazzy improvised segment that is more than astral or ethereal, but very cosmic!

Lahaina Aloha made me fall in love with Maui again. Once again, a pastoral image set in the tropics, with great production and vocalizations by the remaining Beach Boys.

OK, I do have two complaints. The first is the remake of Surfin', which does get annoying after a while-say the third measure, and second, the remake of "Forever" is substandard [expletive deleted]. Get a copy of "Sunflower" and hear Denny Wilson sing it as it really is.

This is the last album Carl Wilson appeared on, and I fear it will be the last original Beach Boys album, period.

(Star and Stripes is not a real Beach Boys album, thank you)