Customer Reviews

Summer in Paradise

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

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!!

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)

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)

... or 45 minutes, anyway. What happens when the LEAST talented band member becomes the primary creative force? In this case, 50-year-old Mike Love tries to trade off of the band's stereotypical image of teenage summer hedonists to come up with the band's last, and worst, studio album. It's an obvious attempt to create an album-length "Kokomo" - the same mechanical production (courtesy of Terry Melcher, substituting for the totally absent Brian Wilson) and cheesy "fun in the sun" lyrics (thanks, Mike). Even the vocal harmonies sound sterile.

The album is such a lame, immature and phony affair, with zero artistic merit. The new Love/Melcher songs have a little bit of everything, from bad social commentary and egotism (title track) to the worst rapping from a white man that's ever been recorded ("Summer of Love"). The oldies remakes (including two Beach Boys oldies, one featuring touring drummer/"Full House" star John Stamos -- ugh!) are pretty appalling, for the most part. Most dismaying is the great Carl Wilson reduced to a clumsy "Walking in the Sand". Depressing.

The single, a cover of Sly Stone's "Hot Fun in the Summertime", actually works as a pleasant, low-key affair. And Al Jardine's strong chorus vocal on "Strange Things Happen" raises the song to tolerable levels. But that's about it. A pathetic end to the group's recording career.

The album was so bad that Brother Records couldn't find a major label to distribute it in the U.S.A. It didn't stay in print long as a result, so any copies left now fetch hefty collector's prices. Don't be fooled, though! In this case, collectability value is inversely proportional to musical value. Beach Boys completists need only apply,and even they will be saddened by this mess.

I've followed the fortunes of the Bee Bees for the last 40 years and have learnt that most people's knowledge of the band revolves around the cliche ridden,but great songs of the B.Wilson years.Summer in paradise was part of a return to those heady days of sun surf and sex.
For me the most important period of music was the Surf's up/Holland period where the boys got a social conscience and produced their finest songs.However,a return to a more mature form of the original format is not unwelcome and anyone who lived through those heady days who can't grasp what"Still surfin'" and "Strange things happen" are all about just wasn't there.This album is worth it for just those 2 songs.
The only thing that pissed me off about the CD was the infuriatingly difficult procedure to get the disc out of the cover.Those of you who have the CD will know exactly what I'm talking about.Anyone who reads this who's into nature art might also want to check the sleeve out.BB fan until I die.

Don't you love these people who think that THIER OPINION is somehow REALLY IMPORTANT? If you don't like something than go listen to something else and stop polluting the internet with your pseudo-intellectual dribble. Anyway, that said....I love this CD, although it did take me a few listens to really warm up to it. I think the title track is one of thier best ever. The Beach Boys have always been about good feelings, good vibrations and simple pleasures (and oh, those stellar harmonies). I would have liked Brian's involvement here, but the boys are still damn good even without him. Mike and Carl's vocals are great, the songs are well crafted and the production is tops. I love the old tunes that they obviously love as well. I have always been a BB fan and always will be. I must admit that there are some songs in thier catalog that I am not terribly fond of, but in my opinion every track on this CD is good and it's one of the best "feel good" discs on my shelf. If we could only bring back Summer in Paradise...Amen.

I'm a die-hard Beach Boys and Brian Wilson fanatic - and nothing after 1977 is close to 5 stars (unless you count Brian's solo work) - BUT as a lover of tropical music and Beach Boys sounds, I enjoyed their late 70's early 80's work, and the 1985 album, and Kokomo, and Still Cruisin, so when this hit stores I bought it and was immediately impressed with the sounds and harmonies. It's a fun record, OK? Some nice new songs like Lahaina Aloha, Island Fever, and Still Surfin. A great cover of Hot Fun In The Summertime. (but I never listen to the John Stamos thing at the end..) Do the recent albums by Chicago or America or Neil Diamond or Paul McCartney sound like or equal the ones from the 60's and 70's? No, but many are still great. Hey, it's Carl Wilson and Mike Love singing about summer!

NOTE: Carl Wilson made another album after this, a great one with Robert Lamm of Chicago and Gerry Beckley of America called BECKLEY LAMM WILSON - "Like A Brother". It was recently reissued with 3 bonus tracks (see Robert Lamm's website).

It seems that some reviewers think that the first time Forever appeared was on Full House and sung by John Stamos. It is actually on "Sunflower" and sung by Dennis Wilson. It's a great song and the original is a great version.
I've never actually heard this CD, just posting to clue some people in on Forever.

So this is what you get when you leave Mike Love in charge of the candy shop. Brianista critics hated this disc before it was even released, so please take all of their oh-so-negative reviews with a grain of salt. Sure, the first 5 tracks feature a lot of Mike, but even these tracks offer some very listenable moments. The '90's remake of "Surfin'" is fun, especially the awesome Carl Wilson vocal asides. "Island Fever" is an interesting reworking of the "Kokomo" theme: another nice group moment. My girls actually love those laid back surf guitars.

The disc eventually moves into more of a group mode. "Still Surfin'" has a good Boys' feel. Bruce's "Slow Summer Dancin'" is a sweet treat: a retooling of the chestnut "One Summer Night". The spacey "Strange Things Happen" is a great track with some very tasty guitar. "Lahaina Aloha" features great group vocals. As does the suntan lotion-soaked remake of "Under The Baordwalk". The title track is an ecology-minded sing-along that still sounds great in concert.

Sure, SUMMER IN PARADISE might have been a better disc with some Brian Wilson involvement (especially in the production department---just because Terry Melcher's production is almost TOO contemprary sounding for the Boys), but what Mike Love cooked up here ain't so bad. And, remember, it does feature some of the great Carl Wilson's last vocals. And a few of these are worth the price of admission.

If you are a Boys' fan, give it a chance. SUMMER IN PARADISE might not be up to WILD HONEY standards, but it certainly gives problematic albums like CARL AND THE PASSIONS and 15 BIG ONES a run for their money.

Mostly a good album, some things could have been skipped. It is the one Beach Boys album that features Full House cast member John Stamos as a soloist (he also appeared on Kokomo, plus some Jan & Dean albums as well). He first played drums for the group in 1972, after a hand injury prevented Dennis Wilson from playing drums on stage. This recording of Forever was used on a Full House episode. It features a 90's version of Surfing (a song dating back to the Morgan sessions in 1961), a family-friendly take of The Drifter's Under The Boardwalk, plus great classic rock hits such as Hot Fun In The Summertime, Remember Walking In The Sand, and One Summer Night. The rest is Mike Love/Terry Melcher penned tunes.