The Beach Boys The Beach Boys (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1985) ***
The Beach Boys Still Cruisin' (CD, Capitol Records, 1989) **
The Beach Boys Stars and Stripes Vol. 1 (CD, River North Records, 1996) **
The Beach Boys That's Why God Made the Radio (CD, EMI Records, 1992) ***
They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6
Active compensatory factors: The good news is that The Beach Boys were still going in 1980 and Keepin' the Summer Alive even sounded like them! It got bad reviews but it's not a bad album. It sounded like a more upbeat version of the M.I.U. Album. That's a good thing! That's thanks to the return of Bruce Johnston who also produces and he provides the emotional celebration of The Beach Boys striped shirt freedom on Endless Harmony.
Sadly, it's also the last Beach Boys album to include Dennis before his tragic drowning in 1983 (albeit only one track - When Girls Get Together from 1969).
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Their last release of the eighties is Still Cruisin'. This is the one with Kokomo on it - Mike Love at his best (or worst depending on your stance on Mike Love). It's a weird mixture of old BB songs featured on soundtracks and singles with some new songs.
Just when I thought 15 Big Ones or L.A. Light Album were tied for worst BB album, they are gazumped by Summer in Paradise - their lowest point commercially and critically. This is the one with Mike Stamos on vocals and Mike Love's concept idea of creating "the quintessential soundtrack of summer".
Sadly, this terrible idea/album (critics called it 'an unmitigated disaster and an outright embarrassment for all involved') was Carl Wilson's last album with The Beach Boys as he passed away in 1998. I prefer to remember Carl via his two solo albums which we'll eventually get to, along with Dennis and Brian's solo albums.
Genre: Rock, pop
Places I remember: Marbecks Records
Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Endless Harmony (Keepin' the Summer Alive),
Gear costume: Somewhere Near Japan (Still Cruisin') on YouTube.
Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Endless Harmony (Keepin' the Summer Alive),
Gear costume: Somewhere Near Japan (Still Cruisin') on YouTube.
Active compensatory factors: The good news is that The Beach Boys were still going in 1980 and Keepin' the Summer Alive even sounded like them! It got bad reviews but it's not a bad album. It sounded like a more upbeat version of the M.I.U. Album. That's a good thing! That's thanks to the return of Bruce Johnston who also produces and he provides the emotional celebration of The Beach Boys striped shirt freedom on Endless Harmony.
Yes there are some forgettable songs but there are also some clear highlights - the aforesaid Endless Harmony, Goin' On, and the title track.
The Beach Boys is the first album after Dennis' death in 1983 and it's dedicated to him. Ringo appears on California Calling (the album's feel-good standout track along with Getcha Back). The other reason to buy and listen to this album is Carl Wilson. He sounds amazing, even when the material doesn't quite match his lofty standards.
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Somewhere Near Japan is the clear standout on this cobbled together album. Carl's vocals on that song are awesome! It does balance out the inclusion of three old songs that appeared on soundtracks - I Get Around, Wouldn't It Be Nice, California Girls.
Summer in Paradise was one of only two albums released in the nineties. It has the 'distinction' of having no input from Brian Wilson at all. Nada. Nothing. Zip. Zilch. Inconceivable? Well yes - pretty much.
AllMusic's reviewed was spot on (this is the entire review btw): "What would the Beach Boys be like if Brian Wilson were banned and lead singer Mike Love ruled the roost? Like this -- writing bad new songs, recording bad covers of old songs -- a pointless parody of themselves".
Could it get worse? Not quite (these are classic songs as source material), but Stars and Stripes Vol 1 would come really close. Thankfully, there was no Volume 2. The idea was to match BB oldies to country acts like Willie Nelson joining with The Beach Boys on (superb) backing vocals.
That's Why God Made the Radio is the 29th and final Beach Boys studio album, although Mike Love, Al and Bruce have all survived the three Wilson brothers so who knows. The album and subsequent tour were to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
All of the songs are written by Brian, sourced from recent outtakes from his solo albums - songs that sounded more like Beach Boy songs than solo Brian songs. Without Carl, David Marks makes a return to BB-hood on guitar and vocals.
All up this is a fine album, and a suitable final one after the missteps of the previous few Mike Love led efforts.
Where do they all belong? The live albums are next.
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