|
Formats and Editions
More Info:
There is no one in music more closely aligned with the carefree feel of summer than the Beach Boys, and this collection brings their good vibrations back to the fore with 30 Top 40 singles. Despite the disc's title, only half of the songs here were actually released in the spring or summer, but who could argue that "Good Vibrations" (October 1966) or, for Pete's sake, "Surfin' U.S.A." (March 1963) don't conjure the Coppertone, salt water, and itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny, polka-dot bikinis of a sunny California summer? Heavily anthologized over the years, all of this material is available on numerous Beach Boys retrospectives, so there are no surprises here, although the latter-day numbers stand out as a being a bit more assembly-line than inspired, such as 1985's "Getcha Back," a No. 26 single in its day. The timeless '60s tracks form the bulwark of the repertoire, however, and time has not diminished their appeal one whit, whether it's the youthful exuberance driving 1962's "Surfin' Safari," the cocky attitude energizing 1964's "I Get Around," the tender melancholy informing 1963's ethereal "Surfer Girl" (Brian Wilson's first attempt at songwriting), or the adventurous forays into sound and lyrics that constitute 1967's wondrous "Heroes and Villains." Also, the version of "Be True to Your School" is the great single version, featuring the Honeys providing cheerleader yells. This classic retrospective features four chart-toppers -- "I Get Around," "Help Me, Rhonda," 1988's "Kokomo," and "Good Vibrations" -- and 16 tracks that peaked in the upper reaches of the Top 20. There's no better soundtrack for board waxing or top-down driving -- these tunes capture the spirit of the sunny months, no matter what the season.Reviews:
''Sounds of Summer: The Very Best of The Beach Boys'' is a 2003 compilation of music by The Beach Boys released through Capitol Records. This collection is the most expansive compilation ever issued of their music, with 30 tracks clocking in at over 76 minutes and grabbing nearly every US Top 40 hit of their career, except for 1965's #20 hit "The Little Girl I Once Knew" and the 1976 top-30 hit "It's OK".
''Sounds of Summer: The Very Best of The Beach Boys'' was released in a market already containing the three volumes of hits issued during 1999 and 2000, but that did little to deter shoppers, who were responsible for shooting the CD into the US charts at a remarkable #16 (their highest peak since 1976's ''15 Big Ones'') and a lengthy 104-week stay. Currently certified double platinum, ''Sounds of Summer: The Very Best of The Beach Boys'' was re-issued with a DVD component in 2004 with the regular edition remaining available.
In 2007, the album was succeeded by ''The Warmth of the Sun'', which is composed of fan favorites and hits that were left off ''Sounds of Summer''. - Wikipedia
