Elly Roberts reviews
The Very Best Of The Beach Boys:
Sights And Sounds Of Summer
Distributed by
Capitol
- Released: July 2006
- Rating: CD 10/10, DVD 10/10
- Format: CD & DVD
As soon as the temperature rises, it’s time to reach for The Beach Boys collection, and there are plenty of them to choose from these days.
Most of this CD tracklisting is familiar territory, though it’s always great
to hear these songs 30-40 years on.
The Beach Boys were arguably the greatest early 60s group to emerge from the
USA. To most, including me, they remain so. Their songs are still influencing
writers and singers today. Only when you get back-to-back hits like these do
you fully appreciate their incredible writing, and singing talents.
Not only did they highlight the surfer trend, but they seem to embellish
everything Californian – the cars, the chicks, the lifestyle 60s teenagers
aspired towards.
Choosing an all-time favourite song is difficult for most fans. In the
running are – Do It Again, Little Deuce Coupe, Heroes And Villains, I Can
Hear Music, Good Vibrations and Don’t Worry Baby. Their greatest
moment is surely God Only Knows (as I listen, the hairs are standing
on end, and I’m filling up – it still gets to me 40 years on). It was a
UK number 2 in summer 1966.
Incredibly, with original releases and re-issues between August 1963 and
March 1996, they charted 32 times with singles, and only achieved two number
ones – Good Vibrations and Do It Again. Nevertheless, they’ve
proved to be as popular in the 21 century as in the previous, and still tour
regularly in some shape or fashion.
The real bonus of this release is the DVD. Ten songs: 4 live appearances from
the T.A.M.I. Show (Teen-Age Music International Show) where 2,600 screaming
fans packed out the Santa Monica Civic Centre to see their idols – never
commercially available in the UK until now.
Two incredible live songs from the historic Ed Sullivan Show October 13,
1968, black and white promo-video for Sloop John B as the band larks
around a swimming pool, and a Pet Sounds promo-film. There are many highlights
here, but best of all is the colour montage (Hawaii, August ’67 / Finsbury
Park Astoria London December 1 1968), making it one of the most magical
moments in pop history.
Must have collection, for EVERYONE!!
The full list of tracks included are :
DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV
connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and
played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2008.
