Endless Summer

by

The Beach Boys

Edit

This is the perfect title for a Beach Boys retrospective. These songs are constants of the oldies-radio format, especially during the summer. All of those sixties-sounding songs (classic, to the point of being nearly cliche) are here: "Surfin' Safari" "Catch A Wave" "Surfer Girl" "Surfin' U.S.A." "Shut Down" "Little Deuce Coupe" "California Girls" "I Get Around" and so on. If it was about Waves, Women, or Wheels and it had perfect harmony, it's probably on this album. And there are just enough songs dealing with semi-adult themes ("In My Room" "Don't Worry Baby" "Girl Don't Tell Me" "When I Grow Up To Be A Man"), that the whole package doesn't get stale. A couple of omissions are "Surfin'" (recorded before the Beach Boys signed with Capitol) and "Surf City," which Brian Wilson gave to Jan and Dean. "Barbara Ann" seems like is should have been here, and the version of "Help Me, Rhonda" that's included here is not the hit single we heard on the airwaves. But considering "Good Vibrations" was added to the CD release, all is forgiven. True-to-the-core fans of The Beach Boys and Surf music will want to go deeper ("Spirit Of America" is another great compilation for this purpose). But if you want just the cream of their output, all you really need to buy are "Pet Sounds" and this album. No matter what you're doing or where you might be, with "Endless Summer," you have the sun, the sand, and the surf (and maybe even a babe)! Who could ask for more?

The album and original CD (which i have) is great. One of the best collections of the BB's. However this MP3 offering by Amazon is not what I have. As they are listed here some of the stereo versions have been replaced with mono. Why do they have to mess with a known good thing?

The songs 'In My Room' and 'Surfer Girl' are fantastic in stereo.

Granted some songs are in mono because they were the early Beach Boys.

Here are the stereo versions from the original CD that are now offered in mono on this faux Endless Summer.

Surfer Girl

The Warmth Of The Sun

Be True To Your School

Little Deuce Coupe

In My Room

Wendy

Don't Worry Baby

**UPDATE**

After listening to the samples here I noticed the mono/stereo labeling is all messed up (as of 8/26/10). Some labeled as mono are stereo and vice versa. In any case it is not like the original.

I don't know how Amazon gets their mp3 samples or who labels them but they got this one really messed up.

Always listen to the samples before you buy.