Summer in Paradise

by

The Beach Boys

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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)

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!!