The Beach Boys - Summer Dreams - 28 Classic Tracks (1990)

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The Beach Boys - Summer Dreams - 28 Classic Tracks (1990)

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The Beach Boys were an awesome band to say the least! Their songs are extremely catchy and feature exemplary arrangements of lead and backing vocals. In the beginning they played a style that's often called surf-rock but gradually they incorporated different styles such as psychedelic rock in the late sixties.

There are twenty eight songs here and all of them are great! Not a single weak moment to be found. The first song "I Get Around" instantly gets your attention and the album becomes an unforgettable listening experience till the last number. Highlights from their early sixties period include "Fun Fun Fun" with it's Chuck Berry inspired guitar intro, the surf anthem "Surfin' USA", one of the band's many car odes "Little Deuce Coupe", and the party song "Barbara Ann".
The band wrote excellent ballads too as evidenced by songs such as "Don't Worry Baby", "California Girls" and "God Only Knows" where the band proves once again how skilled they were at blending different vocal melodies at once.
"Good Vibrations" and Heroes And Villains" are memorable multi-part numbers while "Do It Again" is a cool mid tempo rock number.

From their late sixties period I enjoyed the psychedelic "Friends" where a vibraphone is used to great effect, the melodic rocker "Darlin'", their stellar cover of the Ronettes song "I Can't Hear Music", and the country tinged "Cotton Fields" (as good as Creedence's version if not better). Great melodies occur throughout "Break Away" while the last number "California Dreamin'" is a great cover of The Mamas And The Papas song. Also note the up tempo "Bluebirds Over The Mountain" with that prominent lead guitar.
Let's not forget the booklet which contains a couple of good band pictures plus very informative song by song commentary too.

So if you are a sixties rock fan, then this is essential listening! Any extensive compilation from them will do.
Thanks for taking the time to read!
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