The Beach Boys

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The Beach Boys
CD on Amazon.com
Released: 1985, 10 June
Labels: Brother Records / Caribou / CBS
Average rating: Based on DM and site visitor ratings
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Tracks

Average song rating Getcha Back (Love, Melcher) - 3:01 Lyrics
Average song rating It's Getting Late (Johnston, Schilling, Smith, White, Wilson) - 3:26 Lyrics
Average song rating Crack at Your Love (Jardine, Wilson) - 3:39 Lyrics
Average song rating Maybe I Don't Know (Levine, Lindsay, SmithSchilling, Wilson) - 3:54 Lyrics
Average song rating She Believes in Love Again (Johnston) - 3:29 Lyrics
Average song rating California Calling (Jardine, Wilson) - 2:52 Lyrics
Average song rating Passing Friend (Wilson) - 5:00 Lyrics
Average song rating I'm So Lonely (Landy, Wilson) - 2:52 Lyrics
Average song rating Where I Belong (Johnston, White, Wilson) - 2:58 Lyrics
Average song rating 10  I Do Love You (Wonder) - 4:20 Lyrics
Average song rating 11  It's Just a Matter of Time (Landy, Wilson) - 2:22 Lyrics
Average song rating 12  Male Ego Lyrics
All album lyrics on one page 

Credits

Recorded: June 1984 - March 1985

Brian Wilson - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Carl Wilson - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Ringo Starr - Drums
Stevie Wonder - Bass, Harmonica, Drums, Keyboards
Gary Moore - Guitar
John Alder - Guitar
Graham Broad - Percussion, Drums
Stuart Gordon - Violin, Viola
Steve Grainger - Saxophone
Roy Hay - Multi Instruments
Judd Lander - Harmonica
Steve Levine - Synthesizer, Producer
Julian Lindsay - Organ, Bass, Keyboards
Mike Love - Saxophone, Vocals
Kenneth McGregor - Trombone
Terry Melcher - Synthesizer
Ian Ritchie - Saxophone, Wind
Dave Spence - Trumpet

Reviews

Site visitor reviews
6/10 Bruce Beatlefan (January 21, 2010)
It took 23 years for the Beach Boys to release an album entitled "The Beach Boys"! The name of the album makes for the ultimate irony, however, as Dennis Wilson's 1983 death from drowning means that the group has lost a core member for this record.

Another irony is the digital mastering of the tracks on this album, ensuring that this album (and many from the 1980's) has a homogenized sound that removes most of what made the Beach Boys unique. Once upon a time, groups endeavored to match the Beach Boys' sound but never could quite attain it. In this album, there are places where the Beach Boys sound like Billy Joel, sometimes they sound like Peter Cetera, sometimes they sound like Toto, sometimes they sound like the Culture Club. Therein lies much of the problem... these aren't bad artists to sound like, but the distinctive that made the Beach Boys special has all but evaporated.

Most of the songs on The Beach Boys are professional in their sound and in their craftwork, but very few have the spark of creativity and joy that was the hallmark of their first ten years of making music. Even though Brian Wilson contributed three new songs, it is clear that he is just marking time until his debut solo album came out the following year. Carl Wilson takes up most of the slack with several contributions, including "Back Where We Belong", which is far and away the best track. Alan Jardine hearkens back to the good old days with the lively "California Calling". Although the remaining songs are competent, few are memorable.

If you know this album you can review it.