The Beach Boys Love You… They Really Do.

by John

I love the Beach Boys.

I’d argue until I turned blue in the face that the groups main man Brian Wilson, is one of the greatest songwriter/arrangers of all time.

I always remember growing up being completely enraptured by everything ‘Beatles’ (I still am). 

One day, walking home from a rehearsal with probably the worlds biggest Beach Boys fan. I happened to be rambling about a Paul McCartney tune when he turned and said… “The Beatles are the best… but they have nothing on the Beach Boys”.

 That really stuck with me. It’s Prophetic. That was the moment I really started digging into The Beach Boys back catalogue. 

Anyway, among few others whose music I hold closest to my heart, The Beach Boys and The Beatles will always be my favourites. 

Like I said… I love them… Specifically the late 60’s & 70’s era Beach Boys music. I’ll probably write many more of these blogs on the crazy Beach Boys albums and my obsession with them, so I won’t go into colossal amounts of detail. 

I’ve had this dilemma for a while now. My copy of the Beach Boys album “Love You” has been worn out from incessant use. It was second hand when I bought it and I’ve played it… quite often.

Recently I’d been stalking an unopened, shrink wrapped copy of the very same album online. This original copy, from the year of the album release in 1977 was up for sale… For a mere £15. 

£15.

You keep an album unopened for 42 years then finally sell it for £15. 

Strange. Very anticlimactic I imagine. 

Obviously I couldn’t resist and am now the owner of said album.

A pang of guilt shot through me looking at this modern artefact as I took it out of the cardboard container in which it had been lovingly packaged in, knowing full well that I am going to open something that has spent an age sealed away from wear and tear. 

As much as I do have a collectors tendency to cherish the oddities in my collection, rare editions of vinyl, funky limited runs etc. I have such a fondness for this album how could I not listen to it knowing that it’s sitting there on my Beach Boys shelf.

Yes that is correct. A shelf specifically for Beach Boys music.

I will look after it, someone has had this copy of “Love You” for a long time. I completely understand why people keep things unopened, sealed away from greasy fingers and heavy handed humans. The worry that it might get damaged maybe? The hope that it’s un-opened state will increase it’s worth? Perhaps it was purchased and forgotten about, who knows.

But I don’t want to have museum grade rarities that I can’t listen to…Do I? I don’t know.  

Anyway, enough of my ethics on keeping the plastic cover on my vinyl. 

In the late 70’s pop music was all things disco and punk. The Beach Boys released “Love You” in 1977 - The album includes lots of synthesisers, a few awkward tunes, some sentimental songs and harmonies galore.

Some of the sounds inspired by Wendy Carlos’ electronic music compositions (We are covering some of Wendy’s music in our “An Evening at the Overlook” podcast episodes)

If you are looking for something new to listen to, then treat yourself to the synth laden, harmonious Beach Boys beauty that is “Love You”.

To truly appreciate what was going on in the Beach Boys timeline in 1977, I would highly recommend the Brian Wilson Biopic “Love and Mercy” - Although it isn’t based in the late seventies it paints the bigger picture of surrounding events in Brian’s life. It’s a brilliant watch, even if you aren’t the worlds biggest beach boys fan, it’s still a great film. 

There was some really heavy stuff going on. “progressive psychiatrists”, mental health issues and a creative genius stuck somewhere in-between, along with all sorts of other happenings.

The album is a little cooky, it’s production quality is a little abrasive at times… but it’s also very tender and intricate. 

Amongst some of the oddities like “Roller Skating Child” and “Ding Dang” you have the beautiful  “I’ll Bet He’s Nice”  and the raw Doo Woppy “Mona” (Brians brother Dennis provides some amazingly raspy lead vocals paired with a similarly throaty Baritone saxophone performance by additional musician Steve Douglas on the latter). 

Brian Wilson’s duet with his wife Marilyn on “Let’s Put Our Hearts Together” is a rough, ragged, emotional musical melange.

In fact on one side of the the vinyl sleeve is a photo of Brian and his wife. He looks like a boy at a birthday party being fussed over. His plaid shirt undone except for two buttons and a piece of paper on the table where he is sitting reads “saved for Beach Boys”.

At the bottom of the photograph is a loving sentiment written to Brian from the other members of the band. “TO BRIAN WHOM WE LOVE WITH ALL OUR HEARTS”. 

It’s hard to resist those dreamy transcendent harmonies of the Beach Boys, even if they are a little darker sounding than on some other records. Through all the synthesis and electronics on the album, it is inherently organic. There is an innocence to it. “Love You” is fun, it’s different, yes it can be odd at various points but it never really feels forced.

If you are only familiar with the early surf stuff or even if you’ve dabbled into “Pet Sounds” or “SMiLE”- “Love You” is a big change sonically. But it’s so intriguing and it’s still Brian and the gang doing what they do best.  

Captivate your curiosity. Don’t go for the latest Spotify playlist next time you are hankering for some new music… “Honk down the gosh darn highway” and hoy the beach boys “Love You” on. 

Excuse me, I’m off to listen to my 42 year old vinyl. 

John. x