The Beach Boys "Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!)" Talkback

[rggkjg1]

The Beach Boys - Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!)
Released: June, 1965

Original Track Listing:
1. The Girl from New York City [Wilson]
2. Amusement Parks, U.S.A. [Love, Wilson]
3. Then I Kissed Her [Barry, Greenwich, Spector]
4. Salt Lake City [Wilson]
5. Girl Don't Tell Me [Wilson]
6. Help Me, Rhonda [Love, Wilson]
7. California Girls [Love, Wilson]
8. Let Him Run Wild [Wilson]
9. You're So Good to Me [Love, Wilson]
10. Summer Means New [Love Wilson]
11. I'm Bugged at My Ol' Man [Wilson]
12. And Your Dream Comes True [Love, Wilson]

Today! / Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!) Reissue Disc Bonus Tracks:
25. The Little Girl I Once Knew (single)
26. Dance, Dance, Dance (alternate take)
27. I'm So Young (alternate take)
28. Let Him Run Wild (alternate take)
29. Graduation Day (studio version)

[rggkjg1]

smile was always my favorite beach boys album. before it was officially released, someone could make the argument that i can't count smile. if i couldn't count smile, then summer days (and summer nights!!) was my favorite, and what i considered the best beach boys album. today! has grown on me more and more, so now i'm not sure if today! is better or if summer days still reigns supreme.

many feel it's a step backwards in the "progression" of pet sounds because the album is more up beat, follows the beach boys' stereotyped formula (surfing, cars, girls, summer, ect) and lacks little slow songs/ballads. i think people need to simply get over pet sounds. every meaningful/note worthy/significant/ect beach boys song doesnt need to be a ballad or slow song, or have emotional thought provoking lyrics. this album makes my best case that even the "surfing" music/lyrics is just as significant to the music/lyrics found on pet sounds or smile.

i will never get enough of this album. every song is the beach boys and brian wilson at their best. there's only one song that can be considered a "filler/novelty" track, and that's a great/significant song in it's own right and not enough to make the album lacking. not to mention the group's best instrumental track is also featured on this album. summer days (and summer nights!!) reached #2 and is currently the highest charted beach boys studio album. if only one beach boys album deserved to go #1, this would have been it. unfortunately the rolling stones' out of our heads held the #1 spot (a mediocre stones album and a real weak effort when compared to summer days, the only reason this album reached #1 is because it had "satisfaction" on it.).

***** stars

the today! / summer days (and summer nights!!) reissue is disc is hand's down the best beach boys two for one disc availible. stop listening to pet sounds and buy another beach boys cd. this is disc is just as essential as pet sounds and smile, and a great introduction for beach boys newbies.