The best of the cover song is “Graduation Day.” This song has always been recorded with harmonies and the Beach Boys do a superior job of uniting their five voices into one. Dennis Wilson does a credible job singing lead on the Dion song, “The Wanderer.” Every time Dennis Wilson would say anything or probably breathe the girls in the audience would squeal. The Rivingtons “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” is carried off more for of the energy that Mike Love brings to the performance than anything else.

The real misses begin with “The Little Old Lady From Pasadena.” Brian Wilson co-authored this song and it became a top five hit for Jan & Dean. Jan Berry may not have been a Brian Wilson in the studio but he was proficient at taking his and Dean Torrance’s voices and creating his own wall of sound. The Beach Boys version pales next to the Jan & Dean single as the sound is not full and they veer from the original song structure in a way that is uncomfortable. The comedy songs, “Long Tall Texan” and “Monster Mash” are just a little too cute and two of them are at least one to many for a 13-song concert. “Johnny B. Goode” is the final song on the album and is just about drowned out by the crowd noise as it seems that the group just wanted to get off the stage.

Beach Boys Concert ultimately remains an excellent look at the Beach Boys in concert circa 1964. It holds up surprisingly well as a recording that is approaching its 45th birthday. So sit back, put on your ear phones and be transported back to a simpler and enjoyable time.