The Beach Boys are no strangers to success. They have more then 40 albums of summer sounds and have earned more than 30 RIAA Platinum and Gold Records. For me? I always know summer is just around the corner when I direct the iPod toward the Beach Boys’ songs and start craving frozen Daiquiris. There isn't anything more appropriate to listen to when the sun is beating down and you're having fun in the outdoors or relaxing in the sun.
Hallmark Gold Crown Stores, in a Summer and Father’s Day promotion, is offering Songs From Here & Back. The disk is only available in their stores and costs $7.95 when coupled with the purchase of three Hallmark greeting cards.
Songs From Here & Back features live recordings of the band’s popular hits, many of them previously unreleased, as well as three new studio tracks. A real treasure is one of those unreleased live performances, “Kokomo.” The song first appeared on the Cocktail soundtrack back in 1988. In the introduction to the song, Mike Love says “How about something recent?” and explains it is from the previous year. The track has been an unheard gem for a long time and I’m glad they decided to dust it off. I have been lucky enough to see the band perform twice in recent years, and aside from being a personal favorite, it is a crowd-pleaser. You can hear the crowd’s energy on the track, especially when they are encouraged to sing along on the chorus.
There is an introduction to a car medley but what follows is the full length versions of “Little Deuce Coupe” and “I Get Around,” which are two of their better known car songs. “Little Deuce Coupe” is a bit slower than I’m used to hearing, which makes it a worthwhile addition to your collection. Both tracks have enthusiastic crowd participation. “Dance Dance Dance” and “Surfer Girl” round out the never before heard live tracks. According to the liner notes, all live tracks were recorded at Universal Amphitheater, I assume at the same show.
Article comments
1 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Absolutely--Thanks for the review and info, Connie--I'm going down to Hallmark.
Summer and Beach Boys go together like Summer and Beach Boys. I grew up in Hawthorne not far from where they got their start (So SoCal: the Wilson house got torn down a few years back for a freeway that they could've moved a couple hundred feet to preserve Hawthorne's only claim to fame).
Anyway, I'm a huge fan, and these songs sound great on the car radio, too--especially going down PCH about sunset.
2 - Connie Phillips
Thanks Gordon. You make me want to go for a drive and blare the CD with the sunroof open...if only it would stop raining.
Though any highway I could find around here just wouldn't be the same as PCH.
3 - Michael J. West
Connie, er...I love the Beach Boys, no question about it, but I could never describe "Kokomo" using words like "treasure," gem," or any other word that doesn't rhyme with "slubomination."
4 - zingzing
at one time, the beach boys were my favorite band. they are still high up there... but this mike love thing is not the beach boys. it is a perversion. i don't know why brian wilson agreed to put a song on this album... it must be part of some court settlement, or he might have been having another episode.
to me, the beach boys died after "love you," and they had been on their death bed since "holland."
if brian and mike and al were to put on a live show together, i would be right there. but that will probably never happen.
there are two beach boys now. the mike love old-time rock n roll nostalgia-puke review and the brian wilson... hopeful return.
if you want to hear what the beach boys can do, get smile. if you want to hear what the beach boys should not be doing, get this mike love souvenier.
5 - zingzing
oh. and i don't really mind kokomo. i don't know why. i heard it recently, and it didn't bother me. i know, i know. i was surprised as well.
6 - zingzing
oh... but now i have it stuck in my head... it hurts, it hurts...
7 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
The other problem with "Kokomo" was that it became an mediocre monster-hit at the same time as the release of the more deserving and first Brian Wilson solo LP, stealing much undue thunder. Curse you, Mike Love!
8 - Mistrc
Thanks Connie,
I'm going to go right out and add that CD to my collection.
If you've been to many Beach Boys concerts you know you can count on one hand the amount of black followers they have, well I'm one of the faithful. I was also fortunate enough to have met them all personally through my Job When I worked at LAX. Oh and There is nothing like driving down any highway particularly the "405", while harmonizing with the Boys. And to the negative critics of the Boys latest effort, I say, even a bad Beach Boy song is better than some of that crap that's out there to day. God love them for the effort. PEACE!
9 - Connie Phillips
Thank you Mistric. I have to agree with you.
I also had the pleasure of meeting Mike Love last year at a charity event. He was very kind and gracious, which makes the music even more special.