In short, Endless Summer became a huge, chart-topping hit, giving the Beach Boys a higher commercial profile than they’d had for years. And why not? Contained within the double album were 21 tracks, including the knockout punch of their first number one hit, the dizzily delectable “I Get Around,” driven with swirling harmonies and propulsive energy. Its 45-form flipside, metaphorically and literally — comprising one of the greatest back-to-back hit singles ever — is also here in the soothing, absolutely sublime “Don’t Worry Baby,” with its plaintive expression of teen vulnerability and apprehension.
Some of the hits on Endless Summer, familiar as they are, do not need much comment or extra praise heaped upon them — including the territorial neener-neener travelogue of sorts, “California Girls,” with the majestic instrumental build-up. "Fun, Fun, Fun” is, well, fun. And the road to Billboard Gold is paved with “Good Vibrations” — the “pocket symphony” of applied innovation and inspiration (listen to the Pet Sounds box set to get an idea of Brian Wilson’s masterful perfectionism as a producer in the studio).
Other under-the-radar but essential tracks that might give you excitations include the ever-shifting “Let Him Run Wild,” a single release of vulnerability and competition that lyrically takes a stand (“Before he makes you over / I'm gonna take you over”), but with its foretaste of Pet Sounds-style rhythms and patterns and a radio-unfriendly instant of dead air, it also takes a musical stance as a captivating try-out that didn’t pan-out.
“Girl Don’t Tell Me,” as a single, was also a low-show on the charts and features an affecting vocal solo by Carl — his first as a lead vocalist, with a trace of the sweetly soulful sound that would later grace such great songs as "I Can Hear Music" and "Darlin.'" "Girl Don't Tell Me" unusually but effectively eschews any background harmonies to tell a tale of the capriciousness of summer love: “But this time I'm not gonna count on you / I'll see you this summer / And forget you when I go back to school.”
Never released as a single was “Warmth Of The Sun,” one of the most melodically and lyrically beautiful and poignant Beach Boys songs ever, written by Brian and Mike Love on the day President Kennedy was assassinated. In lush, angelic harmonies featuring Brian’s soaring falsetto, the moving, impressionistic commemoration couches the emotional shock in more personal terms, conveying the sense of heartrending loss while solace is sought:
What good is the dawn
That grows into day
The sunset at night
Or living this way...
...The love of my life
She left me one day
I cried when she said
"I don't feel the same way"
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
The Beach Boys In Concert was also the very first album I ever owned (I was seven years old), so there is some resonance there with me.
But the first time I recall being hit HARD by a Beach Boys track was some ten years later.
The way the closing sequence in the film American Graffiti plays with Richard Dreyfuss looking out the plane window and seeing Suzanne Somers elusive VW bug symbolized more than the end of an "Endless Summer."
It symbolized a certain rite of passage as well as the loss of innocence. It meant you could never go home again.
That remains for me the single greatest use of music in a films closing sequence I've ever seen.
For whatever it's worth...
-Glen
2 - Glen Boyd
Oh and I almost forgot...the song itself was of course "All Summer Long." That was when I first started to see Brian Wilson whose songs were about far more than girls, cars, and waves. Brilliant.
-Glen
3 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Thanks, Glen, for the comments--I had forgotten about that scene in "American Graffiti." I seem to remember "Wouldn't It Be Nice" used in a few movies, too, although I can't remember any right now.
4 - MJT
"GIRL DON'T TELL ME" WAS NEVER RELEASED AS A SINGLE. "THE WARMTH OF THE SUN" WAS RELEASED AS A SINGLE, I.E., THE FLIP-SIDE OF "DANCE, DANCE, DANCE." IN THE MOVIE "AMERICAN GRAFITTI," MS. SOMERS DROVE A WHITE T-BIRD.
5 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
MJT: All Music Guide says I'm right:
"'The Warmth of the Sun'" one of the Beach Boys' finest and most moving ballads. It never became a single but has remained dear to the heart of Beach Boys fans over the years."
"'Girl Don't Tell Me'" was released as a single at the end of 1965: it failed to chart but became a fan favorite and later turned up on the popular compilation album Endless Summer."
I'll check into it more. You're right about the car in American Graffiti. And no need to shout: enough with the caps.
6 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
MJT: Both of us are half right, half wrong--
"Warmth of the Sun" indeed was the flipside of "Dance, Dance, Dance."
But "Girl Don't Tell Me" however, was indeed the flipside of "Barbara Ann"--Capitol 5561, released Dec. 20,1965.
Well, I'm more of a music fan than a record collector, but I'll never trust AMG again. Thanks for the info, MJT.
7 - Connie Phillips
When I was 14 I was actually paid for babysitting with a copy of this record. I had been told I could listen to their stereo and asked when the couple came home if they could make me a tape of it.
They gave me the LP instead. I still have it...now if I only had a working turntable.
It's a great collection of all their signature songs. Great review, Gordon.
8 - Jim Bohen
"Good Vibrations" was not on the original release of "Endless Summer." It was added some time later -- maybe in the CD era. At that time Brother/Reprise, not Capitol, had the rights to the music from "Pet Sounds" and later albums.
9 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Thanks Connie--appreciate the comment. Good babysitting gig--hope you can get a turntable soon.
10 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Jim--thanks for solving a mystery for me. Since I have both the LP and CD, and my LP is currently with a chunk of my album collection in a barn on an old chicken farm in Petaluma, California (long story) I used the CD info. And for the life of me, I couldn't remember "Good Vibrations" being on it, and it didn't make sense. Until now. Thanks again.
11 - Glen Boyd
I also stand corrected on the car in American Graffiti. I was going strictly by memory and for some reason I saw a VW bug in my minds eye.
Still, that damn closing scene with "All Summer Long" is one of the best ever. It makes watching the credits roll an essential part of viewing the movie.
-Glen
12 - mpbj
The Beach Boys live in concert was recorded in Sacramento not Santa Monica.FYI
13 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Thanks for the correction, mpbj.
14 - Steve
I have three questions about the movies that were made on the lives of the Beach Boys. One movie was "Endless Summer". Who can help me find the name of the other one?
My second question is this, Is it true that studio musicians were used in place of the original Beach Boy's recordings for that movie?
Third question, Was there ever a sound track CD released from the movie "Endless Summer"?
Steve
15 - philly smith
I have found 'endless harmony' and 'summer dreams' on amazon for around $2 a piece, however 'endless summer' remains an enigma, as far as I'm aware its was made for TV so not sure if it ever got an actual release and am presuming because of budget restraints they will have definately used session musicians, as opposed paying royalties or re-recording tracks but I could be wrong.
I have seen the movie and the music is pretty close to the beach boys but am erring towards the session musicians performing as opposed to the original recording artists (I'm not sure how often carole kaye, hal blaine and glen campbell get out nowadays!)
a side note check out 'grace of my heart' a scorcese production loosely about carole king (if she married brian wilson?!) a bit of an odd twist but a great movie with an awesome soundtrack!
16 - philly smith
actually scrub that, I found a clip on you tube titled 'endless summer' and its not the Tv movie I have seen, which is a biopic starring actors and the like charting the beach boys rise and fall early 60's onwards! so that makes 4 movies, someones just whispered 'the beach boys an american band' in my ear! so that makes 5!?
help anyone? I need clarification!