Thanks. I'm listening to Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!) even as I write this. I don't know if there's a better album in existence.

I should clarify; I don't know if any album in existence has quite as compelling a string of singles placed one after the next: "Girl Don't Tell Me," "Help Me, Rhonda," "California Girls," "Let Him Run Wild," and "You're So Good To Me." Sure, "Help Me, Ronda" was the standout track on Today! (they sure do love their exclamation points), but it's a different version, without the bluesy solo and with a wild modulation of the signature bass phrase at the end of the song.

And those are just the obvious hits in a row; let's not forget "Amusement Parks U.S.A.," "Then I Kissed Her," or, my favorite Beach Boys song ever, "I'm Bugged at My Old Man," which sings perfectly of the frustrations of youth:

I'm bugged at my ol' man
Cause he's making me stay in my room
(Darn my dad)

I came in a little late
And my ol' man he just blew his mind
(Blew it bad)

Why did he sell my surfboard?
He cut off my hair last night in my sleep

I wish I could see outside
But he tacked up boards on my window
(Gosh it's dark)

I can't hit the surf, can't drag
Can't do a dog-goned thing
(Wish I could)

I tried to call up my chick
But he jerked my phone right out of the wall

They gave me some breadcrumbs
And a little glass of water
And they're out there eating steak
(Smells so good)

I ripped up my wardrobe
And I'm growing a beard
Oh when will they let me come out

I'd listen to my radio
But he took it and he's using it in his own room
(Now it's gone)

I wish I could do some homework
But I got suspended from school
(Blew my cool)

I'm bugged at my ol' man
And he doesn't even know where it's at

Hugh, I sense more than a tiny nugget of truth in those lyrics. Old man Wilson was a real fucker, I hear.

Wow, BP that was painful to watch. I saw the Beach Boys at Wembley Arena in 1980. They were awesome. Chris Rea opened. He was great too.

It so ironic that they were such a strange, phucked-up group, and yet their image is so wholesome and fun.

And what's the deal with her interviewing them on a normal TV set? Was that some kind of 80s future wish of things to come?

I saw them in 1978, my first concert, when I was 12. It was crazy--people partying and smoking pot all around me, and I was there by myself, at 12. My parents totally bought into the wholesome image, and had no idea what concerts were like, I guess.

As I've written about here before, years later, I saw Brian Wilson on the Atlanta airport train. I'd just heard a page for Mike Love, and was thinking, hmm, that Mike Love? when the train doors opened. Wilson looked me straight in the eye, saw that I recognized him, then looked down. I let him be.

I have memories of seeing them on the DC Mall for July 4th a couple of times, '80, '81 or '82, not sure which. I remember seeing dudes combing through their blankets looking for every extra bit of weed in order to make another joint. Kinda pathetic.

Man, that was really hard to watch. I just noticed a nice writeup on the solo work of Dennis. If anyone who is a BB fan should ever run across Pacific Ocean Blue, buy it. The title track is absolutely transcendent.

That article is where I found the video link, sleepy_pete, and I'd love to hear that album. I'd never even heard of it till this morning.

I just saw that, BP. I should read things before posting, I guess. And the first track is actually called "River Song". You could always do a little looking around the internet (hint, hint) because I'm sure it'll cost a lot for the vinyl.