THE BEACH BOYS

No other musical group has ever captured the sound of fun in the sun, good times, and growing up like the Beach Boys did. They helped define the California beach music sound. They provided a soundtrack for the 1960s because their music spoke to teenagers going through the difficult transition to adulthood. Throughout the 1960s and beyond, the Beach Boys expressed the desires, dreams, and hopes of many young people in the United States.

The Beach Boys began with the Wilson brothers forming the heart of the group: Brian (1942–) writing songs and playing bass, Carl (1946–1998) on guitar, and Dennis (1944–1983) on drums. They were joined by friend Al Jardine (1942–) on guitar and cousin Mike Love (1941–) on vocals in 1961.

Capitol Records signed them to a contract in 1962. They produced hit after hit for the next four years. Such songs as "Surfin' U.S.A.," "Little Surfer Girl," and "Catch a Wave" captured the fun of being at the beach. Songs like "Little Deuce Coupe" and "409" celebrated teenagers' love of cars. "Good Vibrations" and "California Girls" defined the good times and warmth of Southern California in the 1960s. As their sound matured, the Beach Boys also captured the pain of growing up with the singles "In My Room" and "Don't Worry Baby".

By the end of 1963, the Beach Boys had recorded three full LPs, hit the Top 10 as many times, and toured incessantly. In addition, Brian began to grow as a producer, best documented on the third Beach Boys LP, Surfer Girl. Riding a crest of popularity, the late 1964 LP Beach Boys Concert spent four weeks at the top of the album charts, just one of five Beach Boys LPs simultaneously on the charts. The group also undertook promotional tours of Europe, but the pressures and time-constraints proved too much for Brian. At the end of the year, he decided to quit the touring band and concentrate on studio productions.

In 1966, the Beach Boys released Pet Sounds, considered by many to be a pop masterpiece. Largely the work of group leader Brian Wilson, Pet Sounds was a complex album with a distinct musical sound that expressed the longing to both become an adult but also to hang on to the innocence of youth. Critics praised Pet Sounds, but the new direction failed to impress American audiences. Throughout late 1966 and early 1967, Brian worked feverishly on the next Beach Boys' LP - a project named Dumb Angel, but later titled Smile.

However, soon a rift formed between the band and Brian - they felt his intake of marijuana and LSD had clouded his judgment, while he felt they were holding him back from the coming psychedelic era.

Listen to: Beach Boys - Good Vibrations