The Beach Boys is an American group formed in 1961 in Hawthorne whose particularity, apart from their recognizable style of music (surf music), is to be one of the very first American groups, if not the first, in terms of record sales around the world. They have sold around 100 million albums to date.
It was originally composed of Brian Wilson, who despite poor mental health would write all of the group's biggest hits, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine.
The first title "Surfin" came out of the year of the group's formation and enjoyed significant success, especially on the West Coast, favorite land for surfers.
The first album "Surfin' safari" was released a year later in 1962. Album of limited success.
It was not until 1963 to see the group finally take off with the release of the album "Surfin 'USA", boosted by the title of the same name which was a hit. Almost immediately after the release of the third album “Surfer girl”, more successful than the previous ones and which will experience a very honorable career in the Charts.
"Surf music" is sweeping the world and the "Surf attitude" is becoming super trendy. The Beach Boys have just created the "Californian Myth" which continues to this day.
At the end of 1963, change of strategy, the group released the album "Little deuce coupe" which was no longer about surfing but about cars. The goal is to reach audiences from the east coast and central United States. A daring bet but a winning bet, the album is a resounding success.
They did it again the following year with the release of the album "Shut down vol.2", which covered the same themes. New success.
The year 1964 turns out to be a pivotal year for the group. The rivalry with the Beatles rises crescendo, which does not prevent the group from releasing the album “All summer long”, from which one of their most legendary titles will be extracted, namely the enormous “I get around”. . The title is a real planetary success, the notoriety of the group reaches heights unmatched until then.
Then followed the albums “Christmas album” still in 1964 and “Today !" beginning of 1965. Album from which the top hit "Help me, Ronda" will be extracted.
But it is the following album, “Summer days (and summer nights)” which will bring the group another colossal hit with the title “California girls” which remains to this day one of their most beautiful achievements. little from the album "Beach boys party !" which brings a third mega hit with "Barbara Ann", cover of a title of Regents.
A cult title which will be taken over ten years later by ... the Martin Circus and which will make it the huge title "Marylène" in France.
The year 1966 saw the release of the album "Pet Sounds" considered as the favorite child of Brian Wilson, and which was to ridicule the Beatles. Innovative sound, daring lyrics at the antipodes of the previous ones, the album surprises, even fans who do not understand it.
The excellent "Wouldn’t it be nice" and the magnificent "God only knows" are struggling to break through in the US Charts. The reception in Europe is radically different, the album is praised and the critics unanimously praise the exceptional quality of it. Even the Beatles recognize the extraordinary quality of the album. Who will inspire them to make their “Sgt. Pepper’s lonely hearts club band".
And it's not over ! Also the same year will release the intergalactic title "Good vibrations", supreme title of their discography and which will make an unprecedented planetary success.
But the years go by and are not necessarily alike. Brian Wilson gradually sinks into depression and drug addiction, his inspiration fails him and the results are felt. The albums "Simley smile", "Wild honey" and "Friends" have nothing to do with the previous ones and are failures. These will be almost his last compositions for the group.
The group rose from its ashes in 1969 under the leadership of Carl Wilson. Year that sees the release of the album "20/20". Followed a year later by the album "Sunflower" which despite its obvious quality will be the group's worst commercial failure.
Several albums were released, but it was not until 1977 that the group finally returned to success thanks to the album "Love you", an album which marked - as if by chance - Brian Wilson's temporary return to composition.
Short-lived success because alcohol and drug problems literally hampered the creativity of the group, which continued to fail until the mid-1980s.
And it is 22 years after their last N°1 in the Charts (Good vibrations), that is in 1988, that they will miraculously regain the first place of the podiums thanks to the enormous “Kokomo”, soundtrack of the film Cocktail (with Tom Cruise as interpreter).
This time it will be the last major success of this now legendary group who alone will forever embody the planetary myth of eternal youth, unbridled and carefree….
To discover or rediscover.
Discography (among others ...) :
Surfin' 1961
Surfin safari 1962
Ten little indians 1962
Surfin U.S.A. 1963
Surfer girl 1963
Be true to your school 1963
Little Saintt Nick 1963
Fun fun fun 1963
I get around 1964
When I grow up (To be a man) 1964
Dance dance dance 1964
Do you wanna dance ? 1965
Help me, Rondha 1965
California girls 1965
The little girl I once knew 1965
Barbara Ann 1965
Sloop John B 1966
Wouldn’t it be nice 1966
Good vibrations 1966
God only knows 1966
Heroes and villains 1967
Wild honey 1967
Darlin 1967
Friends 1968
Do it again 1968
Bluebirds over the mountain 1968
I can hear music 1969
Break away 1969
Add some music to your day 1970
Cottonfields 1970
Tears in the morning 1970
Long promised road 1971
Sail on, sailor 1973
California saga (California) 1973
Rock and roll music 1976
It's OK 1976
Peggy sue 1978
Here comes the night 1979
Good timin' 1979
Lady Linda 1979
Goin' on 1980
Come go with me 1981
Getcha back 1985
It's gettin' late 1985
Rock'n'Roll to the rescue 1986
California dreamin 1986
Wipeout 1987
Kokomo 1988
Still cruising 1989
Problem child 1990
Hot fun in summertime 1992
Don't fight the sea 2011
Wonderful 2011
Vega-Tables 2011
That's why god made the radio 2012
Isn't it time 2012
Spring vacation 2012
Clips :
1961...from the first title, this small group, which came out of nowhere, will make talking about him and rather well. A start for the less ideal as they say...
1962 ... the band's second single and their notorious debut hit. The soft beginnings of a group that no one imagines at this stage will become one of the most incredible groups of the 20th century
1963 ... then comes THIS title. Incredible sound and style, one of a kind and completely revolutionizing the era. A legendary title that literally explodes the notoriety of the group
1963 ... a multi-talented group that is able to also excel in the Intimist field. A flexible surf attitude ...
1963...every title that comes out now immediately becomes a hit. The group has become in just a few months a real phenomenon...
1963... they may have invented the 'musical surf attitude' for the summer, that doesn't prevent them from being able to produce Christmas titles. Mighty achievement !
1964...the number of titles produced each year becomes impressive. And each time it's guaranteed success, which further reinforces the group's steamroller status...
1964 ... planetary SHOCK ! For THIS title which will forever remain the musical symbol of youth and carefree ... Voices that blend together to perfection to produce one of the biggest songs of all time !
1964 ... even if this title will not have the incredible reputation of its predecessor, it will do almost as well in the Charts. The band literally walks on water...
1964...a remarkable year 1964 with a shower of mega hits and a band at the top of its game. The legend is well and truly on the move...
1965... the group does not weaken one Iota and continues to unfroll in a remarkable way. The level of inspiration is mind-blowing and allows them to constantly outclass the competition...
1965...new top hit, one more you might say. Each new title is an event in itself and allows the group to add an additional star each time to a prize list that now has a bunch...
1965 ... nothing and no one can stop the surging Beach Boys. It is a planetary phenomenon of unprecedented scale and which now produces mega hit on mega hit !
1965... they happen to produce 'little' hits like this one but a lot of bands would be satisfied with this kind of little hits, that's for sure...
1965 ... and what about this one ! Another awesome title, which once again reinforces the status of an exceptional group at the Beach Boys. An incredible inspiration and which produces cult song after cult song !
1966...unstoppable Beach Boys surge. Each new year now brings its share of mega hits and it will last like that for a few more years...
1966 ... probably one of their best titles. Not necessarily the most famous but one of their most successful melody side
1966 ... we thought we had reached the top ? Oh no because here comes their Masterpiece. An AMAZING title, with alien inspiration and which will ravage everything in its path. MAS-TER-FUL !
1966 ... a decidedly exceptional year with a multitude of incredible titles that follow one another at record speed !
1967 ... difficult to compete with 1966 which was an absolutely sumptuous year for the group. There will be hits in this year 1967 but of lesser scope...
1967...of lesser scope of course, but the group remains at a level of success that most of the competition would like to have !
1967 ... the sound of the group evolves, that's clear. But on the voice side, it's still just as effective. In short, nothing to worry about ...
1968...a beginning of 1968 which saw the group decelerate somewhat. After 5 exceptional years in all respects, the group is beginning to mark time...
1968 ... the years go by but are not necessarily alike. A capricious end of the decade and a group in strong deceleration. The Surf attitude is floundering ...
1968... it is clear that the group no longer manages to create the event as easily as in past years. We suspected that such a level of success would be difficult to maintain indefinitely...
1969 ... the end of the decade in decline even if the group continues to record significant sales scores. It's hard to find the genius inspiration of the mid-decade ...
1969...a last title to close a decade which will have consecrated this group as one of the most outstanding of this end of the 20th century. It remains to be seen what the next decade has in store for them...
1970...a passage to the next decade which started in a laborious way to say the least. On the Charts side, it's the big tumble unfortunately...
1970 ... the beginning of the 1970s which rhymes with free fall ... The group is no more than a shadow of himself. Few hits to eat ...
1970...we feel that the group is at a crossroads and will have to quickly reinvent himself, otherwise the rest will be difficult to manage, to say the least...
1971...the production of titles remains plethoric but the quality level is no longer sufficient to keep them at the top of the bill. Attention danger...
1972... business picks up again, but still quite timidly. What is certain is that the best years are now behind...
1973 ... it was not until 1973 that the group returned to success. And again, out of proportion to what he has known before. But there is better, that's clear !
1973...a year 1973 which sees them return more or less to the race. Admittedly at the back of the leading pack but it's still better than nothing as they say...
1976 ... ups and downs. There, we would rather be on top. We find the style that made them famous. But in the middle of the Disco period, there is a slight delay ...
1976...a year 1976 where the group manages to save the furniture but only just. The important thing anyway is that they continue to exist...
1978 ... after a year 1977 without any hits, the year 1978 allows them to bounce back somewhat with this particularly rhythmic track...
1979...without a rapid evolution of style and sound, the transition to the 80s will prove to be very complicated. Attention gentlemen...
1979...a decade of the 70s that saw them fight for every title to try to stay afloat. And in the end, they will have managed to hold on. For how much longer...
1979...now remains to be seen whether the next decade will be the last or not. Will the group be able to reinvent himself, the future will tell us...
1980...they are back in any case at the very beginning of the 80s, determined to continue the adventure at all costs. Rightly or wrongly, that's something else...
1981...another title once again typical of the Beach Boys style. A style completely apart and completely offbeat in this 80s decade. A bet for the less risky than not changing anything...
1985 ... a surf style attitude that has seen a sudden resurgence of interest. Like what, you should never despair. One day Has been, the next day in full swing !
1985...the style evolves somewhat. Even if they keep their fundamentals, the sound is starting to stick to the times...
1986...even if the group hasn't been in the lead for a long time, it's still there anyway. You have to remember that the adventure started 25 years ago !
1986 ... they sign here a luxury cover of the mythical title of Mamas & The Papas. And obviously, given their extraordinary talent, the result is necessarily up to the mark !
1987 ... we find them alongside the Fat Boys on a revisited version for the less punchy of the title of the Surfaris dating from 1963. An association for the less explosive ...
1988 ... then, suddenly, comes a new title of phew, fresh, light and airy. A wonder with its so Beach Boys sound and which will be a real worldwide hit. The 'grandpas' are back and it rocks !
1989 ... taking advantage of the suction effect, the group temporarily returns to honors and glory. But will it last. Not sure...
1990...here they are on the soundtrack of a film which will not leave an indelible trace in the cinematographic history of this end of the 21st century. It's still nice anyway...
1992..a group that can still boast of having gone through no less than 4 decades ! A feat that very few groups will have achieved...
2011 ... when we thought the case was definitely closed, here they are back again ! Who could have imagined that they would still have the strength to continue the adventure, not many people that's for sure...
2011...a totally unexpected comeback that will inevitably delight grassroots fans. Almost 50 years after their debut, the little guys are still there !
2011...and still this inimitable style that will forever remain their hallmark. The years go by, just like the decades, but they will hardly have changed by one Iota...
2012...they will even manage the feat of landing a 'little' hit with this title. Like what, in music, everything is always possible and they are living proof !
2012...it's always a real pleasure to see them still there when most of the bands from their generation have already disappeared for a long time. Which underlines all the more the exceptional talent of this group...
2012... hoping that this title will not be the last. But we now know that with them, anything is possible. To be continued...
Wiki :
Official Website :
Greatest Hits :
Discography :