Back in the 1960s, it was clear that Brian Wilson, a legendary figure, was not just exceptional but a truly extraordinary musical genius, standing among an elite few in terms of talent and impact. He was like a sorcerer of music who demonstrated that popular and rock genres possess depth and deserve respect and admiration.
Most of his outstanding work was produced during his time with The Beach Boys, a group famously known for embodying sunshine, fun, sports, and adolescent romance. He elevated this image significantly by infusing his exceptional music with a refined touch.
However, together with his siblings Carl and Dennis, as well as the rest of their band, he matured, and some less than pleasant circumstances emerged, such as his persistent health problems. It’s no surprise that this ominous label is frequently associated with a genius.
Everyone should own these Beach Boys albums
Despite everything, it is his enduring impact on contemporary music that stands strong. Rarely does an album by the Beach Boys lack quality when he has contributed to it, and there are numerous tracks that should be appreciated by any music enthusiast. Here are six albums often considered the Beach Boys’ finest, along with two solo records produced by Brian Wilson himself.
Brian Wilson’s influence on modern music remains significant, as his contributions to the Beach Boys’ albums have consistently been top-notch, and there are many songs worth listening to for any music fan. Here are six albums that are among the best from the Beach Boys, and two more by Brian Wilson as a solo artist.
Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) (1965)
Despite the enjoyable escapades, be it surfing or car enthusiasts (with the exception of his brother Dennis, who wasn’t much into surfing), or the company of young ladies, Brian and the rest of the band were maturing past their youthful years.
In musical terms, even though lyrically he hadn’t quite arrived at that point yet, Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys achieved the pinnacle of their fun and surf era with hits such as “Help Me, Rhonda,” “California Girls,” and “Let Him Run Wild.” Many fans consider “California Girls” to be an emblematic song for Wilson and The Beach Boys.
Pet Sounds (1965)
Brian, wanting to articulate the difficulty of growing up, enlisted the help of renowned lyricist and songwriter Peter Asher. The result was not just the Beach Boys’ best album, but also one of the top modern music albums available. However, this wasn’t a view shared by everyone at the time (even Mike Love disagreed), except for Paul McCartney and several British music critics.
As more time went by, it became increasingly clear that the final two tracks on the album, “God Only Knows” and “Caroline, No,” were nothing short of a masterpiece, truly living up to the term ‘sublime.’
Smiley Smile (1967)
To this very moment, opinions about this particular album continue to be divided among both critics and enthusiasts. A significant portion of the discord stems from the disappointment felt by fans and the band’s leader, Brian, regarding the unfulfilled promise of their supposed magnum opus, Smile, an album that was never officially made available. Additionally, a substantial part of the disagreement arises from the drug-infused, low-quality sound that characterizes much of the album.
As a gamer, I’d say: There’s no denying that an album brimming with song masterpieces like “Good Vibrations,” “Heroes And Villains,” and “Vegetables” is something extraordinary. Even the more lo-fi tracks, such as “Wonderful” or “Wind Chimes,” embody the essence of lo-fi music at its finest.
Friends (1968)
The aftereffects of the tremor, symbolized by the un-released song “Smile” and Brian’s mental health struggles, were still palpable, yet both Brian and the band appeared to be on the mend during this period. This healing process led to the creation of one of the Beach Boys’ more refined and muted albums. Love, Al Jardine, and Dennis Wilson collaborated with Brian once again to produce the quality music we hear.
Sunflower (1970)
At this point, the Beach Boys’ collaboration was intensifying significantly, with Brian, primarily because of his health concerns, taking on a similar role as other band members. However, this album demonstrated that the Beach Boys were capable of adapting to current trends while still maintaining their iconic harmonies throughout.
Surf’s Up (1971)
Here, it’s clear that Carl Wilson played a significant role in leading the band and composing some of their finest songs. However, only three of Brian’s contributions stand out as truly exceptional. “A Day in the Life of a Tree” showcased Brian at his most exposed, while “til I die” is among his best works, along with the title track, which was originally intended for an album that was never released, known as Smile.
The two solo Brian Wilson albums that stand out
Brian Wilson (1988)
Wilson needed nearly a decade following one of his rare band departures to produce his initial solo album, “Love And Mercy.” Despite dealing with numerous health challenges, he managed to deliver outstanding tracks such as “Love And Mercy,” which he deemed one of his signature songs, along with the standout pieces “Melt Away” and the epic “Rio Grande.
SMILE (2004)
Following a span of 37 years, Wilson ultimately chose to unveil a new rendition of the planned initial Smile album. This time around, he enlisted freshly recorded adaptations of the original tracks, with the assistance of a small group of passionate musician fans headed by Darian Sahanaja from the Wondermints.
After Wilson settled on the sequence of songs, the fans at last received his interpretation of that grand composition, which previously might have had the greatest number of unauthorized copies in circulation.
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2025-06-14 13:00