Domingo 21 Jun 2009, 13h:47

Keepin' The Summer Alive (1980)

Bruce Johnston's production lets things down and kills the best songs (title track; 'Goin' On') The latter is probably the last great song the Beach Boys ever did. As for Johnston's own 'Endless Harmony' it is another laughable schmaltz that he should have donated to Manilow.

Concert (1964)

If you've heard the original tapes, you'll realise that the Beach Boys were an AWFUL live act (the singing is always good however). Only Carl Wilson was an adequate onstage musician and even he needed prompting to solo. Al Jardine was no guitar player and Brian was never comfortable in public anyway. The way around all this mediocrity? Patch it up in the studio and slather a load of teenage screaming later on. Fairly convincing, apart from the rather obviously hand claps on 'I Get Around'. Absolutely awful track selection (there's 'Johnny B. Goode' but no 'Surfin USA' and also the excruciating 'Little Ol' Lady from Pasadena' and 'Monster Mash'!!!)

Carl and The Passions, So Tough (1972)

Elton John's favourite Beach Boys album! No wonder, it's shite!….

It's not but it's not particularly interesting either. Where's Brian? Three good songs ('You Need a Mess of Help..', 'Marcella' and 'All This is That' (one of the best non-Brian songs ever)) surrounded by some really mediocre work.

15 Big Ones (1976)

Oh, so careless. But the title never fails to make me laugh. Best song: 'It's OK'