remembering "god only knows" isn't a single really threw me for a loop. obviously the objective answer would be somehwere in the neighborhood of "california girls" through "villains," but i went with my heart and gave "friends" a vote. such a beautiful lil' ditty and probably the most immediately heartwarming (and listenable) of the lot for me
@everything have you heard the isolated bg vocal track from the end of "break away?" it was so beautiful bootleggers were circulating it as a proto-ambient SMiLE fragment for years before someone realized it's literally just a piece of scenery from a much later single
― soyrev, Saturday, 23 May 2015 03:42 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX_cjYr3yl0
so a '68 recording w/ a '69 release date isn't "much" later, but still funny (/beautiful and i have slept to it many times)
― soyrev, Saturday, 23 May 2015 03:44 (eight years ago) link
It is beautiful, thanks !As for "California girls" belonging to the psychedelic era, it's clearly in between since it still has the rock n roll kind of bass riff (there must be a more appropriate description...shuffle rhythm ?) and the basic lyrics (girls !) but the arrangements and production are already fantastic and sophisticated (that intro!).What a joyful shiny track !
― AlXTC from Paris, Saturday, 23 May 2015 06:39 (eight years ago) link
voted Wouldn't It Be Nice. the bridge is one of the most gorgeous moments of pop music in recorded history.
― Hammer Smashed Bagels, Saturday, 23 May 2015 15:13 (eight years ago) link
Chord progression of California Girls so cool and weird.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 23 May 2015 17:19 (eight years ago) link
I love the Beach Boys but I also have a special love for Blondie Chaplin-era Beach Boys that makes me want to judge them on completely separate terms. So my gut is saying "Sail On Sailor" even though it's barely representative of anything I love about non-Blondie Beach Boys.
― The Freewheelin' Denny Dillon (Old Lunch), Saturday, 23 May 2015 19:26 (eight years ago) link
Good Vibrations, over Wouldn't It Be Nice and Wild Honey.
Favorite songs not on the list: Aren't You Glad and Girl Don't Tell Me
― kornrulez6969, Saturday, 23 May 2015 19:37 (eight years ago) link
"God only knows" was a double A but I can imagine it would run away with this..
― Mark G, Sunday, 24 May 2015 08:31 (eight years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Thursday, 28 May 2015 00:01 (eight years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Friday, 29 May 2015 00:01 (eight years ago) link
I think I forgot to vote in the end, but I never did really decide between "I Get Around" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice," so the tie there is cool with me.
― Doctor Casino, Friday, 29 May 2015 00:16 (eight years ago) link
Missed the poll, but would have happily voted for "Help Me Rhonda." Team Jardine!
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Friday, 29 May 2015 02:32 (eight years ago) link
"friends" and "darlin" tying "california girls," "breakaway" beating them all – did not see that one coming.
― soyrev, Friday, 29 May 2015 02:42 (eight years ago) link
"Breaak Away" is great and deserves its high showing, but thought "Surf's Up" was the ILM fave
― Lee626, Friday, 29 May 2015 05:08 (eight years ago) link
I did vote "Breakaway" but "Do it again" would have been my 2nd place.
― Mark G, Friday, 29 May 2015 06:01 (eight years ago) link
Remember getting into an argument with my older brother many years ago when he was talking about what a great Beach Boys song "Rock and Roll Music" was. "You idiot," I sneered. "It's the BEATLES!"
― Jazzbo, Friday, 29 May 2015 11:58 (eight years ago) link