The Beach Boys Album: “Summer in Paradise”

First of all, this album is not as bad as critics make it out to be. If you own a lot of the 1970's Beach Boys albums, then you know whereof I speak. In fact, it is an exceptional album, considering most of their post SMiLE fare. I think the main complaint is that there is no Brian Wilson, since he was off doing his solo projects, which I highly recommend, especially his remastered '88 solo album.

This album was one of their best albums. It has superb production, great orchestration, great vocalizations, and so forth. You can actually enjoy the songs. True, many of these songs are throwbacks to the Surfin USA phase of their development. But, by golly gosh darn it, this group is absolutely heaven to listen to! No other group can make me weep, except the Beach Boys. There is something spiritual and innocent to their music-"God Only Knows," "Light Album," "The Lord's Prayer," and so forth.

This music is great! It brings back images, these pastoral images of the California Myth. Hot Fun in the Summertime-yes, a lame title-but killer music and harmonies. "Strange Things Happen" is the half sister to Carl Wilson's "Fell Flows," both having a jazzy improvised segment that is more than astral or ethereal, but very cosmic!

Lahaina Aloha made me fall in love with Maui again. Once again, a pastoral image set in the tropics, with great production and vocalizations by the remaining Beach Boys.

OK, I do have two complaints. The first is the remake of Surfin', which does get annoying after a while-say the third measure, and second, the remake of "Forever" is substandard [expletive deleted]. Get a copy of "Sunflower" and hear Denny Wilson sing it as it really is.

This is the last album Carl Wilson appeared on, and I fear it will be the last original Beach Boys album, period.

(Star and Stripes is not a real Beach Boys album, thank you)

This is the worst album to bear the Beach Boys name they've ever released. The band has abandoned all hope of having anything interesting to say lyrically and has decided their only hopes of "mattering" again is to find the proper assortment of surf/beach/chick cliches to stitch together. If you need proof of their complete lack of creativity, track 1 is a Sly Stone cover, track 2 is a remake of their first ever chart single coupled to a semi-metal guitar and 80s drum machines, track 6 pastes some new lyrics onto the hook for the Danleers' "One Summer Night", track 8 is a Shangri-Las cover, track 10 covers the Drifters, track 12 is a gimmick cover of the "Sunflower" track with TV star John Stamos (who's a band fan).

It's hard to know where to start explaining how bad this is, but we'll suffice to say that "Summer of Love" is the worst rap song (yes, worse than the thing they did with the Fat Boys, where at least they had the sense to not do the rapping themselves) from a white guy ever, if not the worst committed to record, complete with "scratching". I leave you with the lyrics..if you still feel obliged to drop the money on this bomb, it's your fault:

"Summer of Love"

(by Mike Love/Terry Melcher..so as to give discredit where discredit is due..)

I can't wait til summer (yeah)

Cause it's gonna be a summer of love

Hey now (well it's a love thing)

People all around the world in every nation

Like to get together for some excitations

If you're a girl appreciates her recreation

Why don't you let me take you on a love vacation

Yeah I'll take you to the movies

But I'm no fool (wah wah oooo)

First I'll get you on the beach

Or in a swimming pool

Doing unto others is the Golden Rule

But doing it with you would be so

Very cool

Girls are always ready for a summer of love

Goin' out and lookin' for love (girls are always ready)

Girls are always ready for a summer of love (sum sum summer summer of love)

Goin' out and lookin' for love (sum sum summer summer of love)

I can't wait til summer (yeah)

Cause it's gonna be a summer of love

Hey now (well it's a love thing)

Everytime the weather starts to gettin' hotter

Don't worry about it toss your clothes and hit the water

We'll be California dreamin' bay watchin' everyday

Just off the Malibu in surfin' U. S. A.

Now no girl ever wants to leave their

Love back home (wah wah oooo)

So if you miss him, baby

Call him on the phone

But make it quick

We're almost in a party zone

Cause summer days and nights

Aren't meant to spend alone

Girls are always ready for a summer of love

Goin' out and lookin' for love (girls are always ready)

Girls are always ready for a summer of love (sum sum summer summer of love)

Goin' out and lookin' for love (sum sum summer summer of love)

I can't wait til summer (yeah)

Cause it's gonna be a summer of love

Hey now (well it's a love thing)

Now summer is a time when there're no strings attached

But we could get together if you come on back

I'd like to tell you if it's any satisfaction

You'll always be my summer season's main attraction

Girls are always ready for a summer of love

Goin' out and lookin' for love (girls are always ready)

Girls are always ready for a summer of love (sum sum summer summer of love)

Goin' out and lookin' for love (sum sum summer summer of love)

I can't wait til summer (yeah)

Cause it's gonna be a summer of love

Hey now (well it's a love thing)

I never really understood the vitriole surrounding this album until I began to visit the Brian Wilson website and came to understand exactly how much many Brian Wilson fans despise cousin Mike Love. It has to be the hatred of Mike Love that drives some of these completely negative reviews, because I really don't think that it's the music on Summer In Paradise that does it. I'm not going to make the claim that this is the best album the Beach Boys ever did, or anything approaching their best, for that matter. SIP pales in comparison to their work on Pet Sounds, Sunflower or Surf's Up, but then again, so do 95% of the albums ever made - by anybody, including the Beach Boys. What I will say about Summer in Paradise is that should be an enjoyable listen for anybody who likes harmonic, breezy musical fare. It has its weak moments, to be sure. The Boys' version of "Hot Fun in the Summertime" is one that I always skip over, "Summer of Love" borders on embarrassing, and while I think that Mike Love's intentions were probably good when he let John Stamos re-record Dennis Wilson's lovely "Forever" from the Sunflower album, the original version is far more powerful. There's a lot of good to be found here, though. "Still Surfin", "Lahaina Aloha", "Island Fever" (which Mike admits is a close cousin to "Kokomo" in the liner notes) and "Strange Things Happen" are all excellent new tracks and there are some fantastic Carl Wilson vocals to be found in several tracks. The title cut, while more powerful in the live version, is also a nifty track, although the ecology-related lyrics (not unusual at all for post-Pet Sounds Beach Boys material) suffer a little from Love's trademark banality (example - "surfers recycle now don't you know, all the way from California to Kokomo" - ouch!). The covers are something of a mixed bag and I seem to be the only one who truly enjoyed Love's version of the Drifters' classic "Under the Boardwalk". Summer In Paradise's greatest fault, in my view, is the lack of participation in the songwriting by Carl Wilson and Alan Jardine. I think that the material would have been greatly bolstered had these two original Beach Boys gotten more involved in the project. My take on Summer in Paradise is that it's an enjoyable, albeit lightweight, effort from the best American band ever to take the stage. It could have, and probably should have been better than it is, but it is nowhere near as bad as some of the 1 star reviews here would have us believe. A second version of this album, with different mixes on several of the tracks, was released in Europe. In my opinion the European version is slightly better than the U.S. If you're not expecting something to top "Pet Sounds", I'll venture a guess that you'll be pleasantly surprised by Summer In Paradise - if you can find it, that is. Not many copies of SIP were ever shipped and it has become increasingly rare over the years, commonly fetching north of $30 for a used copy.

So this is what you get when you leave Mike Love in charge of the candy shop. Brianista critics hated this disc before it was even released, so please take all of their oh-so-negative reviews with a grain of salt. Sure, the first 5 tracks feature a lot of Mike, but even these tracks offer some very listenable moments. The '90's remake of "Surfin'" is fun, especially the awesome Carl Wilson vocal asides. "Island Fever" is an interesting reworking of the "Kokomo" theme: another nice group moment. My girls actually love those laid back surf guitars.

The disc eventually moves into more of a group mode. "Still Surfin'" has a good Boys' feel. Bruce's "Slow Summer Dancin'" is a sweet treat: a retooling of the chestnut "One Summer Night". The spacey "Strange Things Happen" is a great track with some very tasty guitar. "Lahaina Aloha" features great group vocals. As does the suntan lotion-soaked remake of "Under The Baordwalk". The title track is an ecology-minded sing-along that still sounds great in concert.

Sure, SUMMER IN PARADISE might have been a better disc with some Brian Wilson involvement (especially in the production department---just because Terry Melcher's production is almost TOO contemprary sounding for the Boys), but what Mike Love cooked up here ain't so bad. And, remember, it does feature some of the great Carl Wilson's last vocals. And a few of these are worth the price of admission.

If you are a Boys' fan, give it a chance. SUMMER IN PARADISE might not be up to WILD HONEY standards, but it certainly gives problematic albums like CARL AND THE PASSIONS and 15 BIG ONES a run for their money.

The songs on this album were not as good as their earlier ones. However, I still enjoyed the music. No matter what is said the album will complete a collection. "Island Fever" makes me want to quit my job and take off for the sand, surf and sun! The remakes are good. John Stamos is not Dennis Wilson, but was a good try on "Forever". "Summer in Paradise" was a look back at their earlier hits and trying to get back to that carefree sound and lifestyle while attempting to open your eyes to the issues surrounding the environment. I gave the album 4 stars just because it was the Beach Boys and the harmonies. The music is par but the collection is rare and hard to find now.