Disco de The Beach Boys: “Carl and the Passions: So Tough/Holland”

I just want to say that this album contains one of the most beautiful songs of all time. "Only With You" is one of the greatest songs that I have ever heard. I actually heard that song for the first time on the movie "I'm With Lucy". It has a heartfelt message, it is soft and is so real-to-life.

I am a 22 year-old black man, and I am probably not the target audience for The Beach Boys, but I am so grateful to have crossed paths with their music. Thank you Beach Boys. Rock On.

As a longtime Beach Boys fan, it has been very disheartening over the years to read reviews that trashed "Carl and the Passions" and "Holland". This re-release is a masterpiece. Originally released in 1972, "Carl and the Passions" is a lost classic. It is a natural progression for the group following the experimentation of "Surf's Up" in 1971. The group allowed itself to continue to grow artistically on this album. "You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone" is perhaps one of the best opening tracks of any Beach Boys album. "Here She Comes" features the voice of Blondie Chaplin, and rivals his performance on "Sail on Sailor". "Marcella" is a great update of their sound and Dennis will make you cry on "Cuddle Up". "Holland" speaks for itself. Orignally released in 1973, it is a masterpiece with not one weak or mediocre song on the whole album. As a fan, I am grateful to Capitol for these stellar re-issues. I only wish that Carl and Dennis were still around to receive the long overdue praise they deserve!

Step 1 : Ignore the critical consensus

Step 2 : Listen to Carl Wilson's voice on "All This Is That";

experience emotional bliss

Step 3 : Continue on with Dennis Wilson's "Cuddle Up"; fall in

love

Step 4 : Rue the day that Mike Love got his wish and, instead of

the band exploring new artistic realms, became men in

their middle thirties (and on into their middle fifties)

singing "Be True To Your School"

If these albums had come out in the early 70's WITHOUT the baggage of an out of favor band name (The Beach Boys) and the public's great expectations of a pop icon (Brian Wilson), the listener of the day would have lapped them up like honey-dew vine water. Even with those obstacles, Rolling Stone valued HOLLAND enough to rate it one of the top 10 albums of that release year. They are not the best ever from this band, but for god's sake, this was a band that put out a gajillion records. Tempest and termoil were what this country was about in the early 70's (war, govt. deception, mistrust.. etc.) These ablums reflect that. That was what the Beach Boys did. They reflected their times, whether it was cruis'n in the early sixties or feeling flow in the 70's... Bottom Line: Gonna own 3 BB cds? These aren't part of your collection. Gonna own 10? They are.

The recent release of "So Tough" and "Holland" as a CD two-fer goes a long way to prove that the Beach Boys were still a vital band in the early '70's. In the absence of chief Beach Boy Brian Wilson, younger brother Carl Wilson assumed the leadership role, inspiring the boys to record some of their finest material since Pet Sounds.

"Holland" emerges as the stronger of the pair, but "So Tough" is certainly a worthy release. The bouncy "Marcella" is the best known track on 1972's "So Tough". Featuring Carl's soulful lead vocal , a funky fuzzy guitar, and an unforgetable chorus, "Marcella" would soon become a concert staple. If not for the fact that the Beach Boys couldn't get arrested in America in 1972, "Marcella" would have been a smash hit. The shimmering "All This is That", with its heavenly layer upon layer of vocals is "So Tough's" most stunning track. It too is a smash single that never was. So strong is this gorgeous track, that it would have been right at home on "Pet Sounds". Finally, there's "Cuddle Up", a classically arranged Dennis Wilson ballad which closes the set on an emotional high note. "Cuddle" rivals 1968's "Forever" as the underrated Dennis' finest composition.

The magnificient "Sail on Sailor" kicks off "Holland", announcing to the world that the Beach Boys were back. Of course no one listened and "Sailor", which featured a knockout vocal from South African guitarist Blondie Chaplin, stalled at #79 on the Billboard charts. The addition of Chaplin and drummer Ricky Fataar seemed to give the boys a much needed kick in the pants. The musicianship on "Holland" and the live shows of this era (check out the recently re-released live album from the '73 tour)is taut and muscular -- probably the finest in the band's history.

Among "Holland's" standout tracks are Dennis' "Steamboat", which features lush backing vocals and a slushy rhythm track which sounds like a late 90's tape loop. "California Saga/California", featuring an ecclectic mish-mash of instruments (banjo and accordian!!) is an immediately hummable track which production-wise is a throw back to the "Smile" era.

"The Trader", a soaring, climactic saga delivered by Carl is "Holland's" crowning moment. The track starts off gently, gains momentum through each verse, then pleasantly shifts gears concluding with Carl hypnotically repeating "a reason to live...reason to live..." This song alone is worth the price of admission. In fact, both albums are so chock full of overlooked gems that is is safe to assume that all Beach Boys fans, whether casual or hardcore, will be satisfied by this marvelous two-fer.