Disco de The Beach Boys: “The Beach Boys in Concert”

Without a doubt the best of the Beach Boys live albums-- taken from tours for Holland, this is from the last tour before emphasis on older material began. In fact, of the 20 cuts on this disc, only six date from before Pet Sounds. The band includes Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar, musicians from South Africa who joined the Beach Boys on their previous two studio albums.

It is in fact Blondie who is first heard, with his great lead vocal on "Sail On, Sailor". The set continues through later Beach Boys material and a few "Pet Sounds" songs-- of particular note are a great take on "You Still Believe in Me", powerful readings of "Heroes and Villains" and "Funky Pretty" (the latter again featuring a stellar vocal by Blondie), and a totally moving take on "Let the Wind Blow" (with a stunning lead by Carl). Also of note is "We Got Love", recorded for "Holland" but not released. The only complaint is there's no Dennis songs on here, but its a small complaint, given how powerful the album is.

Overall, a great set, and well worth having.

This album was my first real introduction to the Beach Boys. Always known for the studio work of Brian, the alter ego of the band is the live shows. I must start by saying the line up is spectacular. Having seen the band on this tour, wow, what a sound. Real musicians/real vocals/great songs. A lot of the songs will not be familiar to the casual fan. Be prepared to meet some new friends! Leaving this Town for example, what a jewel!

The most important and musically improved part of this set is the absense of Bruce Johnston. He was doing his own thing in '72 and what a favor he did the band. I respect his being on the job for all these years, but what a whimpy musician. The band had an edge on this album, totally different than the Good Timin set fromEngland. They where a real rock band, not a live jukebox. You will see what I mean with the opener,Sail On Sailor. It rocks! The oldies even have a turbo up feel, due in part to Blondie's guitar work and Ricky's drumming. Much heavier feel than other live sets.

So pick this one up and experience the Boy's at their finest. If I had to keep one of my BB albums and pitch the rest, this would be it.

Lynn

For whatever reason, the Beach Boys are "in" again. Be it to the Barenaked Ladies Song "Brian Wilson," or having finally got past the Beatlemainia Redux of the 1980's, or be it to the tragic death of Carl Wilson in 1998, or a secret marketing strategy from Capitol Records, or whatever, I'm glad that the boys from Hawthorn are finally getting their due.

This is the group's third concert album, and personally my favorite. You capture the Beach Boys in 1973 and '74, which is the post-Viet Nam era of Watergate. The sun kissed California image, which was a marketing gimmick, was working against them. "Pet Sounds" was a critically acclaimed success and a commercial bomb. SMiLE was recoded, and then abandoned. And in 1973, Brian Wilson began his long hideout in his bed.

The concert album has all three phases of the Beach Boys: the Surfin USA phase, the Pet Sounds phase, and the Post Brian phase of the band. They play their classis songs, but with 1970's instrumentation and synthesizers. So California Girls takes on a funkier and almost disco feel, and Help Me Ronda gets bouncier, with more oomph from the guitar. And the bassist is out of this world! They have four Pet Sounds: Sloop John B, Caroline No, Wouldn't it be Nice, and Good Vibrations (listen to the Pet Sounds sessions, disc 2, track 12 and 13). But the best treasures on this album are the tracks from Friends, Wild Honey, Carl and the Passions, and Holland. Yes, there was life after Good Vibrations, and this concert is proof positive of it.

You here several of these forgotten (ignored?) classics such as Sail On Sailor, the Trader, Let the Wind Blow, and Darlin. Songs I wish that they would play at their concerts nowadays. These songs hold their own with Surfin USA and Good Vibrations, but they are more sophisticated, and, indeed, are more spiritual and soulful. The Beach Boys had a spiritual side that the Beatles lacked, George Harrison and the Mahrishi not withstanding. They recorded such songs as "Our Prayer," "God Only Knows," but also recorded a Christmas Album, and the more traditional "Lord's Prayer." They knew that they were not bigger than Jesus, but in a sense they helped Him bring people to a higher level and to commune with the infinite.

These concerts was recoded durting Blonie Chaplains and Ricky Fataar's brief stin as Beach Boys, and they lend a rougher and grittier edge to the sweet harmonies. In fact, they bring the band back to being a rock band again, something that was lost during the recording of the "Today" album.

I think the most surprising track on this album is the revamped version of "Surfin USA." I didn't think that anyone could resurrect this overplayed classic of theirs, but with Fataar and Chaplin's rougher and raunchier edge, the bring new life into this old classic. I like the song again because of how they play it on the album.

This album is a great companion disc to the Beat of the Beach Boys vol. 3: The Brothers Years. They both cover the forgotten ear of Beach Boys concerts, where you had the reassembled band trying to reinvent themselves in a post-Watergate era. Both Carl and Al try to cover Brian Wilson's lead vocals, and try to stick with the classics while letting people know they were still producing new music and newer classics.

With the death of Carl Wilson, we will never hear Trader in concert again. This album freezes forever his angelic voice, and preserves it for posterity.

I have waited many years for this album to be released.At last,the REAL beach boys when they were at their best and before they were turned into(to quote former Beach Boy Al Jardine)"a travelling jukebox that added cheerleaders and started to look like an overly decorated Christmas tree".This is the band that Rolling Stone Magazine named "band of the year"in 1974 because they were such a good live band.With this album,you get the hits we all know,plus such rare live tracks as "Sail On Sailor,You Still Believe in Me,Marcella,Let The Wind Blow" and many more.This release helps restore some of the band's credibility.The cd is nicely remastered and has great liner notes detailing the history of the band.A must buy for fans.

Crits rave and zany fans shout that "Love You" is the last great Beach Boys album, however, this In Concert is more likely the final glimpse of greatness seen/heard from the band. Despite Mike Love's pleadings they play a charged set of their greatest hits (well, at least in the eyes of the fans who still care today) and then succumb to Love's wishes and well, those tracks aren't too bad either.

Any album where you get to hear the late great Carl Wilson trying out his soulful pipes for a grateful audience is well worth your money. Also reccomended is Surf's Up and Sunflower, the last two great Beach Boys studio albums.