THE BEACH BOYS SHRINE

FOR HARD CORE FANS

Over the years a number of Beach Boys' compilations were released and then re-released or re-packaged. Albums were re-released under a different name with some of the songs from the original album removed. This had the unfortunate effect of making the group's music seem cheap.

A number of obscure albums released on the Pickwick label in the early 70's peaked my curiousity. "Surfer Girl" (I remember this one having only 2 songs from the original album put out by Capitol, "Wow! Great Concert" (a condensed version of their "Concert" LP), and one, the name of which escapes me (it included a number of songs from the "Surfin' Safari" LP and the "Surfin' USA" LP including Cuckoo Clock, Moon Dawg, Chug-a-Lug, Lana, Honky Tonk and Farmer's Daughter)

The following is a list of compilations released over the years. Again this is by no means exhaustive. This page will be updated regularly as I obtain new information.

Beach Boys Compilations

Date

Album

Comments

July 1966

Best of The Beach Boys

Issued by Capitol Records. This is the album where I first heard the song, "Little Honda" and immediately fell in love with it.

August 1967

Best of The Beach Boys, Vol. 2

Issued by Capitol Records. This is the album where I first heard, "Little Saint Nick" and "Please Let Me Wonder", two gems which still are among my favourite Beach Boys songs.

November 1967

Deluxe Set

Today/Summer Days and Summer Nights/Pet Sounds

June 1968

Stack 'o Tracks

A cool album featuring nothing but the backing tracks to songs like "Little Honda", Salt Lake City", "Sloop John B." and others. This is a really cool album.

August 1968

Best of The Beach Boys, Vol. 3

May 1969

Close Up

Featured songs from "Surfin' USA" and "All Summer Long"

February 1970

Good Vibrations

Circa early 1970's

Surfer Girl

Put out by Pickwick label. Featured two songs
from the "Surfer Girl" LP and others from various other Beach Boys' LPs.

Circa early 1970's

Wow! Great Concert

Put out by Pickwick label. Featured a condensed version of their "Concert" LP of 1964.

Circa early 1970's

High Water

Featured two LP's put out by the Pickwick label. One was a mish mash of music from all eras up to and including Pet Sounds material.
The other LP contained therein was a re-release of the Pickwick "Wow! Great Concert" LP. This package was advertised quite extensively on TV.

August 1970

All Summer Long/California Girls

Featured songs from All Summer Long/Summer Days and Summer Nights

August 1970

Dance, Dance, Dance/Fun, Fun, Fun

Featured songs from Today/Shut Down Vol. 2

May 1974

Pet Sounds

June 1974

Endless Summer

An excellent album which introduced a new generation to the sounds that made The Beach Boys famous. Unfortunately, Endless Summer contained the wrong versions of many of their songs, most notably, Help Me Ronda, Be True To Your School and Fun, Fun, Fun.

July 1974

Wild Honey/20/20

Released on the Warner Bothers Label, this introduced a new generation of Beach Boys fans to some of The Beach Boys' post-Pet Sounds work. It would be nice if this could be available on CD.

October 1974

Friends/Smiley Smile

This was the second package released by Warner Brothers. Wouldn't it be nice of this were also available on CD?

April 1975

Spirit of America

This release continued in the spirit of Endless Summer, in fact you could almost call this Endless Summer, Volume 2 and was released due to the overwhelming success of Endless Summer. If you were just beginning to appreciate The Beach Boys, this album, along with Endless Summer were must-haves.

April 1975

Good Vibrations - Best Of The Beach Boys

1993

Thirty Years of The Beach Boys

This is definitely the best compilation released so far. It is a real tribute to a legendary band. Lots of good material, outtakes, radio promos, etc.

1995

20 Good Vibrations

This page was last updated on May 30, 2000.

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Beach Boys Compilations
Date	Album	Comments
July 1966	Best of The Beach Boys	Issued by Capitol Records. This is the album where I first heard the song, "Little Honda" and immediately fell in love with it.
August 1967	Best of The Beach Boys, Vol. 2	Issued by Capitol Records. This is the album where I first heard, "Little Saint Nick" and "Please Let Me Wonder", two gems which still are among my favourite Beach Boys songs.
November 1967	Deluxe Set	Today/Summer Days and Summer Nights/Pet Sounds
June 1968	Stack 'o Tracks	A cool album featuring nothing but the backing tracks to songs like "Little Honda", Salt Lake City", "Sloop John B." and others. This is a really cool album.
August 1968	Best of The Beach Boys, Vol. 3
May 1969	Close Up	Featured songs from "Surfin' USA" and "All Summer Long"
February 1970	Good Vibrations
Circa early 1970's	Surfer Girl	Put out by Pickwick label. Featured two songs from the "Surfer Girl" LP and others from various other Beach Boys' LPs.
Circa early 1970's	Wow! Great Concert	Put out by Pickwick label. Featured a condensed version of their "Concert" LP of 1964.
Circa early 1970's	High Water	Featured two LP's put out by the Pickwick label. One was a mish mash of music from all eras up to and including Pet Sounds material. The other LP contained therein was a re-release of the Pickwick "Wow! Great Concert" LP. This package was advertised quite extensively on TV.
August 1970	All Summer Long/California Girls	Featured songs from All Summer Long/Summer Days and Summer Nights
August 1970	Dance, Dance, Dance/Fun, Fun, Fun	Featured songs from Today/Shut Down Vol. 2
May 1974	Pet Sounds
June 1974	Endless Summer	An excellent album which introduced a new generation to the sounds that made The Beach Boys famous. Unfortunately, Endless Summer contained the wrong versions of many of their songs, most notably, Help Me Ronda, Be True To Your School and Fun, Fun, Fun.
July 1974	Wild Honey/20/20	Released on the Warner Bothers Label, this introduced a new generation of Beach Boys fans to some of The Beach Boys' post-Pet Sounds work. It would be nice if this could be available on CD.
October 1974	Friends/Smiley Smile	This was the second package released by Warner Brothers. Wouldn't it be nice of this were also available on CD?
April 1975	Spirit of America	This release continued in the spirit of Endless Summer, in fact you could almost call this Endless Summer, Volume 2 and was released due to the overwhelming success of Endless Summer. If you were just beginning to appreciate The Beach Boys, this album, along with Endless Summer were must-haves.
April 1975	Good Vibrations - Best Of The Beach Boys
1993	Thirty Years of The Beach Boys	This is definitely the best compilation released so far. It is a real tribute to a legendary band. Lots of good material, outtakes, radio promos, etc.
1995	20 Good Vibrations