Why we still love The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys, Early sound, The "California Sound", 'Surfin' U.S.A', Cars and Christmas, Touring the world, 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)', Artistic response, 'Good Vibrations', Waning popularity, Concert success, 'Kokomo', Great rivals and friends, Their 50th anniversary tour, A perpetual sound of summer

Mention The Beach Boys and thoughts turn to sun, surf, and golden sand. Theirs was a soundtrack of summer, the carefree "California Sound" that still reverberates today. But as the group matured, The Beach Boys produced some of the finest music of the rock era. Indeed, they remain one of the most critically-acclaimed, commercially successful, and influential bands of all time.

Browse this gallery and revisit some good vibrations.

The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys, Early sound, The "California Sound", 'Surfin' U.S.A', Cars and Christmas, Touring the world, 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)', Artistic response, 'Good Vibrations', Waning popularity, Concert success, 'Kokomo', Great rivals and friends, Their 50th anniversary tour, A perpetual sound of summer

The Beach Boys are one of the best-selling bands ever, having sold in excess of 100 million records worldwide.

Early sound

The Beach Boys, Early sound, The "California Sound", 'Surfin' U.S.A', Cars and Christmas, Touring the world, 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)', Artistic response, 'Good Vibrations', Waning popularity, Concert success, 'Kokomo', Great rivals and friends, Their 50th anniversary tour, A perpetual sound of summer

Influenced by the music of jazz-based vocal groups, 1950s-era rock and roll, and black rhythm and blues, the group created a unique sound based on flawless vocal harmonies.

The "California Sound"

The Beach Boys, Early sound, The "California Sound", 'Surfin' U.S.A', Cars and Christmas, Touring the world, 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)', Artistic response, 'Good Vibrations', Waning popularity, Concert success, 'Kokomo', Great rivals and friends, Their 50th anniversary tour, A perpetual sound of summer

The music press quickly dubbed this sunny, carefree vibe the "California Sound," with The Beach Boys as its youthful mouthpiece.

'Surfin' U.S.A'

The Beach Boys, Early sound, The "California Sound", 'Surfin' U.S.A', Cars and Christmas, Touring the world, 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)', Artistic response, 'Good Vibrations', Waning popularity, Concert success, 'Kokomo', Great rivals and friends, Their 50th anniversary tour, A perpetual sound of summer

Their first top 10 single 'Surfin' U.S.A.' effectively launched the band and heralded a long run of highly successful recordings.

Cars and Christmas

The Beach Boys, Early sound, The "California Sound", 'Surfin' U.S.A', Cars and Christmas, Touring the world, 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)', Artistic response, 'Good Vibrations', Waning popularity, Concert success, 'Kokomo', Great rivals and friends, Their 50th anniversary tour, A perpetual sound of summer

Changing gear, the group's 1963 Christmas single 'Little Saint Nick' is a holiday-themed hot rod song about Santa Claus and his sleigh.

Touring the world

The Beach Boys, Early sound, The "California Sound", 'Surfin' U.S.A', Cars and Christmas, Touring the world, 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)', Artistic response, 'Good Vibrations', Waning popularity, Concert success, 'Kokomo', Great rivals and friends, Their 50th anniversary tour, A perpetual sound of summer

In this image, The Beach Boys met members of the press the day after a concert at London's Finsbury Astoria. By now, Brian Wilson had quit live appearances with the band to concentrate solely on songwriting and record production. Session musician Glen Campbell (who would go on to enjoy a successful solo career) served as Brian's temporary replacement in concert.

'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)'

The Beach Boys, Early sound, The "California Sound", 'Surfin' U.S.A', Cars and Christmas, Touring the world, 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)', Artistic response, 'Good Vibrations', Waning popularity, Concert success, 'Kokomo', Great rivals and friends, Their 50th anniversary tour, A perpetual sound of summer

The group's ninth studio album 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)' spawned the hit singles 'Help Me, Rhonda' and 'California Girls.' This album marked the last time Brian Wilson would work with simple preppy beachgoing and romantic themes.

Artistic response

The Beach Boys, Early sound, The "California Sound", 'Surfin' U.S.A', Cars and Christmas, Touring the world, 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)', Artistic response, 'Good Vibrations', Waning popularity, Concert success, 'Kokomo', Great rivals and friends, Their 50th anniversary tour, A perpetual sound of summer

'Pet Sounds' was conceived by Brian Wilson as a direct artistic response to The Beatles' album 'Revolver.' But Wilson's single-handed production excluded other members of the band, much to their displeasure. Mike Love was especially dismissive about the result.

'Good Vibrations'

The Beach Boys, Early sound, The "California Sound", 'Surfin' U.S.A', Cars and Christmas, Touring the world, 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)', Artistic response, 'Good Vibrations', Waning popularity, Concert success, 'Kokomo', Great rivals and friends, Their 50th anniversary tour, A perpetual sound of summer

Released on the back of 'Pet Sounds,' the single 'Good Vibrations' is widely regarded as one of the finest and most important works of the rock era.

Waning popularity

The Beach Boys, Early sound, The "California Sound", 'Surfin' U.S.A', Cars and Christmas, Touring the world, 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)', Artistic response, 'Good Vibrations', Waning popularity, Concert success, 'Kokomo', Great rivals and friends, Their 50th anniversary tour, A perpetual sound of summer

By the late 1960s, The Beach Boys were at their lowest ebb. Deemed culturally insignificant and struggling with a worsening public image, their woes were amplified when Brian Wilson suffered a nervous breakdown.

Concert success

The Beach Boys, Early sound, The "California Sound", 'Surfin' U.S.A', Cars and Christmas, Touring the world, 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)', Artistic response, 'Good Vibrations', Waning popularity, Concert success, 'Kokomo', Great rivals and friends, Their 50th anniversary tour, A perpetual sound of summer

More studio albums followed, including 'The Beach Boys in Concert,' a gold double album documenting the band's 1972 and 1973 US tours. Meanwhile, Brian Wilson remained in seclusion.

'Kokomo'

The Beach Boys, Early sound, The "California Sound", 'Surfin' U.S.A', Cars and Christmas, Touring the world, 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)', Artistic response, 'Good Vibrations', Waning popularity, Concert success, 'Kokomo', Great rivals and friends, Their 50th anniversary tour, A perpetual sound of summer

Released in 1988 to coincide with the soundtrack for the Tom Cruise-starring film 'Cocktail,' this was The Beach Boys' first US number one single in 22 years. It eventually went on to become the band's biggest hit ever.

Great rivals and friends

The Beach Boys, Early sound, The "California Sound", 'Surfin' U.S.A', Cars and Christmas, Touring the world, 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)', Artistic response, 'Good Vibrations', Waning popularity, Concert success, 'Kokomo', Great rivals and friends, Their 50th anniversary tour, A perpetual sound of summer

Paul McCartney holds up the arm of Brian Wilson after the former Beatle inducted Wilson into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the annual induction dinner in New York City, this in 2000.

Their 50th anniversary tour

The Beach Boys, Early sound, The "California Sound", 'Surfin' U.S.A', Cars and Christmas, Touring the world, 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)', Artistic response, 'Good Vibrations', Waning popularity, Concert success, 'Kokomo', Great rivals and friends, Their 50th anniversary tour, A perpetual sound of summer

In 2012, Wilson, Love, Jardine, Johnston, and David Marks reunited for a new album and 50th anniversary tour.

A perpetual sound of summer

The Beach Boys, Early sound, The "California Sound", 'Surfin' U.S.A', Cars and Christmas, Touring the world, 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)', Artistic response, 'Good Vibrations', Waning popularity, Concert success, 'Kokomo', Great rivals and friends, Their 50th anniversary tour, A perpetual sound of summer

California's own: The Beach Boys as their legions of fans remember them.

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