The Beach Boys - Friends/20/20

What happens when the goose stops laying golden eggs? That's the dilemma the Beach Boys faced when Brian Wilson underwent a self-imposed creative cooling-off period after the mysterious Smile album debacle. And after producing what averaged to better than three albums a year for the previous half-decade, who could blame him? Nevertheless, the band's failure to capitalize on the musical revolution symbolized by Sgt. Pepper saw their American fortunes plummet from world-beaters to also-rans, seemingly overnight. But ironically, as the times were a-changin', so was the Beach Boys sound, even if few in America were listening. Friends is easily the band's most tranquil album, a missive of peaceful good tidings fatefully issued amidst the assassinations and street riots of 1968. And if Brian was absent from many of the group's photos during the troubled era, he was still involved behind the scenes, as the vocal harmonies of the title track, "Be Here in the Mornin'," and others attest; his instrumental arrangements may be low-key, though ever inventive, as "Diamond Head" also confirms. Still, the blunt, confessional message of Wilson's "Busy Doin' Nothin'" is equally hard to miss.

20/20 marked the 20th--and last--album of the band's first Capitol era. The album is a collection of singles (the nostalgic "Do It Again," Carl Wilson's vibrant showcase "I Can Hear Music") and a couple of key Smile scraps (the transcendent a cappella album intro "Our Prayer" and the American gothic-tinged "Cabinessence," with obtusely punning lyrics courtesy of Van Dyke Parks) set amidst productions that are mostly divided among various band members. Perhaps most notable is the continued blossoming of Dennis Wilson's talents on "Be with Me" and "Never Learn Not to Love" (the latter reputedly originally given to Wilson by temporary housemate Charles Manson; strange days, indeed). This digitally remastered edition of the long out-of-print twofer edition includes the reminiscences of Brian Wilson and insightful liner notes by Beach Boys and the California Myth author David Leaf and features five bonus cuts: "Break Away," the band's vocally spectacular, if woefully underappreciated, last Capitol single; the B-side "Celebrate the News," sung and produced by Dennis; the beautiful '68 outtake, "We're Together Again"; a snippet of Brian's soaring falsetto paying tribute to Bacharach's "Walk on By"; and a medley of "Old Folks at Home"/"Ol' Man River" that underscores the band's distinctly American historical and artistic heritage. --Jerry McCulley Amazon.com

Some of the best rock you'll ever hear

Specially 20/20 is close to a masterpiece (if you like this i recommend you get 'Surf's up' & 'Holland' too). Great melodies, astounding vocal harmonies and even some studio experimentation plus you get a REAL sense of experiencing the roots of rock n roll. It is felt through out this entire album (20/20). Rock is dead but i am glad we can still enjoy the albums of the creators. Long live the 3 minute rock n roll tune! and long live the Beach Boys music. September 30, 2008

Could have been one five star album

I really love 'friends'. 'Meant for you' is possibly one of the best openers to an album I have ever heard. The album just passes by with mellow and captivating harmonies. The ascending crescendo in 'friends' is captivating and there are no clunkers, except maybe 'be still', which is so simplistic and could have been composed by a child and, 'transcedental meditation', which is very out of tune. A lovely little album, that doesn't try too hard and succeeds for that reason.
20/20 is a different kettle of fish altogether. As soon as 'Do it again' started, I thought 'oh no, unmelodic, nasally Mike Love.' I further don't like 'bluebirds over the mountain', just tuneless. 'Cotton fields' has no melody whatsoever. 'All I wanna do' is the nadir of the whole of the Beach boys' career. I can't believe they'd record such nonsense as this.
There are beautiful songs here also. The best track on the album is the Bruce Johnston composed instrumental ballad 'the nearest faraway place' it is so atmospheric and lush. Other highlights include 'I went to sleep', sounding exactly like a track off 'friends'. Nice counter point woodwind instruments compliment Brian's lead vocal. 'Time to get alone' has some very nice harmonies and a waltzing beat.
'Never learn not to love' has a very nice backing, although I'm never convinced by Dennis's vocals. 'Our prayer' is enchanting and shows how well the voice of the Beach Boys blended together. I wonder if Dennis is in the mix? One of the loveliest sounding songs ever.
Friends is barely 25 minutes, I think this could have been a five star album, if they cut 'be still', 'transcendental meditation', and added all tracks from 20/20, except the aforementioned four abysmal tracks. 'Breakaway' should also be included and it is a wonder this never made the album in the first place. May 26, 2008

Friends is Meant For You if you're a fan

Friends is the best BB album. It's 25 minutes of peace, positivity and the lost hippy masterpiece of 1968. The real fans best kept secret. If you're not a fan you'll hate it, if you're a real BB fan, it is meant for you.
20/20 is worth it for the lost Smile track Cabinessence. July 10, 2006

20/20... The Forgotten Gem

The only reason I gave this four stars is because it's combined with Friends, which with the exception of Meant For You & the title song is just OK, in my opinion. 20/20, however is loaded with phenomenal songs. Do It Again,I Can Hear Music,Be With Me, Time To Get Alone,Our Prayer(a capella at it's best), etc. For some reason, critics never even gave this album a chance and I don't know why. Maybe it didn't fit the late 60's groove that was going on, but still the lyrics are strong and the harmonies are fantastic. Yes, there is that one song, "Never Learn not to Love", whose lyrics were written by Charles Manson, but the way the song is done by The Beach Boys is just too good to pass off just because of who wrote it. This 2 CD set also includes Break Away and We're Together Again, which are also excellent songs that never received any airplay. The only 2 songs that did were Do It Again and I Can Hear Music. My advice is to buy this while you can. You won't be disappointed!! May 22, 2006

Outrageously Great Albums- Well Kept Secret Among Elite Music Appreciaters

In fact I have heard that "Friends" is Brian Wilson's favorite album. The songs on here that will hypnotize and captivate you are ones that you have probably never heard like "Anna Lee The Healer" on Friends. Or the minor hit "I can Hear Music" on 20/20. It's funny but on 20/20 the biggest hit is "Do it Again" and it is actually one of the weaker songs on the album. On Friends Denis Wilson starts to really emerge as a vocal talent and songwriter. And on 20/20 Bruce Johnston contributes something pretty special with the instrumental "The Nearest Faraway Place" which went on to become the title of the Timothy White biography about the Beach Boys. These albums are must haves because a lot of the best material on them is not found on any of the greates hits packages including the Brother Years compilation. Buy these NOW! November 6, 2005

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