# Help settle a Beach Boys argument **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 26, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272 "2005-07-26T18:51:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/21 "2005-07-26T22:57:25Z")
But the Beach Boys didn’t write “Sloop John B,” so comparison with the rest of their output has to focus on the performance and arrangement only. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/22 "2005-07-26T22:58:40Z")
“Quick Reply” my furry ass. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/23 "2005-07-26T23:00:31Z")
> [@theamazingluther](#): > > Yeah, but the Beach Boys didn’t write the lyrics for Sloop John B. It’s one hell of a nice cover, though. So who’s fault is it? ---
**Author:** ![theamazingluther](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@theamazingluther](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theamazingluther)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/24 "2005-07-26T23:04:16Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > So who’s fault is it? I think it’s a traditional Bahamian drinking song. But I’m not sure. Biffy, do you know? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/25 "2005-07-26T23:13:07Z")
> [@theamazingluther](#): > > I think it’s a traditional Bahamian drinking song. But I’m not sure. Biffy, do you know? I wonder if it was originally written in English. Maybe it’s a translation issue. The rest of the song is not so bad. ---
**Author:** ![Sgt.Pepper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Sgt.Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sgt.Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/26 "2005-07-26T23:38:28Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Hells no. Hells no. “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” is phenomenal. You really have to listen to its subtle orchestrational complexity to fully appreciate it. It’s one of those songs that I’ve never paid much attention to then, one day, while revisiting _Pet Sounds_, I listened to it very closely and realized just how intricate the instrumentation is. From its quirky and memorable out-of-tune mandolin intro to the pulsing accordian (I think), bombastic tympani, and trademark harmonies. It’s a perfect pop song. Well now, that’s interesting. Just last weekend I bought _Pet Sounds_ and my initial impression of it was similar to what you said there. I figure to truly appreciate it I must either have the stereo blaring, or listen to it through a good pair of earphones to catch all the nuances. And that’s just concentrating on the music, not used as a backgroud music to what I’m doing. That said, my initial answer to the OP would have been _Good Vibrations_ with no arguments, but now I think I’ll have to relisten to _Wouldn’t it be Nice_. Interesting thread. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/27 "2005-07-27T00:00:11Z")
> [@Sgt.Pepper](#): > > Well now, that’s interesting. Just last weekend I bought _Pet Sounds_ and my initial impression of it was similar to what you said there. I figure to truly appreciate it I must either have the stereo blaring, or listen to it through a good pair of earphones to catch all the nuances. No. You just need to listen. _Pet Sounds_ took me several listens over a span of years to fully appreciate. I can still remember the day it all made sense to me. It was about two or three years ago, and I had been living in Budapest. Something made me borrow a friend’s copy of _Pet Sounds_, which had wonderful liner notes detailing the recording process and had detailed commentary on every single one of the songs. After reading the liner notes, I got back to the music and it was like an epiphany to me. All of a sudden, it all just made sense why music critics across generations hail this as one of the top three albums of all time. It was just a matter of active listening, and that’s what the liner notes helped me do. I didn’t need headphones or a blaring stereo system (although they help, but I listened on a typical cheapie $20 boom box). Since that day, I’ve never been able to understand how I didn’t appreciate the genius of this record the first dozen times I heard it. You really need to delve _into_ the music–behind the pop masquerade–to truly appreciate it. You can’t just listen to it as background music. You really need to pay attention. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/28 "2005-07-27T00:22:46Z")
Wouldn’t It Be Nice. No particular reason. God Only Knows trumps both. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/29 "2005-07-27T01:14:43Z")
My vote’s for Wouldn’t It Be Nice, I think it’s sweet. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/30 "2005-07-27T01:22:37Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Between it and “Good Vibrations,” I have to go with “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” partly because it’s sublime, and partly because it’s the opening track to one of the greatest albums of all time. > > Oh, and “God Only Knows” trumps both of these. I agree with all of this 100%. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/31 "2005-07-27T01:41:57Z")
I’d have to give them both another listen to determine my favorite of the two, but I agree with all the posters who have said that “God Only Knows” beats them both. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Highwayman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Highwayman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Highwayman)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/32 "2005-07-27T03:54:34Z")
Comparing songs on **Pet Sounds** is like comparing diamonds and gold bars. BTW does anyone else think that the cover gives you not a clue as to the greatness of this album? ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/33 "2005-07-27T04:29:42Z")
Wait, both songs are on Pet Sounds? And I thought I had to have it before. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/34 "2005-07-27T04:51:50Z")
> [@The Highwayman](#): > > Comparing songs on **Pet Sounds** is like comparing diamonds and gold bars. > > BTW does anyone else think that the cover gives you not a clue as to the greatness of this album? YES. Well, I was only fourteen when my dad first lent it to me and told me it was great, but from the cover and the album name I was a bit scared to listen because it looked boring. Actually, I didn’t like it much then either. I came to appreciate Pet Sounds after seeing Brian Wilson last year. So what other songs from it do people like? My other favorite besides GOK, WIBN, and SJB is That’s Not Me- at least I think that’s the one. It’s the one that has a part that goes “I once had a dream so I packed up and split for the city”. Also, I really like Hang On To Your Ego/ I Know There’s An Answer. I don’t know which one I like better- I prefer the lyrics in Hang On To Your Ego but I think the performance of I Know There’s An Answer is a lot better. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/35 "2005-07-27T05:02:56Z")
“Wouldn’t It Be Nice” is on my list of Ten Greatest Pop Songs Ever Recorded. “Good Vibrations,” on the other hand, often gets credit for being _good_ when it was actually just _new_. I’m not saying it’s easy to do something new, but “Good Vibrations” just isn’t a great song. It had a lot of innovative instrumentation that no one had heard before, and these hooks and fluorishes formed an effective distraction from the fact that there just wasn’t much _there_ there, to borrow from Gertrude Stein. To answer the OP: “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” hands down. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/36 "2005-07-27T05:05:04Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > Wait, both songs are on Pet Sounds? And I thought I had to have it before. Sorry. I don’t know which one the Beach Boys version of GV is on, but it’s not Pet Sounds. The new one is on Brian Wilson’s rerecording of Smile. Also, Todd Rundgren did a decent cover, though it sounds a little off to me. My dad said he almost likes it better because it doesn’t have Mike Love. Another Beach Boys cd that’s worth getting is the one that has both of their albums from right before Pet Sounds. There’s some great stuff there. One of their songs from it that I was surprised at how brilliant it is is You’re So Good To Me. It’s sounds like the type of crazy stuff Syd Barrett was doing two years later. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Highwayman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Highwayman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Highwayman)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/37 "2005-07-27T05:07:11Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > Wait, both songs are on Pet Sounds? And I thought I had to have it before. Oh no, I was responding to the other pairings. But it does beg the question that if _Good Vibrations_ was on **Pet Sounds** , would the album have been the greatest of the 60’s? I would tend to think that honor would go to SP’s. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/38 "2005-07-27T05:26:57Z")
> [@Talon Karrde](#): > > Sorry. I don’t know which one the Beach Boys version of GV is on, but it’s not Pet Sounds. “Good Vibrations” was on **Smiley Smile** , the make-do album that came out when the original **Smile** project was abandoned. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/39 "2005-07-27T13:09:05Z")
Good Vibrations is extroverted and joyous Wouldn’t It Be Nice is introverted and teenage-awkward God Only Knows is mature and intimate They’re all brilliant, but not really comparable. I find it hard to find a line more achingly accurate than WibN’s - _You know it seems the more we talk about it It only makes it worse to live without it But lets talk about it_ but I love all three songs. and, as I find myself doing a lot, I agree with **pulykamell** ’s analysis - the more you listen, the more there is to listen to. ---
**Author:** ![theamazingluther](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@theamazingluther](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theamazingluther)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2005, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272/40 "2005-07-27T15:39:06Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > and, as I find myself doing a lot, I agree with **pulykamell** ’s analysis - the more you listen, the more there is to listen to. And that’s what’s great about the Beach Boys. For years, I dismissed them as vapid surfer rockers – much like the mutated neogroup that recorded Kokomo. But there’s so much more to their music just below the surface… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-beach-boys-argument/314272.md?page=3)