Compiled by Johnny Cole
The Beach Boys, who defined the California sound, formed their band in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. Brothers Brian, Dennis, Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and good friend Al Jardine made up the original lineup. My latest list ranking favorite songs by a particular music artist is the Beach Boys. This list consists of favorite singles, B-sides, selected album tracks by the Beach Boys and notable solo recordings by members.
The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds remains my favorite album in music history, and four of their songs (“Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Don’t Worry Baby,” “God Only Knows,” and “Good Vibrations”) rank among my 25 all-time favorite songs. My praise for Brian Wilson goes without saying – a true musical genius. Yes, he is rightfully given the most attention for his creative leadership and vision, but younger brothers Dennis and Carl were also extremely talented as songwriters and vocalists. Carl’s voice on “God Only Knows” is perfection. Al Jardine and Bruce Johnston contributed significantly to the band as songwriters, producers and vocalists. Mike Love provided the lyrics and vocals to many of the Beach Boys’ most successful hits and has been the band’s live frontman throughout its long journey. In fact, each member of the band was a vital part of the band’s unique legacy and undeniable sound.
The Beach Boys are:
● Brian Wilson (1961 to present, though no longer tours with the band; he’s released several solo albums and for many years enjoyed a number of successful tours. Brian’s future as a recording artist and performer is uncertain due to declining health).
● Mike Love (1961 to present; since 1998, he has had exclusive rights to tour under the Beach Boys name. As of 2024, Mike Love, Bruce Johnston, and touring band continue to perform as The Beach Boys)
● Dennis Wilson (1961 to his death in 1983)
● Carl Wilson (1961 to his death in 1998)
● Al Jardine (1961-62, 1963 to present; following Carl’s death, he has recorded solo and toured with friends)
● Bruce Johnston (1965-1972; 1978-present; he continues to tour with Mike Love. *interesting fact: He replaced temporary Beach Boy member Glen Campbell in 1965. Campbell left the Beach Boys to become well, “Glen Campbell”)
● David Marks (1962-1963, 1997- 1999, 2011-2012. When Al Jardine briefly left the Beach Boys to attend college, Marks, a young neighborhood friend, stepped in to become an official member of the band during their first four studio albums)
● Blondie Chaplin (1972-1973; he sang lead on the Beach Boys’ “Sail On, Sailor.” He was a member of the South African band The Flames before joining The Beach Boys. He has also performed with Al Jardine and Brian Wilson and toured for many years with the Rolling Stones.
● Ricky Fataar (1972-74; Along with Blondie Chaplin, he was a member of the South African band The Flames before joining The Beach Boys. He has been the drummer for Bonnie Raitt since the 1980s)
Notable supporting musicians for both the Beach Boys’ live performances and studio recordings included guitarist and session musician Glen Campbell, keyboardists Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille (Captain & Tennille), drummer Hal Blaine, keyboardist Billy Hinsche, bass guitarist Carol Kaye, guitarist Jeffrey Foskett, drummer John Cowsill, actor, drummer and guitarist John Stamos, saxophonist Charles Lloyd, and many more!
The 2024 documentary film The Beach Boys can be streamed currently on Disney+. I also highly recommend seeing Endless Harmony: The Beach Boys Story, a 1998 biographical documentary directed by Alan Boy; Love & Mercy, a 2014 biographical film directed by Bill Pohlad about the Beach Boys’ co-founder and leader Brian Wilson and his struggles with mental illness during the 1960s and 1980s; and Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road, a documentary film about the Beach Boys’ co-founder Brian Wilson.
* My list of 300 songs was put together following months of research and listening to an untold amount of music by the Beach Boys, including each member’s solo work. Unless mentioned otherwise, I feature various U.S. charts according to Billboard magazine throughout the list. The following will be used for teaching purposes, but hopefully, many will enjoy and appreciate the work that went into it.
My List completed on June 15, 2024:
1) “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” (third single from the Beach Boys’ eleventh studio album Pet Sounds, 1966; reached #8 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal(s): Brian Wilson and Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson, Tony Asher, and Mike Love. The first four songs on this list could easily be interchangeable for the top spot, and in my opinion, are four of the best songs in music history.
2) “Don’t Worry Baby” (second track on the Beach Boys’ fourth studio album Shut Down Volume 2, 1964; the B-side to “I Get Around” reached #24 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Roger Christian. The song was derived from Wilson’s obsession with The Ronettes’ 1963 hit “Be My Baby.”
3) “God Only Knows” (eighth track on the Beach Boys’ masterpiece Pet Songs, 1966; the B-side to “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” reached #39 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Carl Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher. Brian Wilson produced and recorded the single during the spring of 1966, enlisting nearly two dozen session musicians from the Wrecking Crew. Carl Wilson’s lead vocals on this song are phenomenal. Many critics and fans have praised “God Only Knows” as one of the greatest songs in pop music history and the Beach Boys’ finest record.
4) “Good Vibrations” (a standalone single released in the fall of 1966; reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and also topped several charts around the world) *lead vocal(s): Carl Wilson and Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. A staggering number of studio musicians, predominently from The Wrecking Crew, contributed to the recording of this timeless classic. As mentioned earlier, these top four songs on my list could easily be interchangable. In fact, they rank among my all-time top 25 songs.
5) “Surfer Girl” (only single from the Beach Boy’s 1963 studio album of the same name; reached #7 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson.
6) “In My Room” (seventh track on the Beach Boys’ third studio album Surfer Girl, 1963; the B-side to “Be True to Your School” reached #23 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Gary Usher.
7) “Feel Flows” (sixth track on the Beach Boys’ seventeenth studio album Surf’s Up, 1971) *lead vocal: Carl Wilson; written by Carl Wilson and Jack Rieley. The song is prominently featured in Almost Famous (2000), director Cameron Crowe’s acclaimed film.
8) “All Summer Long” (title track on the Beach Boys’ 1964 studio album of the same name) *lead vocal(s): Mike Love and the entire band; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love; The song is featured in the 1973 film American Graffiti as the closing credits roll, although the movie is set in the summer of 1962, two years before the song’s release. The song was included in the film as a metaphor for the end of the time period that the movie celebrates.
9) “Surf’s Up” (originally recorded by the Beach Boys for their 1967 unfinished album Smile; it would eventually become the title track on the Beach Boys’ seventeenth studio album, Surf’s Up, 1971) *lead vocal(s): Carl Wilson, Brian Wilson, and Al Jardine; written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks. In 2011, the song was released as the B-side to “Vega-Tables” to promote The Smile Sessions box set. Several music critics, magazines, and websites have voted “Surf’s Up” as one of the Beach Boys’ greatest songs.
10) “I Can Hear Music” (second single from the Beach Boys’ fifteenth studio album 20/20, 1969; reached #24 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #10 on the U.K. Singles Chart) *lead vocal: Carl Wilson; written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector, and originally recorded by The Ronettes in 1966.
11) “Cuddle Up” (eighth track on the Beach Boys’ eighteenth studio album Carl and the Passions -“So Tough,” 1972; the B-side to “You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone”) *lead vocal: Dennis Wilson; written by Dennis Wilson and Daryl Dragon (later of Captain and Tennille). Another example of Dennis Wilson’s incredible talent.
12) “Sail On, Sailor” (lead single from the Beach Boys’ nineteenth studio album Holland, 1973; reached #79 in 1973 and #49 in 1975 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *The lead singer of the song was Blondie Chaplin, making this one of the band’s few well-known songs not sung by Mike Wilson, Brian Wilson or Carl Wilson; written primarily by Van Dyke Parks and Brian Wilson with Ray Kennedy, Tandyn Almer, and Jack Rieley.
13) “When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)” (lead single from the Beach Boys’ eighth studio album The Beach Boys Today!, 1965; reached #9 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal(s): Brian Wilson and Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
14) “Sloop John B” (second single from the Beach Boys eleventh studio album Pet Sounds, 1966; reached #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal(s): Brian Wilson and Mike Love; song is credited as traditional and arranged by Brian Wilson. The classic video for this song is my favorite done by the Beach Boys.
15) “The Warmth of the Sun” (fifth track on the Beach Boys’ fifth studio album Shut Down Volume 2, 1964; the B-side to “Dance, Dance, Dance”) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
16) “Fun Fun Fun” (the lead single from the Beach Boys’ fifth studio album Shut Down Volume 2, 1964; reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
17) “Surfin’ U.S.A.” (from the Beach Boys’ second studio album Surfin’ U.S.A., 1963; reached #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Billboard’s Year-End chart) *lead vocal: Mike Love; the song is a rewritten version of Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen” set to new lyrics written by Brian Wilson and an uncredited Mike Love (Chuck Berry also received a writing credit).
18) “I Get Around” (lead single from the Beach Boys’ sixth studio album All Summer Long, 1964; reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal(s): Mike Love and Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
19) “Help Me Rhonda” (lead single from their ninth studio album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), 1965; reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Al Jardine; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. The song first appeared on the 1965 album The Beach Boys Today!, where it was spelled “Help Me, Ronda”.
20) “Girls on the Beach” (ninth track on the Beach Boys’ sixth studio album All Summer Long, 1964; the song also served as the title track to the 1964 surf movie Girls on the Beach) *lead vocal(s): Brian Wilson and Dennis Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
21) “California Girls” (second single from the Beach Boys’ ninth studio album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), 1965; reached #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal(s): Brian Wilson and Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. In 1984, David Lee Roth recorded a cover version that also peaked at #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
22) “Caroline, No” (lead single from the Beach Boys’ eleventh studio album Pet Sounds, 1966; reached #32 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher.
23) “Our Prayer” (eleventh track on the Beach Boys’ fifteenth studio album 20/20, 1969) *lead vocal(s): credited to the entire band; a wordless hymn written by Brian Wilson.
24)”Do It Again” (originally released as a standalone single by the Beach Boys in 1968, but later appeared as opening track on the band’s fifteenth studio album 20/20, 1969; reached #20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the UK Singles chart) *lead vocal(s): Mike Love and Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
25) “Darlin'” (second single from the Beach Boys’ thirteenth studio album Wild Honey, 1967; reached #19 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Carl Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
26) “That’s Why God Made the Radio” (lead single from the Beach Boys’ 2012 studio album of the same name; reached #16 on Billboard’s Hot Singles Sales chart) *lead vocal(s): credited to the entire band; written by Joe Thomas, Brian Wilson, Jim Peterik, and Larry Millas.
27) “Catch a Wave” (second track on the Beach Boys’ third studio album Surfer Girl, 1963) *lead vocal(s): Mike Love and Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. In 1964, a rewritten version of the song was recorded by Jan and Dean as “Sidewalk Surfin’.”
28) “Cabin Essence,” also known as “Cabinessence” (originally recorded by the Beach Boys for their 1967 unfinished album Smile; it was eventually the twelfth track on their fifteenth studio album 20/20, 1969) *lead vocal(s): Carl Wilson, Mike Love, and Dennis Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks. In 2011, the song was released as a single to promote The Smiles Sessions box set.
29) “California Dreamin'” (The Beach Boys cover of the Mamas and Papas classic was the final track on their compilation album Made in the U.S.A., 1986; reached #8 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart) *lead vocal(s): credited to the entire band; written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips; Terry Melcher produced the Beach Boys’ recording and features The Byrds’ Roger McGuinn on 12-string guitar.
30) “I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times” (eleventh track on the Beach Boys’ eleventh studio album Pet Sounds, 1966) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher.
31) “Love and Mercy” (first single from Brian Wilson’s self-titled debut album, 1988) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson.
32) “Be True To Your School” (lead single from the Beach Boys’ fourth studio album Little Deuce Coupe, 1963; reached #6 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love; There are two versions of this song: the album version and the single version, which added cheerleader yells by the girl group The Honeys in between verses.
33) “Little Deuce Coupe” (the sixth track on the Beach Boys’ third studio album Surfer Girl, 1963, and was title track on their next album, too; The song was also the B-side to The Beach Boys’ 1963 single “Surfer Girl,” reaching #15 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson and Roger Christian. In 1963, the Beach Boys also released an album called Little Deuce Coupe. It is considered one of the earliest examples of a rock concept album.
34) “Surfin’ Safari” (title track and second single from the Beach Boys’ 1962 debut studio album of the same name; reached #14 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
35) “Shut Down” (sixth track on the Beach Boys’ second studio album Surfin U.S.A., 1963; the B-side to “Surfin U.S.A.” reached #23 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
36) “Girl Don’t Tell Me” (fifth track on the Beach Boys’ ninth studio album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), 1965; the B-side to “Barbara Ann”) *lead vocal: Carl Wilson; written by Brian Wilson.
37) “409” (the sixth track on the Beach Boys’ debut studio album Surfin’ Safari, 1962 and appeared again on their 1963 album Little Deuce Coupe; the song was also the B-side to “Surfin’ Safari”) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson, Gary Usher, and Mike Love.
38) “Let Him Run Wild” (eighth track on the Beach Boys’ ninth studio album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), 1965; the B-side to “California Girls”) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
39) “The Little Girl I Once Knew” (a standalone single recorded during the Pet Sounds sessions in 1965; reached #20 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal(s): Mike Love, Brian Wilson, and Carl Wilson; written by Brian Wilson.
40) “Add Some Music to Your Day” (lead single from the Beach Boys’ sixteenth studio album Sunflower, 1970; reached #64 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal(s): Mike Love, Bruce Johnston, Carl Wilson, Brian Wilson, and Al Jardine; written by Brian Wilson, Joe Knott, and Mike Love.
41) “Only with You” (eighth track on the Beach Boys’ nineteenth studio album Holland, 1973; the B-side to “Sail On, Sailor”) *lead vocal: Carl Wilson; written by Dennis Wilson and Mike Love.
42) “Dance, Dance, Dance” (second single from the Beach Boys’ eighth studio album The Beach Boys Today!, 1965; reached #8 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal(s): Mike Love and Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, and Mike Love.
43) “Forever” (ninth track on the Beach Boys’ sixteenth studio album Sunflower, 1970; the B-side to “Cool, Cool Water”) *lead vocal: Dennis Wilson; written by Dennis Wilson and Gregg Jakobson.
44) “Barbara Ann” (only single officially released from the Beach Boys’ tenth studio album Beach Boys’ Party!, 1965; reached #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal(s): Brian Wilson and Dean Torrence of Jan & Dean; written by Fred Fassert and originally a 1960 hit by The Regents, a doo-wop group from New York City.
45) “Rock and Roll Music” (lead single from the Beach Boys’ twentieth studio album 15 Big Ones, 1976) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written and originally recorded by Chuck Berry.
46) “Please Let Me Wonder” (seventh track on the Beach Boys’ eighth studio album The Beach Boys Today!, 1965; the B-side to “Do You Wanna Dance?” reached #52 on the US Billboard Hot 100″) *lead vocal(s): Brian Wilson and Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
47) “I Know There’s An Answer,” also known as “Hang On to Your Ego” (ninth track on the Beach Boys’ eleventh studio album Pet Sounds, 1966) *lead vocal(s): Mike Love and Al Jardine with Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson, Terry Sachen, and Mike Love. Originally titled “Let Go of Your Ego.”
48) “Wild Honey” (lead single from the Beach Boys’ thirteenth studio album of the same name, 1967; reached #31 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Carl Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
49) “Cool, Cool Water” (fourth single from the Beach Boys’ sixteenth studio album Sunflower, 1970) *lead vocal(s): Brian Wilson and Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. The song evolved from “Love to Say Dada,” an unfinished composition from the band’s unreleased Smile album. Earlier versions of “Cool, Cool Water” were recorded during sessions for the 1967 albums Smiley Smile and Wild Honey.
50) “Break Away” (a 1969 standalone single recorded during the early sessions for the Beach Boys’ studio album Sunflower; reached #63 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Carl Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Reggie Dunbar (Murray Wilson, father of the Beach Boys’ Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson.)
51) “South American” (second single from Brian Wilson’s third solo album Imagination, 1998) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson, Joe Thomas, and Jimmy Buffett.
52) “Do You Wanna Dance?” (third single from the Beach Boys’ eighth studio album The Beach Boys Today!, 1965; reached #12 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Dennis Wilson; written and originally recorded by Bobby Freeman in 1958.
53) “Melt Away” (second single from Brian Wilson’s self-titled debut album, 1988) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson.
54) “She Knows Me Too Well” (tenth track on the Beach Boys’ eighth studio album The Beach Boys Today!, 1965; the B-side to “When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)”) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
55) “Surfin'” (the lead single from the Beach Boys’ debut studio album Surfin’ Safari, 1962; reached #75 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. The single, released on Nov. 27, 1961, effectively began the Beach Boys’ music career, establishing them at the vanguard of what was later dubbed the “California Sound.”
56) “Wendy” (seventh track on the Beach Boys’ sixth studio album All Summer Long and one of two singles from the 1964 EP Four by The Beach Boys; reached #65 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
57) “Then I Kissed Her” (third track on the Beach Boys’ ninth studio album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), 1965) *lead vocal: Al Jardine; written by Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich, and Jeff Barry. The original version by The Crystals peaked at #6 in 1963.
58) “Isn’t It Time” (second single from the Beach Boys’ twenty-ninth studio album That’s Why God Made the Radio, 2012) *lead vocal(s): Brian Wilson, Bruce Johnston, Al Jardine, Mike Love, and Jeffrey Foskett; written by Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Joe Thomas, Jim Peterik, and Larry Millas.
59) “On the Island” (third single from Brian Wilson’s tenth studio album No Pier Pressure, 2015) *recorded with She & Him (Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward); written by Brian Wilson and Joe Thomas.
60) “Don’t Go Near the Water” (opening track on the Beach Boys seventeenth studio album Surf’s Up, 1971; the B-side to 1971’s “Surf’s Up” and later, “Come Go with Me” in 1978 ) *lead vocal(s): Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Brian Wilson; written by Mike Love and Al Jardine.
61) “Long Promised Road” (lead single from the Beach Boys seventeenth studio album Surf’s Up, 1971; one of the B-sides to “Surf’s Up”) *lead vocal: Carl Wilson; written by Carl Wilson and Jack Rieley. The song is Carl Wilson’s first solo composition, and he plays all of the instruments himself.
62) “Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)” (fourth track on the Beach Boys’ eleventh studio album Pet Sounds, 1966) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher.
63) “There’s No Other (Like My Baby)” (ninth track on the Beach Boys’ tenth studio album Beach Boys’ Party!, 1965; the B-side to “The Little Girl I Once Knew”) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Phil Spector and Leroy Bates and originally recorded by The Crystals in 1961.
64) “Come Go with Me” (second single from the Beach Boys’ twenty-second studio album M.I.U. Album, 1978; reached #18 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal(s): Al Jardine and Mike Love; written by Clarence Quick and originally recorded by The Del-Vikings in 1957.
65) “Vega-Tables” or “Vegatables” (second track on the Beach Boys’ twelfth studio album Smiley Smile, 1967) *lead vocal(s): credited to the entire band; written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks. The song was originally recorded for Smile, the unfinished Beach Boys album infamously not released in 1967. Brian Wilson rerecorded “Vegetables” with an arrangement closer to what he had originally envisioned for the song on his 2004 album Brian Wilson Presents Smile; new edits of the song that approximate the original Smile version were also created for the compilations Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of the Beach Boys (1993) and The Smile Sessions (2011).
66) “The Nearest Faraway Place” (sixth track on the Beach Boys’ fifteenth studio album 20/20, 1969) *written by Bruce Johnston (instrumental).
67) “You Still Believe in Me” (second track on the Beach Boys’ eleventh studio album Pet Sounds, 1966) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher.
68) “Friends” (only single from the Beach Boys’ 1968 studio album of the same name; reached #47 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal(s): Carl Wilson and Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, and Al Jardine; Since its release, “Friends” has been described as a “cult favorite.”
69) “Your Imagination” (lead single from Brian Wilson’s third solo album Imagination, 1998; reached #20 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson, Joe Thomas, and Steve Dahl.
70) “That’s Not Me” (third track on the Beach Boys’ eleventh studio album Pet Sounds, 1966) *lead vocal(s): Mike Love and Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher.
71) “Kiss Me, Baby” (ninth track on the Beach Boys’ eighth studio album The Beach Boys Today!, 1965; the B-side to “Help Me, Rhonda”) *lead vocal(s): Brian Wilson and Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
72) “I’m Waiting for the Day” (fifth track on the Beach Boys’ eleventh studio album Pet Sounds, 1966) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher.
73) “Things We Did Last Summer” (originally recorded by the Beach Boys in 1963; eventually appeared on Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of The Beach Boys, the 1993 compilation box set) *written in 1946 by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne; many music artists have recorded this popular song.
74) “Heroes and Villains” (only official single from the Beach Boys’ twelfth studio album Smiley Smile, 1967; reached #12 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks. The song was originally recorded for Smile, the unfinished Beach Boys album that was infamously not released.
75) “Deirdre” (fifth track on the Beach Boys’ sixteenth studio album Sunflower; the B-side to “Long Promised Road” from their next album) *lead vocal(s): Bruce Johnston and Brian Wilson; written by Bruce Johnston and Brian Wilson.
76) “You’re So Good To Me” (ninth track on the Beach Boys’ ninth studio album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), 1965; the B-side to “Sloop John B”) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
77) “Wind Chimes” (eighth track on the Beach Boys’ twelfth studio album Smiley Smile, 1967; the B-side to “Wild Honey”) *lead vocal(s): credited to the entire band; written by Brian Wilson. The song was originally recorded for Smile, the unfinished Beach Boys album that was infamously not released.
78) “The Lonely Sea” (fifth track on the Beach Boys’ second studio album Surfin’ U.S A., 1963) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Gary Usher.
79) “Let’s Go Away for Awhile” (sixth track and first of two instrumentals on the Beach Boys’ eleventh studio album Pet Sounds, 1966; the B-side to “Good Vibrations) *written by Brian Wilson.
80) “It’s About Time” (sixth track on the Beach Boys’ sixteenth studio album Sunflower, 1970; the B-side to “Tears in the Morning”) *lead vocal: Carl Wilson; written by Brian Wilson; Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Bob Burchman, and Al Jardine.
81) “Little Honda” (fourth track on the Beach Boys’ sixth studio album All Summer Long and one of two singles from the 1964 EP Four by The Beach Boys; reached #65 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. The song was quickly covered by The Hondells, reaching #9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1964.
82) “Luau” (non-album song recorded in 1961; the B-side to “Surfin'”) *lead vocal(s): credited to the entire band; written by Bruce Morgan (the song does not appear on a Beach Boys’ album).
83) “Here Today” (tenth track on the Beach Boys’ eleventh studio album Pet Sounds, 1966; the B-side to “Darlin'”) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher
84) “Baby Blue” (eighth track on the Beach Boys’ twenty-third studio album L.A. (Light Album), 1979; the B-side to “Here Comes the Night”) *lead vocal: Dennis Wilson; written by Dennis Wilson, Gregg Jakobson, and Karen Lamm.
85) “Never Learn Not to Love” (tenth track on the Beach Boys’ fifteenth studio 20/20, 1969; the B-side to ‘Bluebirds Over The Mountain”) *lead vocal: Dennis Wilson; written and credited to Dennis Wilson. The song is an altered version of “Cease to Exist,” written by the Manson Family cult leader Charles Manson.
86) “Lady (Fallin’ in Love)” (recorded in 1970 by Dennis Wilson and Daryl Dragon, later credited as Rumbo; the B-side to “Sound of Free.” The song eventually appeared on the Beach Boys’ 2009 compilation album, Summer Love Songs).
87) “County Fair” (the second track on the Beach Boys’ debut studio album Surfin’ Safari, 1962; the B-side to “Ten Little Indians”) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson and Gary Usher.
88) “Slip On Through” (second single from the Beach Boys’ sixteenth studio album Sunflower, 1970) *lead vocal: Dennis Wilson; written by Dennis Wilson and Gregg Jakobson.
89) “The Surfer Moon” (third track on the Beach Boys’ third studio album Surfer Girl, 1963) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson.
90) “Pet Sounds” (twelfth track and the second of two instrumentals on the Beach Boys’ eleventh studio album Pet Sounds, 1966) *written by Brian Wilson.
91) “You’re Welcome” (recorded during the Smile sessions in 1966; the B-side to “Heroes and Villains”) *lead vocal(s) credited to the entire band; written by Brian Wilson. The song later appeared as a bonus track on the compilations Smiley Smile/Wild Honey (1990) and The Smile Sessions (2011).
92) “Hold On Dear Brother” (fifth track on the Beach Boys’ eighteenth studio album Carl and the Passions -“So Tough,” 1972) *lead vocal: Blondie Chaplin; written by Ricky Fataar and Blondie Chaplin.
93) “Do You Like Worms” (originally recorded for Smile, the unfinished Beach Boys album that was infamously not released in 1967; eventually appeared on Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of The Beach Boys, the 1993 compilation box set) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks.
94) “This New World” (second track on the Beach Boys’ sixteenth studio album Sunflower, 1970; the B-side to “Slip on Through”) *lead vocal: Carl Wilson; written by Brian Wilson.
95) “The Lord’s Prayer” (a non-album song recorded by The Beach Boys in 1963; the B-side to “Little Saint Nick”) *lead vocal(s): credited to the entire band; written by Albert Hay Malotte in 1935. Brian Wilson arranged the Beach Boys’ version.
96) “You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone” (lead single from the Beach Boys’ eighteenth studio album Carl and the Passions -“So Tough,” 1972) *lead vocal: Carl Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Jack Rieley.
97) “Sumahama” (sixth track on the Beach Boys’ twenty-third studio album L.A. (Light Album), 1979; the B-side to “It’s a Beautiful Day”) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written by Mike Love.
98) “‘Til I Die” (ninth track on the Beach Boys’ seventeenth studio album Surfs Up, 1971; the B-side to the second release of “Long Promised Road”) *lead vocal(s): Carl Wilson, Brian Wilson, and Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson.
99) “Kokomo” (the Beach Boys’ single from the film soundtrack to Cocktail, 1988; reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal(s): Carl Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston (Brian Wilson did not participate on this recording); written by John Phillips, Scott McKenzie, Mike Love, and Terry Melcher.
100) “You Are So Beautiful” (recorded by the Beach Boys live in 1980; In 2002, it appeared on Good Timin’: Live at Knebworth England 1980) *lead vocal: Dennis Wilson; written by Billy Preston and Bruce Fisher.
101) “Tears in the Morning” (third single from the Beach Boys’ sixteenth studio album Sunflower, 1970) lead vocal: Bruce Johnston; written by Bruce Johnston.
102) “The Right Time” (lead single from Brian Wilson’s tenth studio album No Pier Pressure, 2015) *Brian Wilson recorded song with Al Jardine and David Marks; written by Brian Wilson and Joe Thomas.
103) “California Saga/California” (second single from the Beach Boys’ nineteenth studio album Holland, 1973) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written by Al Jardine (not be confused with the Beach Boys’ “California Saga/Big Sur” at #227).
104) “Good Timin'” (second single from the Beach Boys’ twenty-third studio album L.A. (Light Album), 1979) *lead vocal: Carl Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Carl Wilson.
105) “Let the Wind Blow” (ninth track on the Beach Boys’ thirteenth studio album Wild Honey, 1967) *lead vocal(s): Mike Love, Brian Wilson, and Carl Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
106) “It’s Just a Matter of Time” (eleventh track on the Beach Boys’ self-titled album from 1985; the B-side to “She Believes in Love Again”) *lead vocal(s): Brian Wilson and Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson.
107) “Wake the World” (third track on the Beach Boys’ fourteenth studio album Friends, 1968; the B-side to “Do It Again”) *lead vocal(s): Brian Wilson and Carl Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Al Jardine.
108) “Guess You Had to Be There” (eighth track on Brian Wilson’s tenth studio album No Pier Pressure, 2015) *Brian Wilson recorded song with Kacey Musgraves; written by Brian Wilson, Joe Thomas, Andrew Salgado, and Kacey Musgraves.
109) “Summer Means New Love” (tenth track on the Beach Boys’ ninth studio album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), 1965; the B-side to “Caroline, No” in 1966) *written by Brian Wilson (instrumental)
110) “A Young Man Is Gone” (alternate version of “Their Hearts Were Full of Spring” with revised lyrics by Mike Love; eleventh track on the Beach Boys’ fourth studio album Little Deuce Coupe, 1963); “Their Hearts Were Full of Spring” (recorded by the Beach Boys in 1965; a bonus track on the 1990/2001 reissues of Smiley Smile/Wild Honey) *lead vocal(s): credited to the entire band; written by Bobby Troup.
111) “Disney Girls (1957)” (fourth track on the Beach Boys’ seventeenth studio album Surf’s Up, 1971) *lead vocal: Bruce Johnston; written by Bruce Johnston.
112) “Rock ‘n’ Roll to the Rescue” (first of two new singles from the Beach Boys’ compilation album Made in U.S.A., 1986; reached #68 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Mike Love and Terry Melcher.
113) “Lady Lynda” (third single from the Beach Boys’ twenty-third album (L.A.) Light Album, 1979; reached #39 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart) *lead vocal: Al Jardine; written by Al Jardine and Ron Altbach. The lyrics to the song refer to Jardine’s then-wife, Lynda Jardine. After the two divorced, the song was rewritten as “Lady Liberty,” a tribute to the Statue of Liberty. The new inferior version was featured as the B-side to the Beach Boys’ fabulous cover of “California Dreamin’.”
114) “Funky Pretty” (ninth track on the Beach Boys’ nineteenth studio album Holland, 1973; the B-side to “California Saga/California”) *lead vocal(s): Carl Wilson, Al Jardine, Blondie Chaplin, and Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson, Mike Love, and Jack Rieley.
115) “Still Cruisin'” (second single from the Beach Boys’ twenty-sixth studio album of the same name and a track on the Lethal Weapon 2 soundtrack, both released in 1989; reached #9 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart) *lead vocals: Carl Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston; written by Mike Love and Terry Melcher.
116) “Marcella” (second single from the Beach Boys’ eighteenth studio album Carl and the Passions – “So Tough,” 1972) *lead vocal(s): Carl Wilson and Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson, Tandyn Almer, and Jack Rieley.
117) “4th of July” (originally recorded by the Beach Boys in early 1971; eventually appeared on Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of The Beach Boys, the 1993 compilation box set) *lead vocal: Dennis Wilson; written by Dennis Wilson and Jack Rieley.
118) “All I Want to Do” (fifth track on the Beach Boys’ fifteenth studio 20/20, 1969; the B-side to “I Can Hear Music”) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written by Dennis Wilson and Stephen Kalinich. (not be confused with the Beach Boys’ “All I Wanna Do” at #170)
119) “Meant for You” (opening track on the Beach Boys’ fourteenth studio album Friends, 1968) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
120) “This Car of Mine” (sixth track on the Beach Boys’ fifth studio album Shut Down Volume 2, 1964) lead vocal: Dennis Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
121) “The Beach Boys Medley” (a 1981 single containing a medley of eight Beach Boys’ classics from the 1960s; reached #12 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal(s): Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Carl Wilson, Al Jardine, and Dean Torrence of Jan & Dean; written by Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Roger Christian, Fred Fassert, and Chuck Berry. The single capitalized on the medley craze begun by the Stars on 45 medleys.
122) “Graduation Day” (the 1965 studio version eventually appeared on the reissues of the Beach Boys’ The Beach Boys Today!/Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), 1990/2001) *lead vocal(s): Mike Love and Brian Wilson; written by Joe Sherman and Noel Sherman. The Beach Boys’ first recording of song was featured on the 1964 live album Beach Boys Concert.
123) “Getcha Back” (lead single from the Beach Boys’ self-titled album from 1985; reached #26 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart) *lead vocal(s): Mike Love and Brian Wilson; written by Mike Love and Terry Melcher.
124) “Hot Fun in the Summertime” (lead single from the Beach Boys’ twenty-seventh studio album Summer in Paradise, 1992; reached #17 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart) *lead vocal(s): Mike Love and Carl Wilson; written by Sylvester Stewart (Sly Stone). The original version by Sly and The Family Stone peaked at #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1969.
125) “Right Where I Belong” (opening track from Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road, the 2021 film soundtrack by Brian Wilson) *Brian Wilson co-wrote song with My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James.
126) “Mountain of Love” (fifth track on the Beach Boys’ tenth studio Beach Boys’ Party!, 1965) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written and originally recorded by Harold Dorman. Several others have also covered this classic song, including Johnny Rivers and Charley Pride.
127) “Bluebirds Over The Mountain” (lead single from the Beach Boys’ fifteenth studio album 20/20, 1969; reached #61 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *written and originally recorded by Ersel Hickey in 1958; the Beach Boys’ recording featured such musicians as Daryl Dragon (later of Captain and Tennille) and Van McCoy (known for his 1975 hit “The Hustle”).
128) “Soulful Old Man Sunshine” (recorded by the Beach Boys in 1969 during the sessions for the album Sunflower; eventually appeared on the 1998 compilation soundtrack Endless Harmony, which was designed as a tie-in with the band’s biographical documentary of the same name) *lead vocal: Carl Wilson; written by Brian Wilson, Rick Henn (former leader of the Murray Wilson spearheaded Sunrays), and veteran arranger/producer Don Ralke (who previously contributed to The Many Moods of Murry Wilson, 1967).
129) “Hushabye” (third track on the Beach Boys’ sixth studio album All Summer Long, 1964) *lead vocal(s): Brian Wilson and Mike Love; written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and originally recorded in 1959 by the Brooklyn doo-wop group The Mystics.
130) “A Friend Like You” (seventh track on Brian Wilson’s fourth studio album Gettin’ In Over My Head, 2004) *Brian Wilson recorded song with Paul McCartney; written by Brian Wilson and Steve Kalinich.
131) “It’s O.K.” (second single from the Beach Boys’ twentieth studio album 15 Big Ones, 1976; reached #29 on the US Billboard Hot 100) *lead vocal(s): Mike Love and Dennis Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
132) “Beach Boys Stomp (A.K.A. Karate)” (nineteenth track on the Beach Boys’ album Lost & Found: 1961-62, 1992) *written by Carl Wilson (an instrumental).
133) “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” (seventh track on the Beach Boys’ fourth studio album Shut Down Volume 2, 1964; the B-side to “Fun, Fun, Fun”) *written by Frankie Lymon and George Goldner, and originally recorded in 1956 by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers.
134) “Summer’s Gone” (twelfth track on the Beach Boys’ twenty-ninth and final studio album That’s Why God Made the Radio, 2012) *lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson, Jon Bon Jovi, and Joe Thomas.
135) “Our Sweet Love” (tenth track on the Beach Boys’ sixteenth studio album Sunflower, 1970) *lead vocal: Carl Wilson; written by Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, and Al Jardine.
136) “The Like in I Love You” (only single from Brian Wilson’s eighth studio album Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin, 2010) *written by George Gershwin, Brian Wilson, and Scott Bennett.
137) “How Could We Still Be Dancin?” (opening track on Brian Wilson’s fourth studio album Gettin’ In Over My Head, 2004) *Brian Wilson recorded song with Elton John; written by Brian Wilson and Joe Thomas.
138) “Brian’s Back” (The Beach Boys recorded a version in 1978, while Mike Love recorded a second version for his unreleased solo album First Love; Love’s version was eventually released on the 1998 anthology soundtrack album Endless Harmony, designed as a tie-in with the band’s biographical documentary of the same name. The Beach Boys’ version has never been released) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written by Mike Love in response to Brian Wilson’s 1976 return to the public eye.
139) “Do You Remember?” (eighth track on the Beach Boys’ sixth studio album All Summer Long, 1964) *lead vocal(s): Mike Love and Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
140) “Angel Come Home” (fourth track on the Beach Boys’ twenty-third studio album L.A. (Light Album), 1979) *lead vocal: Dennis Wilson; written by Carl Wilson and Geoffrey Cushing-Murray.
141) “This Song Wants To Sleep with You Tonight” (recorded by Brian Wilson in 1995; the B-side to his rendition of the Beach Boys classic “Do it Again”) *written by Brian Wilson and Andy Paley.
142) “Don’t Back Down” (twelfth track on the Beach Boys’ sixth studio album All Summer Long, 1964) *lead vocal: Mike Love; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. This song was the group’s last surfing-themed tune until 1968’s “Do It Again.”
143) “And Your Dream Comes True” (twelfth and final track on the Beach Boys’ ninth studio album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), 1964) *lead vocal(s) credited to the entire band; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
144) “We Got Love” (recorded by the Beach Boys in 1971; a bonus track on the 2015 remastered edition of Holland) *lead vocal(s): Ricky Fataar and Blondie Chaplin; written by Ricky Fataar, Blondie Chaplin, and Mike Love.
145) “With Me Tonight” (seventh track on the Beach Boys’ twelfth studio album Smiley Smile) *lead vocal: Carl Wilson; written by Brian Wilson.
146) “Love Surrounds Me” (fifth track on the Beach Boys’ twenty-third studio album L.A. (Light Album), 1979; the B-side to “Good Timin'”) *lead vocal: Dennis Wilson; written by Dennis Wilson and Geoffrey Cushing-Murray.
147) “Passing Friend” (seventh track on the Beach Boys’ self-titled studio album from 1985) *lead vocal: Carl Wilson; written by George O’Dowd and Roy Hay.
148) “She Believes in Love Again” (third single from the Beach Boys’ self-titled album from 1985; reached #26 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart) *lead vocal(s): Bruce Johnston and Carl Wilson; written by Bruce Johnston.
149) “Surfers Rule” (ninth track on the Beach Boys’ third studio album Surfer Girl, 1963) *lead vocal(s): Dennis Wilson and Brian Wilson; written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
150) “Listen to Me” (Brian Wilson’s contribution to the 2011 tribute album Listen to Me: Buddy Holly by various artists) lead vocal: Brian Wilson; written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty.
