As if a gift from God this CD appeared from nowhere and captured my heart and made me fall in love with The Beach Boy’s all over again.
This year marks their fiftieth anniversary and expectations about any new material from them was tempered with the reality that Brian Wilson hadn’t worked with them in years and their public appearances were in court appointments suing each other to the financial advancement of the Californian Legal Bar!
What a delight and joy it is to report the arrival of a brilliant album from them, which stands comparison with the very best of their work.
Featuring strong and compelling lead vocals from Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine and heavenly harmonies collectively and with the assistance of Bruce Johnson and Jeffry Foskett.
Pressing play on this album creates instant summer in one’s ear and spirit.
The title track and first single is a cracker.
‘Strange World’ is simply magnificent.
‘Daybreak over the Ocean’ a tour de force of harmony and atmosphere.
The last three songs.’From There To Back Again’, ‘Pacific Coast Highway’ and ‘Summers Gone’ are linked in atmosphere and content with an autumnal glow and feel of time passing and a natural end of things.
If this album is to be The Beach Boys swansong it is a monumental artistic achievement and reminder of how blessed we all have been to have enjoyed the singular genius of Brian Wilson and his sublime collaborators.
For once this truly is a “Good Vibration”!
Released only a couple of weeks ago I recommend that you…. listen and enjoy.
The Beach Boys That’s Why God Made The Radio Capitol Records