Friday 3 June 2022

In the shadow of Brian Wilson


The best Beach Boys song ever? That's easy, I said as much here. Tho' a much better category, I think, would be best non-Beach Boys Beach Boys song. Jan and Dean's You Really Know How to Hurt a Guy anyone? Or maybe Beach Baby Beach by First Class? Strong contenders both.

However, for my money, there's only one homage that really gets inside the head of Brian Wilson; in fact, someone far more astute than me once said about this record that it's like Neil Sedaka up on stage with the Beach Boys; you won't find me arguing with that. 

Possibly Roy Wood's finest moment...

Roy Wood - Forever (1974)



7 comments:

  1. Can't say I disagree with any of that, although God Only Knows I take exception at your opening statement.

    The interesting thing about Forever is that I clicked play and thought "I've never heard that before"... yet by the end of the track, I was convinced I'd heard it repeatedly, albeit some time ago. Now I don't know which to believe. Either way, that makes it a great pop song.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd say that's the mark of a good songwriter, wouldn't you? He's written some belters over the years and no mistake.

      Delete
  2. Best non-Beach Boys Beach Boys song you say? Hmmm, now you've got me thinking, there must be a few likely contenders. I can't argue with 'Forever' as being an absolute frontrunner though - fabulous stuff. Roy Wood at the very top of his game.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers, TS. And yet more Roy Wood than you can shake a stick at over at my place right now...

      Delete
  3. Like the rest of us who were born in 1960, there are a few bands/artists who are engrained in my early '70s pop memory box and Roy Wood is one of them. Didn't know that was a Brian Wilson song though but listening to it now, how could it be anything else.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry, Alyson - I meant non-Beach Boys Beach Boys song, as in a song that *sounds* like it shoulda been a Beach Boys song...

      Delete
    2. Ah I get it now - didn't read it properly obviously. Definitely sounded Beach Boys-y though as you say.

      Delete