The Beach Boys are back at Number One with their third career chart-topping album. The group’s new set, The Beach Boys With the Royal Philharmonic, sailed to Number One on both Billboard‘s Classical Albums and Classical Crossover Albums charts. Billboard reported “The album starts with 5,000 copies sold in the week ending June 14th, according to Nielsen Music.” The Beach Boys only other Number One albums were 1964’s live collection Beach Boys Concert, and the 1974 double-album early hits compilation, Endless Summer. The band’s last album, the 2012 reunion set featuring all five surviving members, That’s Why God Made The Radio, peaked at Number Three.
Mike Love told Pulse that since the group’s 1961 debut single, “Surfin’,” the Beach Boys have spanned nearly all the technological upgrades found in popular music: “It was a two-track record — player — right, two-track on ‘Surfin’?’ And then we went to four-track. . . I think Sgt. Pepper’s, and I think Pet Sounds was recorded on four-track, also? Yeah. So anyway, then it went to 16-track and 24-track and now it’s infinite with the computer.”
Pulse asked Love if he attributes the group’s legendary harmonies to him and his cousins sharing a bloodline: “Well, that, that is responsible for the vocal blend, except Alan Jardine is a great singer. He’s able to blend and sing with the best of them. And that was always the search for that fourth part; ’cause Brian was obsessed with four-part harmony, y’know, vis-a-vis the Four Freshman. But the Beach Boys have been distinguished by their incredible harmonies and that’s due in large part to Brian’s obsession or penchant for structuring, y’know, great chord progressions and great harmonies and he’s a master at that.”
FAST FACTS
- The Beach Boys With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was produced by Nick Patrick and Don Reedman — the same team involved in the recent orchestrated works of Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and Roy Orbison.
- The new collection pairs the group’s original vocal performances with new symphonic arrangements, newly recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at London’s Abbey Road Studios.
SIDE NOTES
- The tracklisting to The Beach Boys With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is: “California Suite,” “California Girls,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “Don’t Worry Baby,” God Only Knows,” “Sloop John B,” “Heroes And Villains,” “Disney Girls,” “Here Today,” “In My Room,” “Kokomo,” “The Warmth Of The Sun,” “Darlin’,” “Help Me, Rhonda.” “You Still Believe In Me,” and “Good Vibrations.”
