The Beach Boys Band History and Best Songs

The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in Hawthorne, California in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine. Initially managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, the Beach Boys signed with Capitol Records in 1962. The band's early music gained popularity across the United States for its close vocal harmonies and lyrics reflecting a Southern California youth culture of surfing, cars and romance. During the early to mid-1960s, Brian Wilson's growing creative ambition and songwriting ability would dominate the group's musical direction. The primarily Wilson-composed Pet Sounds album and "Good Vibrations" single (both released in 1966) featured a complex, intricate and multi-layered sound that represented a departure from the simple surf rock of the Beach Boys' early years.

The Beach Boys were the one band that could rival the commercial and artistic greatness of the Beatles during the Sixties. The two bands would become friendly rivals in that decade, trying to outdo each other in the studio by producing the most original and epic albums possible. This rivalry would produce the best works of both bands, including the Beach Boys classic, "Pet Sounds," which is considered by many as the greatest pop/rock album of all time.

Originally called the Pendeltones, the band recorded their first single, "Surfin'," for the Candix label in late 1961. When Candix released the single they changed the groups name to Beach Boys to make the band more marketable in the emerging surf music genre. The single became a modest nation-wide hit. Based on the success of the single, Murray Wilson was able to arrange a live appearance for the band at the Ritchie Valens Memorial Dance in Long Beach, California.

By summer 1962, the band had managed to get signed to Capitol records and released their first album, "Surfin' Safari." Starting with this album, the band found success, scoring a string of hits including, "Surfin' Safari," Surfing USA," "Surfer Girl," "409," "Little Deuce Coupe," "I Get Around," and "Fun, Fun, Fun." The band would record sixteen hit singles in total from 1962-1965, and they become huge pop stars in America and abroad.

Top 20 Beach Boys Songs

It's summertime. That means it's time to wax up the old surfboard and take the old "woody" down to the beach and enjoy the sounds of summer. And what would the sounds of summer be without great beach music? The one group who epitomized the beach sound was The Beach Boys.

Here is a list of The Beach Boys 20 biggest hits, the year in which they were a hit, along with some fun facts.

1. I Get Around - 1964

Their first #1 hit.

2. Help Me, Rhonda - 1965

Johnny Rivers did a cover of this song 10 years later.

3. Kokomo - 1988

This song was featured in the Tom Cruise film "Cocktail."

4. Good Vibrations - 1966

In 1976, Todd Rundgren did a dead-on remake of this song.

5. Barbara Ann - 1966

Dean Torrence of Jan & Dean fame did the vocals on this one.

6. Surfin' USA - 1963

This song personified the beach sound and cemented the Beach Boys as the #1 group in its genre. Leif Garrett also covered this song in 1976.

7. Sloop John B - 1966

Originally, a West Indies song dating back to 1927.

8. California Girls - 1965

The best of the best beach songs. David Lee Roth's version, twenty years later, wasn't too shabby either.

9. Rock And Roll Music - 1976

Written by Chuck Berry and a hit for him in 1957.

10. Fun, Fun, Fun - 1964

Everyone wanted to meet this girl in the T-Bird.

11. Be True To Your School - 1963

This song featured the march "On Wisconsin" and cheerleading by The Honeys.

12. Surfer Girl - 1963

One of the few slow songs for the Beach Boys to do well on the charts.

13. Dance, Dance, Dance - 1964

This song peaked in the summer of 1964 and had everyone dancing on the beaches.

14. Wouldn't It Be Nice - 1966

One of their more controversial songs of the day. With lyrics like "Wouldn't it be nice to sleep together;" it had more conservative radio stations playing the B Side "God Only Knows.

15. When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) - 1964

A great song, but it didn't have much to do with fun at the beach as much as it had boys questioning the responsibilities facing them after high school.

16. The Beach Boys Medley - 1981

This single featured excerpts from Good Vibrations/Help Me, Rhonda/I Get Around/Shut Down/Surfin' Safari/Barbara Ann/Surfin' USA/Fun, Fun, Fun.

17. Wipe Out - 1987

The Fat Boys and The Beach Boys teamed up to bring a rap vocal rendition to this song, originally done as an instrumental by the Surfaris in 1963.

18. Do You Wanna Dance - 1965

A 1958 hit for Bobby Freeman and, later, a 1973 hit for Bette Midler.

19. Heroes & Villains - 1967

Trying to cash in on the popularity and unique style of "Good Vibrations", this one didn't quite measure up.

20. Surfin' Safari - 1962

Their first big hit and the one that started it all. The Beach Boys were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. They still perform today, bringing their special blend of music for new generations to enjoy.