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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
This single disc gathers two Beach Boys albums--Friends and 20/20--with the addition of remastering and bonus tracks. By 1968 and the recording of Friends, Brian Wilson's pivotal position as head Beach Boy was gradually crumbling. True, he was still the principal contributor, but songwriting duties were now evenly shared among the group. The results were predictably patchy. For every Brian-sculpted pocket symphony ("Passing By", "Busy Doin' Nothin" and "Wake the World") there's an inconsequential oddity ("Transcendental Meditation", "Anna Lee, The Healer" and "Little Bird"). Originally released in 1969, 20/20 was not a Beach Boys album proper, but rather a collection of odds and sods to fulfil their contract with Capital Records. Ironically, it's actually one of their finest and most coherent post-Pet Sounds albums. Hit singles include the playfully nostalgic "Do It Again" and a superb Carl-produced cover of The Ronettes' "I Can Hear Music". Brother Dennis also gives notice of his maturing compositional skills with the broodily spectral "Be With Me". Not to be outdone, Brian chips in with the mind-boggling "Cabinessence"--culled from the Smile sessions--and the truly transcendent "Time Alone". Also included is the notorious "Never Learn To Love", an underwhelming ditty, which, according to legend, was penned by none other than Charles Manson. Far better are the five bonus tracks, especially the dazzling "Breakaway". --Chris King
Product Description
HDCD remaster of the 'Two-fer' series + 5 bonus tracks
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Most armchair music fans would say to you that, Pet Sounds aside, the Beach Boys never produced an album of any substance. True, they were a great singles band, but in an age where the Beatles were knocking out the goods record after record, is it any wonder that the Californians' back catalogue has been completely overlooked?
Well, let's redress the balance. Prior to Pet Sounds, most of the Beach Boys' albums sounded like a collection of hit songs, hastily packaged (as was the fashion in the early 1960s) to satisfy an unsatiable public. Post-Pet Sounds, nothing sounded as good, as together. That is, apart from Friends, the brightest lost gem of an album in all of music history.
Considering the internal wranglings and strife that was rampant in the band during the period of the album's creation, not to mention the lackadaisical approach to songwriting employed by chief Beach Boy Brian Wilson, Friends is a magical, blissful and altogether tranquil trip. The Beach Boys were older, wiser (in most cases), married, fathers - and it shows. Hedonism was out the window, songs about little birds, massuesses and child birth were in.
Crucically the album hangs together in two ways - the harmonies and instrumentation of the Pet Sounds' era return (albeit in a far subtler way, as with "Passing By"), and all the tracks (Transcendental Meditation aside) follow a similar vibe. Highlights? Pretty much the whole thing, but especially Dennis' sublime "Little Bird", Carl's voice on "Wake The World" (which, after less than 90 seconds, just fades) and Brian's auto-biographical "Busy Doin' Nothin'".
20/20, essentially an odds-and-sods compilation (and Capitol's last Beach Boys release), is not in the same league. Classics like "I Can Hear Music" and the Smile out-take "Cabinessence" stand out, but otherwise it sounds like Beach Boys-by-numbers fare. It's no real surprise, though, for you know that a Beach Boys' album cover without Brian means that the disc inside isn't gonna make the grade.
Fantastically remastered and brilliantly packaged, this two-fer is utterly essential. Friends easily deserves five stars alone - Pet Sounds fans take note.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Common consent would have you believe that Brian Wilson went nuts trying to finish "Smile" and then the Beach Boys slowly disintegrated into mid-1970's radio lite do-do. Well at least of this two-fer crushes that myth royally. "Friends" is the last truly great Beach boys record. It charms, it warms and it linges in the mind. If you are drawn into the Wilsonworld via Pet Sounds and the legend of "Smile" then I strongly recommend you take this little detour into "Friends". It is an exqusite collection of songs that really warm the soul and the spirit of Brian permeates every note. From the openeing, meditative "Meant For You" to the original closing "Transcendental Meditation" this record is a thing of rare beauty. I defy nyone to listen to this record and not feel affected in the mot delightful way. The wordless "Passing By" and "Diamond Head" could have populatedthe original Smile project. The title track is an awesome production worthy of Pet Sounds and in between there are lots of little vignettes of loveliness. For the ridiculously reasonable price of admission is should suffice alone. "20/20" is a contractual patchwork but again features the Smile classic "Cabinessence" which still sounds ight years ahead of anything (including the Fab Four). This is an essential set for anyone who believes that music is the healing force of the universe. And also the curious. Purchase.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Well you can analyse it, place it in history, but of all the Beach Boys albums this (Friends & some songs of 20/20) is by far my favourite.
Made with love, and with Brian. Music is feeling, and this album is made with that in mind. Listen*
Made with love, and with Brian. Music is feeling, and this album is made with that in mind. Listen*
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A warm and beautiful collection.
The Friends album, from 1968, has some lovely country/folk songs,or at least as close to folk music as the Beach Boys would get. Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2009 by Close Range.
Music Review
Nice to have two old vinyl albums on one good value CD...A must for anyone who likes harmony..young or old
Published on 5 Oct 2009 by Mr. S. C. Warburton
Post-Smile Recovery
Where do you go after you have made Pet Sounds? Where do you go after you have made Forever Changes, or Sgt Pepper, or Blonde On Blonde, or In Utero, or OK Computer? Read more
Published on 24 Aug 2005 by Laurence Upton
Mostly mellow music
By 1968, when the Friends album was recorded, the Beach Boys music had undergone many changes from the early days, when upbeat songs about cars and surfing dominated their music. Read more
Published on 18 April 2005 by Peter Durward Harris
There's a good album's worth of tracks here....
I'm of the disposition that post-Pet Sounds, after the non-release of the fabled Smile, The Beach Boys only released one completely classic album (1970's Sunflower). Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2004 by Jason Parkes
Celbrate the Boys
It almost shouldn't be allowed - there is so much glorious music here! Two albums plus bonuses for a modest price: and what albums! what bonuses! Read more
Published on 2 Oct 2002 by Plom de Nume
Pretty good, but not their best
Friends is one of the most relaxing and peaceful albums I've heard, and would be one of the Beach Boys' best, if it wasn't for the terrible 'Trancendental Meditation' track which... Read more
Published on 13 Mar 2001
Let's Be Friends
These two albums saw Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys mastermind, start to take a back seat and let the other boys see what they could do. Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2001 by "mdenster"
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