Product Description:
2 LPs on 1 CD: LITTLE DEUCE COUPE (1963)/ALL SUMMER LONG (1964).
The Beach Boys: Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Mike Love, Dennis Wilson, Al Jardine.
Additional personnel includes: The Honeys (background vocals).
Producer: Brian Wilson.
Reissue producer: Mark Linett.
Recorded at Western Studios, Hollywood, California between January 31, 1963 &
September 16, 1964.
Originally released on Capitol (1998/2110).
Includes liner notes by David Leaf & Mark Linett.
LITTLE DEUCE COUPE is arguably the first rock & roll concept album. Combining car songs from the Beach Boys' previous three albums with several new car-related numbers, it celebrates the simple joys of being a teenage automobile owner. Hit singles "Little Deuce Coupe" and "Be True To Your School" showed that Brian Wilson was becoming a remarkably sophisticated producer, songwriter, and arranger. He had mastered the art of vocal arrangements, as shown by the spectacular five-part harmonies on "Spirit of America" and "A Young Man Is Gone," their touching tribute to James Dean. This is a fun, unpretentious evocation of a California summer.
On this disc, DEUCE COUPE is coupled with ALL SUMMER LONG. The sustained Number One success of the latter's "I Get Around" established the group as America's best hope against the Beatles' continued dominance of the airwaves. The already-elaborate vocal harmonies grow more lush, the melodies more far-ranging, as Brian's rich falsetto dominates the vocal mix on beauties like "Girls On The Beach" and a hymn-like cover of the doo-wop classic "Hushabye." Wilson also masterfully streamlined his Phil Spector/Wall Of Sound influence so that a large multi-track L.A. studio production still sounds as if it's being produced by a small combo.
Entertainment Reviews:
Q - 5/01, p.129
3 stars out of 5 - "...These records are as unvaried as brilliance can be, but not one song here will make anyone unhappy..."
Tracks:
