Product Description:
2 LPs on 1 CD: PARTY (1965)/STACK-O-TRACKS (1968).
BEACH BOYS' PARTY! was recorded as a studio jam. STACK-O-TRACKS contains instrumental versions of Beach Boys songs.
Reissue producer: Mark Linett.
Includes liner notes by David Leaf.
Digitally remastered using HDCD technology.
BEACH BOYS' PARTY:
Engineer: Chuck Britz.
Originally released on Capitol (MAS/DMAS-2398).
STACK-O-TRACKS:
Originally released on Capitol (DKAO-2893).
The quotes around the word "Live" in the sub-title give the game away--the Beach Boys recorded BEACH BOYS' PARTY! over a couple of days at Western Studio 2 to buy some time for the band to make PET SOUNDS, which PARTY bafflingly ended up outselling. It's of interest as much for the choice of material as for the somewhat forced goofery. There are a couple of Beatles songs, an Everly Brothers hit, a nod in the direction of Phil Spector, and such '60s kegger faves as "Hully Gully" and "Alley Oop," in addition to the album's big hit, "Barbara Ann."
Ultimately it's a fascinating glimpse inside the collective mind of the band at its ease, laying bare its influences, its somewhat more irritating tics (read: Mike Love), and occasionally its transcendent beauty, in the form of the aforementioned Everlys song "Devoted to You" and Spector's "There's No Other (Like My Baby)." Its companion STACK O' TRACKS is a compilation of the instrumental backing tracks from the band's middle period, which basically means you either get to listen to the nuts and bolts of some of the best pop songs ever recorded, or have a hell of a karaoke party. Or both.
