Thanks to everyone who has submitted their proposed tracklist for a third Beach Boys compilation. Now, who knows if there will be one for real, but I have to believe the suits at Capitol might do something if the new "The Warmth of the Sun" CD sells anywhere near "The Sounds of Summer" CD a few years back. That set has sold over 2.5 million copies, which is just astonishing.



OK, there were some really good entries, so we will be awarding CDs to the following two people. We will also send these two proposed track lists to the Beach Boys Product Manager at Capitol, so maybe there's a chance you might have influence over a new collection. OK, Hal Blaine drumroll, please ...

1) Cliffy for "Your Summer Dream"
Cliffy was actually the first one to submit his track list, and it's a great one. I thought mine was pretty good, but Cliffy's was better. First of all, he was very smart to come up with a very commercial title (Your Summer Dream) that conjures up nice visuals, and no doubt Capitol could market this well. Also, it's got a really nice, varied set of songs that are both obscure and well-known, but all strong. My only objection would be the inclusion of "Crocodile Rock" which was recorded well after the group's heyday, and it's too closely associated with Elton John.

Cliffy does get points for including "Drive-In" because I believe Brian wanted this track in "The Warmth of the Sun" CD, but didn't quite make the cut. It is a great track, and Brian performs this on his current tour. Interestingly, Brian performs a whole bunch of songs from the new CD, so if you get a chance to see him live, take it. Cliffy also has "Add Some Music To Your Day" and "This Whole World" which are both phenomenal tracks from the Sunflower album that for some reason, didn't make the "Warmth" cut.

Good job, Cliffy - we'll let you know you're a winner!


2) Wes Clark for "Aren't You Glad"
OK, not the greatest title, because it's a little obscure for the casual fan. But, this is a great tracklist that has great, commercial songs that aren't too obscure for the average listener. There were some really cool submissions that might be better than this for hardcore fans, but remember, we're talking about a commercial release that Capitol can wrap its arms around. A few were excellent for another "Hawthorne" type release, but again, we're looking for sale here.

Wes cheated a little bit with the bonus tracks, but that's OK. "Honkin' Down The Highway" is just an awesome track and it should be on a compilation. Brian's (literally) driving arrangement and the lead singing is just out of this world. Couldn't you just picture it opening a movie with the lead driving his car down the 101? The other song picks are great too, and they cover the Boys complete career. Nice job.

Thanks to everyone for their submissions - they were all great in their own way. Again, congratulations to Cliffy and Wes, We'll send you e-mails requesting your mailing addresses so we can send you out copies of "The Warmth Of The Sun."

"The Warmth Of The Sun" entered the Billboard Top Albums Chart at #40 last week - the umpteenth Beach Boys to do so. As I wrote in a previous post, it's fun to see some of the more obscure, album tracks to get the high-profile treatment, and these will undoubtedly lead new fans to seek out the albums of these hidden gems. It all goes to further cement the Beach Boys legendary status as the greatest and most innovative American band of all time.



The selection of songs on this album is so strong, and it's hard to make any complaints, but I would have liked to seen a few others make the cut - even at the expense of others. For instance, I would love to see Brian's 1970 tour de force, "This Whole World" as well as "Darlin'" to name a few. What would I cut to get these in there? I probably would have to choose "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" and "California Dreamin.'" "Fools" IS a great track - a real wall of sound production and Brian sounds as soulful as he ever did - he just nailed the vocal. Still, it seems a little out of place before "Surf's Up." "California Dreamin'" was a good group effort, but it really IS the Mamas and the Papas, and I don't think Brian is even on it. Maybe Capitol felt the 80s needed to be represented.

In a post to come, I will choose a tracklist for a proposed third volume of Beach Boys classics totaling thirty tracks. It will be interesting to see if Capitol would even think about this. Well, if the new "Warmth" sells well and there's money to be made, then I wouldn't be surprised. How unbelievable that thirty more songs could actually make a very strong new album? Who else could do this? Maybe Elvis - I don't know. The Beatles? I don't know, maybe - but they didn't record nearly as many tracks as the Beach Boys did. Of course Frank Sinatra could, but he didn't write his own songs, and he's not of the Rock 'n Roll era.

OK: Let's have a contest. Respond to this post and choose thirty tracks you think should appear on a follow-up to "The Warmth Of The Sun." You even have to name the album, as I've done here. Then, we'll vote and whoever wins, get's a free copy of the "Warmth" CD. Let me know what you think:

THE BEACH BOYS: THIS WHOLE WORLD

1) Lonely Sea
2) Hushabye
3) Girls On The Beach
4) Salt Lake City
5) Girl Don't Tell Me
6) Spirit Of America
7) In The Parking Lot
8) You Still Believe In Me
9) Here Today
10) Caroline, No
11) Gettin' Hungry
12) Let The Wind Blow
13) Wake The World
14) Be Still
15) Busy Doin' Nothin'
16) Time To Get Alone
17) Cabinessence
18) This Whole World
19) Add Some Music To Your Day
20) All I Wanna Do
21) Long Promised Road
22) Funky Pretty
23) Marcella
24) Lady Lynda
25) She's Got Rhythm
26) Just Once In My Life
27) Let Us Go On This Way
28) Honkin' Down The Highway
29) Goin' On
30) Where I Belong

Damn - I think there could be a fourth volume after this ...