'Surf's Up'

Surf's Up was released in 1971, after the commercially and artistically ordinary Sunflower.

At the time, the Beach Boys had problems. For one, they were very unhip. Two, they were not relevant in the least and they hadn't put out at least a popular album since 1967 when Wild Honey was put out.

"Surf's Up" was a castaway from the Smile sessions of several years before. A lot of those songs actually all wound up on other albums like Wild Honey and Smiley Smile.

Their third and final problem was that the band was split. It'd been held together with duct tape and Carl Wilson while Dennis was partying and Brian Wilson was busy going crazy.

Jack Rieley was brought in to straighten things out. They decided that Carl should be the "musical director" as the only talented guy still interested in making music.

Also, he attempted to bridge the gap between the artistic guys (the Wilsons) and the guys just trying to make as much money possible off the Beach Boys' name (the talentless trio -- Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and cousin Mike Love). The record company wanted the brothers driving the album, but they were a band still and clipping Jardin, Johnston and Love was out of the question.

Everyone contributed on the album, sharing lead vocals and writing credits. Part of Dennis' contribution wound up on his solo record Pacific Ocean Blue.

It's pretty album. A lot of good to come out of it as the Beach Boys will do. However, I'm a fan and most may consider this crap because it doesn't have a bunch of hits on it. I don't like people. Generally.