I love 20/20 and I enjoy all the songs on there (even the Charles Manson song), but I agree it could've been better. The two Smile tracks are great of course, but since I listened to Smile first, it's kind of hard to enjoy those songs in the context of 20/20, and them being placed in such an awkward place doesn't help. If Smile were released initially, I would definitely keep those two tracks off of 20/20 and make room for some great 1968 outtakes (Can't Wait Too Long, Old Man River, We're Together Again, A Time To Live In Dreams, etc.)
I give the "20/20" album itself a B-minus but IMO "Time to Get Alone" is one of the most beautiful songs they ever recorded. I give that song an A, behind only "God Only Knows" and "'Till I Die." I give those two songs an A-plus.
I feel like the only criticisms this album gets is that there's no flow and bad sequencing. A random mix of songs. Even if that's the case, what does it matter if all the material is strong? Especially anything with a Brian Wilson writing credit. this album is a solid 9/10
@@slimjimm8 I think as a listening experience, cohesion is really important, but just as far as the merit of putting music out/charging for it goes, song quality is the most important thing.
This album is great, it’s better as it goes. The history is great and impacts it too. Never Learn Not To Love is such an incredible performance of a historically problematic origin’d song, Not liking that song is weak sauce. But respect your opinion to not dig that up even tho what Dennis Wilson did both lyrically and performance and the arrangement. It’s a great song, fuck Manson, that song isn’t his anymore. The history is there, yes, but to negate it solely because of that other fact shows the ignorance of the beholding listener not the quality of the content. Edit: this was my first video of yours I watched I want to clarify I was not saying that you were an ‘ignorant beholder’ I get that you were minimizing a can of worms that didn’t need to be opened in this video up and certainly apologize for any biting or cutting language used. Much respect Giggens!
I agree with you, E Nigma about Never Learn No To Love. I bought the album when it came out in the 60s and that was probably my favourite track. The production is amazing, so dense and satisfyingly hypnotic. I love the way the background vocals appear to wrap around the lead forming an aural cloud. My friends and I played the track over and over especially when we were stoned. The Manson involvement in its composition didn't bother us too much. We could separate the man from the art and it felt like a Dennis track to us. Perhaps it was a different, less sensitive time and maybe because we were in the UK, the Manson murders didn't mean so much to us. I love your expression 'weak sauce'.
My first Beach Boys album (technically, cassette). My parents got it for me for Christmas in ‘75 or so. They didn’t know what was new or a “hit” from the band, but they thought I’d like The Beach Boys. There’s almost no Brian on the album, but I really liked Carl’s singing and the overall sound of the album. “I Can Hear Music”?! Man! And the sounds and production on “Do It Again” and “Cotton Fields” sounded very interesting and really cool to me as a 9-year-old kid. Your arrangement of the tracks sounds interesting, too. That might have sounded pretty good. I never heard the single version of “Cotton Fields”, so now I’ll have to find that. Thanks for the tip!
Gotta say, Giggens, I'm a big fan of your BB reviews and I've been waiting for this one, as well as Sunflower, for awhile now. However, Iam disappointed because I wanted to hear you rhapsodize about Never Learn Not to Love, since you're as big a Dennis Wilson fan as myself. Just no? What's that about, man? Do Part 2, lol.
Definitely an “odds and sods” album with lots of gems popping up here and there but with no real cohesion. I think your track listing goes a long way toward fixing that. Your sequencing is well thought out and pleasing to the ear. It is always a treat to hear you cover the Beach Boys. Keep up the good work!
Likewise. Dennis did make it his own. For OP to call it Charles Mansons song when it’s not his was cease to exist. This is Never Learn Not To Love, and granted was a big part of the bands dark history and Dennis had gotten out of that and likely left a big weight on what he may have done in affect to the band. The “fan” de appraisals of it show me a real sense of ignorance not in taste but by self inflicted misperceptions that somehow mentioning the song gives credence to Manson instead of the journey and legit great performance Dennis gives in it. I love that live TV version he does, he would have given Jim Morrison a run for his money as a frontman Dennis, wish he was still alive. Anyway full agree with you!
An underrated album as far as I'm concerned. You have true stereo versions of Smile era "Our Prayer" & "Cabin Essence." Two great singles in "Do It Again" & "I Can Hear Music." The Beach Boys made something menacing & hateful into a positive & pretty song with "Never Learn Not to Love.". Dennis' "Be with Me" & Brians' "Time to Get Alone" are amazing too. I wish "Breakaway" had been included. In my top ten Beach Boys albums.
Never Learn Not To Love is a creepy song when you think about its origin. I think it isn’t a bad song-technically speaking-and enjoy it for Dennis’ take, but I understand not reviewing it. 20/20 is one their many later albums that have great songs, but don’t flow together as an album. Like if Pet Sounds had a little early Beach Boys track in it...imagine if after hearing Put Your Head, it played Fun, Fun, Fun next. Two great songs, but terrible sequencing!
Thats because they developed so much as a group. Like hearing Revolution followed by Love Me Do! I remember reading once how Little Girl I Once Knew was a track that was like a stepping stone linking the "old" surf-cars-girls with the later more "progressive" Beach Boys. It really is.
I actually liked this album when it came out in '69. Like I said in a previous comment, between '62-'66, their Capitol years they were firing on all 8 cylinders. After that, a fan needs to be an apologist.
I can see what you mean about much of what they recorded up to 66 being great pop. I don't think they made a bad record until 15 big ones. Stuff like I can Hear Music/Cottonfields/Sail On Sailor/ Breakaway/ Friends/ Heroes and Villains/Wild Honey and Do It Again are great as are the albums up to but not including 15 Big Ones. I think America had to fall out of love with the band before it could find its way back to them. Here on the Aircraft Carrier we did not have such a close involvement with the early material as singles though we loved the best of Vol 1. This is not any kind of criticism of one country over another just a note that a group can have a different career path in different places.
The Beach Boys were not an album oriented band prior to Pet Sounds. But with few exceptions (Dylan), the pop world as a whole was singles oriented up until 66 / 67. The Beach Boys were definitely firing on all cylinders until Smile melted. They are truly a case study of a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. Speaking only for myself, as a fan and an American, they lost all hipness post Sgt Peppers - in other words, post shelving the Smile project. The pop world they inhabited changed to political hipness and guitar driven blues rock - which in no way described the Beach Boys. Their post Friends albums really don't have a definitive voice owing to the fact that they didn't have a decisive leader. They also left some amazing songs unreleased. That being said, if you cherry pick their songs from "Heroes and Villains" through "Sail On Sailor", you'll discover the quality and quantity of their hits from "Surfin'" through "Good Vibrations". Plus, many of the tunes that aren't cherry picked are actually funny, quirky, interesting, disturbing, or just plain enjoyable to listen to.
I think the Surfer Girl record is just garbage with the exception of the title track and in my room which the latter is one of my favorites. They didnt have a solid album til Today imo
Marty Wacker yeah surfer girl and surfing usa were kinda eh in my opinion, suprisingly like surfing safari more then both, but All summer long as really good imo, but i agree Today was their first great “album”
Hey Giggens, I think I've said this before, but I don't know nearly enough about post '67 Beach Boys material. I know the hits, and not too much else. It is interesting to learn about this period. Take care...
Bluebirds Over The Mountain was written by Ersel Hickey (never heard of him), and first covered by Ritchie Valens. It was also covered by Robert Plant.
Nice review of this album, came out at a time when the Beach Boys were very big in the UK and Europe. As you said no 3 in the UK album chart and had 4 hit singles on it. A very strong collection of songs. As for Never learn not to love?. Thankfully Manson's dead and gone now, and like it or not Dennis wrote it, he puts in a great performance vocally, and it really is a great song. In my opinion as good as any of Dennis's songs on Friends. I have to agree with Jimmy K below a solid 9/10.
I'm not trying to villian-ize Mike (at least not here) at all, but as I look at the group photo, I see, minus Mr. 'Don't F*** With the Formula,' a group of guys well capable, even without Brian, of being a successful Billboard Top 40 rock n roll band.... Sort of in the vain of America... Or Jackson Browne, even. But Mike never really played an instrument on stage. He just acted & dressed very lame. He was just a drag on the band, man! Okay.... I REALLY didn't set out to demonize Mike's contribution! Hehehe.
Actually, “I Went To Sleep” is one of my favorite tracks on this album, but after listening to your very valid observations of the song, I have to do some serious self reflecting as to why, lol... Good points made in this video and interesting ideas for better sequencing..
I would have liked it better without the Smile tracks. Even though they are are the best songs on the album ,for me it makes it feel unbalanced.It also seems a bit disrespectful to Brian and what Smile could have been.
The unique sound (for 1968) of the drums combined with the nostalgic lyrics could have made "Do It Again" feel at home on their 1985 eponymous LP. "Bluebirds" and "All I Want To Do" both have some of their edgiest guitars - and yeah, Mike's vocals like you say.
I know it's a stretch, but that drum intro sounds more 80s than late 60s, and the lyric seems more like someone approaching 50 not approaching 30. It's a great song - but why'd they include building their beach shack at the end XD
Re Review this song. never learn not to love is one of the greatest BB songs of the post Pet sounds era and I’m a 30 year Beach Boys fan, been a fan since I was 7
Hi Giggens, indeed 20/20 was a typical contractual obligation, a mish mash and very under produced, but somehow I like it and it does have its moments and, as you say, I would love for them to have finished " cant wait too long ", which was better than anything here. this album did well here in UK though, but had it been the first BBs album I had ever purchased, I think I would have been disappointed.
this review pretty much nails it (with exception of Never Learn Not to Love). NLNTL was actually a very good release. Obviously, except for who helped to write the song. the Beach Boys also had a lack of funding which prevented them from releasing songs in perfect completion. That requires big money. I would've also considered putting some of Dennis Wilson's unreleased songs onto this album. (Barbara, and a few others).
Ah, Giggens... one of my favorite BB Lp's. Yes, and to illustrate how unpopular this great album was (and by way of association, how lame the record buying public was that year), I purchased my copy at Woolworths in San Francisco at the corner of 21st and Mission Street in the Cut-Out bins for 99 cents.
I just discovered your videos and it’s so interesting seeing the differences between your number 2 review, Holland, and this one and others like these in the hundreds. You’re so much more comfortable and less reserves. Great to see you having a great time doing these videos
I know what you mean about "I Went to Sleep" being depressing in that it IS Brian just giving up, but I also find it very beautiful in the same way that "Till I Die" is also Brian just slipping away from us (only times tenfold!)but is also a beautiful melancholic track.
Great review! I now want to put together YOUR version of 20/20 now! You glossed over the Mansun song, is that because of the association with a dark figure or just because you think it's a s**t song?!
When I first heard this album back in the 90's for the first time on cassette I only liked Cabinesence. At the time I had no knowledge of un-unfinished Smile album, 20/20 The whole album was strange and I want to say daggy. I would be almost embarrassed to know people knew I was listening to it. Over the years however I have grown to appreciate the rest of it including the Manson track as I have that on a 45 record. Great review Giggens!!
To me I Went To Asleep could be both the more positive view and the more negative one. Like I do think ppl find refuge and escape in sleep when they want to check out of life, but it's also a peaceful moment when you can just soak up the world around you and fall asleep.
It just feels like a bunch of tracks thrown together, it has no flow; but individually, there are some very strong tracks on it. I Can Hear Music, Cabinessence, Our Prayer, Time to Get Alone, Cottonfields, I Went to Sleep, Do it Again.
Also, Brian's performance of 'Do It Again' in the Don Was documentary 'I Just Wasn't Made For These Times' is sooo much better than Mike Love's lame, nasally vocal. The song is literally so, so much better!
I'm not good at sequencing songs, but my version of 20/20 would be: Side A 1. Do It Again (without wokshop) 2. I Can Hear Music 3. The Nearest Faraway Place 4. Be With Me 5. All I Want To Do 6. Walk On By (wish they had finished this one) Side B 7. Can't Wait Too Long (same as above) 8. Cotton Fields 9. Mona Kana 10. I Went To Sleep 11. Time To Get Alone 12. We're Together Again
Spot on review. Some good songs, but no flow. The Manson song is troublesome in many ways, not just because of what would happen with the murders afterward, but also the fact that I think it's a good song and that sits uncomfortably with me. Sunflower and Love You ... do it!
Question Giggens. I never knew the difference between Smiley Smile which I bought...and Smile, which was never released. In a sentence, what was Smile supposed to be?
yes, Smile was supposed to follow Pet Sounds. It would have been released in 1967, after Sgt. Pepper came out in May '67, but not influenced by it as Brian was recording Smile in the winter of '67 mostly. When it was clear Brian would not finish "Smile", "Smiley Smile" was issued which only had fragments of Smile. It was a big disappointment to most fans and the following years the BB"s had a very rough go of it in the USA (although they issued records now considered classics). They did well in the UK and other places, however, until after the "Surf's Up" LP and constant touring brought them "back" in the USA in the 70's. They became the top touring act around 1974-77, selling out shows all over. Then a slow decline into an "oldies act" more or less.
There's a single remix of Bluebirds that was released in the Netherlands (I think) that I really, really love. Sadly I've only seen it on a couple of bootlegs; never on a CD. Mike sounds great on All I Want To Do, and the outro features a clip of Dennis having sex with some groupie chick (true story, and incredible to think something like that would turn up on a Beach Boys album!) All in all, I really enjoy 20/20. It's surprisingly solid, but I do agree the sequencing is extremely awkward.
What a great review once again Giggens. I guess that you've already listen to the session LP which came out this winter (i can hear music : the 20 20 sessions). This album offers to us a 7 mins version of been/can't wait too long (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2lYRqn_CFqA.html)..... God damn !!!! That is so great to hear something which REALLY looks like an almost finished song (here is the "old" version link if some of your followers wants to listen to it ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nHXGvDP8iLI.html). Anyway ! I have a little challenge for you ! Let's take all the sessions that exist of this song and let's try to finish it ! What do you think about it ?
That would be seriously awesome Gaspers! Yeah that collection from this past winter was awesome, I've gotta review that at some point. I love Can't Wait Too Long, it's probably in my top 5 of all time favorite BB songs!
The Beach Boys are the greatest American band ever -- hands down. For my money, every song on this record is a classic. Just curious what you think of “Rock n Roll to the Rescue” grime Made in U.S.A and the Al Jardine song “PT Cruiser” from the 2006 Hallmark CD?
Great review. This may be a mixed bag but the singles on this album (especially on the re issue with Breakaway) are magic. There are groups whose whole career does not deliver as much class as " I can hear Music" or "Do it again". I think you did right not to dwell on the elephant in the room The Beach Boys deserve more than to be viewed from a perspective of their fleeting association with that man. Do it Again is an example of a particular sub genre where an artist refers to their earlier work in a retrospective song. In the Uk it was done by a guy called Billy Fury and later by the Beatles with Glass Onion and in North America by the guess who with "The Band Were Playing Shakin All Over" Of these songs Do It Again stands out as a great song in its own right rather than just being a curious self reflection. You are getting dangerously near to Sunflower.
When I listen to "All I Want To Do" I think ...this is The Rolling Stones all the way. It was great from them and I could totally see Mick and company belt it out.
The U.K. always, ALWAYS appreciated the Beach Boys moreso than America, thankfully but also, sadly. Brian Wilson has even called London & The Royal Festival Hall his "spiritual home" regarding the right place to debut SMiLE, for example.
Hmmmmmm...I'm doing Our Prayer and Do it Again in my head and I'm not sure if it works for me....lol I may have to program my cd and see what it sounds like for real! Cant Wait too Long is your number 1 overall? I'd love to hear your, say, top 50 BB tracks! Any chance of a video like that?
I have watched most, if not all, of your Beach Boys album reviews & find that you do The Boys a credible service with your through and thoughtful study and realignment of this album, 20-20. I recently watched Quentin Tarantino's "Once upon a time in Hollywood" where the Charlie Manson character said that "Dennis really messed up my song, and then The Beach Boys F***ed it up even more." (From the deleted scenes.) For this reason, as well as the fact that Manson had infected Dennis, who was a kind and trusting soul, that I was very pleased you did not only refuse to rate "Never learn how not to love", but also kicked it to the curb then stepped on it as well. That's all this sick human being deserved. It is my belief that the guilt that Dennis carried for being involved with C.M. eventually led to his downward spiral into a self destructive life of alcohol and drug abuse and ultimately Dennis' untimely death. It still saddens my heart.Thank you for all of your great reviews of my favorite band.
I believe 20/20 is in my top five all-time Beach Boys album list. Yes, it's a "cobbled together" project. So was the Little Deuce Coupe (1963) album, and that one was amazingly good for pre-Beatles times. Listening to your review is a little like, "This album is nothing special," then you go on to heap praise on almost every song. So, do you like it or not? As far as the criticism of how the "workshop" segment of Smile was "flown in" to the end of Do It Again, that's a very minor thing to criticize. Personally, I see it as a teaser bit, considering the LP ends with two honest-to-God Smile songs. The workshop segment ties Side One to Side Two. Giggens, I love you man! You're the son I never had. I can disagree with you here and there, but we both love the Beach Boys, and that's the important thing.
Come on Giggens! I love you but you’re being a little childish about Never Learn Not To Love instead of taking it at face value. Charles Manson aside, it’s a really good song. Not to mention, it’s more of a Dennis Wilson song than a Charles Manson song. So much so that Charles Manson was pissed at Dennis for completely changing it. I’ve heard parts of Manson’s demo and this song is vastly different. Definitely more a Dennis song than a Manson song. It doesn’t make you a Manson fan or sympathist for liking a song that Manson had such a minor part in. Put it in your sequencing!
Hi, I enjoy watching your Videos, there very informative....I wanted to ask the Dennis Wilson song, "Forever"....from the Sun Flower Album...was that released as a single....if so, it sounds like it could have been a Huge Hit for back then??
20/20 is the only album of theirs, I got. I love ‘I went to sleep’. And I love ‘never learn not to love’. I find ‘nearest faraway place’ & ‘our prayer’ boring. Don’t care about Cotton Fields. Cabinesence is so-so.
@@Giggens I've been following your reviews, especially the Beach Boys reviews. It's nice to see other people appreciate those post-Pet Sounds albums like Holland, Sunflower and the like. I know it wasn't originally on 20/20, it was on the expanded CD release, but what are your thoughts on Breakaway?
@@Giggens I think it's one of their best songs. I love that pre-chorus and the soaring vocals on the chorus itself. The lyrics also hit me in the right places! It's amazing to think he wrote that with his father. It's too bad the song didn't appear on an album.
Storytime... I met Mike backstage at a Beach Boys concert years back and I had the Blue Birds Over the Mountain/Never Learn Not to Love 45rpm with me and got it signed (among my 15 other albums lol). Btw it was weird fate cause I had found it at the bottom of a 1$ bin at a record shop just days before. I was only about 9 or 10 years old so I knew nothing about Never Learn not to Love or Charles Manson, but I'll "never" (sorry unintended pun lol) forget the look on his face when I said I had the Blue Birds Over the Mountain 45. He grabbed it out of my hand and asked, do you know what's on the back? (I couldn't remember) When he turned it over his eyes popped literally out and he made this aaaa, like scared sort of grunting sound. Then he quickly changed the subject and talked about Blue Birds (cause he arranged it). Flash forward like 10ish years... After learning everything and watching a bunch of Mike interviews talking about it I feel bad like he probably had some PTSD trauma from seeing that:/
Tbh 20/20 is actually in my top 3 favourite albums. Maybe that's cause it was one of the first I listened to but idk, but I think its pretty solid overall. The songs are all pretty different from each other but each individual arrangement is steller:)
For the most part I like this album.I agree with you on Never Learn Not To Love it should have never even been considered as a track.Harmonically speaking it is spot on, (vocals in my opinion are very tight ) too bad it didn’t sell very well here in the states.I give it at least an 8,it’s one of my favorite albums.Thanks for hearing me out.
