While the emotion for the disappearance of Brian Wilson is still strong, who left us yesterday at 82 years old, the British magazine Mojo pays homage to the brilliant leader of the Beach Boys by publishing the ranking of those that considers the 50 best songs made by the Californian formation.
“The beach boys – Mojo writes – have redefined the possibilities of pop music, creating harmonies and experimenting with production in ways never heard before and hardly equaled since then. Consequently, their catalog is one of the richest and most complex in popular music, ranging from rock'n'roll more direct to the pop of the golden age, from the sweetamare reflections to the experimental harmonic euphies, under the direction of the genius. Tormented Brian Wilson, who unfortunately left us at the age of 82.
Look below the Mojo ranking (here the complete service).
50. Forever
49. Wind Chimes
48. Help Me Rhonda
47. Vega-Tables
46. Do it again
45. Wild Honey
44. That's Not Me
43. Little Deuce Coupe
42. Let Him Run Wild
41. Long Promised Road
40. “Cuddle up”
39. When I Grow Up (to be a man)
38. Cool, Cool Water
37. Sloop John B
36. Tears in the morning
35. All Summer Long
34. Barbara Ann
33. Break Away
32. You're so good to me
31. I Can Hear Music
30. Here Today
29. Darlin '
28. Disney girls
27. Surfin 'USA
26. The Warmth of the Sun
25. Fun, Fun, Fun
24. Pet sounds
23. I'm Waiting for the day
22. Our Prayer
21. Do you like Worms?
20. I Know There's An Answer
19. In My Room
18. Surfer Girl
17. Let's Go Away for Awhile
16. Sail on sailor
15. Don't Worry Baby
14. You Still Believe in me
13. I Just Wasn'T Made for these Times
12. Feel Floww
11. Cabin Essence
10. The Get Around
9. Wouldn't it be nice
8. Don't Talk (put your head on My Shoulders)
7. Heroes and Villains
6. Caroline no
5. 'Til i die
4. California Girls
3. God Only Knows
2. Good vibrations
1. Surf's up
Brian Wilson, founder and engine of the Beach Boys, died on June 11 at 82 years old. The historic Californian band, made up of Wilson with the Minor brothers, Dennis and Carl, the cousin Mike Love and his friend at Jardine, is one of the formations that most influenced the history of pop.
The children were given on social media: “We are grieved in announcing the disappearance of our beloved Father Brian Wilson. At this moment we have no words. Please respect our privacy in this moment of mourning for our family. We realize that we are sharing our pain with the world – and they conclude – love and mercy”.
Musician, composer and record producer, Wilson was considered one of the most influential and innovative artists of pop music of the twentieth century. He wrote and composed many of the most famous songs of the beach boys, such as “Good Vibrations”, “God Only Knows”, “California Girls” and “Caroline, no”. It was also pioneer in the studio, using new recording and production techniques, such as the use of orchestral and choirs tools, completely unusual for pop music of the time.
Among his masterpieces, “Pet Sounds” (1966), universally considered one of the best pop albums of all time, but also that tormented project named “Smile”, a pop collage never published and finally “reconstructed” in 2002.
Inspired by Chuck Berry's rock'n'roll melodies and from wall of sound by Phil Spector, from 1962 to 1966 Wilson led the beach boys to collect 10 successes in the top 10 and another seven in the Top 40 for the Capitol Records, most of which are written or co-based and produced by him. The popularity of the group, at that time, was overcome only by that of the Beatles who engraved for the same label and that Wilson considered his rivals.
During her life, Brian Wilson suffered from depression, also developing, in the seventies, an addiction to cocaine, heroin and alcohol. For a long period he had remained closed at home, away from the music scene but also from his family. In recent years Wilson had also suffered from senile dementia, so much so that in 2012 his wife, Melinda Ledbetter Wilson, had obtained legal protection. Upon the death of the woman, in January 2024, the protection had passed to his agents.
In addition to his work in the group, Wilson also had a solo career, who had given birth to songs such as “Love and Mercy”, from 1988, in which he had really reflected on the state of his mental health and on the search for a relief, a redemption.
Antonio Santini for SANREMO.FM
