The Beach Boys (#6) - Evan’s 111 Artists

“At Huntington and Malibu they’re shootin’ the pier” took on real meaning to me later I my life.
This was my happy surf spot in Malibu,

While The Doors painted a spiritual picture of the West, the Beach Boys introduced me to West Coast beach culture.

I started with the pop-stuff. The harmonies were more layered than anything I had ever heard, it was the Endless Summer EP that we spun a ton. ‘Don’t Worry Baby’, ‘Surfin’ Safari’, and ‘Little Deuce Coup’ were the songs that initially stuck.

Then I saw them live at halftime of a Cosmos soccer game with my Dad. It was super-weird, the Aloha shirts, the setting… pure cheese!

I reconnected with their music in my 20’s, especially Pet Sounds, and later some of Brian Wilson’s solo material. Both remain a staple.

When we moved from Montclair to Malibu, Rex was 7, On his first day after camp, he told us he met a really cool kid and they’d be in the same class. He was certain.

A few weeks later I was trying to stay calm among a sea of mainly women and their little ones on the first day of school, I saw another Dad with a similar look of terror in his eyes, we said hi, and sure enough, Rex said hi to his son (his friend from camp who was in his class).

That boy’s last name was Wilson. We got to know his salt-of-the-earth family over the next 5 years.

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“Dad, you always say this song is a F*CKING MASTERPIECE… make a list.”

Some of The Beach Boys masterpieces are listed below, and even more on my 1k+ song Spotify Playlist — Evan’s 111 Artists (pt. #1: radio, records & tapes)

Wouldn’t It Be Nice, Surfin’ U.S.A., Good Vibrations, Do It Again, Surfer Girl, Help Me Rhonda… and Love And Mercy by Brian Wilson


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