the beach boys greatest hits album download The 10 greatest Beach Boys songs ever, ranked. If you need some happy music that's perfect for the sunshine, then the Beach Boys are the guys you've been looking for. The Beach Boys were one of the most successful and iconic groups of the 1960s, and have had a legacy of music that will live on forever. Led by the genius of Brian Wilson, the group started life as a surf rock band and soon created some of the world's most influential albums including the seminal Pet Sounds . From their surf anthems to their orchestral pop classics, here are some of their very best songs. 'Surf's Up' The title of this song is an ironic nod to the group's earlier associations with surf music, and nothing in the song is actually about surfing. The song is about a man who experiences a spiritual awakening, resigns himself to God, and predicts hope for those who can capture the innocence of youth. Originally intended for the Smile album, it was later included on their 1971 album of the same name. 'I Just Wasn't Made for These Times' A Pet Sounds classic, this song is about Brian Wilson's insecurities and perceived shortcomings at the time. Wilson later said: "It's about a guy who was crying out because he thought he was too advanced, and that he'd eventually have to leave people behind. All my friends thought I was crazy to do Pet Sounds ." 'Heroes and Villains' This song was written as a three-minute musical comedy, and was the follow-up single to 'Good Vibrations'. It was intended as the main track on the unfinished album Smile . After the album was axed, the song was rearranged and released in 1967. Brian's then-wife Marilyn Wilson later said: "There are so many screwed-up people in the music industry. The good guys and the bad guys. That's one thing Brian had in mind when they did 'Heroes and Villains'." 'Surfin' USA' One of the defining songs of the short-lived surf rock era. It was a rewritten version of Berry's 'Sweet Little Sixteen' set to new lyrics, written by Brian Wilson and an uncredited Mike Love. Wilson later said: "I was going with a girl called Judy Bowles, and her brother Jimmy was a surfer. He knew all the surfing spots. I started humming the melody to 'Sweet Little Sixteen' and I got fascinated with the fact of doing it, and I thought to myself, 'God! What about trying to put surf lyrics to 'Sweet Little Sixteen's melody?'". 'Do It Again' This track was written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love as a self-conscious look back to the group's earlier surf image, which they had not used since 1964. It was a number one hit in the UK in 1968, with Love saying the success in Britain "was unbelievable. It showed how many fans we had there and how attractive the whole California lifestyle is." 'In My Room' This laid back and melancholic ballad was taken from their 1963 album Surfer Girl . Gary Usher (who co-wrote the lyrics with Brian Wilson) later described that "Brian was always saying that his room was his whole world." Brian added: "I had a room, and I thought of it as my kingdom. And I wrote that song, very definitely, that you're not afraid when you're in your room. It's absolutely true." 'Wouldn't It Be Nice' Taken from Pet Sounds , this song describes a couple in love lamenting about being too young to run off to get married, and thinking about how great it would be if they were adults. Brian Wilson composed the music, while the lyrics were written mostly by Tony Asher. Mike Love's contribution was the ending line "Good night my baby / sleep tight my baby". 'I Get Around' This California Sound classic was The Beach Boys' first US number one single in 1964. The song was originally credited to just Brian Wilson, until a 1994 lawsuit by Mike Love amended the song's copyright to include him as a co- writer, as he claimed he came up with the famous "Round round get around" lyric. 'Good Vibrations' Written by Brian Wilson with lyrics by Mike Love, this iconic song is known for its subversion of the pop music formula of the time, and was the most expensive single ever recorded by 1966. Produced by Wilson, it was recorded during Pet Sounds , but not originally released as a standalone single. Its title came from Wilson's fascination with cosmic vibrations, as his mother would tell him as a child that dogs may bark at people in response to their "bad vibrations". Lead vocals on the song were shared between Brian, his brother Carl and their cousin Love. 'God Only Knows' One of the greatest love songs of all time, this Pet Sounds track names God in its title and lyrics, which was unusual for a pop single at the time. The title was apparently not specific to any God, and could be addressed to any higher force, creating a song about moving forward after loss. Sung by Brian Wilson's younger brother Carl, the track was produced and arranged by Brian using an intriguing selection of instruments, including French horn, accordions, sleigh bell, harpsichord, and a quartet of violas and cellos. Top 20 Beach Boys Songs. "Surfin'" originated when the Beach Boys were trying to decide on something original to be the subject of a song. Dennis Wilson suggested they write a song about the growth of surfing in popularity. "Surfin'" was released as the group's first single on the independent label Candix Records. The song became a regional hit in southern California and peaked at #75 on the US pop chart. 1962 - "Surfin' Safari" The Beach Boys first recorded "Surfin' Safari" in their second ever recording session. However, the official version of the song was not recorded until two months later in April 1962. It was included on a demo presented to Capitol Records that earned the group their first major label contract. "Surfin' Safari" was the breakthrough single for the Beach Boys. It was their first top 40 pop hit and peaked at #14. 1963 - "Surfin' USA" Brian Wilson wrote the lyrics to "Surfin' USA" and set them to the melody of "Sweet Little Sixteen" by Chuck Berry. It celebrates the southern California surf culture. Peaking at #3 on the US pop singles chart, "Surfin' USA" was also the title song for the group's first top 10 charting album. It peaked at #2 and spent more than a year on the album chart. The cover photo on the album was actually taken in Hawaii and not California. 1963 - "Surfer Girl" "Surfer Girl" is the first Beach Boys song written solely by Brian Wilson. The words are inspired by his first serious girlfriend Judy Bowles. They dated for three and a half years. He was influenced by the song "When You Wish Upon a Star" by Dion and the Belmonts. "Surfer Girl" peaked at #7 on the US pop chart, the second top 10 pop hit by the group. 1963 - "Be True To Your School" The Beach Boys' salute to school pride is built around the melody of "On, Wisconsin!," the University of Wisconsin's fight song. One recorded version of "Be True To Your School" included cheerleader yells by the girl group The Honeys. The group included Marilyn Rovell who married the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson and became the mother of Carnie and Wendy Wison of Wilson Phillips. The Honeys also sang back up for surf pop duo Jan and Dean. "Be True To Your School" reached #6 on the US pop chart. 1963 - "In My Room" Many observers see "In My Room" as a first glimpse into the serious side of Brian Wilson's creative work. Brian Wilson has stated that the celebration of a bedroom as a place of escape had particular poignance because he sang it together with his brothers Carl and Dennis Wilson about the room they shared together as kids. "In My Room" was released as the B-Side to "Be True To Your School" and peaked at #23 on the US pop chart. It has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. 1964 - "I Get Around" "I Get Around" became the Beach Boys' first #1 charting single. During the recording of the song, after multiple altercations, Brian Wilson's father Murry was removed from his position as the Beach Boys' manager. "I Get Around" has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It was the fifth biggest hit of 1964 in the US. 1964 - "Don't Worry Baby" One of the most notable elements of "Don't Worry Baby" is Brian Wilson's falsetto lead vocal. The song was credited with beginning to inspire a darker side to the California surf culture as it explores the angst surrounding a reluctant agreement to take part in a car race. Brian Wilson said "Don't Worry Baby" was his effort to capture the essence of "Be My Baby" by the Ronettes, his favorite song. The song was released as the B- side to "I Get Around" and peaked at #24 on the US pop chart. 1964 - "Dance, Dance, Dance" Beach Boys member Carl Wilson is credited with co-writing "Dance, Dance, Dance." It was his first writing credit on a Beach Boys single. He contributed the song's guitar solo and riff.