Endless Harmony Soundtrack
Encyclopedia
Endless Harmony Soundtrack is an anthology album of previously unheard material by The Beach Boys
, originally released by Capitol Records
in August 1998. Named for Bruce Johnston
's song on the 1980 album Keepin' the Summer Alive
, it was designed as a tie-in with the band's biographical documentary of the same name. The soundtrack was re-issued in March 2000 with some remixing and different artwork, while the original 1998 edition (with the orange/yellow cover) was deleted shortly thereafter.
in February 1998 from lung cancer. Brian Wilson
, a temporary member for several years by this time, decided that the band was over and disassociated himself from any further group activity. At odds with Mike Love
in continuing on after Carl's passing, Al Jardine
did the same. To the present day, while Wilson and Jardine are pursuing solo careers, both Love and Bruce Johnston
(with their accompanying concert act) still perform live as The Beach Boys.
The Endless Harmony Soundtrack itself is patterned somewhat like The Beatles
' Anthology albums, with, various alternate versions and live renditions of songs, as well as previously unreleased ones. Spanning from a stereo remix of 1963's "Surfer Girl
" to the completion of the unreleased 1969 recording "Loop de Loop (Flip Flop Flyin' in an Aeroplane)" 29 years after it was started, the album also includes a brief snippet of both Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks
routining three Smile
songs in 1966.
Endless Harmony Soundtrack never charted in the U.S. or the UK. Although the album wasn't a commercial success, it did encourage Capitol Records
to issue a more comprehensive archival package in Hawthorne, CA
, released in May 2001.
/Mike Love
, unless otherwise noted.
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, originally released by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
in August 1998. Named for Bruce Johnston
Bruce Johnston
Bruce Arthur Johnston is a member of The Beach Boys and a songwriter, remembered especially for composing "I Write the Songs". Johnston was not one of the original members of the band...
's song on the 1980 album Keepin' the Summer Alive
Keepin' the Summer Alive
-Singles:* "Goin' On" b/w "Endless Harmony" , March 11, 1980 US #83* "Livin' with a Heartache" b/w "Santa Ana Winds" , May 20, 1980...
, it was designed as a tie-in with the band's biographical documentary of the same name. The soundtrack was re-issued in March 2000 with some remixing and different artwork, while the original 1998 edition (with the orange/yellow cover) was deleted shortly thereafter.
Background
This project was undertaken during a time when The Beach Boys fractured apart - irrevocably - after the death of 51-year-old Carl WilsonCarl Wilson
Carl Dean Wilson was an American rock and roll singer and guitarist, best known as a founding member, lead guitarist and sometime lead vocalist of The Beach Boys...
in February 1998 from lung cancer. Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
, a temporary member for several years by this time, decided that the band was over and disassociated himself from any further group activity. At odds with Mike Love
Mike Love
Michael Edward "Mike" Love is an American singer/songwriter and musician with The Beach Boys. He was a founding member of the band along with his cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, and continues to perform with the band to the present day...
in continuing on after Carl's passing, Al Jardine
Al Jardine
Alan Charles "Al" Jardine is a founding member of top-selling American music group The Beach Boys, a guitarist and occasional lead vocalist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.-Early life:...
did the same. To the present day, while Wilson and Jardine are pursuing solo careers, both Love and Bruce Johnston
Bruce Johnston
Bruce Arthur Johnston is a member of The Beach Boys and a songwriter, remembered especially for composing "I Write the Songs". Johnston was not one of the original members of the band...
(with their accompanying concert act) still perform live as The Beach Boys.
The Endless Harmony Soundtrack itself is patterned somewhat like The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' Anthology albums, with, various alternate versions and live renditions of songs, as well as previously unreleased ones. Spanning from a stereo remix of 1963's "Surfer Girl
Surfer Girl
Surfer Girl is the third studio album by The Beach Boys and their second longplayer in 1963. This was the first album by The Beach Boys for which Brian Wilson was given full production credit, a position Wilson would maintain until the end of the The Smile Sessions in 1967...
" to the completion of the unreleased 1969 recording "Loop de Loop (Flip Flop Flyin' in an Aeroplane)" 29 years after it was started, the album also includes a brief snippet of both Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks
Van Dyke Parks
Van Dyke Parks is an American composer, arranger, producer, musician, singer, author and actor. Parks is perhaps best known for his contributions as a lyricist on the Beach Boys album Smile....
routining three Smile
Smile (The Beach Boys album)
Smile is a previously unreleased album by The Beach Boys recorded throughout 1966 and 1967. The project was intended by its creator Brian Wilson as the follow-up to Pet Sounds, but was never completed in its original form...
songs in 1966.
Endless Harmony Soundtrack never charted in the U.S. or the UK. Although the album wasn't a commercial success, it did encourage Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
to issue a more comprehensive archival package in Hawthorne, CA
Hawthorne, CA (album)
Hawthorne, CA, subtitled Birthplace of a Musical Legacy, is the second anthology collection by The Beach Boys and released through Capitol Records...
, released in May 2001.
Track listing
All tracks written by Brian WilsonBrian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
/Mike Love
Mike Love
Michael Edward "Mike" Love is an American singer/songwriter and musician with The Beach Boys. He was a founding member of the band along with his cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, and continues to perform with the band to the present day...
, unless otherwise noted.
- "Soulful Old Man SunshineSoulful Old Man Sunshine"Soulful Old Man Sunshine" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Rick Henn for the American rock band The Beach Boys. The song was written and recorded in 1969, and finally released on the band's 1998 anthology album, the Endless Harmony Soundtrack....
" (Writing session excerpt) (Brian WilsonBrian WilsonBrian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
/Rick Henn) – 0:42 - "Soulful Old Man Sunshine" (Brian Wilson/Rick Henn) – 3:25
- "Radio Concert Promo 1" – 0:15
- "Medley: Surfin' SafariSurfin' Safari (song)"Surfin' Safari" is a song by American rock band The Beach Boys, written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. Released as a single with "409" in June 1962, it peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100...
/Fun, Fun, FunFun, Fun, Fun"Fun, Fun, Fun", written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, was a hit single by The Beach Boys that was released in 1964 on the band's album Shut Down Volume 2.- Composition :...
/Shut Down/Little Deuce CoupeLittle Deuce Coupe (song)"Little Deuce Coupe" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Roger Christian. The song first appeared as the b-side to The Beach Boys' 1963 single "Surfer Girl"...
/Surfin' USASurfin' USA (song)"Surfin' USA" is a song with lyrics written by Brian Wilson for The Beach Boys, set to the melody from Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen". Berry received co-writing credit for composing the song after litigating. "Surfin' USA" was recorded by The Beach Boys and released as a single on March 4,...
" (Live) (Brian Wilson/Love/Roger Christian/Chuck BerryChuck BerryCharles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
) – 3:33- Recorded on 22 October 1966 in Michigan
- "Surfer GirlSurfer Girl (song)"Surfer Girl" is the title of a song written and sung by Brian Wilson for The Beach Boys. It was released as a single and it then appeared on the 1963 album of the same name, Surfer Girl. The B-side of the single was "Little Deuce Coupe"...
" (Binaural mix) (Brian Wilson) – 2:27- The version on the revised 2000 edition of the album is more of an a cappellaA cappellaA cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
mix
- The version on the revised 2000 edition of the album is more of an a cappella
- "Help Me, RhondaHelp Me, Rhonda"Help Me, Rhonda" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love for their American rock band The Beach Boys. The song is the first Beach Boys song to feature a lead vocal by Al Jardine. It was released in March 1965 on the album Today! as "Help Me, Ronda"...
" (Alternate single version) – 2:50 - "Kiss Me, BabyKiss Me, Baby"Kiss Me, Baby" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. It was released as the B-side of The Beach Boys number-one U.S. hit "Help Me, Rhonda". It was also released by The Beach Boys on their 1965 album Today!.- Recording :...
" (Stereo remix) – 2:42 - "California GirlsCalifornia Girls"California Girls" is a song by American rock band The Beach Boys, featured on their ninth studio album Summer Days . Written by band-members Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the song features contrasting verse-chorus form...
" (Stereo remix) – 2:44 - "Good VibrationsGood Vibrations"Good Vibrations" is a song by American rock band The Beach Boys. Composed and produced by Brian Wilson, the song's lyrics were written by Wilson and Mike Love....
" (Live) – 3:40- Recorded in rehearsal on 8 December 1968 in London
- "Heroes and VillainsHeroes and Villains"Heroes and Villains" is a song by the American rock band The Beach Boys, co-written by the group's leader Brian Wilson and lyricist Van Dyke Parks. Originally intended by Wilson to be the centerpiece of the ambitious but shelved album Smile, a re-recorded version of the song was released on Smiley...
(Demo)" (Brian Wilson/Van Dyke ParksVan Dyke ParksVan Dyke Parks is an American composer, arranger, producer, musician, singer, author and actor. Parks is perhaps best known for his contributions as a lyricist on the Beach Boys album Smile....
) – 2:27- Recorded on 4 November 1966, this run through for Los Angeles DJ "Humble" Harve features, in addition to "Heroes and Villains", the fragments "I'm in Great Shape" and "Barnyard"
- "Heroes and Villains" (Live) (Brian Wilson/Parks) – 3:40
- "God Only KnowsGod Only Knows"God Only Knows" is a song by American rock band The Beach Boys. It is the eighth track on the group's 11th studio album, Pet Sounds , and one of their most widely recognized songs. "God Only Knows" was composed and produced by Brian Wilson with lyrics by Tony Asher and lead vocal by Carl...
" (Live) (Brian Wilson/Tony AsherTony AsherTony Asher is an American lyricist who co-wrote much of The Beach Boys 1966 album Pet Sounds in conjunction with front man Brian Wilson, including such classic songs as "God Only Knows" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice"...
) – 2:45- Actually a live-in-the-studio recording in September 1967
- "Radio Concert Promo 2" – 0:15
- "Darlin'" (Live) – 2:26
- Recorded on 21 June 1980 at Knebworth
- "Wonderful"/"Don't Worry Bill" (Brian Wilson/Parks/Ricky FataarRicky FataarRicky Fataar is a South African multi-instrumentalist of Malay descent, who has performed as both a drummer, and a guitarist. He gained fame as an actor in the comedic television movie, The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash, a spoof on the actual history of The Beatles, and for his performance as a...
/Blondie ChaplinBlondie ChaplinTerence William 'Blondie' Chaplin is a musician from Durban, South Africa who first became known to international audiences through his brief stint in the early 1970s as a singer and guitarist for The Beach Boys...
/Steve Fataar/Brother Fataar) – 5:52- A medley of Smiles "Wonderful" and a song released by The FlameThe FlamesThe Flames was a musical group from Durban in South Africa. The band was originally formed in 1963 by guitarist Steve Fataar, bassist Brother Fataar , drummer George Faber and guitarist Eugene Champion. However this line-up would only be together to record a couple of songs...
(also known as "The Flames") called "Don't Worry Bill" recorded on 23 November 1972 at Carnegie HallCarnegie HallCarnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in New York City
- A medley of Smiles "Wonderful" and a song released by The Flame
- "Do It Again" (Early version) – 2:30
- "Break AwayBreak Away (The Beach Boys song)"Break Away" is a song recorded by The Beach Boys in 1969. Written by Brian Wilson and his father, Murry Wilson, is credited as lyricist using the pseudonym Reggie Dunbar...
" (Demo) (Brian Wilson/Reggie Dunbar) – 2:38- "Reggie Dunbar" is a pseudonym for Murry WilsonMurry WilsonMurry Gage Wilson was an American musician and record producer, best remembered as the father of The Beach Boys members Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, and Carl Wilson, uncle of bandmate Mike Love, and the husband of Audree Wilson...
- "Reggie Dunbar" is a pseudonym for Murry Wilson
- "Sail Plane Song" (Brian Wilson/Carl WilsonCarl WilsonCarl Dean Wilson was an American rock and roll singer and guitarist, best known as a founding member, lead guitarist and sometime lead vocalist of The Beach Boys...
) – 2:12 - "Loop de Loop (Flip Flop Flyin' in an Aeroplane)" (Brian Wilson/Carl Wilson/Al JardineAl JardineAlan Charles "Al" Jardine is a founding member of top-selling American music group The Beach Boys, a guitarist and occasional lead vocalist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.-Early life:...
) – 2:56- Recording begun in March 1969, finished by Al Jardine in July 1998
- "Barbara" (Dennis WilsonDennis WilsonDennis Carl Wilson was an American rock and roll musician best known as a founding member and the drummer of The Beach Boys. He was a member of the group from its formation until his death in 1983...
) – 2:58 - "'Til I Die'Til I Die"’Til I Die" is the title of a song written by Brian Wilson for The Beach Boys. It is one of the few songs in which both the words and music were written solely by Wilson...
" (Alternate mix) (Brian Wilson) – 4:52 - "Long Promised RoadLong Promised Road"Long Promised Road" is a song written by Carl Wilson and Jack Rieley for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was first released as a single in May 1971, and did not chart. It was then released on their 1971 album Surf's Up, and was rereleased as a single, with a different b-side, 'Til I Die,...
" (Live) (Carl Wilson/Jack RieleyJack RieleyJack Rieley is an American record producer. He was the manager of the pop music group the Beach Boys during the early 1970s, and is credited with guiding them back to acclaim. He would also sometimes a co-songwriter with the rest of the band, usually penning lyrics.He also worked with Kool and the...
) – 4:17- Recorded on 23 November 1972 at Carnegie Hall in New York City
- "All Alone" (Carli MuñozCarli MuñozCarlos C. Muñoz, better known as Carli Munoz or Carli Muñoz , is a self-taught American jazz pianist.Although born and raised in Puerto Rico, his music of choice was jazz, European avant-garde and American pop music...
) – 3:36 - "Brian's Back" (Love) – 4:07
- Written in response to Brian Wilson's 1976 return to the public eye
- "Endless Harmony" (Bruce JohnstonBruce JohnstonBruce Arthur Johnston is a member of The Beach Boys and a songwriter, remembered especially for composing "I Write the Songs". Johnston was not one of the original members of the band...
) – 3:29- Includes a hidden a cappella sample of "Kiss Me, Baby" after the song ends