In the 1980s, the Beach Boys transitioned into an oldies act and spent the next several years touring, often playing in front of large audiences, and recording songs for film soundtracks and various artists compilations. On June 21, 1980, they performed a concert at Knebworth , England, later released in…
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The group’s first two albums for CBS, 1979’s L.A. (Light Album) and 1980’s Keepin’ the Summer Alive , struggled in the US, charting at 100 and 75 respectively, though the band did manage a top-forty single from L.A. (Light Album) with ” Good Timin’ “. The recording of these albums…
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The group had still owed one more album for Reprise. Released in September 1978, M.I.U. Album was recorded at Maharishi International University in Iowa at the suggestion of Love. The band originally attempted to record a Christmas album, to be titled Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys , but this…
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At the beginning of 1977, the Beach Boys had enjoyed their most lucrative concert tours ever, with the band playing in packed stadiums and earning up to $150,000 per show. Concurrently, the band was the subject of a record company bidding war, as their contract with Warner Bros. had been…
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Early in 1975, Brian signed a production deal with California Music , a Los Angeles collective that included Bruce Johnston and Gary Usher, but was drawn away by the Beach Boys’ pressing demands for a new album. In October, Marilyn persuaded Brian to admit himself to the care of psychologist…
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Released on July 5, 1976, 15 Big Ones was generally disliked by fans and critics, as well as Carl and Dennis, who disparaged the album to the press. The album peaked at number 8 in the US, becoming their first top-ten album of new material since Pet Sounds , and…
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From late-1976 to early-1977, Brian made sporadic public appearances and produced the band’s next album, The Beach Boys Love You . He regarded it as a spiritual successor to Pet Sounds , namely because of the autobiographical lyrics. Released on April 11, 1977, Love You peaked at number 53 in…
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Over the summer of 1975, the touring group played a co-headlining series of concert dates with Chicago, a pairing that was nicknamed ” Beachago “. The tour was massively successful and restored the Beach Boys’ profitability to what it had been in the mid-1960s. Although another joint tour with Chicago…
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To capitalize on their sudden resurgence in popularity, the Beach Boys accepted Guercio’s invitation to record their next Reprise album at his Caribou Ranch studio, located around the mountains of Nederland, Colorado . These October 1974 sessions marked the group’s return to the studio after a 21-month period of virtual…
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The Beach Boys’ greatest hits compilation album Endless Summer was released in June 1974 to unexpected success, becoming the band’s second number 1 US album in October. The LP had a 155-week chart run, selling over 3 million copies. A second volume of greatest hits, Spirit of America , followed…
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