The Beach Boys fans decide on bands ‘last truly great’ song – with unlikely album tipped as strong release

Fans of the veteran group The Beach Boys are deciding on which of the band’s final songs is their best.

An unlikely album was tipped as hosting one of the band’s last great songs, with fans of the Brian Wilson-featuring group taking to the r/BeachBoys subreddit to discuss where these final fine tracks could be found. While some joked that the group peaked with Surfin’ Safari, their debut album, others pointed to a release by the band which came decades on from Pet Sounds. While the band would not receive as much success or critical acclaim after the release of Surf’s Up, dedicated listeners believe there is plenty to love about the band’s work in the twenty-first century.

A listener asked: “What would you consider to be the last truly great Beach Boys song? The Beach Boys are most likely done as a recording act now that Brian has passed and Bruce has left the touring act. Considering this, what would you consider the last truly great Beach Boys song?? Here’s my list of what I think the 5 best are. Going in order of release, Latest to oldest. That’s Why God Made the Radio, Somewhere Near Japan, Goin’ On, Getcha Back, Good Timin’.”

Fans agree with one of the five song choices made there, with That’s Why God Made the Radio singled out as a definite favourite. The album, released in 2012, was recorded to coincide with the band’s fiftieth anniversary. It is also the first of The Beach Boys’ albums to feature original material since 1992’s Summer in Paradise.

One fan wrote: “The closing suite on That’s Why God Made the Radio (specifically From There to Back Again and Summer’s Gone).” Another agreed, adding: “I really love Summer’s Gone off of That’s Why God Made the Radio. This is actually a great question. Thanks for asking.”

The original poster went on to agree with fans who noted That’s Why God Made the Radio as the last great piece of work by The Beach Boys. They wrote: “I agree, I think it’s the perfect end note for the band. Brian sounds great on it, and the harmonies are really good. Lyrically, it’s a great note to end on too. A dedication to the power of music. I think it’s just the perfect note to end on for the boys.”

Not everyone was impressed with That’s Why God Made the Radio, though, as some noted the lack of production on the album. One person wrote: “Almost everything on TWGMTR suffers from production being a little too schmaltzy and the lyrics being pretty dreadful. Title track does get stuck in my head a lot, which is a sign that it has a great melody, but I’m always a little disappointed when I actually listen to it.

“I think the ending four-song suite is among the best work they’ve ever done, though, so rather than That’s Why God Made the Radio itself, I’d say their last great song was From There to Back Again, but in connection with Strange World, Pacific Coast Highway, and Summer’s Gone.”