Top 10 Best Beach Boys Songs by Carl Wilson

Let's talk about the best songs of the Beach Boys, the magnificent performance of which belongs to Carl Wilson ... Despite the fact that he was the youngest member of the group, it was the guitarist Carl Wilson who made dozens of cool tracks for the band! His older brother Brian always knew that Carl's clean, radiant vocals were perfect for songs like "God Only Knows" and "Good Vibrations"... However, as he matured, Carl showed that he could do so much more! In fact, he took over the role of the group, and soon the songs he performed became a popular ticket to concerts. If not for his untimely death at the age of 51, he would undoubtedly have given us many more hits... Today we decided to honor the memory of the legendary member of the Beach Boys and recall the 10 most popular tracks performed by him...

10: "Girl Don't Tell Me" (1965)

The song is about a summer affair. It is notable for the fact that it was Carl's first lead vocal for The Beach Boys. The track appeared on the 1965 album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!). Brian later wrote in his notes:

"I'm glad I finally wrote a song that Carl sang great... He's really growing!"

Indeed, Brian felt great about his brother and saw how he matured ... As for "Girl Don't Tell Me", this is a masterpiece of acoustic pop music that keeps up with the times!

9: "All This Is That" (1972)

During the 70s, Carl became the de facto leader of The Beach Boys, which is reflected in the title of their 1972 album: Carl and the Passions - "So Tough" (this also refers to one of Carl's early bands). He is the only member of the band who is present on every track of this album: everything is produced and arranged in such a way that it would seem that this is a disparate collection of songs. His vocals elevate "All This Is That" from a cosmically melodic, peaceful and sophisticated track to something transcendent... It's undeniable: Carl's voice is just great here. And hitting that note at the moment “jai guru dev”… In a word, this is the best part of the song!

8: "You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone" (1972)

Written by Brian Wilson and then band manager Jack Riley, "You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone" was a powerful opening for Carl and the Passions! In many ways - thanks to the powerful production of Carl, clever arrangement and bold vocals.

7: "I Can Hear Music" (1969)

The single "I Can Hear Music" became Carl Wilson's first hit as a producer and arranger. It seems that he was not the only one of the Wilson brothers who fell in love with Phil Spector's music... Instead of building a dense and imposing, Karl opted for an airy, bucolic treatment. His lead vocals skimmed through the clouds of classic Beach Boys harmonies...

6: "Long Promised Road" (1971)

"Long Promised Road" was a bright and mature showcase of Carl's burgeoning talent and incredible potential, from flippant lyrics and hard-worked vocals to raw and jubilant choruses full of soul, and extended passages of ghostly beauty...

5: "The Trader" (1974)

Holland, where the Beach Boys were for a while in the first half of the '70s, seems to have given the band some homesickness, inspiring them to write a batch of songs about their home in California. "The Trader" was about US history: the lyrics are infused with colonialism... Carl was the musical driving force behind the track! He created an epic song in two parts: the first is a frightened tune; the second is a drifting and lush extended coda…

4: "Darlin'" (1967)

Along with writing and producing skills, Brian had an uncanny ability to pair songs flawlessly with their performers... Carl's ability to dig deep for bold, soulful vocals made "Darlin'" the perfect epitome of his talent! The song became a staple at the Beach Boys, and Carl proved that no one sang "Doggone outta out!" better than him...

3: "Surf's Up" (1971)

When Brian Wilson agreed to use "Surf's Up" on the 1971 album of the same name, Carl was back in the spotlight! His unique composure perfectly matched the style of this composition: light performance, both majestic and with a touch of awe, right up to the catchy chorus “Columnated ruins domino…”

2: "Feel Flows" (1971)

This is the same song where Carl proved he could match his brother's flair for sonic inventions. “Feel Flows” is a brooding, sun-drenched track: all the synth textures, snarky flute-inspired guitar solos and phased backing vocals are really charming… Carl is at the center of it all, like a sage around whom the sound swirls…

1: "God Only Knows" (1966)

Brian selflessly handed over the duties of the lead vocalist of "God Only Knows" to Carl after he realized that his own voice was not suitable for this song ... As he said in a 1996 interview:

“Well, I thought I'd do it. As the song progressed, I said, "Hey, I feel natural doing this...". But when we finished creating the song, I said that my brother Carl could probably convey the idea better than me. So, I donated it!”

His instinct was right! Carl sang "God Only Knows" beautifully, capturing the tenderness and spirituality of a true masterpiece.