Top 10 best Beach Boys songs performed by Carl Wilson

Let's talk about the best Beach Boys songs, whose great performance belongs to Carl Wilson... Despite being the youngest member of the band, it was guitarist Carl Wilson who made dozens of cool tracks for the group! His older brother Brian always knew that Carl's clean, radiant vocals were perfect for songs like "God Only Knows" and "Good Vibrations"... However, growing up, Carl showed that he could do so much more! In fact, he took over the band and soon the songs he performed were a popular ticket to gigs. Had it not been for his untimely death at the age of 51, he would undoubtedly have given us plenty more hits... Today we decided to honour the legendary Beach Boys member and remember the 10 most popular tracks performed by him....

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

The song is about a summer fling. It is notable because 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, which Carl did wonderfully... He's really growing up!"

And indeed, Brian felt his brother perfectly and saw how he had matured... As for "Girl Don't Tell Me", it's a masterpiece of acoustic pop music keeping up with the times!

9: "All This Is That" (1972).

In the 70s, Carl became the de facto leader of The Beach Boys, as 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 to feature on every track on this album: everything is produced and composed in what seems to be a disjointed set of songs. His vocals elevate "All This Is That" from a cosmically melodic, peaceful and sophisticated track into something transcendent... Undeniably: Carl's voice is simply magnificent here. And hitting that note on the "jai guru dev" moment... 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 the band's then manager Jack Reeley, "You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone" was a powerful opener for Carl and the Passions! Thanks in large part to Carl's powerful production, deft arrangement and bold vocals.

7: "I Can Hear Music" (1969).

The single "I Can Hear Music" was Carl Wilson's first hit as a producer and arranger. It seems he wasn't the only one of the Wilson brothers in love with Phil Spector's music... Rather than building a dense and imposing, Carl opted for an airy, bucolic treatment. His lead vocals glided on clouds of classic Beach Boys harmonies...

6: "Long Promised Road" (1971).

"Long Promised Road" was a vivid and mature demonstration of Carl's blossoming talent and incredible potential - from the light-hearted verses and vocals mottled with hard work, to the raw and jubilant choruses full of soul, and to the extended passages of haunting beauty....

5: "The Trader" (1974).

Holland, where the Beach Boys were for a while in the first half of the 70s, seems to have caused 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 steeped in colonialism... Carl was the musical driving force behind the track! He created an epic song in two parts: the first, a frightened motif; the second, a drifting and lush extended coda...

4: "Darlin'" (1967).

Along with his skills as a writer and producer, Brian had an uncanny ability to seamlessly match songs with their performers... Carl's ability to dig deep for bold, soulful vocals made "Darlin'" the perfect embodiment of his talent! The song became a staple at Beach Boys concerts, and Carl proved that no one sang "Doggone outta out!" better than he did...

3: "Surf's Up" (1971).

When Brian Wilson agreed to use "Surf's Up" on the 1971 album of the same name, Carl was once again given the opportunity to be the centre of attention! His unique composure perfectly suited the style of this song: an effortless performance, at once majestic and tinged with a touch of awe, right up to the thrilling chorus of "Columnated ruins domino..."

2: "Feel Flows" (1971).

This is the one song where Carl proved he could match his brother's flair for sonic invention. "Feel Flows" is a brooding, sun-drenched composition: all synthesised textures, ballsy guitar solos, inspired flutes and staged backing vocals - it's truly enchanting... Carl is at the centre of it all, like a sage around whom the sound circulates....

1: "God Only Knows" (1966).

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

"Well, I thought I was going to 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 I could. So, I sacrificed that!"

His instinct proved to be correct! Carl sang "God Only Knows" beautifully, capturing the tenderness and spirituality of a true masterpiece.