27 Essential Beach Boys Songs Everyone Needs to Know

The Beach Boys were one of the most iconic bands of the 1960s. Their beautiful vocal harmonies and intelligent songwriting defined the era’s carefree attitude.

Even if you aren’t familiar with The Beach Boys’ discography, some tracks are easily recognizable due to their popularity.

More than sixty years after their formation, The Beach Boys are still performing. They have a vast back catalog, and while their classic tunes will be up among everyone’s favorites, there are some lost classics and hidden gems to enjoy along the way.

God Only Knows

This list of essential Beach Boys songs is in no particular order, but this track would be at the top for most fans. “God Only Knows” appears on the brilliant 1966 Pet Sounds album, and it’s a thoughtful tune, in contrast with many of the faster, rocking songs the band produced.

The song tells a familiar tale of young love; many feel it’s the group’s finest release. While the Pet Sounds album will continue to appear throughout this list, other tracks struggle to come close to “God Only Knows.”

Good Vibrations

Those who aren’t really “into” The Beach Boys will have undoubtedly heard this song. “Good Vibrations” is arguably the group’s most famous track, and it’s one where those stunning vocal combinations work so well.

It’s a perfect pop single that was a deserved number-one hit in the U.K. and on the US Billboard charts. Initially released in 1966, “Good Vibrations” is the song that introduced the Beach Boys to the broader world.

California Girls

Brian Wilson suggests that he wrote this song after his first experiences with narcotics, and it’s easy to link to that. “California Girls” isn’t a typical Beach Boys song because of its slower build-up, but the catchy lyrics made it another major global hit.

The song’s success is bittersweet, considering the mental health issues that Wilson would suffer throughout his career. No essential Beach Boys songs list would be complete without “California Girls.”

Surfin’ USA

We couldn’t leave this track out. In grim early 1960s Britain, the Beach Boys’ lifestyle seemed alien. The band had a niche following in the U.K. and offered a form of escapism for some.

1963’s “Surfin’ USA” was another track that encapsulated the life that many 1960s British kids aspired to. It reached number three in the U.S., but the single was only a minor hit in the U.K., peaking at 34.

Barbara Ann

Some cover versions are so iconic that we forget about the original. “Barbara Ann” was initially released by The Regents in 1961, but The Beach Boys’ 1965 take on the song is the definitively more popular one.

The band is not known for its covers. There are a handful of examples, some of which will follow on this list, but this song is arguably the best. Of all their tracks, “Barbara Ann,” with extended acapella moments, highlights their vocal brilliance more than any other.

I Get Around

The Beach Boys’ image as fun-loving California surfers was misleading. Drummer Dennis Wilson embraced the lifestyle, but the rest of the band were less likely to grab their surfboards and go surfing in the USA.

The lifestyle the band sold is best summed up by 1964’s “I Get Around,” which reached number one in the U.S. It’s supposed to be autobiographical and an essential Beach Boys tune, even if the group didn’t always fit the surfer-dude profile.

In My Room

The band was having so much fun in the early 1960s. That was the image they portrayed, but 1963’s “In My Room” may have hinted that all was not as it seemed. It’s a reflective song that, in hindsight, is attached to Brian Wilson’s later life as a recluse.

The song is beautiful and moving but not the tune you would expect to hear from the early Beach Boys. “In My Room” underlines versatility, which isn’t always associated with the band.

Lana

A track from the 1963 album Surfin’ USA, “Lana” is often listed as one of the best underrated Beach Boys tracks. It features one of Brian Wilson’s early falsetto vocals, and it’s a bright and breezy tune that is over in less than two minutes.

Perhaps “Lana” was overlooked because it was a template for better songs to come, but it’s essential listening for anyone tracking the evolution of this iconic band.

Don’t Worry Baby

The band occasionally drifted from their regular songwriting template, and “Don’t Worry Baby” is a fine example. It’s a track that seems influenced by Phil Spector and the Wall of Sound, and if you become more familiar with the song, it may surprise you.

Brian Wilson’s stunning vocals define this 1964 release, but the fact that this isn’t a typical Beach Boys song meant that “Don’t Worry Baby” was only a minor hit.

Wouldn’t It Be Nice

There isn’t a weak track on Pet Sounds. If you’re new to the Beach Boys, it’s the first album you should buy. It’s packed with hits, including “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” a global Top Ten smash for the Beach Boys in 1966.

The song builds from a slow start into a crescendo of vocal richness, and it’s another track that uses unlikely instruments, including a trumpet and a wall of accordions.

Help Me Rhonda

If this song sounds different from many other Beach Boys tracks, it features a rare lead vocal from Al Jardine. The band’s rhythm guitarist and backing singer rarely took center stage. “Help Me Rhonda” emerged in 1965 and made the number one chart in the U.S. and Canada.

Despite the song’s upbeat tone, the lyrics speak of desperation and lost love, and “Help Me Rhonda” is one of the group’s most critically acclaimed tracks.

Baby Blue

Most songs on this list will be from the Beach Boys’ 1960s heyday. Later work is mixed, and finding hidden gems is tough. “Baby Blue,” from the 1979 L.A. (Light Album), is an exception.

The track was left over from Dennis Wilson’s unrecorded solo album, and it’s one of the better departures from the ’60s sound. With haunting lyrics hinting at Dennis Wilson’s torture, we highly recommend checking out Dennis’ solo work when you move on from the Beach Boys.

Surfer Girl

Yes, it’s another song about surfing, but this one is different. 1963’s “Surfer Girl” is a tale of unrequited love, and it’s one of the earlier examples of the Beach Boys taking a more thoughtful look at life.

Brian Wilson wrote the song in 1961, and the melancholy lyrics hint at the diverse routes the group would occasionally take later in their career. The title track from the album of the same name, Surfer Girl, reached number seven on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Little Deuce Coupe

Many of the Beach Boys’ early songs were about the simple pleasures in life. Surfing, beaches, and the sun are common themes, but “Little Deuce Coupe” is a brief and happy tune in which a guy brags about his car.

The intricate details of vehicle performance seem unlikely subjects for a great song, but this is a joyous track, and a lot of that car’s information is packed into one minute and 38 seconds.

Little Honda

The Beach Boys dropped to two from four wheels with this 1964 release. “Little Honda” is a song about motorcycles and their benefits, but the track was only a minor hit.

It’s notable for its distorted guitar, a rarity among the band’s tunes, and a feature that makes this track a hidden gem. Brian and Carl Wilson argued over the unusual instrumentation. Brian emerged as the winner on this occasion, but it was an early example of tensions in the band.

Friends

The title track of the band’s 1968 album shows four of the five band members working in harmony. “Friends” was written by brothers Brian, Carl Dennis Wilson, and Al Jardine.

The tune is a perfect example of the brilliance the Beach Boys produced when the members were on good terms. It’s a simple song about the value of friendship and that simplicity is the key to its beauty.

4th of July

While Brian Wilson’s songwriting mainly focuses on fun, fun, fun, brother Dennis’ contributions considered darker subjects. “4th of July” reflects the Vietnam War, and its theme led to a different opinion in the band. It was removed from the 1971 album Surf’s Up and wasn’t released for another 22 years.

The song is a melancholy and haunting tune that underlines this group’s versatility. It’s a shame that “4th of July” remained hidden for so long.

Surfin

It wasn’t their best track, but to fully appreciate the Beach Boys’ discography, we must include their debut single. “Surfin” sounds like a tribute to the many “doo-wop” bands of the 1950s, and it shows few signs of what was to follow.

Released in 1961, it scraped in at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100, but “Surfin” hints at Brian Wilson’s clever songwriting, and the tune gave the world its first chance to hear those striking vocal harmonies.

Surfin’ Safari

While “Surfin” had its roots in 1950s music, “Surfin’ Safari” saw the Beach Boys transform into their iconic sounds. This track has influences from other artists, but the vocal harmonies that the band became known for start to shine through.

Both tracks appear on the same 1962 album, but “Surfin’ Safari” offers a more significant clue about what we could expect from the Beach Boys sound moving forward.

Peggy Sue

In later years, the band began to release more cover versions. Were they paying genuine tributes to the original artists, or had they run out of ideas? The covers are mixed, and many are instantly forgettable, but the Beach Boys’ version of Buddy Holly’s “Peggy Sue” triumphs.

The group’s use of multiple instruments produces another wall of sound effects that lifts a brilliant track and makes it their own.

Sloop John B

Based on a traditional West Indian folk song, “Sloop John B” is another track that showcases the Beach Boys’ supreme vocal harmonies. It appears on the Pet Sounds album, an essential release for anyone wanting to discover the group.

“Sloop John B” also features an unusual musical arrangement from Brian Wilson, featuring flutes, saxophone, and glockenspiel. It spent eleven weeks on the U.S. charts, peaking at number three.

Little Saint Nick

Every great band should have a Christmas song, and this is the Beach Boys’ most famous festive offering. “Little Saint Nick” was released in December 1963 and has remained on holiday playlists ever since.

The cartoon version of the band helps out the elves in the song’s video, which also features a surfing Santa. There are similarities to “Little Deuce Coupe” in a memorable tune, which follows the classic Beach Boys formula.

Sail on Sailor

The five core members of the band will always be considered the classic Beach Boys lineup. This doesn’t mean we should forget the contributions of others. Blondie Chaplin briefly joined the group in the early 1970s, and this was his finest moment with the band.

Chaplin replaced Bruce Johnston and took lead vocals on “Sail on Sailor.” The rockier backing and unfamiliar singer make this an unlikely essential track for those looking beyond obvious Beach Boys releases.

Kokomo

1980s kids who had not discovered the Beach Boys uncovered a treat when the band released “Kokomo.” The 1988 track featured the band’s rich harmonies, while the luxury theme perfectly fit the decade’s glitz and glamor.

“Kokomo” was the group’s last significant global hit, reaching number one on the U.S. Billboard Chart. The Beach Boys were less successful in the U.K., and while the track received extended airplay, it only reached number 25 in the top 100 in the U.S.

Summer’s Gone

The band’s most recent album, That’s Why God Made the Radio, will likely be their last. Tensions and the passing of original group members mean that 2012’s release is a patchy recording with some forgettable tunes, but “Summer’s Gone” is a standout.

It’s a melancholy tune to match the downbeat title, and the listener will likely feel the group is saying goodbye. Summer’s gone, and so have the Beach Boys.

Til I Die

We’ve touched on several of the Beach Boys’ sadder songs, but this is the ultimate tale of desperation. If you only know the upbeat tunes and want to understand how versatile the band could be, take two minutes and 29 seconds out of your day to listen to “Til I Die.”

It’s bleak and distressing, but this 1971 track is also a work of genius and remains one of the group’s most underrated tracks.

Fun, Fun, Fun

Many uplifting tracks have appeared on the list, but this 1964 release is life-affirming. Despite their internal battle and personal demons, the Beach Boys’ public image was about “Fun, Fun, Fun.”

It was a time of endless drive-in movies, sun, girls, and the California surf, and it only ended when “…her Daddy takes the T-Bird away.” It can always bring a smile to your face, and it’s the perfect song to end the Beach Boys’ essential roundup.