Great soul crops up in all kinds of odd places and on a new Ace Records collection of Beach Boy in Chief, BRIAN WILSON compositions there are three great cuts to interest serious soul collectors.
First up there’s a real oddity; soul harmony group The Tymes’ version of the Beach Boy’s own ‘Surf City’. Yes, hot off the back of hitting with ‘So Much In Love’, their mentor Billy Jackson had them record the surfing song for a little known 1963 LP of surf-themed songs. The album also featured the Dovells on ‘Surfin’ Safari’ and the Orlons with ‘Surfin”. Like I said a real oddity.
A little more soulfully conventional is Gene and Billy Page’s production for Betty Everett on ‘God Only Knows’. Glossy and sophisticated, it’s a far cry from the Beach Boys’ original. The album also offers Carmen McRae’s version of ‘Don’t Talk Put Your Head On My Shoulder’.
‘HERE TODAY; THE SONGS OF BRIAN WILSON’ boasts lashing of great pop too – notably a crisp version of the lovely ‘Don’t Worry Baby’ from harmony group, The Tokens, Jay and the Americans’ version of ‘Things Are Changing’ and a decent version of the uncoverable ‘Good Vibrations’ from Hugo Montenegro.
