Summer In Paradise

[Andrew]

Summer or bummer in paradise?...comment and rate here

http://www.surfermoon.com/albums/summer_in_paradise2.shtml

[topgazza]

Has some good moments but the final end was, well, final.

[Conspiracy Jim]

It shouldn't have happened, but it did.  If it were a Mike Love solo album we'd probably praise it slightly higher.  But the crowning moments belong to Carl and Alan, especially the latter's chorus on Strange Things Happen (best song on the album).

Summer Of Love is truly the lowest musical point in Beach Boy history. 

I haven't heard the remixed version of the album, but I can't imagine it's much better than the original release.

[Lonely Summer]

I remember looking at the CD when it came out in Summer 1992. The writing credits were all Mike Love/Terry Melcher (except for a few remakes and one Bruce tune). Waited all this time for a new BB's album, and instead, got a ML solo album with the BB's (except Brian) doing vocals. Not what I wanted. I waited several years, finally bought a cassette for 50 cents in a used book store. Was just as weak as I expected. The best song, oddly enough, is the last one, the title track, and even that one was disappointing. I saw them do a version of it on ABC's In Concert back in '93, with Bruce singing the last couple verses. Did this version ever come out on an album?

[Lee Marshall]

The packaging was excellent.  A few acceptable moments.  I gave it a 2 'cause I know I'm being too rough in considering it only a 1.

[The Baker Man]

Still Cruising, Part 2.  Strange Things Happen is the best song on the album, and that's it.

[Ed Hemingway]

I kind of like Still Surfin'.  Has a wistful feel to it even if some of the lyrics are crass.  Al's singing is about the only other thing that makes this album wirth listening to.

[shelter]

Easily the group's worst album. The only positive things I can say about it is that I like the new version of "Forever" (if you see it as a cover song, which it basically is, it's really not that bad at all), and that I LOVE the cover art.

[Moon Dawg]

  I'd still like to know why Carl Wilson and Al Jardine allowed this to be released as a Beach Boys album when it's really a Mike Love solo LP with a few guest appearances by various Beach Boys. Apparently they just let go. Sometimes you have to. 

[Cranston Lamont]

Crass album.  Some decent singing saves this from being a complete zero - and you're right, it's virtually a Lovester album, though it's Jardine's voice that saves it.

[shelter]

  I'd still like to know why Carl Wilson and Al Jardine allowed this to be released as a Beach Boys album when it's really a Mike Love solo LP with a few guest appearances by various Beach Boys.

It's not like it was the first time that an album that was basically a solo album with BB guest appearances was released as a BB album. Only difference was that this time it was a Mike Love album instead of a Brian Wilson album.

[Charles]

The packaging was excellent.

Agreed. Every time I look at the cover art, I have this uncontrollable urge to eat at Red Lobster.

[Lee Marshall]

Played it again last night...in its entirety...while working on a little BB related project.  Most of the songs...are almost complete strangers as I shelved this BAD BOY years [like 14] ago.  Last night...after listening first to the accoustic in the round SMiLE tour opener/performance from London [Royal Festival Hall] back in Feb [24] of '04...I tossed it on.

The darned thing sounded pretty darned FINE.  Little annoyances and nit-picking aside...it's a FAR better album than I remembered...particularly Carl and Al's leads.  A classic?  No way...but for a long time fan...it was a surprisingly welcome sound and listening experience.

Too late now for the poll...but I'm upping my mark to 5.

[Eric Aniversario]

For many years, this album was a favorite of mine.  And before everyone attacks, my absolute favorite is Friends, which is probably the polar opposite of SIP.  After repeated listens, it kind of has worn a little thin on me, and the drum machine does get on my nerves a little bit, but in the 90's, I don't think the overall sound was bad for that time.  There are some embarassing moments (Summer of Love) but a lot of the other stuff is cool clean commercial fluff (I mean that in a good way).  They were trying to achieve that summertime, fun-in-the-sun, Full House, cleancut image, and I think they succeeded at what they were trying to do.  Definitely not successful sales-wise, but an overall good effort.

[trfesok]

  I gave it a 1.5, rounded down to a 1. With artistic control totally ceded to Mike, how could this not be awful? Clearly, Mike and Terry thought that extending the "Kokomo" sound through an entire album would make it a hit. But the production sounds cold and mechanical and the lyrics are really immature. Mike was way too old at this point to be singing stuff like "Still Surfin'" and rapping (!) on "Summer of Love" ("it's a love thang?" -- oh, please!) And the vocal harmonies -- although not as off as as on "KTSA", they still have a similarily dry, flat quality that is really unappealing. The most depressing thing for me is "Walking in the Sand". Very klutzy -- poor Carl. He clearly had given up by then, if this is what he was forced to do.

I only find two tolerable moments.  "Strange Things Happen" is yet another lyrical rehash (this time it's "Funky Pretty"), but Al's voice brings up the chorus to acceptable levels. And "Hot Fun in the Summertime" is sort of an inspired choice, pleasant and low key when compared with the rest of the album. Still, they aren't worth the exorbitant prices this out of print thing is now getting on E-bay.

Bob