The Beach Boys - Aren't You Glad

[BustardBuzzard]

Rock On, Brian!

[6000cat]

I saved up all my money to get this 8 track to give to my boyfriend when I was in high school. We listened to it all summer long...in 1968...in a red hot Chevy Nova...and shut the f up.n It never DID get any better.

[peterp21]

Favorite track off the Wild Honey album. Sadly "underproduced" like most of Wild Honey in that the song is essentially two verses, two choruses and just fades out. I'm guessing BW was pretty spent and not quite caring as much as he was done earlier in the year. Mike Love, who gets way too much shit shows how good a singer he really was and absolutely vital to their sound. I'm guessing ML wrote the lyrics to this one too, which are pretty nice, simple, sentimental. A+ track.

[libertyhopeful18]

this almost sounds like its minorly influenced by cool cool water. but this song is so catchy. especially the vocal hook. "you know that i've been a long time needin you" haha love it!

[Benefit1970]

@libertyhopeful18 You can actually hear the "Cool Cool Water" refrain, a variation of it at least, at the start.

[YearOfCam]

In the words of Arthur Koestler, an author whose books influenced Brian's musical direction at the time, "A listener has to work out for himself what is implied in the laconic hint..."

...This song, and as well the whole album, is a laconic hint. Through its minimalism, and zen-like acceptance of its own defeat, flows its strange, spare, healing vibe.

[dumbangel75]

Nice melody, great vocals, catchy chorus, handclaps, horns etc. Sunshine Pop at it's finest.

[dumbangel75]

Great song, the Lovester's lead vocal almost makes up for his lifetime of douchebaggery.

[editdave]

Beautiful lead vocal by Mike, with Brian taking lead on chorus intro and some nice accents by Carl. Unlike most of the rest of the Wild Honey album, this track is given full production, yet still sounds sparse and laid back. Great, great song.

[sallyragdoll13]

Some one needs to make an amplified bass version of this.

[BustardBuzzard]

Rock On, Roll On Brian!

[SixTailights]

Okay, Mike just wen't up a few knotches on my scale!

[peterp21]

People have to give Mike his due here. First off, while not the greatest vocalist he's still sings at a professional level. And when the Beach Boys moved past their earliest surf/cars/girls music, he contributed some nice, very mature lead vocals. This one is wonderful. Other great ones are Meant For You and All I Wanna Do (from Sunflower). Of course he always had the great bass vocals and harmonizing (check Got To Know The Woman).

[BustardBuzzard]

Rock On, Brian!

[SimonMilIs]

If you're ever in a bad mood - Stick this on.

[MrJihadjared]

mike love is a great singer. dont judge his personal life. we werent there why judge. just enjoy it

[peterp21]

@MrJihadjared Amen. People love mythology that breaks things into good and evil. Mike being pure evil, Brian being Christ returned.Fact is Mike wasn't the only one against some of Brian's more artsy endeavors like Smile. And heck, he may have been right that it wouldn't have sold. Mike may be a jerk but the man in 50 years of touring never flaked out on the band or even missed more than a couple shows. Brian's a genius but look how he F'ed up his life. Mike didn't make him take drugs or go nuts

[hejafish]

Was this a response to The Beatles 'Good Day Sunshine' I wonder? Well if it was.. this is sunnier!! (But both are equally great songs though... obviously!)

[kevyrob13]

Yup the singing is beautiful and I can't get enough of this album!!

[theoleskule]

When Brian played Good vibrations to Mike, Mike said; "whos going to buy that shit?"

Mike hated Pet Sounds. When they came off tuor, and Brian played the PS ideas, Mike was very negative about the direction.

[Synd3r3lla1]

Rivers Cuomo sent me here =)

[TheDarktael]

@Synd3r3lla1 Same for me !

[Synd3r3lla1]

@TheDarktael lol were you watching the live Aragon show too...cuz thats where i heard this

[TheDarktael]

@Synd3r3lla1 Yeah, exactly where I heard it, I feel in love with the Beach Boys after that haha, and I freakin love that song !

[HinchBill]

Brian and Carl, tuned to something mysterious and wonderful.

[truthasfineprint]

sleeping hit

[himycatisdead]

Mike Love always seemed like a opinionated bafoon, but to be fair he is in the most important American band of all time and was a stunning part of it!

[Karateworm]

Anyone else feel that if the Beatles did this song, it'd be considered a classic?

[begbieboy]

@Karateworm I agree. But I don't mind, let us love this song as it is. Mike's best vocals eever

[MattHatter]

@Karateworm You know that was stirring in the back of my mind but you came right out and said it. It IS very Beatles when you listen to it! Sounds like it would definitely be a Paul song.

[bwild7269]

relaxing song

[peterdcarter1]

he's a jerk but I love the jerk

[arabianprince93]

honestly one of the best Beach Boys songs

[TorrinTheGreat]

Okay, for those questioning why most Brian Wilson devotees despise Mike Love, it's because he contributed heavily to Brian Wilson's stress, and the rejection of his musical direction. Brian Wilson was predominantly breaking new ground in his writing, after the inducing spark of Rubber Soul by the Beatles. He just didn't understand it, it even frightened him, calling some of his work 'acid alliteration". If not for him, what would have been the best album ever created would have been completed.

[spacepatrolman]

@TorrinTheGreat much of the negative things said against mike can be traced back to capitol records press releases when they were trying to divide and conquer the group so they wouldnt have to pay them royaltys

[orgelnam08]

R-icky,the beachy boy,

I- love, i dig your

C-hoice music here..

K-indles, kindling my

Y-eah,my sleeping bruised heart! lol lol

JUST JOKING, HAHAHA(vickying)

lovelots,

vicky/betty

[shanehenning26]

great song

[xxxhentaikingxxx]

Why does everyone hate Mike Love? I'm new to the Beach Boys, therefore I know nothing.

[LogInAnders]

@xxxhentaikingxxx I have no idea but he is a fucking asshole. Don't you agree?

[pighardcore]

Beautiful voice!!! BB for ever!

[Crederer]

It's mike love's fault they weren't bigger than they were? They're the biggest selling american band of all time. You dont get much bigger than that.

[gittahfiend]

Like I always say,MIKE LOVE NOT WAR !

[paulandnic14]

They do a great version of this on the live in london album with a horn section, sounds really rocky live and jardine shines on the chorus (and the full album actually).

[YearOfCam]

This album has real properties of healing. If you doubt it, (God forbid) when you're sick, give it a spin. It's medicinal. Weird since Brian wasn't in the best of spirits when he laid it down.

[MrJamesrnolan]

Amazing how this song has such simple instrumentation, yet still sounds so complex. That takes pure genius, well-honed craft and a heck of a lot of inspiration. That Brian could traverse from the ornateness of Pet Sounds to this stripped-to -the -basics tune speaks loads for his talent, and that of the best voices he had at his disposal--his bros, his cuz, and their pal Al (and Brian's own).

[AbbyNC]

Yep can't deny Mr. Love knits it all together. Super tune.

[sallyragdoll13]

This is probably my favorite beach boys song. Mike Love has a fantastic voice. Him and Brian Wilson are very creative!

[Nakkinak]

Say what you like about mike love... (FU, Mike Love, FU!!!!)

... but his vocals on this track are amazing and by far his best.

IMO

[BigKCunningham]

@Nakkinak I 100% agree. I hate Mike Love, but his vocals are top notch here.

[SuitsSingSouls]

@Nakkinak Personally you weren't there with the Beach Boys, so you don't really know how it happened. Yeah Mike Love is kinda a jerk, but I wouldn't go as far to say that it's his fault they weren't as big as they could have been.

[Nakkinak]

@SuitsSingSouls

Yeah, you're right, but he is a douchebag XD

[SuitsSingSouls]

@Nakkinak Yeah

[spacepatrolman]

@Nakkinak they do a perfect live rendetion on the live in london lp same with wake the world

[ThePeacepoet]

@Nakkinak Mike love's vocal is great but Brians is outof this world. :)

[washingliquid]

this is almost synth music.

[jlff]

i would like to meet mike love someday ;)

[JoshuaOst]

I would like to punch mike love someday

[rustygpate]

It's Mike singing the verses, Brian next on the middle 8...then Carl singing the "Aren't You Glad" chorus....

[BrasilNYC2007]

oooops, my bad, thought this was the title track....DUH

[BrasilNYC2007]

Wild Honey is probably the most underrated album of all time

[johnhrunion]

this is great. what a nice vibe! wild honey was brian's response to the beach boys says they needed material that they could perform live on the road. he came up with another classic gem of an album. some of the best stuff they ever did was smiley smile, friends, wild honey, 20/20 and sunflower. love you is the best album of the 70's.

[Soxlotus]

i been a fan since i was 8 and i love every single song they got altho i prob havnt heard everyone i cant get enough of them!

[chocolatemilkinmyass]

well..im glad!

[MINESWEEP2k]

I think this is my favorite Beach Boys album. I also like the albums Little Deuce Coupe, Pet Sounds (of course) and Love You, too. But Wild Honey is the one I like best.

-MINESWEEP

[tunetastic27]

Best song on the album

[maida1982a]

mike the jerk sings great on this.

[PoprocksCk]

Yeah, when he sings more softly he sounds great... it's his louder, more nasal vocals that don't sound quite so great IMHO.

[anchoragemark]

The entire album is great.

[BrasilNYC2007]

pretty sure Carl is singing lead here

[gittahfiend]

nope,Mike Love

[BustardBuzzard]

Rock On, Brian.

[drshoggothshow]

@maida1982a the Lovester may be a chode but he's a talented chode who did his good bit to imrpove music. I can't hate him, he might be a dick, but he;'s a dick who has paid his dues.

[TheVelvetyPantaloons]

yes i am.

[PoprocksCk]

As am I.

[TheVelvetyPantaloons]

This song makes me glad!!