Ten Years of Harmony
Greatest hits album by
ReleasedDecember 7, 1981
RecordedAutumn 1969 – February 1980
Except: "Surf's Up": backing track recorded November 1966
GenreRock
Length90:26
LabelBrother, Caribou, CBS
ProducerThe Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, James William Guercio, Bruce Johnston
(Except "River Song": Dennis Wilson and Gregg Jakobson)
The Beach Boys chronology
Keepin' the Summer Alive
(1980)
Ten Years of Harmony
(1981)
Sunshine Dream
(1982)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
MusicHound3/5[2]

Ten Years of Harmony is an official double album compilation album released by the Beach Boys in 1981, and spanning their entire Brother Records-era up to that point (1970–80), including some unreleased or rare material. Although the song "Darlin'" had originally been recorded in 1967 while the group was signed to Capitol Records, the version on Ten Years of Harmony was recorded live in 1973 for the album The Beach Boys in Concert.

The Beach Boys had more or less splintered in 1981. Far from lucid, Brian Wilson would occasionally appear on stage, primarily as a replacement for brother Carl, who was embarking on a solo career. Dennis Wilson would show up to occasional concerts, but would usually be argumentative and disruptive. Mike Love, Al Jardine and Bruce Johnston were the only stable members of a band who now had a whole cast of supporting musicians when they performed live. However, the release of Ten Years of Harmony kept the pretense going and, unexpectedly, the M.I.U. Album cover of "Come Go with Me" became a US top-twenty hit when released as a single from this collection.

While taking tracks from 1970's Sunflower to 1980's Keepin' the Summer Alive, the compilers also included some oddities, rarities, and unreleased tracks. First, a handful of the songs, namely "Rock and Roll Music" and "California Saga: California" are presented in their original single mix. Early CD pressings of the album also included an early alternate version of "Come Go with Me." Moreover, Ten Years of Harmony includes a 1979 A-side "It's a Beautiful Day" (which failed to chart), a Dennis Wilson-written track called "San Miguel" (which was a Sunflower-era outtake from 1969), a cover of "Sea Cruise", which was a rejected track from the 15 Big Ones sessions, and a selection from Dennis' solo album, Pacific Ocean Blue, "River Song".

Only Beach Boys who were active throughout the whole decade (Al Jardine, Mike Love, Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, and Dennis Wilson) appear on the gatefold cover on the original LP issue.

Ten Years of Harmony, now out of print, sold enough in its release to reach number 156 in the US.

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Original releaseLength
1."Add Some Music to Your Day"Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Joe KnottSunflower, 19703:34
2."Roller Skating Child"B. WilsonThe Beach Boys Love You, 19772:16
3."Disney Girls (1957)"Bruce JohnstonSurf's Up, 19714:06
4."It's a Beautiful Day"Love, Al Jardinenon-album single, 19793:15
5."California Saga: California"JardineHolland, 19733:13
6."Wontcha Come Out Tonight"B. Wilson, LoveM.I.U. Album, 19782:29
7."Marcella"B. Wilson, Tandyn Almer, Jack RieleyCarl and the Passions – "So Tough", 19723:52
Total length:22:45
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Original releaseLength
1."Rock and Roll Music"Chuck Berry15 Big Ones, 19762:26
2."Goin' On"B. Wilson, LoveKeepin' the Summer Alive, 19803:01
3."It's OK"B. Wilson, Love15 Big Ones, 19762:08
4."Cool, Cool Water"B. Wilson, LoveSunflower, 19703:24
5."San Miguel"Dennis Wilson, Gregg Jakobsonunreleased track2:25
6."School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes the Bell)"BerryKeepin' the Summer Alive, 19802:46
7."Good Timin'"B. Wilson, Carl WilsonL.A. (Light Album), 19792:10
8."Sail On, Sailor"B. Wilson, Almer, Van Dyke Parks, Ray Kennedy, RieleyHolland, 19733:17
Total length:21:37
Side three
No.TitleWriter(s)Original releaseLength
1."Darlin'"B. Wilson, LoveThe Beach Boys in Concert, 19732:22
2."Lady Lynda"Jardine, Ron AltbachL.A. (Light Album), 19793:56
3."Sea Cruise"Huey "Piano" Smithunreleased track recorded during sessions for 15 Big Ones3:25
4."The Trader"C. Wilson, RieleyHolland, 19735:04
5."This Whole World"B. WilsonSunflower, 19701:55
6."Don't Go Near the Water"Love, JardineSurf's Up, 19712:38
7."Surf's Up"B. Wilson, ParksSurf's Up, 19714:10
Total length:23:30
Side four
No.TitleWriter(s)Original releaseLength
1."Come Go with Me"Clarence QuickM.I.U. Album, 19782:06
2."Deirdre"Johnston, B. WilsonSunflower, 19703:26
3."She's Got Rhythm"B. Wilson, LoveM.I.U. Album, 19782:26
4."River Song"D. Wilson, C. WilsonPacific Ocean Blue, 19773:44
5."Long Promised Road"C. Wilson, RieleySurf's Up, 19713:29
6."Feel Flows"C. Wilson, RieleySurf's Up, 19714:44
7."'Til I Die"B. WilsonSurf's Up, 19712:39
Total length:22:34

Singles

  • "Come Go with Me" (from M.I.U. Album) b/w "Don't Go near the Water" (from Surf's Up) (Brother/Caribou), November 2, 1981 US #18

Ten Years of Harmony (Brother/Caribou/CBS Z2X 37445) reached #156 in the US. during a chart stay of six weeks.

Personnel

The Beach Boys

Additional musicians and production staff
  • James William Guercio – bass guitar and co-producer of "Good Timin'"
  • Jack Rieley – backing vocals
  • Ed Carter – guitars, bass guitar
  • Billy Hinsche – harmony and backing vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar
  • Mike Kowalski – percussion, drums
  • Robert Kenyatta – congas
  • Carlos Munoz – keyboards
  • Marilyn Wilson, Diane Rovell – harmony and backing vocals
  • Daryl Dragon – keyboards, vibraphone
  • Stephen Desper – vocals, Moog synthesizer
  • Sterling Smith – harpsichord
  • Woody Thews – percussion

References

  1. Eder, Bruce. "Ten Years of Harmony – The Beach Boys : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-06-11.
  2. Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 84. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.

Sources

  • "The Nearest Faraway Place: Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys and the Southern California Experience", Timothy White, c. 1994.
  • "Wouldn't It Be Nice – My Own Story", Brian Wilson and Todd Gold, c. 1991.
  • "Top Pop Singles 1955–2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
  • "Top Pop Albums 1955–2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
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