Perhaps no other American rock band in history has a back catalog so diverse, sprawled, complex, and confusing as the Beach Boys. This has something to do with the times they were in, but there are also creative decisions that led to this state of affairs, as befits a band guided by one of rock's most legendarily tortured geniuses. Then again, that very genius -- and the story of it -- has resulted in several books and videos on the band, as well. This guide aims to sort the best stuff out.
1. Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys: The Complete Guide to Their Music
No act in history needs a comprehensive guide to their catalog more than the Beach Boys, and this handy tome helps straighten out the confusion with a thorough critical review of their many releases. Helps the casual and the dedicated fan both pick out the gold among the dross. Although it works fine as a standard record guide, these guys pull no punches on the quality (or lack thereof) of some of the group's material. A necessary walk through a checkered career.
2. Heroes and Villains: The True Story of the Beach Boys
Lots of people thought that this biography of the group -- which centers around the Wilson brothers, particularly Brian, and their stormy relationship with father Murry -- was unnecessarily exploitative when it first appeared in the mid-Eighties. They may be right, but no one's arguing the factual rigidity of the book, and it was the first to really explore how such a talented group of individuals -- again, Brian in particular -- could lose their way so completely. Ugly in places but revealing.
3. Wouldn't It Be Nice: Brian Wilson and the Making of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds
Since "Pet Sounds" is considered one of the pop musical masterworks of the 20th century, it's only natural that an entire book be devoted to it. In this case, it's an installment of the acclaimed "Vinyl Frontier" series, an exploration of the inspirations that led Brian Wilson to assemble his magnum opus, a detailed look at exactly how he assembled one of rock's most iconoclastic sonic productions, and a first-hand account from the lucky few who got to help him realize his vision.4. Surf's Up! The Beach Boys on Record, 1961-1981
While "The Complete Guide" is a useful tool for picking out the best Beach Boys releases, this compendium is the best place to get the facts: session info, dates, and release info for everything the group recorded: the albums you know, yes, but also rare, unreleased, and even live recordings! The Bible of Beach Boys musical info. (The book, originally issued in 1981, doesn't go any further down the timeline than that, however.)5. Add Some Music to Your Day: Analyzing and Enjoying the Music of the Beach Boys
For the brief seven-year run of its existence, "Add Some Music" was the ultimate Beach Boys fanzine. This book compiles the best articles from that magazine into one handy tome. It mainly focuses on musical analysis of Beach Boys classics, near-forgotten band albums, and solo works, but there are also articles about individual members, the group's inspirations, and live performances. Essential for any serious fan.6. The Beach Boys Definitive Collection
The Boys are (rightly) celebrated for their vocal harmonies, which are without peer in the pop world. But what about those guitars? This was, after all, essentially guitar-rock, no matter how benign and whimsical, and this book breaks down the group's various styles admirably. Transcriptions, tabs, lessons, and in-depth analysis.7. Wouldn't It Be Nice: My Own Story
It was inevitable that Brian Wilson, the major creative force of the Beach Boys, would finally put pen to paper (or have someone else do it for him) and tell his own story once and for all. As a contrast to some of the more lurid tales surrounding the group, this is a breath of fresh air, but you'll need to take some of the rememberances here -- specifcally those which deal with Brian's controversial mental recovery -- with a grain of salt.8. The Beach Boys: The Definitive Diary Of America's Greatest Band On Stage
This straightforward "diary" focuses on the meat-and-bones details of the Beach Boys and their rise to stardom, and as such, won't be of interest to the casual fan. But for trivia buffs, it's a goldmine, collecting every useful and not-so-useful factoid about the boys and their career. This is a useful studio guide, but really fills in the gaps when it comes to stage, television, and radio performances.