Released in conjunction with the
Beach Boys documentary Endless Harmony, this rarities collection contains previously unreleased
Beach Boys songs, rehearsals, demos, alternate takes, and live performances. It certainly wasn't an album for casual fans, but
Beach Boys obsessives found a treasure trove of stuff to drool over, including previously unheard
Brian Wilson compositions like "Soulful Old Man Sunshine" and "Sail Plane Song," as well as a demo of "Heroes and Villains" on which
Wilson abruptly shifts to snatches of material intended for the never-released Smile project. The later tracks on the album were given over to contributions from the other
Beach Boys, and these included
Mike Love's "Brian's Back" (from 1978 sessions for a solo album he never released) and two previously unheard
Dennis Wilson songs, one of which was the lovely "Barbara." ~ William Ruhlmann