The Beach Boys Celebrate Their 50th Anniversary

(L to R) Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Carl Wilson, Al Jardine and Dennis Wilson comprised the Beach Boys.

I love the Beach Boys.

Without question, they're one of the best vocal groups of all time and one of the best American bands.

While I've never actually made such a list, if I had a top ten songs of all-time grouping I would most certainly put "God Only Knows" and "Good Vibrations" high in the rankings.

This year marks the group's 50th anniversary. There will be special events and releases including the first tours to feature Brian Wilson in over twenty years.

The band already made their first "reunion" appearance on the Grammy awards where they were regrettably joined by Maroon 5 and Foster The People.

Brian Wilson has had an enormous resurgence in recent years, releasing several albums including Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin in 2010 and In The Key of Disney in 2011.

Wilson made two albums for Disney.

I'll continue to post about the band and Brian Wilson in particular in the coming weeks and months because it's awesome.

Here's a link to a live television performance of The Beach Boys playing "California Girls" in 1965. There's an extended bit with the band and comedians Jack Benny and Bob Hope. It's kind of funny.

Here's The Who messing around and playing "Barbara Ann". Keith Moon handles the high lead vocal admirably and Pete Townshend's distorted solos add a lot of kick ass to the song.