Greatest Hits Vol. 3: Best of the Brother Years 1970-1986
One of the most popular touring acts of the '70s and '80s, the Beach Boys nonetheless found sales of their new music disappointing for much of those decades. Their Brother Records imprint was stamped on some of the best albums of their "mature" period--Sunflower,Surf's Up, and the one-of-a-kindThe Beach Boys Love You--butearlier classicssuch as "Surfin' U.S.A." and "Good Vibrations" remained their most popular work. This third volume of greatest hits collects 20 Brother cuts, including the occasional chart success ("Rock & Roll Music," the twice-released "Sail On, Sailor," "It's OK," "Getcha Back"). A few lesser-known winners ("This Whole World," "Long Promised Road," "Honkin' Down the Highway") provide welcome highlights. Still, the inclusion of one too many remade oldies on the disc's second half underscores the Beach Boys' loss of creative energy by 1980.--Rickey Wright