Come On a Safari With Me: Listening to the Beach Boys, Song by Song

This book delves into why the music of the Beach Boys matters so much to so many people. In the book, you'll find analyses of 377 Beach Boys songs, an album-by-album history of the band, and biographies of 11 of their most significant influences.

For each song the Beach Boys released, I'll describe what the song sounds like; I'll shed light on what inspired the song, musically and lyrically, and how all its parts came together; I'll identify the singers and players who made the recording what it is; and I'll share interesting trivia about the song and the people who made it. Most importantly, I'll identify what about the song succeeds, and what about it might be less successful.

I want to explain why "I Get Around" isn't just a catchy radio song, but why it thrilled listeners in 1964, and why it's a beloved, crackling classic that still energizes us 60 years later. If you read about a song and think, "Yes, that's why I've always loved 'Good Vibrations, '" or, "Yes, that's the 'Surfin' Safari' I've always heard," then the book will have achieved its goal.