Friends Songs Ranked
Friends is the 14th studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys, released on June 24, 1968, through Capitol Records. The album is characterized by its calm and peaceful atmosphere, which contrasted the prevailing music trends of the time, and for its brevity, with five of its 12 tracks running less than two minutes long. It sold poorly, peaking at number 126 on the US Billboard charts, the group’s lowest US chart performance to date, although it reached number 13 in the UK. Fans generally came to regard the album as one of the band’s finest. Friends received favorable reviews in the music press, but like their records since Smiley Smile (1967), the album’s simplicity divided critics and fans. It was the last LP in which Brian was credited on most of the tracks until 1977’s The Beach Boys Love You. Despite the failure of a collaborative tour with the Maharishi, the group remained supporters of him and his teachings. Dennis contributed more songs on later Beach Boys albums, eventually culminating in a solo record, 1977’s Pacific Ocean Blue. In 2018, session highlights, outtakes, and alternate takes were released for the compilation Wake the World: The Friends Sessions. Here are all of Friends songs ranked.
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12. Transcendental Meditation
“A song by Brian, Mike and Alan Jardine that is emblematic of the spirit of what was learned with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, being performed mainly by Brian. The game of high voices that tends to imitate even Hindu song is replicated by notable interventions of wind instruments. A theme that arrives and impacts from the beginning.”
11. Be Still
“Another Dennis and Steve Kalinich collaboration, it is a slow song sung by Dennis in an intimate but not very distinctive way.”
10. Meant for You
“It is a very short introductory song by Brian and Mike, performed by the latter. While it has no other function than to open the album, it does so beautifully with a great melody and choral arrangements.”
See more: The Beach Boys Albums Ranked
9. Diamond Head
“It is an instrumental song by Brian along with other musicians, this song follows the essence of the song ‘Pet Sounds’, from the homonymous album, evoking an idyllic seascape, perhaps worthy of Hawaii.”
8. Passing By
“If it is a certain monotony, this semi-instrumental song is, but with a powerful touch of beauty, achieved by the voices of Carl, Brian and Jardine; the organ that separates the vocalized parts is deep and evocative.”
7. Anna Lee, the Healer
“Song by Brian and Mike with a clear influence from Mike’s presence in India; This is by far one of the songs with the least contribution to an album in the band’s career, the verses are passable, but the chorus is quite mediocre.”
6. When a Man Needs a Woman
“Composed of the 3 Wilson and Jardine plus other casual collaborators, it is played by Brian, who comes to give a spirit to the subject in a similar way to its best times, however there are details that lack a more solid resolution, in addition to the continuous monotony.”
5. Be Here in the Mornin’
“From Brian, Carl, Mike and Jardine, this song has one of the most exaggerated verses in terms of sharpness of the voice, in turn the chorus is not such a notable contribution, so a song is made in passing There is an arrangement in particular that deserves attention in this song, which comes to seem like a premonition of the band Queen.”
See more: The Beach Boys Songs Ranked
4. Busy Doin’ Nothin’
“It is a song recorded and sung by Brian, with hints of bossanova and a tropical chill-out beach aesthetic that is barely interrupted by a chorus of the stature of Brian Wilson. Without a doubt one of the richest songs on the album.”
3. Little Bird
“Just as Brian had frequently associated with writers for his subjects, such as Tony Asher, Gary Usher and Van Dyke Parks, this time Dennis would begin to associate with a poet named Steve Kalinich and this would be his first collaboration, including the participation of Brian as the main backing voice, creating a great contrast. This track includes instrumental nods to a forgotten track from the ‘Smile’ era: namely, the track “Child is the father of the man”. Dennis Wilson’s voice on this track comes to resemble that of Ray Davies.”
2. Wake the World
“A song by Brian and Jardine that, within its minimalist recording, seeks a game of mystery and radiant spirit; being the melody of the choir the most powerful”
1. Friends
“Composed by the 3 brothers Wilson and Jardine, this theme that has the shape of a waltz is interpreted by Carl in the verse and Brian in the backing vocals, the interlude of both together being the most powerful; meets the requirements of a nice song”