Beginner’s Guide to the Beach Boys: Best and Most Popular Songs
Since their formation in 1961, The Beach Boys rose to popularity with songs that embodied the bright youth culture of California in the United States.
After the release of the historic masterpiece Pet Sounds, which fully showcased the artistic talents of their central figure Brian Wilson, their musical style evolved, and the band became a towering influence on generations to come.
On June 11, 2025, news of Brian’s passing at age 82 was widely reported by media in Japan, and surely introduced many younger listeners to the extent of his impact.
In this article, especially for beginners, we’ll introduce a selection of must-hear tracks—from their early hits to songs from the 1970s and beyond, after Brian stepped back from the spotlight.
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Beach Boys Greatest and Most Popular Songs for Beginners (21–30)
Sloop John BThe Beach Boys
Another track from Pet Sounds.
It’s a song where the high, crisp tones of the glockenspiel are used effectively throughout.
Starting with sparse drums but a lively, undulating bassline, layers of drums and chorus gradually build, amplifying the grandeur.
The arrangement is groundbreaking, with shifts in rhythm and even moments where the rhythm drops out entirely—making it a track that band-music fans can fully enjoy for its clever structural tricks.
Break AwayThe Beach Boys
Break Away was released as a single in 1969.
It is included as a bonus track on the album 20/20.
The single did not perform well on the charts, peaking at No.
63 on Billboard.
It’s a melodious pop song with a chorus that makes you want to sing along.
I Get AroundThe Beach Boys
A number that truly evokes the early Beach Boys—who burst onto the scene as rivals to the Beatles and won popularity with their beautiful vocal harmonies and surf rock sound.
The guitars take center stage, and the rhythmic chorus in the hook along with the 16-beat groove make it a very satisfying listen.
It’s a breezy summer rock tune from before they began exploring more experimental, introspective music.
It’s okThe Beach Boys
“It’s OK” is a track included on the 1976 album “15 Big Ones.” “15 Big Ones” was Brian Wilson’s first production effort since “Pet Sounds,” and more than half of its tracks are covers.
“It’s OK,” co-written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, is a bright, rock-influenced pop song.
You Still Believe In MeThe Beach Boys
A track from the album Pet Sounds, notable for its beautiful arrangement featuring a hymn-like chorus over a harpsichord.
With the high, sustained sound of bells, the low tones of bass drum and bass, and touches like a bicycle bell and a horn, it’s a masterpiece that reveals new discoveries the more you listen.
Even just the opening chorus shows how packed it is with ideas about sonic breadth and depth.
Surfer GirlThe Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are known as one of the quintessential surf rock bands, and their music has gained worldwide popularity as the “California Sound.” The classic ballad they released in July 1963 is a number whose sweet, bittersweet melody and beautiful choral work tug at the heart.
The song portrays a boy’s pure first love as he admires a girl riding the waves at sunset.
The mix of longing and heartache overlaps with the sentimental mood at summer’s end.
It’s such a special piece that its composer, Brian Wilson, called it his starting point, and it also serves as the title track of the album Surfer Girl.
It’s a timeless song that’s perfect for reminiscing as you wistfully bid farewell to summer.
Darlin’The Beach Boys
A track released in 1967 that’s striking for Carl Wilson’s powerful, youthful, slightly raspy high lead vocal.
The lively 16-beat feel and piano-driven rhythm make it an especially pleasant listen.
For a group famed for the beauty of their choral work, it’s unusual: Carl sings the opening solo, and then the chorus jumps in all at once at the refrain—an arrangement that makes the song particularly interesting.