Hey everyone, I did a new review of this one, and it's much better. This video is pretty rough, so check out this one instead! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rNqnd7mf0NHVdnU.html

The Mike Love and Al Jardine faction were called the *meditators*. Whatever else might be said for Mike Love, he ain't no "mediator".

My first ever concert (Adelaide, Australia 1978). I was 10 y/o, and loved the show. I remember Al singing "Help Me Rhonda" and also Dennis kicking an Australian rules Football around with the local crew mid show.

GOOD TIMIN / BABY BLUE / ANGEL COME HOME (8PTS) SUMAHAMA / LOVE SURROUNDS ME / FULL SAIL (7PTS) LADY LINDA / GOIN SOUTH (6PTS) HERE COMES THE NIGHT / SHORTENIN BREAD (4 PTS)

I really like most of this album. Definitely not one of their worst!

The Rocky Pamplin angle could fill a book by itself! Really enjoy these reviews...Hilarious and informative at the same time. It's good that we as fans can laugh at the bands dismal releases.

Hi Giggens, This album did quite well in the UK, it also gave The BBs three top 40 hits, with Lady Lynda reaching No 6, Sumahama and Here comes the night both reaching the top 40. Dennis's contributions to this album again saves the day. In my personal opinion though (and as you often say its all about opinions) apart from Here comes the night & Shortnin bread it's a pretty good collection of songs. I also have this album on picture disc. Thanks again Giggens

Intriguing story leading up to the recording of LA. ( BTW- I live near Brotman Medical Center now called Southern California Hospital). The very least, there are a few saving graces on this album. It’s amazing anything was actually recorded considering this extremely difficult time. It’s appreciated that you look at & review all aspects of their work. Thank You.

I was really looking forward to this video, stayed up late on a work night and I'll never get back that 14 minutes.

Fantastic informative reviews dude! Subbed ya channel you have convinced me to buy the re release of wild honey. Never heard this album apart from some rough recordings of good timin. Shame the beach boys fizzled after this just have to rely on Brian's solo stuff I suppose. Great review dude!

Brian was reportedly with Shortenin' Bread. An interesting bit from the internet: "Micky Dolenz wrote of in his autobiography that while tripping on LSD with Wilson, John Lennon, and Harry Nilsson, he remembers Wilson playing "Shortenin' Bread" on piano "over and over again". Elton John and Iggy Pop were mutually bemused by an extended, contumacious Wilson-led singalong of "Shortenin' Bread", leading Pop to flee the room proclaiming, "I gotta get out of here, man. This guy is nuts!""

I'm no Mike Love fan at all, but I think your harsh on Sumahama. It aint that bad and sounds far better than Kokomo

Good timin has been my favorite song by the Beach Boys since as long as i can remember. I have memories as a 4 year old who heard it on an oldies station my grandma was listening to and buying the Sounds of Summer compilation so i could hear it when i wanted to.

This is probably my most watched video of yours lol. I listen to this album a lot, but I really only listen to Lady Linda to Love Surrounds Me, Baby Blue and Goin' South. I think this album suffers the most from poor track selection out of any of the bb's albums. My biggest problem with the album all revolves around side 2. If they just used the 3 and a half minute cut of Here Comes The Night, it would be more bearable, but they put a 'mega-mix' of the song and ate up half of side 2. If they used a shorter version of Here Comes The Night (or not had included it at all) there would've been room for some great tracks (California Feelin,' Brian's Back, Lookin' Down The Coast, Santa Ann Winds, Constant Companion, etc.). If that happened, LA would be one of my favorite bb albums.

I'm enjoying the reviews of the BB albums you don't like as much as the ones you do. Hope you do the rest on through the end and the earlier ones you haven't discussed yet.

Hi Giggens, when are you going to review Sunflower and Love You? My 2 favourite BB albums...

Next to Sunflower this is my second favorite. Dennis Wilson’s songs are my favorite. It’s a beautiful album where Dennis pours his heart out and I can relate to them. Even here comes the night is full of awesome harmonization towards the end

I sadly don't own this one, the twofer seems super rare for it and goes at stupid prices. I have listened to the album via KZfaq a few times and have to say I didn't mind it. It certainly wasn't the meh disaster as you paint it in the video (by the way I only found your channel the other week as I am getting super excited for the Feels Flows set and saw your Sunflower reviews. I got that with Surf's Up as a twofer and adore it. Especially Sunflower). The song Full Sail I think you unfairly dismissed. It's slow but is so full of achingly beautiful sadness. Maybe the guy is going off on his own, trying to escape some sadness. I dunno. I do enjoy Good Timin' which also conveys that sense of sadness but is a lovely way to start the album. Like easing yourself into a lovely warm bath. Lady Lynda is amazing! I adore this and Al songs it with such breezy confidence! Best part is the beautiful round at the end with all the guys singing! Ughhh! So good, especially the glorious Live At Knebworth version!! I was obsessed with that for days a while back! Angel Come Home is a lovely showcase for Dennis as is the achingly beautiful Baby Blue. That second song especially. Such beauty and pain together. Of course this was really the last Beach Boys album Dennis would contribute to as he barely appears on KTSA. Glad to have his soul bared one more time. I really do enjoy the disco version of Here Comes The Night! I should do for how much it cost them! The edited version on a best of, I own, probably suits it better. But I loved the energy, that funky disco bass and that snazzy strings! The vocals are amazing too! I know it's probably cheesy but I love it! Shortenin' Bread is fine. It is what it is - a piece of fluffy nonsense. Worst offender is that awfully cheesy Sumawhatever! They put THAT on my best of!! Lord knows why!? Love Surrounds Me is also a great piece, which I knew from the Pacific Ocean Blue/Bambu reissue. Dennis again being great. That just leaves "Goin' South" which doesn't do anything for me. We had Full Sail and Good Timin' in this similar vein and they did it better. So overall I much enjoyed it and it's the first time I have not really agreed with what you have said in your videos (which I am so enjoying!). Thanks for doing these and stay lovely!

I'm just watching your review becuase - well, more than a little disturbed that I've been a Beach Boys fan since the age of 22 (I was a late starter) and I've never properly heard songs: 'Full Sail' and 'Baby Blue' (from the LA Light album1979) which have been blowing my Beach Boys appreciation brains out! ! I'm literally even more stunned by Baby Blue, seeing as though I'm a massive fan of Dennis Wilson (most under-rated musician of the era) and that this song has to now be my new absolute favourite Dennis song! ! :-D Just had to share that with my BB fan friends ! P.s I did buy LA Light Album in buy 2003 in the year if my first listening to the band but just dismissed this album as having no good tracks other than Good Timing on! How wrong was I!

I like your presentation and delivery , but your review on this record I completly disagree with , in fact I think this album was one their very best of the 7o's..Good Timin', Angel, Love Surrounds Me, Baby Blue, Full Sail have some of the strongest vocals and sentimental voicings that I have heard. I agree with "Here Comes The Night" . Shortin Bread was actually played about 100 times at Brian's House one night to Alice Cooper when he was high probably on speed, and Alice thought Brian was nuts. Of course, he loves Brian now. The L.A Light album cover is one of my favorites! I have this album signed, all real signutures by everyone including Dennis & Carl. Yes, a Bruce Johnston produced record...but not bad at all. Bruce is brilliant in his own way. Keep doing doing what your doing, I like the fact that their are huge Beach Boys Fans like me out there. Thanks for this review Giggy. Cant wait to watch yer others. Hope your listening to the Sirius Radio Beach Boys Channel.

This review sets the historical context very nicely. I'm glad you mentioned the Australian tour as it is one of the less fondly remembered episodes of the band's lengthy touring career. I once spoke to an old time Beach Boys fan who attended the Perth show and he said it was real bad, apparently Dennis fell over his drum kit that night. As for the LA Light album itself, it is obviously a dud, but I don't think it's as bad as 15 Big Ones or Summer in Paradise. Good Timin' and Lady Lynda are great songs, and I even like the disco version of Here Comes the Night, though I couldn't really explain why. On the other hand, Sumahama is terrible song, I remember the first time I heard it being shocked by the almost childlike banality of the lyrics and instrumentation. I think all true Beach Boys fans need to take the good with the bad though.

what's wrong with the song Sumahama? not great, but not bad (6/7pts)

OK. I just looked at the Here Comes the night video. I get your point. It was a fair attempt at commercial disco but mussed the mark, and wasn;t strong enough to increase album sales.

Good Timin. One of my favourite Beach Boys songs. I bought the cassette when it came out. I like LA.

I don't mean to split hairs, but "Do The Oz" on John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band? Perhaps it's a bonus track on some reissue somewhere, but this was a one-off single that he made to raise money for Oz magazine's obscenity trial, and was assuredly not on that album. On my first half listen, I initially thought you might be referring to Ya Ya off Walls and Bridges, which would be a much better parallel. Also, I think you'll find Walter Yetnikoff was referring to the initial working tape the band played for the label when he made his "I think I have been fucked" comment, rather than the finished album. I presume his reaction was to insist that Jim Guercio be brought in to produce a more professional sounding product, and to that end I think he succeeded.

Long live the memories of Dennis & Carl Wilson. xoxo The Clarences

can you do a review of the beach boys' "love you" album?? thank you!

Baby Blue and Full Sail are amazing. What are YOU listening to?

Now you've got me curious! .. I just checked out "Sumahama" on KZfaq, and actually liked it, lol.. I guess I've always been a sucker for those pseudo Japanese songs which were popular in early sixties pop music.. The only other songs I' m familiar with are "Good Timin'" , which I enjoy, - and the goddawful re-make of "Here Comes The Night" - which I don't...Nice video..

my grandkids love the song Shortenin' Bread.....they dance and sing along.......how could I not like it!!!!

Is this the album with Here Comes the Night? There was a 12" single released on that song. I kinda thought that was interesting

Hello Giggens this is the album of The Beach Boys I offer to my enemies!... Have a nice day

I had to go back and watch this again after your “questions” videos. Great review! There’s a couple decent songs on the album but for the most part it’s not good. I’ll throw Sumahama into the mix of worst Beach Boys song ever. It’s painful to listen to!

The cover art for this album is too interesting. With the rectangles for each song- but also- none of these songs even relate to each other! They probably did that because as you mentioned the group was so splintered, they couldnt even get together for a photo shoot

I've always wondered that if Dennis and Carl hated MIU so much, was this album what they had in mind?

Would have been a much stronger LP with the addition of "It's A Beautiful Day". My iTunes version of the album has that on it.

I've also gone back and forth on this album. I like Good Timin' a lot more than I used to, and I think Baby Blue is an all-time, raw classic. Almost brings a tear to the eye.

...and yet another overly harsh album review from giggens, who I really appreciate with his research and knowledge of my all time favorite band...But there are some great songs on L. A. Light Album...starting off with Good Timin, great song, great harmonies, top 40 single, how can anyone down this one...? it's classic Beach Boys sound and it's terrific...Next up, it's Al Jardines Lady Lynda...Again, great song, great harmonies, Al's voice great as always...Whats not to like here...? Next, it's Carl Wilson's Full Sail...Beautiful song, beautifully sung, great background vocals...c'mon giggens, really...? how can this song not do anything for you...? It is Beach Boys magic.! You finally get with it with Dennis Wilson's vocal on Carl's Angel Come Home...Dennis just had so much soul and passion in his singing...great song all around...Love Surrounds Me...ditto...Dennis again showing his greatness, so overlooked and underappreciated in those days...a crying shame only since he's gone has he finally been acknowledged as the great talent that he was...Sumahama I can take or leave...This one doesn't move me much...As for Here Comes the Night, the disco version, it should never have happened...I don't like it when they remake their own songs...they were done right the first time...Baby Blue, what a gorgeous song this is...great vocals by both Carl and Dennis...How can anyone listen to this song and not be wowed by it...? Going South, nice song, quiet vocal by Carl and he sounds great, as always...and finally, Shortnin' Bread...pretty sure it was Brian's idea, not a highlight for sure, but kind of catchy...Overall, despite all the personal problem sagas going on within the group, their greatness still shines through...Light Album deserves at least a 7, I give it an 8...

I think that after the MIU album this is a masterpiece!

do you have reviews of any Doors albums?

These reviews are great. They are more like stories.

You mention that they were kind of out of songs for the album, but I wonder why California Feeling and Brian's Back were never included on L.A. Those songs were recorded in those sessions and are two of the best Beach Boys outtakes. If they replaced some of the weaker songs with these two tracks, this album could've been a lot better I think.

Man have you listened to the vocals on Here comes the night?? I think they are absolutely fantastic also I think that Sumahama is a great Mike Love song, I think there are much worst BB album than LA Light!!!

Are you in the works of reviewing their Self-titled album?

FULL SAIL, ANGEL COME HOME, BABY BLUE some of my favourites.. Also some disasters......Dennis shows his talent in some songs

So, from your deadpan stare into the camera when you first mention the song, I take it that “Sumahama” is probably not one of your favorites. Would...would that be a fair assessment? 😏

what song did brian tell alice cooper was the greatest song of all time ? what song did brian have danny hutton, iggy pop and alice cooper harmonizing on in his kitchen one morning at approx. 3 am after a party? the answer to both is the same song!

To me the 3 good songs on this good timin ' lady Lynda, baby Blue. full sail passable on a summer day at the beach

Was at the Aussie concert... Dee Why... they treated people like fools.

I actually liked this album (for the most part). Baby Blue and Good Timin' were worth-while. Love Surrounds me was really good. Sumahama was kinda strange, but still good. However, I felt that 2 songs nearly ruined the entire album. Of course, Shortening Bread was a ridiculous addition to the album. and, if I'm not mistaken, Here comes the night was a redundant 13 minute song. It was the equivalent to Revolution 9. BUT, if they had replaced those 2 songs with something else, I feel that the album had some degree of potential.

I like every song on the album with the exception of Sumahama and the Here Comes The Night remake.

Gee Giggens...this review is depressing :-) But I remember getting this album when it came out and I was depressed after hearing it that I spent the money...lol.

Good timing is groovy

wow we totally disagree on this one but i was a beachboys fan long before you were born

Having just skimmed through the tracks for my first listen, I stopped and actually listened when I got to "Sumahama". If they didn't keep repeating the title so many damn times (beyond the point of annoyance) I actually would have liked this song.

The Three tracks on the album I either didn't like or just didn't think they worked. The others are in my opinion are top notch Beach Boy songs. 1. The extended HCTN disco mix, Noooo! Maybe if it was the shorter single version then may have said Heh Ho trying to be relevant some nice harmonies but the the extended version just meant not enough space for different songs. 2. Shortening Bread ,liked the fact it was a much needed up tempo number for the rather laid back album but don't think it works. 3 Good Timin", For me it the start comes in too harsh bit like She's Got Rhythm on the MIA album, good song but bad introduction, have heard better versions of Good Timin'. All the other songs I am quite happy to go back and listen to individually or as part of the LA album(would normally skip the HCTN extended mix) as they all have the feel of The Beach Boy I had seen trying to evolve after the Holland album. 15 Bigs Ones had some really good heart felt gritty songs on it like Holland, Love You lost that gritty edge , it had a nice simplicity about it and a number of nice upbeat songs but maybe too many. I do like LA album but much like many albums by many artist some tracks work some don't but happy to keep on listening.

Kokomo's grandpa. Hahaha. But I totally love this album. It's so unique. Honestly in my top 5 Beach Boys albums. Although, Here Comes the Night is an acquired taste.

Here comes the night disco version is quite amazing, great fun, you are missing the point with that. Its really a disco epic and worthy of the laurel

Great review of an awful record I bought it at the time, but I think I was a better fan than they were a band at that point. I remember Mike Love doing the radio promotion for the here comes the night single and saying that they had agreed that any member of the band could not sing on any track they didn't like. The next question he was asked was give me an example of a song you did not want to be on, and you guessed it he said "Here comes the night".

" Good Timin' " is A classic !!!

With all the turmoil going on in their lives, you'd think they'd churn out some soulful angry rock n' roll. But instead we get ultra-soft Muzak. How? That's what bugs me about this album.

My Top Three favorite Songs are, Lady Lynda, Full Sail, Goin' South, Angel Come Home and Good Timin'. I personally love those songs, Lady Lynda is very close to my Heart because its my wife of forty-four years name, I think Al did a first class job on that song, it is a beautiful song, the use of the Orchestra in the background was beautiful, but I agree that some of the songs were..uh..dropped the ball kind of songs. I liked the somber soft melodies of Full Sail and Goin' South, I thought Carl's vocals were great on those, but I admit this was not their strong album, but there were their strong points and those five I mentioned were, In my opinion, the best songs, though Baby Blue is nice, I would give a little less scathing out of ten, I'd rate the Entire Album as a whole, at 5/10, not their greatest but some good efforts, some even brilliant efforts.

I've actually never compared Sumahama to Kokomo. I mean, Kokomo at least has Carl doing a great vocal. Kinda sad though that The Beach Boys technically invented J-Pop there. xD I actually never had a problem with the Her Comes The Night remake. Not really my cup of tea, but Bruce did a cool job producing that thing. Also, at least from what I could find, it's the longest disco song ever made. I would not say I like the album, but it's nowhere as bad as Summer in Paradise. I would not call the lack of meditators a problem. I'd actually consider it their "best" bad album.

Huh crazy, I love sumahama a lot. It’s a cool little story, definitely one of mike loves best!

I've often wondered why "Here Comes the Night" for the remix. I could think of a few other songs that might have worked better if some hot disco DJ at the time remixed it, but not a Bruce Johnston remix, that pretty much had no chance regardless of the song choice. Jagger was a regular at Studio 54 during that time, which probably explains why "Miss You" was a good song and not simply jumping on the disco band wagon.

I like the album.

Surprised your review of Keepin The Summer Alive was more generous than this one. You keep mentioning decent to rather good tracks on this but then take the album overall as a complete disaster. Anyway, Full Sail is low key, sure, but really quite good. Angel Come Home is one of their best songs ever. Same really for Love Surrounds Me and Baby Blue. Dennis Wilson magic saves this album from being pure unadulterated rubbish. Goin South even works for me. Not amazing, but kind of nice. And I just have a sense of humour about the real disaster of the album - Here Comes the Night. (Well, actually Sumahama is worse, ha.) But an 11 minute disco track from the Beach Boys is one of the funniest things I've ever heard. Unintentional joy in that one for me, ha. Don't know how you can not be that bothered by Mike's rap on Summer in Paradise but be so distraught about this album. Glad to see in comments below that you may have mellowed on this album a bit. I do get that. I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole at first. Then dropped my guard and realised at least some of the songs are rather brilliant. Take care and keep it up.

I liked this album too :)

I really like the effort and trivia you put into these reviews but I have to disagree on this hard, this album is fantastic, I don't see how you can like albums like Dennis's Pacific Ocean Blue or Surf's up and Sunflower without liking this one. This was the last hurrah for the band as a group of songwriters, after this it was all either Brian/Mike or just covers. And I don't get the hate for Sumahama

I think L.A. Light could've been a great album. I heard they actually had 3 cool songs which could've made LA Light. But, they inexplicably didn't include those songs. They could've removed Shortening Bread. And they could've either removed Here Comes The night, OR just made it a shorter song. (Or, they could've made a full blown Disco "Here Comes The Night". Instead of a soft-light disco).

Lady Lynda hit the charts in UK? Rightfully so, it’s the best Al song and the best one in the album to me.

Suma Hama was one of Mike loves best works.

Sorry, I totally disagree. I don't know exactly why, but I've always loved this album (except for Here Comes the Night and Shortenin' Bread). Most aren't a typical BB sound, but that's why they're so interesting. The songs sound like they're from solo albums and are very unique. Most of all, the album makes me feel like I'm on the Pacific coast or on a South Pacific island. It's not the surfing vibe, but more of a relaxed, on-the-sailboat feeling.

I actually kinda like Stones disco tracks, I really like Emotional Rescue, it's one of my favourite albums, but Beach Boys doing disco doesn't sound good at all

I like every song on this album except "Here Comes The Night". They should have replaced it with Country Pie

I just can’t get into this. It’s really bad. M.IU. at least is catchy. I just can’t force myself to buy this to add to my B.B. collection. Thanks for the review though, and glad you can see merit in the self-titled 1985 album.

Baby Blue is fantastic

Ditch the 10 minute disco dud, replace it with a couple good songs like "It's A Beautiful Day", and you'd have an excellent 70's BB's album. Maybe not quite up to Sunflower, but very enjoyable throughout.

MY FAVORITE LATER BEACH BOYS ALBUM!!

at least LA has memorably bad moments. I dont even remember any of the tracks from miu aside from hey little tomboy

HaHa Brian Wilson wrote some songs in the clinic with the inmates ? Almost in the padded Cell ? This sounds funny :) Funny story !! Typical Brian

Steven Love should have been listened to.Dennis was nuts The Beach Boys should have quit before MIU and this piece of nothing. Nothing good followed until That's Why God Made the Radio which had some good Brian performance.Sometimes there wasn't a Wilson in the live unit.

baby blue is a great song

I think Angel Come Home is terrible. Dennis' vocals are raspy, and the pacing makes it a dirge. Mick Fleetwood's Zoo did a version, with Billy Burnette on lead vocals. It's my favorite cover of a Beach Boys tune. Much better than the original.

in my opinion'la light is my favorite bb lp of their 70's output next to sunflower;here comes the night is a brilliant production by bruce johnston and curt boecher;they threw everything they knew into making a more than viable disco track...love this album

thx. gig.

Spot on. Very bad album. Every time I think about listening to it for something different from The Beach Boys I just get anxiety and don’t play it. Ha.

You cant be trendy and enjoy this album!

Shortenin Bread is a good song.

Shortenin' Bread is the best song on the album, fight me

kokomos grand ahahahaha

These early reviews are cringe-y

Oh come on. It's not that bad. Just remove "Here Comes The Night" and "Shortenin' Bread" and add "Winter Symphony" or something... and this album becomes a pretty decent return to form... in my opinion. Not as good as their early 70s stuff, but a solid late 70s chill album.

BOY did you screw up on this one shortening bread and cotton fields were so so here comes the night was TERRIBLE the rest of this alum was good. I saw this album performed live Here comes the night was lightly boo'd (Clearly the worst song on the album). I and The two musicians that were there with me really liked the Bach inspired Lady Linda. Angel come home, Love surrounds me, Full Sail and going South were all great listens. NO this album is not a throw away! Granted It had its rough spots but this was certainly a step up from, and as a LONG time Beach Boy fan I must say the embarrassing 15 big ones. That's the throw away not this one.

Angel Come Home sung Beautifully.... HAHAHAHAHAHA Thats a good one. Dennis sounds like shit! Lady Lynda or Good Timin aren't the best songs on the LP ?...... Where the hell you coming from dude.....??? Here Comes the Night??? Had the CBS not pulled the promo effort,... this song would have done much better than Good Timin. Our local CBS rep was dumbfounded that they pulled the single as the couple of weeks preceding it had picked up considerable Adds in major markets and was moving in their playlists. Yea it's dated now and we all know what we feel about disco... but although it was at the very end of the craze..... it was exceptionally sung and quite well produced and sounded totally current at the time. Your anti Mike bias is more than obvious in your total dismissal of Sumahama. HIT SONG..... NOPE.... but is it beautifully crafted, sung and mesmerizing? YUP One of their best efforts as an LP.... NOPE........ but if you're going to review something...... actually review it and if you're going to dismiss something have the integrity to say why and give examples of why it's so damn bad....

Suhmahama sucks.... and that is Mike's best song

ONce again your too wordy in your review and you take almost 7 minutes to get to the ACTUAL review of this album.

It may not be a master piece like they're others from 60's and to the early 70's album . L.A.light is not a bad album, it's actually the last best Beachboys album. They're albums from 80's and 90's were Crap. No time for them.

baby blue is a great song