I'm amazed this review is longer then "Friends" total playing time.

Friends is by far my favorite of their lo-fi trilogy. It really sounds like they were friends, it's so collaborative and fresh with no shadows of Smile. Many people hate Transcendental Meditation but I dig it and think it's an excellent album closer. If you think about what TM attempts to do, concentrate on one thing like your hum or your breath to the point where you're actually thinking of nothing, the song comes about as close as you can to capturing that in a pop sense with its almost monotone repetitive drone - the sax solo fits brilliantly. Jazz? Definitely not. Rock? Not really. Discordant pop? Absolutely, and I think that's why most people can't relate. Capitol screwed their artistic/image change and derailed their sales - which didn't benefit the label either. The tone of this album could have been a perfect counterpoint to the political / cultural storm of 1968.

The Beach Boys were about much more than sun, surf cars and girls!! Their later stuff was so underrated and overlooked!! So sad

Child Is Father Of The Man makes an appearance in Little Bird as well

Brian shows us that even waltz’s can rock. Top three Beach Boy album. Nice one to chill out to.

When your in the mood for Friends its just beautiful. Mellow and perfect.

this album is very dear to me since i listened to it in repeat when i was backpacking through spain

I relate to this album so much. One of the best albums, to put on when you wake up for a few hours in the middle of the night, to get you back to a peaceful sleep.

Absolutely right. Mike's vocal on Meant for You is sublime.

The album that sent me over the edge into Beach Boys obsession and record collecting back in 1977. I had seen them live two years before that. "Busy Doin' Nothing" just blew me away.

This album has become my favorite from them I think. The song writing and specifically the constant key changes are AMAZING

I love Friends. The older I get the more the title track means to me. And, as many people have said here, I love the lo-fi production. Taking the lo-fi route seems prescient in retrospect. Nice review.

I have NO problem picking Sunflower as my favorite BB album post - Pet Sounds. For a number of reasons.

Once again, you have brought one of my absolute favorite albums perfectly into perspective. Can't disagree with anything. Lot's of research went into this. GREAT

Some of their best singing and vocal recording quality is found on this album. Love the vocal sound on these tracks.

My favorite track might be Anna Lee, The Healer, it's just so perfectly cheesy. I could listen to it a million times over. I was surprised when I found out some people dislike it. This whole album is so chill, I think this one reviewer from back when the album came out said it best: "Listen once and you might think this album is nowhere. But it's really just at a very special place, and after a half-dozen listenings, you can be there."

hey I’m just now getting into the BB and I didn’t even know this album existed, thanks for putting me on it! I’m laying here listening to it and smiling for the first time in days. thank you, awesome video, what a cool freaking album!

the same with the kinks album - village green preservation society,. its one of the best albums ive ever heard (and its pretty sucessful today) but not around this time in the 60ies ... thats like it was

friends might be their best album.....every song is good

Agreed. This is my favorite BB album because it was so relaxing in a time full of turmoil. And the music is gorgeous. I wore my vinyl out back in the day.

I love this album, I bought this when I got back from Vietnam in 1971, in the Bargain bin at the Soo, Canada Sears, it was a great album I loved it then and I love it now.

What a great review for this album, it was worth watching, thanks Giggens !!

Friends is in my Beach Boys Top Five (along with Pet Sounds, The Smile Sessions, a tie for Sunflower/Surf's Up and Holland). My only gripe with Friends is that the songs are too short. It's a shame that it wasn't more commercially successful.

Wow, a lot of great background information in this review. great stuff, Giggens. I came across 'Friends' by mere chance. Felt like buying a beach Boys album, since I had loved their 60s hits from the 60s as a kid. I knew they became a bit more psychedelic later in the decade, but I had never heard of this album at all. I was sold immediately. This is easily among my absolute top BB albums, possibly even my #1.

Friends is so amazing and underrated. Brian put more into the album than he did with the previous two, and when it turned out to be one of the worst selling albums, he once again withdrew and was depressed. I don't think he ever got into another album as much until the mid 70s with his Comeback

I just got done listening to wild honey on cassette its probably my 2nd favorite beach boys my first favorite being pet sounds. 1966-1973 is probably my favorite era of the Beach boys

Brian Wilson one of the greatest composers in the latter 20th Century. Up there with Copeland, Berlin, Gershwin, etc.

The tag at the end of “Little Bird” has the chord structure and muted trumpet part from “Child Is Father To The Man”

Giggens. I cant believe how informative you are about The Beach Boys. I bought this album(cd), over 30 yrs ago. Listened to it, didnt like it, and never played it again until i saw your review a on this album and 20/20. Im starting to listen to it with new ears. and appreciating it. Thanks. I hope you do a review on Love you & 15 Big Ones.

I love the Friends album, and especially the outtakes on the digital-only Wake the World release, the variations of some of the songs are ultra-interesting and really demonstrate what a creative time this was. Especially cool on that set is Brian having fun with the Bacharach-David song Little Red Book. He sounds like he is in a fantastic mood.

I just got this album a few days ago. So not sure how I feel about it yet. But it does have some rather unusual and catchy melodies. The Beach Boys image that most people have is probably a band your mom (or grandma) would approve of. Not a group with experminental arrangements and sounds. However, this is so unique and difficult (in a good way, to me) at once.

I think Al’s singing the lead on “Be here in the Morning”. Brian just sings the “Aha” after the second verse.

Just now getting into this era from the BB and your reviews are amazing! Thank you so much!!

You've probably heard this at this point since the video was uploaded, but the falsetto on Be Here in the Mornin' is actually Al Jardine. I think maybe slightly sped up to make it sound higher.

The first 10/12 minutes of this video has some very funny moments man, it also shows once again that the BBs made some terrible decisions during their career. Friends really is a beautiful album, I loved the cover it has a lot going on, and you're right it is Paul McCartney, I also have to agree with you regarding Diamond Head, this track is so beautiful. The only weak track on it is Anna Lee, but it doesn't let the album down. Another great review of a truly great and underated album. As for the Stack o tracks album?, well I have two copy's of the original album, which is nothing to do with Friends I know but you do mention it in this video, and it does prove once again that the BBs were ahead of any other band at the time by being the first group to introduce Karaoke.

When I think of "Friends", I imagine people all over America getting it dirt cheap in bargain bins across the country 6 months/a year later, because it totally bombed commercially, and being (hopefully) blown away by it. I hope there are stories like that. I love this album (including the cover).

Love your reviews.. I honestly am surprised to see a review about any of the 70's Beach Boys material😂 These albums.. I hate that I love them.. They're just great when you want to put something on for 30-45min and do nothing. I could talk Beach Boys for hours.

Even though this is my favorite BB's album, your review has made me love every single song. That's not easy to do.

Loving your Beach Boys album reviews.So good!

Thank you, I like this review!

At first I only believed Friends was the "TM Album" and I dismissed it as preachy- then I sat down and listened to some of the tracks; I changed my mind- its so peaceful and calming- now I just have to find the vinyl!

This is also among my personal favorites too - In the liner notes for the double CD edition, Brian says that although "Pet Sounds" is far and away his "best" album, he has to get in a mood to want to hear it, whereas "Friends" he can get into anytime..I would go along with that - it has such a peaceful vibe to it. Nowadays when I listen to music, I tend to reach for things that are relaxing and comforting - "Friends" has that quality in spades.. I got a kick out of your Impressions of "Passing By" - I tend to think of the ice cream truck on a summer day when I hear it, lol..."Busy Doin' Nothin'" is probably my favorite on the record, but all of side two is great - "Transcendental Meditation" is pretty groovy - love when you hear Brian go "it's coool" near the end - nice review..

@12:41 - the album review finally starts here. Yes, this video could have been about half the length!

This album is laid back in a beautiful and creative manner.The Beach Boys had become passe in the States. It didn't matter that they were making better records than other bands.I love this album. Very short record.After Sunflower and Pet Sounds its right up there with their best work. Should have never wore those square striped shirts. The Beatles were considered cool.The Beach Boys were not.

Great review man! Friends is such a special and beautiful album. Friends, Wake The World, Be Here In The Mornin,' Little Bird and Busy Doin' Nothin are 5 of my favorite Beach Boys songs of all time. When I saw Brian Wilson live several months ago, Al Jardine sang Wake The World which was amazing.

Thanks so much for the info on "Friends" and your enthusiasm for it, Giggens. Might I point out: "Friends" was the first Beach Boys album in stereo (previous albums are in Monophonic or Duophonic). This confirms your observation of the equal partnership on the album, since Brian, with his only 1 good ear, cannot really comprehend stereo. The song, "Friends" is in 3/4 time, but not really waltz time. Waltz time is 1, 2 and 3 (quarter note, eighth note, eighth note, quarter note per bar). "Friends" is 1,2,3 and (quarter note, quarter note, eighth note, eighth note per bar). This seems to be true of most rock 3/4 time songs -- "Disney Girls" by Bruce Johnston, "Cabinessence" chorus by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks and "Just Like a Woman" by Bob Dylan. I know of no 3/4 time rock song that made the top ten.

Saw them a few months after Friends was released at Robarts Sports arena in Sarasota Fl. Bobby Goldsboro and Buffalo Springfield on the same bill. Still solid memory of this show.

appreciate all the info in this review. love the friends song. now i’ll check out the other songs on this album. thanks. so far sunflower is my fav but maybe this album could change that. don’t care for the yogi. love their transition through the 70s because of carl’s maturing voice, but of course i’m also hooked on the 60s because of brian’s falsetto and bass

In the early seventies in England my mother bought me this record as a Christmas present. But unlike the fab cover it was originally released in it was part of a double LP paired with Smiley Smile with drawings of "beach babes " standing on a beach. Inside there were some liner notes "explaining" each album - almost as an apology I thought! - which basically said "these are not the Beach Boys as you expect them but one is quirky and the other is lovely". It did go into much more detail after that which was informative. Do you know anything about this release. I this it was on Warner Bros Reprise. I loved them, both of them. Friends always makes me smile in a"blissed" out" chilled way and much like the track Passing By, that is what the album does - very quickly but in very beautiful way. At less than 30 minutes it definitely shows that "less is more"

I have "Friends" on a original mono LP pressing in excellent condition, rare stuff indeed! It's one of my favourite BB albums as well! An album of pure bliss!

I haven't notice that left guy is looks like Paul McCartney. Right guy seems to Donovan, and bottom left guy looks like Ringo. But I don't know. Anway, my favorite song is Anna Lee, The Healer. I feel this song and 'He Come Down' in 'So Tough' are close image.

It’s a strong, underrated record. I enjoy it. I can totally see why it was a commercial flop though. There’s hardly any pop appeal to it, it sounds like an indie record

“Transcendental Meditation” is a masterpiece!!! We did a cover of it!!! xoxo The Clarences

love your reviews and in depth background! any plans of a sunflower review though??

Friends is my favorite Beach Boys album by miles.

You ever catch the bad edit on “be here in the mornin”? You hear the vocals get cut off but there’s a snip it off the cut off vocals after the first chorus

A great review for a great album!

i know this is totally off topic but can you do an entire video on your setup (turntable, receiver, speakers, cassette deck, record collection and shelve, etc.). It would be sort of interesting to see you show us around some of the stuff you've always had going on back there in your videos! Btw, what a fantastic review!! Great review for a great album

lovely album, lovely review

I love this

Be here in the mornin is Al on the falsetto in the verses

my favourite bb album

I agree, it’s the best

Wow - I thought I was the only one to see that Paul McCartney thing! LOL!!! 23:49

To Me BB Can Just About Do Anything And You Don't Have To Imitate Others - Just Be Yourself.

This is one of two BB albums that I don't enjoy a single song on (the other being Holland). Glad you like it though and I enjoyed the video, man.

Love this album

A classic!

I love this album. Anna Lee the Healer is my favorite.

Its a shame that you are not older, you could have been a good manager for the Beach Boys.. i think you would have been a good all round influence and mediator.

My favorite BB album!

I believe the song "You're As Cool As Can Be" is the same as the track titled "Redwood" on the Sunshine Tomorrow CD. I've seen that instrumental called that in bootlegs and the descriptions of the track I've read match pretty closely with the sound of "Redwood" too.

In my top 5 albums of all time: * Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John, * Friends by The Beach boys * Pet Sounds by the Beack boys * Time by ELO * Hopes and Fears by Keane * The Stranger by Billy Joel. Wooops. That's six.

I love friends. It’s one of my favorites too. The songs are just so... nice and friendly. It does have a special atmosphere. I just wished the last 2 songs better matched the rest of the album. They could have replaced those with the more fitting I went to Sleep, time to get alone or let the wind blow. That would have made the album more cohesive.

Love it too. Well ... the best bits, which would just about fill what used to be called an E.P. Contemporary review ( Record Mirror) was something like "If this album hadn't already been so short, I would have filed off the last track" And the last track is, indeed, dire. High falsettos - American Spring? Max. 15 minutes of exquisite beauty from a band desperate for new material.

WHOA ! hold up! I just noticed ATLANTIS IN HIFI behind you. Amazing...that's one of my most prized Lp's...How did that happen? I'm tripped out by that.

I listen this album for 1st time today, I love it.

I prefer Wild Honey and it’s clever use of the honky Tonk piano effect . Friends is mellow and soft but just seems a bit lightweight.

Love the Beach Boys, especially my man Brian Wilson. Thanks for all the info about the BBoys and music in general from this time! Also have this album in my top 3 Beach Boys releases of all time! Would it surprise anybody that Beach Boys Love You is also in this top 3?😄

8 amazing BB albums in a row "prove" the genius muse of the fab 5,..

Really enjoyed this review!! One thin though. That falsetto on Be Here In The Morning is not Brian, it's Al, yeah I'm not kidding , for some reason it doesn't say it on Wikipedia. and the Little Bird part you're talking about with SMiLE it's from Child Is Father Of The Man, it Come In on the part that goes 'little Bird up in a Tree, look down and sang a song to me, The trout in a shiny brook Gave the worm another look And told me not to worry about my life'

Awesome album in my opinion...

Be here in the morning was sung by Al

MARAVILLOSO ALBUM... BB❤️🇺🇸

thanks for this another insightful-interesting review on Friends. What I found interesting the most was that your review - 26 minutes and 42 seconds, is probably about the same length as the actual album (my iphone indicates 26 minutes for Friends...) anyway, it kinda hit me...

Interestingly, Bruce Johnston is a Roman Catholic, "O Come All Ye Faithful" is a well known Roman Catholic hymn.

Hey love these reviews, why don’t you do my favourite, the 50th anniversary cd?

So Dennis Wilson introduced Mike Love to the TM, which he stuck with forever, but didn't like Dennis at all when he was in trouble.. just goes to show..

giggens. Do you ever do George Harrison and/or Beatles albums like, revolver or Rubber soul?

The 50 th anniversary of the Friend's Album should be out Soon

Friends.great.song

transcendental meditation cannnnn

Forgot to say, nice review.

in 1968 beach boys albums did not wind up in the bargain-priced cut-out bins at stores--but Friends LP immediately changed all that and you could buy it then for 88 cents for a short time anyway until Capitol liquidated all their stock. Even a Beach Boys fan could miss it these things occurred in a blink of an eye. While I agree this is a serenely beautiful and unique effort by the group and contains favorite songs of mine, I must emphasize I consider the cover (art) trash. It helped hasten the sinking of this LP at the stores in my strong opinion. No visual attraction plus the simple color washes on the rough art looked cheap

Isn't Be Here in the Morning a Al Jardine lead (at least for the verses)?

Our Happy Home the unreleased song will be released next year I bet with Beach Boys 1968 Good Times And Tears

Are you going to review the Beach Boys 'Love you' album from 1977 ?

Great vid upload, I always felt "Little Bird" sums up the Beatles' White Album just like Back in the USSR summed up the Beach Boys Surf Music.... maybe I'm off base.

hi giggens about "stack-o tracks" capitol pressed so few copies that many people couldn't buy a copy since the l.p. didn't even show up in most record stores (summer 1968).i bought a u.k. import (no music sheet for it's release) in 1978 .capitol u.k. released "stack" in 1976 while capitol u.s.a,and canada where i am , released the "beach boys '69" live in london which was released in britain in 1970 (whithout the group's knowledge or consent!) as a sort of trade - off...make sense? i know, i don't get it , either...eventually found the original u.s.pressing with the sheet mucic in winter "84 and the prize of my collection.

I’ll be honest I always would ignore this album. Never bothered to listen to anything from it. But after your review I decided to check it out and love it. I get a very chill vibe with it