After Reprise rejected what was to be their debut album for the label,
the Beach Boys re-entered the studio to begin work on what would become a largely different set of songs. The results signaled a creative rebirth for the band, a return to the beautiful harmonies and orchestral productions of their classic mid-'60s material. Though the songwriting didn't quite reach the high quality of "California Girls" or "God Only Knows,"
Sunflower showed
the Beach Boys truly working as a band, and doing so better than they ever had in the past (or would in the future). Many of the songs were co-compositions, and the undeniable songwriting and performance talents of
Dennis Wilson and
Bruce Johnston were finally allowed to flourish:
Dennis contributed "Slip On Through," "Forever," and "Got to Know the Woman," while
Bruce wrote "Deirdre" and "Tears in the Morning." After a succession of spare, unadorned lead vocals on rock-oriented albums like
Wild Honey and
20/20,
Sunflower returned
the Beach Boys to gorgeous vocal harmonies on the tracks "Add Some Music to Your Day," "Cool, Cool Water," and "This Whole World." And the arrangements, tight and inventive, showed
Brian Wilson once again back near the top of his game (though the production is credited to the entire band).
Sunflower is also a remarkably cohesive album, something not seen from
the Beach Boys since Pet Sounds. As with that album,
Sunflower earned critical raves in Britain but was virtually ignored in America. [
Sunflower was made available in 2000 as half of the two-fer collection Sunflower/Surf's Up.] ~ John Bush