The Beach Boys, Holland (1972)
I remember this was the first Beach Boys album I heard – outside of Pet Sounds, obviously – where I got to grips with the idea of them being more than (just) a twee pop band singing songs about surfing. I’d read a bit about them – and hey, I liked all that surf stuff anyway. But as I started to hear more about them I needed to hear more of the music. Pet Sounds was written up everywhere as one of the greatest albums ever and so that was a first point of call. And I knew a lot of the material off it anyway. But Holland was something else – because I didn’t really know anything from it. Sail On, Sailor was the take-home on first listen. But then there was more – so much more. And it became a favourite. I’ve just picked up this LP – a cheap one, junk-shop find. Cover’s battered about, record plays, a bit of scuffing, but it works. And I have all the extra stuff on the CD reissue anyway. It’s just nice to have this because there are so many great songs on this record. It’s (probably) the record that really lit the fuse for me, got my Beach Boys obsession cooking. (That lasted for about a decade I reckon, all up – these days I just revisit, now and then, cherry pickin’…)

Sample Track: The Trader  

The Vinyl Countdown is a document of every LP I listen to, brand new discoveries and old-old favourites; extremely pre-loved, previously abandoned or with the shrink-wrap having just been removed it’s all here at The Vinyl Countdown