Surf's Up: A Beach Boys Podcast Safari

The Beach Boys were a rare act that scored two-sided hit records. Their B-sides contained some of Brian Wilson's most heartfelt music, and, later on, Dennis'. Mark and Phil discuss the era of 45 RPM records, the politics behind choosing what went on the A-side and what went on the B-side, and how that helped shape The Beach Boys' creative direction and public perception.

Mark Critch, star of CBC satirical news show This Hour Has 22 Minutes, joins hosts Mark Dillon and Phil Miglioratti to talk about his love for The Beach Boys. He discusses becoming a fan growing up in Newfoundland in the 1980s, the dangers of meeting your heroes, and playing Brian on his show. And we're not saying we get him to impersonate Donald Trump introducing the band, but we're not denying i...

"Pet Sounds: The Prequel"? The Beach Boys' classic 1966 album represented a huge leap forward for the group, but Brian Wilson had been building to it from the start. In a new episode of Surf's Up: A Beach Boys Podcast Safari, Philip Lambert, music scholar and editor of Good Vibrations: Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys in Critical Perspective, joins hosts Mark Dillon (Fifty Sides of The Beach Boys)...

In part two of this episode, author Tom Smucker discusses Why The Beach Boys Matter⁠—which happens to be the title of his new book⁠—with hosts Mark Dillon (Fifty Sides of The Beach Boys) and Phil Miglioratti (Pray for Surf blog).

In part one of this interview, author Tom Smucker discusses Why The Beach Boys Matter⁠—which happens to be the title of his new book⁠—with hosts Mark Dillon (Fifty Sides of The Beach Boys) and Phil Miglioratti (Pray for Surf blog).

In their first episode of Surf's Up: A Beach Boys Podcast Safari, hosts Mark Dillon (author, Fifty Sides of The Beach Boys) and Phil Miglioratti (Pray for Surf blog) speak with David Leaf (author, The Beach Boys and the California Myth) about why the group is unique in the annals of pop music history.

Phil Miglioratti and Mark Dillon continue their "heroes and villains" conversation, pointing to the villains in The Beach Boys' story. They range from those who steered the band in the wrong direction to people who were downright evil. A discussion that is sure to spur on debate among fans.

Phil Miglioratti and Mark Dillon point out the heroes in The Beach Boys' history: those who helped the group launch, evolve and sustain.

Phil Miglioratti and Mark Dillon compare lists of their 10 favorite Beach Boys albums--and each choose one that should be deleted from the catalog.

Phil Miglioratti and Mark Dillon discuss the best, worst, and weirdest covers The Beach Boys have ever recorded.

Mark Dillon talks with Phil Miglioratti about his fresh theory on what would have been on The Beach Boys' legendary unreleased 1967 SMiLE album, and in what order all the pieces might have fit.

Brian Wilson once spoke of making a humor album. He never did, but here Phil Miglioratti and Mark Dillon each put one together, using tracks that span The Beach Boys' career.

Phil Miglioratti and Mark Dillon discuss the new Beach Boys archival release 1967: Sunshine Tomorrow

Phil Miglioratti and Mark Dillon trade impressions of the "I Am Brian Wilson" memoir, comparing it to Mike Love's book, referring to Mark's interviews with Brian, SMiLE, Eugene Landy, Murry Wilson, and more.

Part two of Phil Miglioratti and Mark Dillon's interview with James S. Hirsch, co-author of Mike Love's memoir Good Vibrations: My Life as a Beach Boy, discussing his perspective on Mike and Mike's relationships with Beach Boys bandmates Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Bruce Johnston, and Alan Jardine.

Part one: Phil Miglioratti and Mark Dillon interview James S. Hirsch, Mike Love's writing collaborator on his memoir Good Vibrations: My Life as a Beach Boy

Phil Miglioratti, host of the Pray for Surf blog, interviews Mark Dillon about his award-winning book Fifty Sides of The Beach Boys