Description: Mike Love tells the story of his legendary, raucous, and ultimately triumphant five-decade career as the front man of The Beach Boys, the most popular American band in history -- timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of "Good Vibrations." Love describes the stories behind his lyrics for pop classics such as "Good Vibrations," "California Girls," "Surfin' USA," and "Kokomo," while providing vivid portraits of the turbulent lives of his three gifted cousins, Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson. His partnership with Brian has few equals in American pop music, though Mike has carved out a legacy of his own -- he co-wrote the lyrics to eleven of the twelve original Beach Boy songs that were top 10 hits while providing the lead vocals on ten of them.
Review Quotes: "More than a half-century's worth of inside information about the Beach Boys." --The New York Times
"[Good Vibrations] is rich with Beach Boys info . . . some meaty insights, new stories even the most diehard Beach Boys fan has never heard, and Love's own take on much-told tales . . . a crucial addition to the library shelf."--Bob Ruggerio, Houston Press "Riveting...fascinating...how the music transcended the story and spread California sunshine around the globe.... Love is able to articulate the depth of his feelings for the music in a way that will send fans back to their stereos to crank up 'Surfin' U.S.A.' and 'Wouldn't It Be Nice' and 'The Warmth of the Sun' whether they have an ocean handy or not." --Sarah Rodman, Los Angeles Times "If it's the jumbo popcorn bag of Beach Boys lore you saltily crave, then Love's Good Vibrations should hold you the length of the circus. In the battle of the Beach Boys memoirs, it's the better read: lively, informative, thumbtacked with crazy specifics... It's all here and then some." --James Wolcott, Vanity Fair "Love transfixes readers with his stories of the rise and fall of the band, his own work as a songwriter, and his deep engagement with spirituality and the ways that it has influenced his music.... [a] sobering look at the ups and downs of a rock and roll band...ends on a note of hope that music can provide harmony in word and spirit for a struggling world." --Publishers Weekly