M.I.U. Album/L.A. (Light Album) [Original recording remastered]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Want a party game sure to clear the room in record time? Try playing Name the Beach Boys Worst Album; two-plus decades on, 1978's M.I.U. remains a dogged contender. Vocalist Mike Love, perhaps stunned by the massively weird, if eminently lovable, originality of the Love You album, somehow cajoled the band to sojourn from Southern California to cut their next effort in that somewhat lesser-known recording Mecca--the Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa. Cascading effortlessly from one sentimental, ill-conceived aural greeting card to the next, the forms and harmonies are familiar, if virtually substance-free, in service of a pop sensibility--Love's--that makes Barry Manilow sound like Rimbaud. Bruce Johnston returned to the fold after a long absence just in time for 1979's L.A. (Light Album)--and a shot at another round of everyone's least favorite party game. The band was right about one thing: this is one light album, a virtually fat-free concoction that shamelessly borrows Bach one moment ("Lady Lynda"), then apes Japanese modalities (Al Jardine's clumsy "Sumahama"), and pimps waning disco fever (a cliché-ridden redux/remix of "Wild Honey's "Here Comes the Night") the next. All it desperately needed was a soul, a commodity the devil had apparently collected in a previous deal. Though the infectious "Good Timin'" was both a highlight and moderate hit, Brian Wilson's creative guidance is sorely missed throughout; judging from these two albums, he may indeed have been crazy ... like a fox. Both albums are newly remastered on a single disc. --Jerry McCulley

M.I.U. Album/L.A. (Light Album), Music, The Beach Boys, Pop, Pop/Rock, Popular Music, Rock, Rock & Roll, Rock/Pop
M.I.U. Album/L.A. (Light Album)
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Gems
  • Not mainstream music
  • M.I.U
  • It has it's moments, but the boys finally run out of steam here
  • Lady Lynda is a masterpiece of music !!!
 M.I.U. Album/L.A. (Light Album)
The Beach Boys
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Keepin' The Summer Alive / The Beach Boys
  2. 15 Big Ones/Love You
  3. Carl & The Passions - So Tough / Holland
  4. Friends/20/20
  5. The Beach Boys in Concert

ASIN: B00004W55Q
Release Date: 2000-08-15

Tracks:

  1. She's Got Rhythm
  2. Come Go With Me
  3. Hey, Little Tomboy
  4. Kona Coast
  5. Peggy Sue
  6. Wontcha Come Out Tonight?
  7. Sweet Sunday
  8. Belles Of Paris
  9. Pitter Patter
  10. My Diane
  11. Match Point Of Our Love
  12. Winds Of Change
  13. Good Timin'
  14. Lady Lynda
  15. Full Sail
  16. Angel Come Home
  17. Love Surrounds Me
  18. Sumahama
  19. Here Comes The Night
  20. Baby Blue
  21. Goin' South
  22. Shortenin' Bread

Amazon.com

Want a party game sure to clear the room in record time? Try playing Name the Beach Boys Worst Album; two-plus decades on, 1978's M.I.U. remains a dogged contender. Vocalist Mike Love, perhaps stunned by the massively weird, if eminently lovable, originality of the Love You album, somehow cajoled the band to sojourn from Southern California to cut their next effort in that somewhat lesser-known recording Mecca--the Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa. Cascading effortlessly from one sentimental, ill-conceived aural greeting card to the next, the forms and harmonies are familiar, if virtually substance-free, in service of a pop sensibility--Love's--that makes Barry Manilow sound like Rimbaud. Bruce Johnston returned to the fold after a long absence just in time for 1979's L.A. (Light Album)--and a shot at another round of everyone's least favorite party game. The band was right about one thing: this is one light album, a virtually fat-free concoction that shamelessly borrows Bach one moment ("Lady Lynda"), then apes Japanese modalities (Al Jardine's clumsy "Sumahama"), and pimps waning disco fever (a cliché-ridden redux/remix of "Wild Honey's "Here Comes the Night") the next. All it desperately needed was a soul, a commodity the devil had apparently collected in a previous deal. Though the infectious "Good Timin'" was both a highlight and moderate hit, Brian Wilson's creative guidance is sorely missed throughout; judging from these two albums, he may indeed have been crazy ... like a fox. Both albums are newly remastered on a single disc. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Gems.......2007-05-19

I've never understood WHY these albums were so unappreciated by the critics and 'some' Beach Boys fans. What do the "Critics" know anyway? They spend more time wasting paper on trying to outsmart their peers by posting what they consider to be their cockiest remarks, which question if they LISTENED to the music at all. Most of what they dismiss in entertainment history, winds up being commercially successful when the public makes a final decision on the product. If you consider yourself a true, sincere "fan"/admirer, etc., you should show support through what you may consider the 'thick and thin' or 'highs and lows' of an artist's career, especially after the abundant musical joy this spectacular band has provided us through the ages. It's also possible that vocally influenced by the Beach Boys megastar artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Linda Ronstadt, Electric Light Orchestra, Eagles, Olivia Newton-John, Foreigner, etc., during the era of these two albums, could have possibly steered those fans' attentions away from this highly influential band for a while. Me, I found time for ALL of them and continued racking up the various albums and 45's [still] found in my library! Maybe[as some opine] the writing was a bit bland, but, regardless of differing opinions, the most importantly overlooked factor within these recordings is that BEACH BOYS vocals and harmonies are still perfectly intact and as entertainingly refreshing as they ever were! Hardly any mention of that at all, and the BOYS are, first and foremost, a VOCAL GROUP. VOCALLY - they don't miss a beat at all! There are a few Top 40 Radio hits here among the highly noted fan favorites, and some maintain classic Beach Boys status in their 40 plus years catalogue: GOOD TIMIN' - COME GO WITH ME - [the celebrated, disco tinged club fave->]HERE COMES THE NIGHT[ <-yes, it was out there!] - Lady Lynda - etc. The BEACH BOYS offer up equal, well balanced doses of their trademark vocals and style on sunny fun, upbeat doo-wop styled rockers[PITTER PATTER; SHE'S GOT RHYTHM; etc.]- big, beautiful seaside/introspective ballads[FULL SAIL; WINDS OF CHANGE; GOIN' SOUTH; etc.]- plus midtempo surfside sand, sea and city tinged rocking tunes[CONA COAST; WONTCHA COME OUT TONIGHT; BELLES OF PARIS; SWEET SUNDAY; etc.]which will please their entire diverse fan base. Fact is, and I recall it all quite well, when these albums were issued, Album Oriented Rock[AOR]FM Radio and Top 40 Radio both jumped on various tracks as well as the issued singles for airplay exposure and the BEACH BOYS maintained their status throughout. These albums did not disappear without a trace...they remain as vital to the group's catalogue as the rest of their output. Rediscover these great albums, and really LISTEN.

3 out of 5 stars Not mainstream music .......2007-04-24

I have both albums, and I prefer the MIU album of the two. MIU is not a mainstream/commercial album. To truly appreciate this album, you must listen with purpose. If you are simply "passively" listening to this album, you'll miss out on how good it is. Best song is "Winds Of Change".

4 out of 5 stars M.I.U.......2007-02-11

I may be in the minority, but I want to defend M.I.U.
I like every single song on M.I.U and actually I listen to it often. Some of these later Beach Boys albums are really good, but you have to approach them with the right attitude; these weren't made to have the same serious vibe of Holland and Surf's Up. Even with the conflicts going on within the group at the time, M.I.U. sounds like the Beach Boys enjoying themselves, and I like every song on this album.

The Light Album....not so much.

3 out of 5 stars It has it's moments, but the boys finally run out of steam here .......2007-01-30

Enjoyable and still the Original BBs. Yet the good songs are rarer and the production is dated. It's still better than was was to come in the next few years...

4 out of 5 stars Lady Lynda is a masterpiece of music !!!.......2006-08-16

I can understand who's mention the fact there not the best effort they done during their magical carriere, but i just want to defend the magnificent piece of music : Lady Lynda, for me the best Al Jardine song for ever, the production is brilliant, and the fact that he was inspired by BacH music put a very good feeling in the song.The chorusin this one is simply beautifull...The version on the live in Knebworth is truly amazing.
The single will peak number 7 in the UK
Al Jardin write it for his wife but he will rerecorded as Lady Liberty after divorced...
Thanks Al for the really nice love song!

Music Review:

  1. Made in Europe [Import]
  2. Made in Japan [Original recording remastered] [Live]
  3. Metamorphosis
  4. Not Dark Yet: Dylan Alive, Vol. 2 [Import]
  5. Old Friends [Box set]
  6. Over, Under, Sideways, Down [Import]
  7. Preflyte Sessions
  8. Pretzel Logic
  9. Queen - Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 [Import]
  10. Red Rose Speedway

Music Review

Music Review