I am not one that likes it when an artist imitates another artists classic song, most of the time it doesn't work. But when the original artists take their classics, in this case some of the best rock and roll there is, and adds an orchestra, just pure genious! I have always had a very diverse taste in music, and love orchestral music. The Royal Philmarmonic adds a depth to these songs you didn't know they needed! Don't get me wrong, the originals will always hold a special place in my heart, they are classics and always be, but this album is marvelous in its recreation of these timeless songs!

Although the entire song is pretty much orchestrated, that one strings note when he says “if you should ever leave me” hits so differently…

Quite a few commenters here who seem to scream when originals are toyed with. I understand that. But sometimes variations are creativity—and I love creativity. As long as it’s the living band members themselves doing it. The orchestral accents are not overwrought.

It really empathizes the tracks and turns some parts into what seems like a movie score. Great songs they picked. Sounds a bit more different at the beginning and the end of the track opposed to the middle.

I don’t care for most of these renditions, but The Sloop John B is great! The tuba player, the final 40 seconds or so, somehow had to be playing and breathing at the same time.

I was curious, too, to hear it. As a true Beach Boys fan (over 30 CDs), I wanted to like it but the Royal Philharmonic is a classical-LITE group and they trivialize these great songs. "You Still Believe In Me" almost works, but again the strings play the most trite melodies, and the lack of cleverness in arrangements shows. You can't imagine the Beatles or Stones weakening their catalogue by okaying this type of cash-in. "Disney Girls", a great song but almost muzak anyway fits well with this, but it turns it into something you'd hear in the dentist chair before going under sedation. And probably we have Mike and Brucie to thank for this insult to the great Brian Wilson and Wilson Love catalogue. AVOID, especially those on a low-sugar diet.

This is indeed a remix. I thought I’d found old gold. Instead I found my old beach boys records with some extraneous strings. Other than the brief preludes you barely hear the Philharmonic at all. 🙄

Sorry, I like the original versions of The Beach Boys songs better...just being honest. 😞

I came into this as skeptical as everyone else, well aware of Capitol’s persistent milking of The Beach Boys material. However, while absolutely not an essential LP in Beach Boys canon, it’s definitely worth a listen for casual fans. Don’t recommend for true diehards though. There are several great tracks with more filled in backing tracks; which somewhat add to Brian’s ultimate goal of recreating the “Wall of Sound” Spector used in the mid 60’s. Sloop John B, Good Vibrations, and California Girls are probably the best of the album but that’s just my opinion. Anyways, I probably wouldn’t pay a lot for this album (I listened for free on Apple Music) but if you find a discounted vinyl copy or just want to download a couple tracks you’ll probably have an enjoyable experience.

The original orchestrations were perfect. These new versions sound cluttered and muddy. Completely pointless exercise outside of making money.