The Beach Boys vs. Baseball

This week at Tropicana Field in Tampa, Florida, the Boston Red Sox were in town playing a three-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays. This much anticipated series drew an average of about 19,000 fans. Last night the Rays were playing the Detroit Tigers. According to The Associated Press, last night's game drew a sellout crowd of 36,973.

Now I know you're probably asking yourself why I'm writing about sports, unless its water-related, sports in not a topic I typically talk about. Those who know me well, know that I don't follow sports. BUT, I do like what follows them at times.

What made the difference in the turn-out last night? The Beach Boys had a postgame concert! Yep, my beloved beach band can still pull them in. So, who of the original band was there? Mike Love, one of the founding members and Bruce Johnston, who joined the band in 1965 with the release of California Girls. Dennis and Carl Wilson have both since passed away under sad circumstances and their brother Brian Wilson performs with a 10-piece group that includes Jeff Foskett. Al Jardine, along with his sons, continues to perform with his Endless Summer Band.

I was, of course, already a huge fan of The Beach Boys, when in 1965 they recorded their hit song, Help Me, Rhonda. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike love, you can well imagine it is my favorite of all their songs. Come on, my first name was not a common one in California, and was often mistaken and misread as Rhoda. The Beach Boys changed all that when Help Me, Rhonda was on their The Beach Boys Today! album. That was forty-four years ago and I STILL have people reference the song when they learn my name. I was a California girl, who grew up at Paradise Cove in Malibu and I was 14-years-old when The Beach Boys made me a household name — literally!

I started this blog on May 10th of this year and on my very first post I wrote this, "Starting a blog about the beach at this time seems appropriate, since The Beach Boys are releasing a new album in eleven days. Summer Love Songs will be available in stores on May 21st. Cool, huh? PLUS, Help Me, Rhonda and California Girls are included on the new album! What goes around, comes around as they say."

Visit The Beach Boys website for links to Amazon and iTune to buy the album, download ringtones, see photos, read the band's timeline and to catch up on what they're doing now.


Here are The Beach Boys in 2006:


Did you know The Beach Boys were originally called The Pendeltons? This photo from 1961 will explain why:

Note: For those who don't know what I mean, the shirts the boys are wearing are called Pendeltons and they were very popular back in the day. They are still around, but I seldom see them on the beach crowd any more.

This is the way I will always remember them:



So, today I'm giving a big shout out for The Beach Boys — you still give me Good Vibrations!