Carl & The Passions: So Tough

Vinyl LP re-pressing of this gem of an album by the pop-rock icons. With the addition of drummer Ricky Fataar and guitarist Blondie Chaplin to the line-up, The Beach Boys entered a period of surprisingly earthy arrangements, obviously based on what they'd been hearing on cooler outlets like FM radio and AOR. Kicking off with the rough Carl Wilson rocker "You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone," Carl and the Passions - So Tough cycles through all manner of roots-based rock; Fataar and Chaplin lead the band through a bluesy number ("Here She Comes") and a country song complete with steel guitar ("Hold On Dear Brother"), while Mike Love exercises his spiritual side on the gospel-inspired "He Came Down."