Stack-O-Tracks

Infobox Album | Name = Stack-O-Tracks
Type = Compilation album
Artist = The Beach Boys


Released = 19 August 1968
Recorded = July 1963 - June 1968
Genre = Rock
Length = 34:37
Label = Capitol Records
Producer = Brian Wilson and
The Beach Boys
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|1.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hzfrxq95ldhe link] |
Last album = "Best of The Beach Boys Vol. 3"
(1968)
This album = "Stack-O-Tracks "
(1968)
Next album = "20/20"
(1969) |

"Stack-O-Tracks" is an album release by The Beach Boys containing the backing tracks to fifteen of their songs spanning their career to that point. Considered little more than a penny pincher when it came out,Fact|date=June 2008 "Stack-O-Tracks" turned out to be a very educational album for those wanted to know what went into the making of a Beach Boys music track. This type of release was unique for the band, and generally was and still is relatively unique throughout the music industry where backing tracks, in the rare event of their commercial release, are generally bonus tracks or b-sides to singles.

The Beach Boys third and final album release of 1968, coming after "Friends" and released the same day as the quickly cobbled-together "Best of The Beach Boys Vol. 3", "Stack-O-Tracks" was seen by many at the time as a desperate last-ditch effort by Capitol Records to try "anything" to sell Beach Boys records. The strategy backfired, however; issued at one of their lowest commercial ebbs in the U.S., "Stack-O-Tracks" became the first Beach Boys album to fail to reach the U.S. or UK charts. Until 1992's much-maligned "Summer in Paradise", it would remain their only official release to have this distinction.

Nonetheless, featuring instrumental highlights from the past studio albums, and including a booklet with the bass lines, lead lines, chords and lyrics (to sing along with), "Stack-O-Tracks" was clearly a gift to those who wanted to hear what was going on beneath the lush harmonies. "Stack-O-Tracks" quickly disappeared and was out of print for two decades. In 1990, Capitol Records saw fit to re-issue it on CD, and again in 2001 - both releases without the handy booklet that accompanied the vinyl edition.

Track listing

All songs by Brian Wilson/Mike Love, except where noted.

#"Darlin' " – 2:12
#"Salt Lake City" – 1:58
#"Sloop John B" (Trad. arr. Brian Wilson) – 3:04
#"In My Room" (Brian Wilson/Gary Usher) – 2:13
#"Catch A Wave" – 2:00
#"Wild Honey" – 2:35
#"Little Saint Nick" – 1:49
#"Do It Again" – 2:11
#"Wouldn't It Be Nice" (Brian Wilson/Tony Asher/Mike Love) – 2:11
#"God Only Knows" (Brian Wilson/Tony Asher) – 2:37
#"Surfer Girl" (Brian Wilson) – 2:16
#"Little Honda" – 1:36
#"Here Today" (Brian Wilson/Tony Asher) – 3:06
#"You're So Good To Me" – 1:55
#"Let Him Run Wild" – 2:13

"Stack-O-Tracks" is now paired on CD with "Beach Boys' Party!", with bonus instrumental tracks.

"Stack-O-Tracks" (Capitol (D) KAO 2893) failed to chart in either the U.S. or the UK.

ources

* "Beach Boys' Party!"/"Stack-O-Tracks" CD booklet notes, David Leaf, c.1990.
* "The Nearest Faraway Place: Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys and the Southern California Experience", Timothy White, c. 1994.
* "Wouldn't It Be Nice - My Own Story", Brian Wilson and Todd Gold, c. 1991.
* "Top Pop Singles 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
* "Top Pop Albums 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
* Allmusic.com