By Lane Lannan
Any fan of The Beach Boys likely knows one name: Jeffery Foskett. Foskett, acting as a touring and studio musician for the band can be seen across many performances since the 1980s.
This year, releasing on July 11, is Something There – Remembering Jeffery Foskett. The album is a true career anthology for Foskett, and features 25 tracks, 15 of which were previously unreleased. Having had the opportunity to listen to the album early, I cannot stress enough how wonderful the record is. The album truly serves as a tribute to Foskett’s decades-long career as a vocalist, guitarist and producer closely associated with the California Sound and The Beach Boys legacy.
The album brings together a wide array of material from Foskett’s solo recordings and collaborative efforts. Among the highlights are “I Live For The Sun,” “Everybody” and “Something There,” as well as rare recordings featuring artists including Brian Wilson, Mike Love, America and Los Straitjackets.
I want to start with a song that is seventh in the track list. This is “Mary Honey,” which features Brian Wilson. This song has already been released as a single, and from the first time I heard it, I was obsessed with it.
“Mary Honey” feels quintessentially Beach Boys, almost as if it could have fit into the Love You album. Everything in this song is perfectly done. From the harmonies to the lead vocals, as well as the instrumental, it all clicks into place and flows effortlessly between the verses. Considering Brian’s feature, I would venture to say this is one of the coolest songs on the album. Any Beach Boys fan needs to listen to this track as soon as possible.
Among the more unique inclusions is “Splash City (A Cappella),” a song recorded for an episode of Full House where Foskett appeared. The track features actor John Stamos with all backing vocals performed by Foskett.
Continuing the stripped-back theme, “I Can Hear Music (Acoustic Version)” by Katie Foskett is marvelous. The song is beautiful and a different rendition than I’m used to hearing. The only time I think I have heard a female voice on the song is from Stars and Stripes Vol. 1, which features Kathy Troccoli, as well as the original version by The Ronettes, the latter of which I tend not to listen to as much, since I love The Beach Boys version. But a different voice isn’t the only difference; I think the acoustic sound suits the song perfectly, giving it a quiet majesty that fits its themes.
Another fun track to mention is “Little G.T.O.,” which features Los Straitjackets. Personally, I have always been a fan of this song, even seeking out the version from Mike Love, Bruce Johnston and David Marks of the Beach Boys Salute Nascar. The version on Something There continues my love of the song. It is fun, fast and great for any summer day.
The last song I want to specifically cover here is the version of “Barbara Ann” that features Mike Love’s Endless Summer Beach Band. As always, the song is amazing, and it features something typically only heard during live plays: the call and response “yeahs” in the intro. Personally, I love this style, and always wished it was included on some form of the song on streaming; but thanks to this album, it now is.
Naturally, there are loads of other songs to discover on this album, but I will leave that for listeners to discover. It was a treat to go through the track list for the first time and hear all of the great music, and I want other fans to have that same experience. But just know this, despite only covering a few tracks, the album is truly amazing. Any fan of The Beach Boys should listen to this album immediately. Every song is great, and they all serve as a wonderfully loving tribute to Foskett.
It makes me happy that, even since his death, Foskett is still able to provide us with great music to provide light in dark times. While listening to this album, I just felt a sense of happiness, a deep rooted joy that could only be brought to the surface with these songs.
Something There – Remembering Jeffrey Foskett is available for preorder through Omnivore Recordings. The label has also released a promotional trailer for the album, which can be viewed on YouTube. For more information or to order the album, visit Omnivore Recordings website.