Despite the hiccups through the years, thanks to the efforts of Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, The Beach Boys’ reputation as an oldies act is almost impossible to shake off. But for its 50th Anniversary, Love and Johnston reunited with Alan Jardine, David Marks and the legendary Brian Wilson and demonstrated that once upon a time, The Beach Boys were a musical force to be reckoned with. This double-CD recaptures the highlights of that memorable tour including the usual favourites - Surfer Girl, The Little Girl I Once Knew, California Girls, Good Vibrations and many more. When backed by a crack band which included Los Angeles stalwarts Jeffrey Foskett, Darian Sahanaja, Nelson Bragg and Probyn Gregory, there’s nothing much any true blue Beach Boys fan could quibble with, except perhaps the album should have contained all 50 tracks they performed, instead of merely 41. Kevin Mathews

3.5 stars