It's not Pet Sounds, it's not 20/20. It's not even the recent release of The SMiLE Sessions.
The Beach Boys studio album with the highest-ever Billboard chart debut is That's Why God Made The Radio, their June 5 release on Capitol/BRI. The album debuted at No. 3 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart after selling 61,000 copies in the US during its first week.
It marks the band's highest-ever chart debut.
While The Beach Boys have achieved Top 10 success in the past, they've never had an album debut in Billboard’s Top 10 before. The band’s last studio album to peak in Billboard’s Top 5 was 1965’s Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!!), which climbed to No. 2 after its release.
Their most recent Top 5 Billboard Albums chart hit was in 1974 for their Endless Summer hits compilation, which topped the chart at No. 1.
The current lineup of the band includes Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks.
For more about The Beach Boys, check out their official website and Facebook page.
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Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.
