Recording information: Ben's Studio, Nashville, TN (2011-2012); Chicago Recording Company, Chicago, IL (2011-2012); Love Shack Studio, Incline Village, NV (2011-2012); Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA (2011-2012); World Stage Studios, Burr Ridge, IL (2011-2012).
Photographer: Guy Webster.
The first Beach Boys albums in decades to include all the surviving founders, That's Why God Made the Radio features a title track celebrating the radio stations that first broke the Beach Boys back in the early '60s. All of the surviving members of the band who contributed the most to their '60s prime -- Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks -- came aboard for the reunion tour celebrating their 50th anniversary, as well as the recording sessions that produced this 12-track album. Produced by Wilson and executive produced by Love, That's Why God Made the Radio is notable for being a collection of all originals (although the Beach Boys had announced their recording reunion with a version of their 1968 hit "Do It Again").
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (pp.71-72) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "The record's flashbacking first half is cut with humor and self-awareness....[A] deeply touching work..."
Entertainment Weekly (p.82) - "When he takes over on lead vocals, Mike Love sings Wilson's sometimes bleak sentiments sunnily -- which makes them all the more unsettling." -- Grade: B+
Mojo (Publisher) (p.92) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[T]his album is very much Brian Wilson's baby. From retro sleeve to the grooves within, it mines his deep nostalgia for the summers of his youth..."
