Vinyl plays nicely (play-graded). Gate-fold cover looks good; a few creases near edges; moderate scuffing and surface abrasions (front/back). Light scuffing on inner-gate. Inner-sleeve is generic white. Spine is mostly readable with some wear. Shelf-wear along top/bottom-edge and corners. Opening is crisp with signs of use and a few divots. RCA Club pressing. (Not a cut-out.)
15 Big Ones, by American rock group The Beach Boys, was their first studio album in three years and the first Brian Wilson-produced album released by the band since Pet Sounds, ten years earlier. This is also the first album to feature the classic lineup of the Beach Boys (Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson and Al Jardine) since the mid-1960s with Bruce Johnston's temporary departure from the group. Although Dennis Wilson suggested calling the album Group Therapy, and rejecting Pick Ya Up at 8 (after the outtake I Wanna Pick You Up), 15 Big Ones was named for their fifteen years in the business and for the fact that it had the same number of tracks. With media coverage in high gear, The Beach Boys were given an NBC TV special heralding their return. One of the highlights of the special is a rendition of That Same Song with the Alexander Hamilton Double Rock Baptist Choir, where Brian looks to be more at ease than he really was. He appeared much less at ease as the center of a "Failure to Surf" comedy sketch in which "surf cops" Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi pull Brian out of bed and force him to ride the waves outside. The group also embarked on a large US tour, with several performances including Brian. 15 Big Ones was released in late June, number 8 in the US during a chart stay of 27 weeks, went gold and became the last top 10 studio album for the band until 2012's That's Why God Made the Radio. It had been the most commercially successful Beach Boys studio album in over ten years. The album peaked at #8 on Billboard 200 and produced three singles: Rock and Roll Music (#5), It's O.K. (#29) and Everyone's in Love With You.