Beach Boys' 'We Gotta Groove': Unearthing Lost Gems from the Brother Studio Years

For Beach Boys enthusiasts, the period between 1976 and 1977 represents a unique golden age, marked by the return of Brian Wilson to active involvement after a period of mental health challenges.

This era saw the creation of the distinctive album The Beach Boys Love You, and the legendary shelved project Adult/Child.

Now, Adult/Child, is finally seeing the light of day as part of We Gotta Groove: The Brother Studio Years, a comprehensive six-disc, 73-track collection arriving on February 13th. The set also includes a remastered version of The Beach Boys Love You, along with a wealth of outtakes, demos, and discarded tracks from the 15 Big Ones sessions. A staggering 35 of the 73 tracks are previously unreleased. Click here to preorder.

Fans can get a taste of what's to come with "We Gotta Groove," a track from the 1976 Love You sessions. It features Mike Love on lead vocals, guitar from Billy Hinsche, and Brian Wilson handling vocals and most of the instrumentation.

The box set, co-produced by James Sáez and Beach Boys historian Howie Edelson, includes a 40-page booklet packed with new and archival interviews with members of the band and the Brother Studio engineering team, featuring Stephen Moffitt, Earle Mankey, and John Hanlon.

Last year, Al Jardine, along with veterans from Brian Wilson’s touring band, embarked on a tour centered around a near-complete performance of The Beach Boys Love You. In a 2025 interview, Jardine noted Carl Wilson's guidance of Brian during the album's creation, with Dennis Wilson also heavily involved. He mentioned his and Mike Love's contributions primarily focused on harmonies.

Adult/Child showcases Wilson's collaboration with arranger Dick Reynolds, blending fitness jingles, big-band sounds, and deeply personal songs. Following the commercial disappointment of The Beach Boys Love You, the band opted to shelve Adult/Child, leading to the creation of the M.I.U. Album. However, the Adult/Child sessions became a sought-after bootleg among fans.

While Mike Love's touring version of the Beach Boys largely ignores this era, Al Jardine continues to champion The Beach Boys Love You with a series of upcoming shows, starting February 21st at the South Shore Room at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. Subsequent dates include performances in Florida, New Jersey, and Australia.

The complete track listing for We Gotta Groove: The Brother Studio Years is as follows:

[Track Listing Omitted for Brevity]

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