Initially released overseas as Live in London, Beach Boys '69 was actually recorded in December 1968 at Finsbury Park in Astoria, London. The Beach Boys were always a stronger studio group, and Brian Wilson isn't present in this lineup (though he gets a producer credit)—but Beach Boys '69 is a loose, fun collection that features a decent smattering of the group's best songs. Considering the heaviness of the era, the album reflects a refreshingly lightweight approach; the band members never succumb to drawn-out instrumental breaks or re-creating their songs in psychedelic or modernized styles. The joy of the ensemble vocals on "Barbara Ann" is as powerful as in The Beach Boys' earliest days. "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "Sloop John B," "California Girls," "Good Vibrations," and "God Only Knows" deserve every accolade, and even lesser-known later cuts like "Darlin'," "Do It Again," and "Their Hearts Were Full of Spring" show the group's rich reserve of quality songs.