The way the stories are told, it’s almost like there were two separate bands in the 1960s called the Beach Boys. One was a lush psychedelic chamber pop group that created some of the most ambitious and beautifully orchestrated pop music ever recorded led by a genius named Brian Wilson. The other was a chart-topping surf group that played easy pop tunes that almost guaranteed commercial success, and they were led by a master of showmanship named Mike Love.

Much has been said over the years about the conflict between the Wilson brothers and Cousin Mike (Mike Love owns the name of the band and has toured for years without Brian). But on this compilation, culled from the band’s early singles (all of them written by Brian), the two are not yet at odds. The Beatles had yet to release Rubber Soul, which permanently set Brian on a quest for pop perfection—a quest that would tragically leave him fragmented and afraid to write again. Instead, he was happy to operate within the existing Beach Boys formula of easy-yet-pleasant pop tunes.

Easy pop tunes though they may be, there are a few hints of Wilson’s untapped genius. In My Room is an achingly gorgeous ballad dedicated to the joys of solitude (perhaps the Brian Wilson-est tune ever). Help Me Rhonda is brilliantly composed and produced, showcasing his growing love of Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound. And among the less ambitious tracks, there aren’t too many missteps either. Surfin’ Safari? California Girls? Fun, Fun, Fun? All undeniable, indelible pop classics. I usually don’t do compilations, but this one is nothing to sniff at.