The Beach Boys Chart A Debut Top 10 Hit With A Half-Century-Old Song

Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys fame passed away earlier this month at the age of 82. As is typically the case whenever a musical legend dies, the world mourns its loss by returning to the songs and albums that made him a pioneer.

After a truncated tracking week, during which the sad news was revealed, several Beach Boys classics become bestselling tracks in America. The group even collects an initial top 10 smash on one of Billboard’s most competitive lists.

The Beach Boys Earn a First Top 10

The Beach Boys debut in the top 10 on the Digital Song Sales chart this week with “God Only Knows.” That lovely tune opens at No. 7 on the ranking of the bestselling tracks in the United States. Luminate reports that during the most recent tracking period — which is when people learned of Wilson’s passing — the song sold just under 4,200 copies.

The Beach Boys Trail Sabrina Carpenter and Mariah Carey

It’s a busy week for new arrivals on the Digital Song Sales chart, and The Beach Boys collect the fifth loftiest debut this time around. The legendary pop-rock outfit trails just behind new singles by Oliver Anthony Music (“Scornful Woman,” No. 2), Sabrina Carpenter (“Manchild,” No. 3), Mariah Carey (“Type Dangerous,” No. 4), and Lil Wayne with Nicki Minaj (“Banned From NO,” No. 5).

“Wouldn’t It Be Nice” Also Debuts

The Beach Boys have only ever sent three tracks to the Digital Song Sales chart — and two of them arrive this week. Coming in behind “God Only Knows” is “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” which opens at No. 18.

These tunes now rank as the group’s highest-performing hits on this particular roster. The only other Beach Boys cut to reach this tally was “Little Saint Nick,” which showed up on the week dated Christmas Day 2010. At that time, the chart included many more positions than the 25 it features now. That cut only rose as high as No. 63 and spent just one frame on the list before disappearing.

Beach Boys Claim Four Spots on the Rock Chart

The Beach Boys perform even better on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart, where the band fills four spaces. “God Only Knows” is joined by “Good Vibrations,” “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” and “Sloop John B” — all of which land on that genre-specific list for the very first time.