Excellent list everyone! But let me point to the great ones by Father2theMan and Miguel (not by chance the ones with Beach Boys related avatars).
I usually include archival albums on my lists but the only one I'm going to include is "The Smile Sessions" because the other archival albums could fall into the category of compilations with few unreleased songs ("Endless Harmony" and "Hawthorne, CA") or documents of the sessions of previously released albums, like a collection of an album bonus tracks (chronologically "Lost and Found (1961-1962)," "The Pet Sounds Sessions," "Keep an Eye on Summer," "Beach Boys' Party! Uncovered and Unplugged," "Sunshine Tomorrow," "Wake the World" and "I Can Hear Music"). I also haven't included two official albums because no new songs are included and are particularly uninspired projects that would have ended at the bottom of my list: "Stars and Stripes Vol. 1" (re-recording of Beach Boys hits in country key) and "The Beach Boys with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" (not even re-recordings, only undistinguished new orchestral arrangements were added).
Albums:
1.
Pet Sounds (1966, my #10 album of all-time)
Brian Wilson left aside the glorification of Californian life, the beaches, surfers, cars and girls that characterized the lyrical universe of the Beach Boys till then. In Brian Wilson's own words: "I was not trying to entertain people, I was expressing my feelings straight from the heart." It was the time to talk about inner feelings, dreams ("Wouldn't it Be Nice"), maladjustment ("I Just Wasn't Made for These Times"), spiritual love ("God Only Knows") or the loss of innocence ("Caroline No": "Where did your long hair go / Where is the girl I used to know / How could you lose that happy glow?"). Best album ever? Well, why not?
2.
Surf's Up (1971)
The Beach Boys arrived too late to counterculture. But when they embraced it they did it with an awesome selection of songs.
3.
The Smile Sessions (2011)
Unpopular, I know, but I prefer the Brian Wilson 2004 solo album, it feels more finished. Anyway the 2011 album is magical.
4.
The Beach Boys Today! (1965)
My favourite pre-"Pet Sounds" album, the first after Brian resigned from touring. Side two (ballads-side) sounds like heaven.
5.
Sunflower (1970)
When mental issues exhausted Brian creativity, other members stepped up, with the blossoming of Dennis and Carl talents.
6. 20/20 (1969)
7. Smiley Smile (1967)
8. The Beach Boys Love You (1977)
9. All Summer Long (1964)
10. Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) (1965)
11. Holland (1973)
12. Friends (1968)
13. Surfer Girl (1963)
14. Wild Honey (1967)
15. Carl and the Passions "So Tough" (1972)
16. Surfin' USA (1963)
17. That's Why God Made the Radio (2012)
18. L.A. (Light Album) (1979)
19. Shut Down Volume 2 (1964)
20. Beach Boys' Party! (1965)
21. 15 Big Ones (1976)
22. Surfin' Safari (1962)
23. The Beach Boys' Christmas Album (1964)
24. Little Deuce Coupe (1963)
25. M.I.U. Album (1978)
26. Keepin' the Summer Alive (1980)
27. The Beach Boys (1985)
28. Still Cruisin' (1989)
29. Summer in Paradise (1992)
Songs:
1.
God Only Knows (1966, my #4 song of all time)
If someone would ask me about my favourite minute of music (although why the hell somebody would ask me that) I would choose without hesitation the last minute of "God Only Knows." Musically there are a lot of things happening in the song, the chamber pop arrangements, the Christmas percussions, the sweet Carl Wilson vocal… But it's in this last minute where the vocal harmonies of the boys from the beach goes intertwining and intertwining forming a spiral that elevates (you) to heaven.
2.
Good Vibrations (1966, #28)
Brian Wilson made a titanic effort to obtain what many people consider the best song ever. Seven months of recordings in three different recording studios (with the Wrecking Crew as session musicians and the superb harmonies of the Beach Boys), creating small musical fragments later placed in a meticulous sound collage, complex but accessible, innovative but addictive, luminous, magical, exciting. But now we know that this creative effort left the unstable Brian exhausted and disturbed.
3.
I Get Around (1964, #136)
The acclaim came when the Beach Boys began to use complex harmonies and arrangements but their early songs no less creative and complex. A song like "I Get Around" condenses in little more than 2 minutes incredible vocal arrangements (how not?) and also a great instrumental backing with vibrant stop/start dynamics, and all that with that contagious fun, fun, fun attitude of their early days. The A-side of probably one of the best singles ever released because on the flip-side there was…
4.
Don't Worry Baby (1964)
The best of the early ballads, sang by Brian Wilson with his sweet falsetto. He tried to surpass Phil Spector and arguably did it.
5.
Surf's Up (1971)
It only took 5 years for Brian Wilson to go from "Surfin'" to "Surf's Up," probably the best example of a truly amazing evolution.
6. Caroline, No (1966)
7. Break Away (1969)
8. California Girls (1965)
9. Disney Girls (1957) (1971)
10. Their Hearts Were Full of Spring (1990)
11. Surfin' USA (1963)
12. Darlin' (1967)
13. Wouldn't It Be Nice (1966)
14. 'Til I Die (1971)
15. Heroes and Villains (1967)
16. Surfer Girl (1963)
17. Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder) (1966)
18. Feel Flows (1971)
19. I Just Wasn't Made for These Times (1966)
20. Meant for You (1968)
21. In My Room (1963)
22. Cabinessence (1969)
23. The Warmth of the Sun (1964)
24. Wonderful (1967)
25. Barbara Ann (1965)
26. Surfin' Safari (1962)
27. Solar System (1977)
28. All I Wanna Do (1970)
29. Fun, Fun, Fun (1964)
30. Do It Again (1968)
31. I Can Hear Music (1969)
32. Had to Phone Ya (1976)
33. When I Grow Up (To Be a Man) (1965)
34. Forever (1970)
35. Time to Get Alone (1969)
36. Surfin' (1961)
37. Help Me, Ronda (1965)
38. Vegetables (1967)
39. That's Why God Made the Radio (2012)
40. California Dreamin' (1986)
41. I Wanna Pick You Up (1977)
42. You Still Believe in Me (1966)
43. Please Let Me Wonder (1965)
44. Sail On, Sailor (1973)
45. The Night Was So Young (1977)
46. Add Some Music to Your Day (1970)
47. The Trader (1973)
48. She Knows Me Too Well (1965)
49. Here Today (1966)
50. Long Promised Road (1971)
51. Let Him Run Wild (1965)
52. I Know There's an Answer (1966)
53. Little Deuce Coupe (1963)
54. Cuddle Up (1973)
55. Tears in the Morning (1970)
56. All Summer Long (1964)
57. Sloop John B (1966)
58. The Elements: Fire (Mrs. O'Leary's Cow) (2011)
59. California Feelin' (2013)
60. Girls on the Beach (1964)
61. Summer's Gone (2012)
62. Be With Me (1969)
63. Endless Harmony (1980)
64. Do You Like Worms? (1993)
65. Little Bird (1968)
66. Cool, Cool Water (1970)
67. Then I Kissed Her (1965)
68. A Day in the Life of a Tree (1971)
69. Deirdre (1970)
70. California Saga (California) (1973)
71. Sweet Sunday Kinda Love (1978)
72. Wind Chimes (1967)
73. This Whole World (1970)
74. Cotton Fields (1969)
75. Friends (1968)
76. Girl Don't Tell Me (1965)
77. With Me Tonight (1967)
78. Mona (1977)
79. It's About Time (1970)
80. Steamboat (1973)
81. Baby Blue (1979)
82. Wendy (1964)
83. (Wouldn't It Be Nice to) Live Again (2013)
84. I'll Bet He's Nice (1977)
85. Trombone Dixie (1990)
86. Marcella (1972)
87. Child Is Father of the Man (2011)
88. Let's Go Away for Awhile (1966)
89. A Time to Live in Dreams (2001)
90. Can't Wait Too Long (1990)
91. Getcha Back (1985)
92. Goin' On (1980)
93. Good Timin' (1979)
94. Busy Doin' Nothin' (1968)
95. Catch a Wave (1963)
96. You're So Good to Me (1965)
97. From There to Back Again (2012)
98. Just Once in My Life (1976)
99. All This Is That (1972)
100. Slip on Through (1970)
101. Still Cruisin' (1989)
102. Little Saint Nick (1963)
103. The Lord's Prayer (1963)
104. Little Honda (1964)
105. Do You Wanna Dance? (1965)
106. Honkin' Down the Highway (1977)
107. My Diane (1978)
108. Wake the World (1968)
109. In the Back of My Mind (1965)
110. Fallin' in Love (2009)
111. Where Is She? (2013)
112. 4th of July (1993)
113. You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone (1972)
114. Lookin' at Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) (1971)
115. Love Surrounds Me (1979)
116. Shut Down (1963)
117. Where I Belong (1985)
118. It's OK (1976)
119. Fairy Tale Music (1993)
120. Your Summer Dream (1963)
121. 409 (1962)
122. Keep an Eye on Summer (1964)
123. Isn't It Time (2012)
124. Don't Go Near the Water (1971)
125. Smile Backing Vocals Montage (2011)
126. Aren't You Glad (1967)
127. Somewhere Near Japan (1989)
128. Leaving This Town (1973)
129. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (1965)
130. Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow (1964)
131. All Alone (1998)
132. Wild Honey (1967)
133. The Little Girl I Once Knew (1965)
134. In the Parkin' Lot (1964)
135. Good to My Baby (1965)
136. Roller Skating Child (1977)
137. Spirit of America (1964)
138. I'm Going Your Way (2019)
139. Soul Searchin' (2013)
140. Let the Wind Blow (1967)
141. Kiss Me, Baby (1965)
142. It's Gettin' Late (1985)
143. It's a Beautiful Day (1979)
144. Don't Back Down (1964)
145. Our Car Club (1963)
146. Think About the Days (2012)
147. We'll Run Away (1964)
148. Devoted to You (1965)
149. You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling (2013)
150. Stoked (1963)