The Beach Boys recorded a myriad of songs, instrumentals, and alternate versions of tracks that have been withheld from release. Some tracks circulate on bootlegs; others have been lost since their creation. This list is ordered chronologically by recording date. Live recordings are included if there is no studio equivalent.

1962–1964 1962 "Beginning of the End": Written by Roger Christian and Gary Usher. In early April 1962, Brian Wilson and Usher recorded demos of four songs at Western Recorders with instrumental and vocal backing by the Beach Boys. Group member David Marks was not present during the session. Lead vocal by Brian. "My Only Alibi": Written by Gary Usher. Recorded in early April 1962 during the Wilson-Usher demo session at Western. The song features a lead vocal by Usher, backing vocals by Brian and Carl Wilson, and instrumentation by the Beach Boys. "One Way Road to Love": Written by Gary Usher. Recorded in early April 1962 during the Wilson-Usher demo session at Western. The song features a lead vocal by Usher, backing vocals by Brian and Carl, and instrumentation by the Beach Boys. "Visions": Written by Brian Wilson and Gary Usher. Recorded in early April 1962 during the Wilson-Usher demo session at Western. The song features a lead vocal by Brian and instrumentation by the Beach Boys. Later recorded by Rachel and the Revolvers and retitled "Number One".

1963 "Pink Champagne": An instrumental composition written by Al Jardine and recorded in February 1963. Jardine copyrighted the piece on February 28, 1963. Murry Wilson later recorded the composition for his album The Many Moods of Murry Wilson under the title "Italia". "Chopsticks Boogie": Written by Brian Wilson and Jan Berry. Recorded around April–June 1963. "Rockin' Roadster": Written by Brian Wilson and Roger Christian. Recorded around June–September 1963. "Malibu Sunset": Written by Brian Wilson, Gary Usher, and Roger Christian. Recorded around May–August 1963.

1964

"Sandy Baby": Written by Brian Wilson and Russ Titelman and recorded in 1964. The song is an early version of "Sherry She Needs Me"; no vocal was recorded.

1965–1969 1965 "How Deep Is the Ocean?": Written by Irving Berlin and recorded on October 15, 1965. "Stella by Starlight": Written by Victor Young and recorded on October 15, 1965.

1966 Alternate version of "Heroes and Villains": In 2013, a version incorporating "I'm in Great Shape" surfaced on an acetate. Missing tapes, presumed lost or erased, include the reels for sessions held on May 11, December 13, December 19, and December 28, 1966, as well as January 20, January 31, February 24, February 26, and March 15, 1967. Alternate version of "Look": Recorded on October 13, 1966 with vocals. This tape is missing, presumed lost or erased.

1967 Alternate version of "Surf's Up": Recorded on January 23, 1967. "Crack the Whip" and "When I Get Mad (I Just Play My Drums)": Written by Brian Wilson and recorded around February–March 1967. Brian produced these tracks for photographer Jasper Dailey. Alternate version of "Tones": Recorded between March 13 and April 13, 1967. A version with vocals was recorded; the tape is missing, presumed lost or erased. "Good Time Mama": Attributed to Brian Wilson and recorded on June 25–26, 1967. In 2007, Alan Boyd stated that a tape with the label "Good Time Mama" could not be found in the band's archives. "Sunflower Maiden": Written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks and recorded in 1967. Written for the band Redwood, along with "Darlin'" and "Time to Get Alone". As of 2006, the recording remains lost.

1969

"What Can the Matter Be": Unknown writer; recorded between February 24 and May 24, 1969. "Raspberries, Strawberries": Written by Will Holt and recorded on November 11, 1969. A Kingston Trio cover, the tape of this rendition was reworked as "At My Window".

1970–1973 "Song to God": Written by Brian Wilson. Reported to have existed by Stanley Shapiro, a friend of the Beach Boys that had written songs with Dennis. According to Shapiro, Dennis had asked engineer Stephen Desper to set up the tape on a reel-to-reel before Brian ripped it off the playback and yelled "Don't you ever touch that again! That's between me and God!" Asked in 2016, Desper wrote on a message board, "Never did Dennis and I hear such a song, nor did Brian come barreling into the studio." He described Shapiro's recollection as "replete with imagined gestures and simply put not true." As of 2026, the tape has not surfaced.

1970 Alternate version of "A Day in the Life of a Tree": A version with Dennis on lead vocals. As of 2014, the tape has not surfaced. 1971 "Change Partners": Written by Stephen Stills; a cover version recorded in December 1971. "Beatrice from Baltimore": Written by Brian Wilson and Tandyn Almer and recorded between December 6, 1971 and January 31, 1972. Possibly Carl sings lead vocal. Later evolved into "You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone". 1972

"Burlesque": Written by Brian Wilson and Jack Rieley and recorded in 1972. A lyric is "Tantalation and hot glowing skin/Sun's 'bout to rest." Possibly Brian on lead vocal. As of 2014, no tape has surfaced. "Is Jack Rieley Really Superman?": Written by Brian Wilson and recorded in 1972. According to journalist Ben Edmonds, Brian wrote the song as a satire on Jack Rieley, who falsely claimed to have won a Pulitzer Prize. As of 2014, no tape has surfaced. "House of Lies": Written by Ricky Fataar and Blondie Chaplin; recorded in mid-1972, with lead vocal by Fataar and Chaplin. "I've Got Love": Written by Fataar and Chaplin; recorded in mid-1972, with lead vocal by Fataar and Chaplin. "Loretta Laredo": Written by Fataar and Chaplin; recorded in mid-1972, with lead vocal by Fataar and Chaplin. "I've Got a Friend": Written by Dennis Wilson; recorded live in early 1972.

1973 Alternate version of "Child of Winter (Christmas Song)": A version with Carl and Dennis on lead vocals. "Dr. Tom": Written by Al Jardine and recorded on March 12, 1973. Adaptation of the folk standard "Tom Dooley", with Jardine singing a partial vocal. "Canyon Summer": Written by Al Jardine and recorded in May 1973. Copyrighted by Jardine on May 29, 1973. Jingle written for the Coppertone sun-tan lotion company.

1974–1976

1974 "Is This Really Love?": Attributed to Brian Wilson; recorded on June 10, 1974. "Just an Imitation": Written by Brian Wilson and recorded between May and September 1974. Written about Murry, who died one year earlier. As of 2014, no tape has surfaced. May feature Brian on lead vocal. "Why Don't You Try Me?": Unknown author; recorded between May and September 1974. "Earthquake Time": Written by Mike Love and recorded between October and November 1974. "You're Riding High On the Music": Written by Brian Wilson and Kalinich and recorded in December 1974.

1975

"Don't Let Me Go": Written by Carl Wilson and Mike Love. "Our Life, Our Love, Our Land": Written by Mike Love. "Feelin' Stronger Every Day": Written by Peter Cetera and James Pankow and recorded between May and June 1975. Chicago song performed live, with lead vocals by Love and James Pankow.

1976

"11th Bar Blues": Written by Brian Wilson and recorded in 1976 with lead vocal by Mike Love. "Gold Rush": Written by Al Jardine and recorded between January 30 and May 15, 1976. "Lisa": Written by Mike Love and recorded between January 30 and May 15, 1976 with lead vocal by Love. "Glow Crescent Glow": Written by Mike Love; recorded between January 30 and May 15, 1976, with an additional session in October–November 1978. "Secret Love": Written by Sammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster; recorded between January 30 and May 15, 1976. "Michael Row the Boat Ashore": Traditional folk song; recorded between April 16–29, 1976 with lead vocal by Love. "Let's Dance": Written by Jim Lee and recorded on April 27, 1976.

1977–1979 1977 "Mike, Come Back to L.A.": Written by Brian Wilson and recorded in October–November 1977; no lead vocal recorded. Evolved into "Some of Your Love". "Xmas Carol Medley": Recorded in October–November 1977. Christmas medley featuring the Beach Boys and their children singing as a group. The songs are "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "O Come All Ye Faithful", "Hark The Herald Angels Sing", and "We Wish You A Merry Christmas". "How's About a Little Bit of Your Sweet Lovin'?": Written by Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Diane Rovell, Ron Altbach; recorded on November 15, 1977 – November 29, 1979. A version was released by Celebration on their eponymous second album. "Beach Burlesque": Unknown author; recorded on November 17, 1977. An M.I.U. Album outtake that may be the same song as "Burlesque". "Go and Get That Girl": Written by Ed Tuleja and Ron Altbach; recorded on November 17–21, 1977, with lead vocal by Carl. Intended for release on Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys in 1978. A slightly different version was released by Celebration on their eponymous second album with a different backing track vocals by Dave Robinson. "Alone on Christmas Day": Written by Mike Love and Ron Altbach; recorded on November 17–23, 1977, with lead vocal by Love. Intended for release on Merry Christmas. Love re-recorded the song in 2015 and then again for his 2018 solo Christmas album Reason for the Season. "Sad, Sad Christmas": Written by Mike Love and recorded on November 23, 1977, with lead vocal by Love.

1978 "I Really Love You": Written by Brian Wilson and recorded on April 21, 1978, with lead vocal by Brian. "Ride Arabian, Ride": Written by Al Jardine and recorded on May 11, 1978. Instrumental. "Rubles": Written by Al Jardine and recorded on May 11, 1978, with lead vocal by Jardine. "Basketball Rock": Written by Brian Wilson and recorded on May 13, 1978. Instrumental. "Bowling": Written by Brian Wilson and recorded on May 13, 1978. Instrumental. "Lookin' Down the Coast/Monterey": Written by Al Jardine and recorded on July 27, 1978, with lead vocals by Brian and Jardine. Intended to comprise a trilogy of songs which included "Santa Ana Winds". A re-recording of both songs, with the abbreviated title of "Lookin' Down the Coast", was included on Jardine's A Postcard from California album. "Calendar Girl": Written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield; recorded in late 1978 with lead vocals by Love. "A Little Somethin": Unknown author; recorded in late 1978 with lead vocals by Brian Wilson and Rocky Pamplin. "I'm Begging You Please": Written by Brian Wilson and recorded around June – October 6, 1978. Piano/vocal demo with lead vocal by Brian. A basic track was recorded. In 2008, Alan Boyd could not confirm if vocals were also tracked. "Drip Drop": Written by Leiber and Stoller; recorded on October 19, 1978, with lead vocal by Brian.

1979 "California Beach": Written by Al Jardine and Mike Love; recorded in early 1979 with lead vocal by Love. A version appears on Love's 2019 album 12 Sides of Summer. "Skatetown U.S.A.": Written by Al Jardine and Mike Love; recorded in early 1979 with lead vocal by Love. Later reworked as "California Beach". "Little Girl": Written by Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich, and Jeff Barry; recorded in early 1979 with lead vocal by Carl. Intended for Keepin' the Summer Alive, it was cut at a refurbished Western Studio 3 with Brian as producer. "Little Girl" was later adapted into an original song and renamed "Sunshine". Bruce Johnston explained: "Well, 'Sunshine' was originally called 'Little Girl'. And I can't remember who recorded it, probably a Phil Spector record, and so we cut this track and then we decided to write a new song to the track, so we took part of the old song, 'Smoky Places', and whatever Mike and Brian came up with, recorded on the existing track, didn't have enough room because the song was too short, so we tape-copied the track a few times, put 21 splices in the 24-track tape and stretched the song out and came up with 'Sunshine'."