In June 1974, The Beach Boys' old label, Capitol Records, released a double-album compilation of the band's 1962–1965 hits titled Endless Summer, to capitalize on their popularity as a regular touring act.

Wishing to capitalize on this commercial resurgence with an official release, on Brother Records, The Beach Boys opportunistically issued Good Vibrations – Best of The Beach Boys.

The band had temporarily received the licensing rights to all their Capitol albums from Pet Sounds onwards, and was exclusively able to use post-1965 material, including their contemporary works, to create a more diverse collection.

Released in June 1975, Good Vibrations – Best of The Beach Boys peaked at number 25 in the US.

The two Capitol compilations proved more attractive to shoppers, however, and far outsold this collection.