Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2019 7:37:17 GMT
This week's album is In Concert:
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 9, 2019 13:15:09 GMT
It's great having that era of the live band documented, but honestly I don't really listen to it very often at all. (Neither do I listen to the other live albums all that often.) It is a good one, though, with a nice, diverse track list.
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Post by kds on Dec 9, 2019 13:22:01 GMT
If you're going to own one Beach Boys live album, this is the one. I'll give it a ten. This is the Beach Boys live at their best. Great setlist. The band is on fire. This live record also marks the end of The Beach Boys golden era. Just a few years later, they were a full blown nostalgia act.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 9, 2019 15:50:23 GMT
I had forgotten to rate it: so I went with 7. That might not be fair, but my personal preference against live albums on the whole (plus some sketchy vocals here and there and some 70s era guitar and keyboard sounds just aren't my thing) prevents me from going too high. I totally get why some would rate it higher, though.
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bellbottoms
Pacific Coast Highway
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Post by bellbottoms on Dec 9, 2019 23:04:08 GMT
In Concert is absolutely the best of the live albums, in my opinion. It's such a great document of their sound at that time. The set list is fantastic and the performances have great energy. But the thing I love most about this album is hearing different interpretations of established classics as well as their new-at-the-time material. You Still Believe In Me with that almost country twang, the rocked up version of Funky Pretty, the ultra-chill performances of Let the Wind Blow and Caroline, No, and the jaunty version of Help Me, Rhonda... so good.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 10, 2019 13:38:51 GMT
Like most Beach Boys' live albums, actually like most Beach Boys' albums in general, I would describe In Concert as uneven. Ups and downs. Highs and lows. Wouldas/shouldas/couldas.
In Concert was one of the first BB albums I ever bought. I remember that, as a double album, it was very expensive. But I liked the tracklist - then - so I splurged. I enjoyed it pretty much. It filled a need. It was an alternative to the earlier stuff that I was discovering at that time.
Positives? The band I guess. In Blondie and Ricky, they had their best guitarist and drummer ever, respectively. It was a wide sampling of their career (though it could've been better; more on that in a minute). It was nice to hear a couple of Pet Sounds' non-hits featured. I like what they/Carl did with "Let The Wind Blow"; a great showcase for Carl's voice. The album rocked in places, more as a rock band than a pop band. It had a certain vibe that the band was current and not just an oldies act or a traveling jukebox, though I appreciate THAT aspect of The Beach Boys, too.
Negatives? The tracklist could've been so much better. I think they featured too many recent songs, especially from Holland which was represented by four songs, five if you include "We Got Love". Was "Leaving This Town", which clocked in a 6:59, really necessary? That was a waste of some valuable album time. I also think a couple of the versions and vocals were weak. "Help Me Rhonda" was ruined by the arrangement. Al strains terribly on "Don't Worry Baby". That is Al isn't it? A few of the songs sound rushed including "Sloop John B", "Heroes And Villains", and "Marcella". I know that this live version of "Marcella" is a favorite of many BB fans. I like that it rocks more than the original studio version, and it doesn't drag like the original studio version does slightly, but to me it sounds a little TOO fast. Finally, was Dennis Wilson in the witness protection program with this album? Not a single Dennis Wilson-composed song or a single Dennis Wilson vocal. Why? And, of course, no Brian either.
There is one thing that kind of affects the vibe of the album with me. Who in the hell mastered this album? Did he/she not know how to deal with the audience applause? On one song it's loud, on the next song it's normal, but on the next song it's either non-existent or disappears abruptly. I don't think this is nit-picking. This isn't a bootleg. It is a professional recording. They could've done a much better job linking the tracks. While it's improved on the CD, it is still very amateurish sounding.
Ultimately, I enjoy In Concert but still have frustrations with the tracklist. If you limit Holland to one or two songs, and eliminate "Leaving This Town", you have room for four or five more songs. And with The Beach Boys' catalogue, that is crucial. There are several other timeless classics I would've rather heard than another version of "Funky Pretty" or "The Trader". I appreciate the transformation of the band, the rockier edge, but it's not my most favorite period in the group's history. And, as much as this album rocks in places, Live In Knebworth rocks more. I rarely play this album. On my own Ultimate BB Live comp, I only use "Sail On Sailor" and "Good Vibrations" from this album, preferring other live versions. I can't go too high with a grade, but I won't go too low either. How about a 6?
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Post by kds on Dec 10, 2019 14:10:23 GMT
I'd have to respectfully disagree about the Holland material. Since this is a live document of the tour in which they were promoting Holland, the inclusion of several songs makes perfect sense to me. Also, for me, Holland really marks the end of The Beach Boys as a creative force, so this live album is a good way to earmark that end of an era.
I also think that the version of Funky Pretty here is head and shoulders better than the studio version.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 10, 2019 14:18:54 GMT
I agree with KDS. While of course (especially on a double album) you want broad representation of the catalogue, I think fans generally also want the tour itself, the contemporary material, represented.
Many of us talk now about how it would be nice for Brian to include more of his current material in shows. In the early 70s, The Beach Boys were fighting off pressure to be an oldies act and attempting to get new material across. Good for them. I’m glad the album is weighted that way, even if I could and would quibble with some specifics. (And yes, I wouldn’t have six-plus minutes of Leaving This Town.)
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 10, 2019 14:26:13 GMT
I'd have to respectfully disagree about the Holland material. Since this is a live document of the tour in which they were promoting Holland, the inclusion of several songs makes perfect sense to me. Also, for me, Holland really marks the end of The Beach Boys as a creative force, so this live album is a good way to earmark that end of an era. I also think that the version of Funky Pretty here is head and shoulders better than the studio version. But, I don't think a group with The Beach Boys' back catalogue should've been releasing a live album featuring or promoting a current tour. First, it wasn't necessary, and second, again, not when you have so many other superior songs. "Funky Pretty"? "We Got Love"? A 6;59 "Leaving This Town"? No. Just no. I just don't understand how they could think their fans had any need to hear those Holland songs again - less than a year after they were initially released.
And, at that time, they had no way of knowing it was the end of an era. It might have more significance in that respect now, but not back then.
Simply put, I could remove "Funky Pretty", "We Got Love", "Leaving This Town", and even "The Trader", and replace them with five other Beach Boys' classics (or even a few other post-Pet Sounds songs), and I guarantee it would be a much stronger album.
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Post by kds on Dec 10, 2019 14:33:21 GMT
I'd have to respectfully disagree about the Holland material. Since this is a live document of the tour in which they were promoting Holland, the inclusion of several songs makes perfect sense to me. Also, for me, Holland really marks the end of The Beach Boys as a creative force, so this live album is a good way to earmark that end of an era. I also think that the version of Funky Pretty here is head and shoulders better than the studio version. But, I don't think a group with The Beach Boys' back catalogue should've been releasing a live album featuring or promoting a current tour. First, it wasn't necessary, and second, again, not when you have so many other superior songs. "Funky Pretty"? "We Got Love"? A 6;59 "Leaving This Town"? No. Just no. I just don't understand how they could think their fans had any need to hear those Holland songs again - less than a year after they were initially released.
And, at that time, they had no way of knowing it was the end of an era. It might have more significance in that respect now, but not back then.
Simply put, I could remove "Funky Pretty", "We Got Love", "Leaving This Town", and even "The Trader", and replace them with five other Beach Boys' classics (or even a few other post-Pet Sounds songs), and I guarantee it would be a much stronger album. Remember at that time, The Beach Boys hadn't fully become a nostalgia act. They were actually promoting the present, so I completely understand the decision to not include five classics in favor of Holland material. Also, looking at this through 2019 eyes, there are now plenty of versions of live classics out there between BB live albums, and live releases from Al and Brian. So, In Concert gives us a chance to hear the Holland material that's not featured on the other live releases. I've rather have these than another version of I Get Around.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 10, 2019 14:33:46 GMT
Many of us talk now about how it would be nice for Brian to include more of his current material in shows. Not necessarily current material, but more solo material, solo material that is actually several years old.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 10, 2019 14:39:30 GMT
But, I don't think a group with The Beach Boys' back catalogue should've been releasing a live album featuring or promoting a current tour. First, it wasn't necessary, and second, again, not when you have so many other superior songs. "Funky Pretty"? "We Got Love"? A 6;59 "Leaving This Town"? No. Just no. I just don't understand how they could think their fans had any need to hear those Holland songs again - less than a year after they were initially released.
And, at that time, they had no way of knowing it was the end of an era. It might have more significance in that respect now, but not back then.
Simply put, I could remove "Funky Pretty", "We Got Love", "Leaving This Town", and even "The Trader", and replace them with five other Beach Boys' classics (or even a few other post-Pet Sounds songs), and I guarantee it would be a much stronger album. Remember at that time, The Beach Boys hadn't fully become a nostalgia act. They were actually promoting the present, so I completely understand the decision to not include five classics in favor of Holland material. Also, looking at this through 2019 eyes, there are now plenty of versions of live classics out there between BB live albums, and live releases from Al and Brian. So, In Concert gives us a change to hear the Holland material that's not featured on the other live releases. I've rather have these than another version of I Get Around. You are making the assumption that many BB fans (casual and die-hards) liked Holland a lot and had a desire to hear so many tracks from that album performed live. I personally am not THAT big a fan of the album, though I enjoy it very much. I just didn't/don't think those songs merited bumping other songs. Maybe I am taking my feelings and projecting them on other fans. Obviously I am with you and Kapitan.
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Post by kds on Dec 10, 2019 15:00:26 GMT
Remember at that time, The Beach Boys hadn't fully become a nostalgia act. They were actually promoting the present, so I completely understand the decision to not include five classics in favor of Holland material. Also, looking at this through 2019 eyes, there are now plenty of versions of live classics out there between BB live albums, and live releases from Al and Brian. So, In Concert gives us a change to hear the Holland material that's not featured on the other live releases. I've rather have these than another version of I Get Around. You are making the assumption that many BB fans (casual and die-hards) liked Holland a lot and had a desire to hear so many tracks from that album performed live. I personally am not THAT big a fan of the album, though I enjoy it very much. I just didn't/don't think those songs merited bumping other songs. Maybe I am taking my feelings and projecting them on other fans. Obviously I am with you and Kapitan. That's fine if you're not a big Holland fan, but it was still the album out at the time. And I think this live release works as a document of the time when they were balancing the new stuff, classics, and even some deeper tracks.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 10, 2019 18:46:33 GMT
The Beach Boys might've been balancing the new stuff with the old stuff when In Concert was released, but I think that philosophy was either starting to change or well under way to changing. The move to oldies in 1973 was a lot closer than, say, the late 1960's and early 1970's when the group did "dig in" and play their new material, regardless of what their audience wanted. And, even though the group didn't know it at the time (1973), the move to oldies would very soon be solidified with the release of Endless Summer. In a few short years, almost all of those Holland songs featured on In Concert would be dropped, one by one. And, ironically, as those songs were going, yet another Holland song, "California Saga: California", was being added. Jeez...
I know I'm beating a dead horse, but a few more thoughts on the live Holland tracks. I wonder if their inclusion on In Concert wasn't motivated by the group AND the record company trying to recoup the substantial dollars invested in the debacle of the band traveling to Holland and setting up shop there. Apparently they lost big bucks with that adventure. Maybe they thought that by featuring the Holland tracks on In Concert, it might open more fans' eyes/ears and motivate them to purchase Holland, too.
Keep in mind that in 1973, In Concert was a double album. Do you realize that they could've devoted an entire album side or 1/4 of a double album to just Holland tracks? They could've actually done an album side like this, the Holland side:
1. Sail On Sailor 2. The Trader 3. Funky Pretty 4. Leaving This Town 5. We Got Love
I kind of wish they would've done that. And, even with all of those Holland songs, they DIDN'T include two of my favorites - "Only With You" (a much needed Dennis-composed song) and "California Saga: California". Oh well...
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Post by lonelysummer on Dec 13, 2019 3:35:55 GMT
My only complaint about the album is, yeah, no Dennis songs; and the absence of a few other favorites that I assume were part of the standard live diet back then. Long Promised Road should have been on the album (is Trader the only Carl song on the album?). A couple of songs with Dennis at the piano - Only With You, Forever, or even one of those unreleased songs he was doing in some of the shows. A live Surf's Up would have been a nice inclusion. I like this one about the same as Beach Boys 69 or whatever it's called (although the songs do feel a bit rushed on that).
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