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Post by Kapitan on Aug 24, 2020 12:39:52 GMT
This week's album for discussion and rating is L.A. (Light Album). Released March 19, 1979, the album saw the return of Bruce Johnston as both a performer and producer.
An attempt at the then-mainstream soft rock style was obvious in the five (of ten) songs coming from Dennis and Carl Wilson. Conversely Brian Wilson had no new contributions to the album: his credits are the long-simmering "Good Timin," Bruce and Curt Becher's disco version of "Here Comes the Night," and yes, "Shortenin' Bread." Mike Love and Al Jardine contributed one new song apiece, with Mike's "Sumahuma" and Al's well regarded "Lady Lynda."
The album peaked at #100 in the US and #32 in the UK. Singles were "Here Comes the Night" (#44), "Good Timin" (#40), "Lady Lynda" (#6 UK and #39 US Adult Contemporary), and "Sumahuma" (#45 in the UK).
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Post by kds on Aug 24, 2020 12:56:07 GMT
I think The Beach Boys released a solid yacht rock album to close out the 1970s. I really enjoy most of LA, and I wish I could rate it higher. But, when the biggest clunker on the album (and maybe even in the band's history) takes up over ten minutes, and roughly 30% of the album, that's going to affect the rating far more than a harmless two or three minute misstep. I'd even be willing to forgive the unnecessary, but inevitable, cover of Shortenin Bread at the end. Goin' South would've been such a good closer too.
But, I can't go higher than 7 for LA.
Side One is very good. I'd say Full Sail is the most obvious attempt at yacht rock, but plenty of solid lighter songs for a warm summer day here. Although, Sumahama could be just slightly shorter.
Then, we step off the yacht after a day of sailing, and go right into the local disco, do a line of coke, and dance the night away. As much as California Feelin' is maligned, I think that song would've been a perfect fit for LA, over HCTN'79. The Boys should've at least had enough sense to put the single version on the album instead of the ten minute version. But, I suppose the extra run time allows Dennis to meet a couple of dancing queens in the coat check.
Thankfully, we calm back down for Baby Blue and Goin' South before Shortenin Bread gives LA an ending as similarly jarring as TM on Friends.
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Post by Kapitan on Aug 24, 2020 14:12:01 GMT
In some ways, this album reminds me of the last one we discussed, Imagination. When it is at its best, it is very professionally done, slick, competent. But I don't think the best songs here are as good as the best songs there. The result for me is a very bland album whose lack of substance is almost exaggerated, rather than hidden, by its shiny production.
Its "classic" song is a half-decade old lightweight, "Good Timin." A third of the album consists of a single misguided disco remake that, if it had to be included, could have at least been in the single mix. Or better, a shorter single mix...
Some of the songs are enjoyable. I like "Lady Lynda," I'm OK with "Angel Come Home" and "Love Surrounds Me," I don't hate "Full Sail."
But these are my compliments: I like, I'm OK with, and I don't hate. That said, I would have preferred the band to continue pursuing this kind of content over the KTSA material.
I gave it a 5, which feels a little generous. I am on the fence between that and 4.
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Post by jk on Aug 24, 2020 22:01:02 GMT
I gave it eight at EH and see no reason to change my vote here. It's a great patchwork quilt in the tradition of 20/20.
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Post by lonelysummer on Aug 25, 2020 0:50:43 GMT
Except for the 10 minute disco abomination, I love this album. This is exactly what a contemporary Beach Boys album should sound like in 1979. It has a Beach Boys sound to it, but it's not trying to be Surfer Girl 15 years later. No lyrics about school, picking up teenaged girls; just a solid set of mature songs sung nicely. It's sad to think that, in 2 or 3 more years, Dennis' voice would be completely gone. Here, it's very ragged, but that actually enhances Angel Come Home. Love Surrounds Me - misleading title, it should be "There's No Love Around Me". Very depressing song. Goin' South seems to be Carl's admission that it's time to get clean, make some much needed changes in his life. Very, very soft music - you might have to lean forward a bit to listen. Full Sail is an earworm for me - I can listen to it over and over and over. Very soothing. What a gift, to be born with that voice. Good Timin' - how did this stall at #40? This is classic Beach Boys. Granted, it was the middle of the disco era, but there was still a lot of soft rock on the radio. Great group vocals. I can see why it was difficult to pull off live, though - really is the bottom of Carl's vocal range. Mike tried it, Dennis tried it. Lady Lynda - well at least the UK fans responded. Too bad things went south for Al and his Lynda. Sumuhama - is this the precursor to Kokomo? I like it. Shortenin' Bread doesn't bother me, it was probably the only way they could get anything out of Brian for the album. HCTN works well on the single version. Too bad they didn't have It's a Beautiful Day on this album - I guess that was a few months later. I rate this thing a solid 8. Really the last album of the classic Beach Boys lineup - Brian, Carl, Dennis, Mike and Al, as Dennis was pretty much absent from the next album.
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Post by B.E. on Aug 25, 2020 1:11:55 GMT
Love Surrounds Me - misleading title, it should be "There's No Love Around Me". Very depressing song. I think if they gave it an alternate title it would have been "No Love Of My Own", but personally I like the original title. What he's saying is that love is all around him, that it's everywhere but with(in) him. Yep, very depressing indeed. Edit: The title also works as a plea. As in - "love, surround me". Which is what he sings at the end of the song.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Aug 25, 2020 11:04:55 GMT
L.A. (Light Album) has always finished first as my most disappointing Beach Boys' album. In 1979 I was entering my senior year of Beach Boys' fandom. With 15 Big Ones in 1976, I was happy because Brian showed that he could still produce. With Love You in 1977, Brian demonstrated that he could still write quality songs. And, with M.I.U. in 1978, it appeared that Brian's voice was healed and back to some respectability. As 1979 approached with a new Beach Boys' album and a new record contract, I was expecting Brian and the group to finally put it all together. THIS would be the album to accomplish that.
The first time I heard L.A. (Light Album) was on the radio. Back in the day, radio stations used to preview albums and play the entire album a few days before it hit the record stores. I remember sitting in my room one night, tuning in the radio, and being massively disappointed. I literally almost fell asleep.
There is so much wrong with this album. Let's cut to the chase - Brian Wilson isn't on the album. Never mind the hard to hear note here, or an ooh or ahh there. Brian was absent from L.A. (Light Album) and for the most part, so is Mike Love and Al Jardine. This fan finds it hard to like any Beach Boys' album without significant presence from those three guys. I'm a huge fan of Dennis Wilson's songwriting, and "Baby Blue" is excellent, but "Love Surrounds Me", which has its moments, is sub-par. Beach Boys' fans were clamoring for more Carl Wilson songs after Surf's Up and Holland, and his absence songwriting-wise since then. Well, be careful what you ask for. "Full Sail" and "Goin' South" are boring. Simple as that. And, with Carl's best song on the album, "Angel Come Home", the production ruins it. Another slightly boring track.
Speaking of the production, Bruce Johnston was a poor choice of producer. Whether it was Bruce's idea or the group's, the laid back production just doesn't work. Yes, we know what they were trying to achieve, what they were going for (hey, why not change things up, nothing else was working), but it just didn't work. This album is flat out boring. A light album? Hell yes! Light indeed. Unfortunately.
The highlights? "Good Timin'" is an all-timer and Bruce's shining moment as a producer. Bruce made the group sound professional again on "Good Timin'". "Lady Lynda" is probably Al's best song; it was a good recording and a good live number. "Baby Blue" is a very good song, too. But that's about it.
"Sumahama? Meh. "Shortenin' Bread"? THE WORST DECISION FOR INCLUSION ON A BEACH BOYS' ALBUM EVER. And, they complicated that decision by using an inferior version. The rockin', synth-dominated version from Adult Child is superior. And that brings us to "Here Comes The Night". I always liked it. It was a good idea to resurrect "Here Comes The Night" because it's a good song. Carl's lead vocal is great as are the harmonies. Yes, the length is the big problem, but what's frustrating is that it wasn't necessary because of the existence of the 12-inch single. However, even with an 11-minute track, there was still enough room on the album for another song or two. Where were they?
Again, a very, very disappointing album. For me, I enjoy "Good Timin'", "Lady Lynda", "Baby Blue" and that's about it. I WANT to like Carl's songs but they are just average. I want to like Dennis's and Mike's songs but they are just average, too. And then there's the "Shortenin' Bread" and "Here Comes The Night" debacle. The Beach Boys' new album (from 15 tracks down to 14 down to 12 down to 10 on L.A.) and their first with a new record company? Another bad career decision by the group. I can only go with a 5 and that's a stretch. A very average album.
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bellbottoms
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 727
Likes: 202
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Post by bellbottoms on Aug 25, 2020 13:08:10 GMT
LA (Light Album) doesn't really do it for me. I almost never listen to it. There's half an okay album there... I like Good Timin', Lady Lynda, Baby Blue, Love Surrounds Me, and Sumahama well enough, though I can't say I love any of them (Lady Lynda live at Knebworth is another matter entirely, wowzers that's a treat!) The Carl songs are sonic comas. 10-minute disco HCTN is ridiculous. Shortenin' Bread is awful. Love the album cover art though.
EDIT: I gave it a 5, for being half okay.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Aug 25, 2020 14:19:21 GMT
Obviously, Mick Fleetwood had a different take on "Angel Come Home":
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Post by Kapitan on Aug 25, 2020 14:26:12 GMT
I hadn't heard that before. Life was better then.
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Aug 25, 2020 14:59:17 GMT
Never been a fan of this album. I'll echo the Sheriff's thoughts in saying that it's just boring. Only stuff I like on it is Good Timin', Love Surrounds Me, Lady Lynda, and sometimes Sumahama and Angel Come Home. I wouldn't care if I never heard the rest of it.
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Post by lonelysummer on Aug 26, 2020 0:40:22 GMT
Obviously, Mick Fleetwood had a different take on "Angel Come Home":
I like to think that's how the song would have sounded if Carl had taken the lead. I remember seeing Fleetwood on Thicke of the Night, fall 1983, and Alan Thicke telling Mick "the first song on the album, that's a hit".
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Aug 26, 2020 11:27:56 GMT
Instead of taking up 11 minutes (though I wouldn't have minded maybe 4) on the album - and really turning off SOME fans - this would've sufficed:
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Post by kds on Aug 26, 2020 12:20:10 GMT
Instead of taking up 11 minutes (though I wouldn't have minded maybe 4) on the album - and really turning off SOME fans - this would've sufficed:
I couldn't agree more. A terrible song is far more tolerable at a shorter length. That's why I don't really think Runaway Dancer totally kills my appreciation for NPP.
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Post by Kapitan on Aug 26, 2020 12:28:46 GMT
Totally agree as well. I understand the idea of long dance mixes: they want to get (and keep) people on the dance floor. Makes sense! But those aren't album or single mixes, they're dance mixes! Especially if you're a band not known for that style of music, whose fans probably are largely not into that style of music, then what's the logic here?
I think the short single mix (3:18 per wikipedia) would have been strongly preferable.. In fact, I think I'd have quite enjoyed that. Not like "top 10 Beach Boys songs ever" level of enjoyment or anything! But it would've been a cool little exercise.
Eleven minutes? Uhhh...
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