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Post by B.E. on May 18, 2023 22:34:25 GMT
jk, I wouldn't have guessed you'd like MIU! Any of the tracks standout one way or the other?
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Post by Kapitan on May 18, 2023 22:37:11 GMT
btw, to paraphrase one of Griffin's points--with which to some degree I have to agree, though not fully--MIU is the kind of album where intense hatred seems misguided, in that it isn't meant as something particularly "important." He says, more or less, "look, it's a pop-rock and roll album." The implication is, it's a fun throwaway: how much "hatred" can you muster for it, and why would you?
I also really enjoyed that he said the BW band has a little love affair with "She's Got Rhythm." It seemed half-mockery, to be fair, but out of love.
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Post by jk on May 19, 2023 9:46:29 GMT
jk , I wouldn't have guessed you'd like MIU! Any of the tracks standout one way or the other? I was pleasantly surprised myself! I'd say all the tracks contribute in their own way (musically, that is -- lyrics are not really my thing). It's just a mellow listen all the way through and that can't be a bad thing. It even has something of a Friends vibe (he said, adjusting his hard hat).
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 19, 2023 12:26:17 GMT
To beachboystalkmatt, thank you for your interview with Gary Griffin. It was very informative, as was your past interview with Ron Altbach. After almost 50 years of Beach Boys' fandom, the one album that intrigued me - and that I knew very little about - was M.I.U. Album. I had opinions, but they were just that, opinions. Now, I heard first hand from two individuals (Gary and Ron), who played prominent roles in the actual recording of the album. I now feel much more informed, and feel that I can come to a much more accurate and researched opinion. I have finally come to the conclusion that Brian Wilson did not produce the album, that those responsibilities fell mostly to Al Jardine, Mike Love, and Ron Altbach. They were driving both the direction of the album and the way the songs actually evolved. They had the final say. Brian's role at M.I.U. was more of a player and a singer - two very prominent roles - and as an occasional arranger. I'm sure Brian's "touches" can be found on several tracks. No one has ever denied that and Gary confirmed it.
Then why did I - and still do - feel Brian's influence all over M.I.U. Album? Well, there are four reasons:
1. Come Go With Me 2. Peggy Sue 3. Hey Little Tomboy 4. My Diane
and maybe four more:
1. Sweet Sunday Kinda Love 2. Wontcha Come Out Tonight 3. Winter Symphony 4. Mike Come Back To L.A.
For now, I'll just stick to the first four. What do they have in common? The answer is that Al took them directly from the vaults and THAT BRIAN WILSON ORIGINALLY PRODUCED THEM. Those four songs were not that old. Brian wrote/chose/recorded/arranged/produced them just a year or so before the M.I.U. sessions. If you listen to the original Brian Wilson-produced versions, they are not much different from the Al Jardine-produced M.I.U. versions. Yes, Al (or somebody) put his own touches on them, and he might've actually improved them. It's a matter of opinion. But, in the end, those four songs originated with Brian Wilson and, to me, SOUND like Brian Wilson productions. So do the second four I listed but I won't go there right now. My point? M.I.U. is comprised of 12 songs and 4 songs are original BW productions which is 1/3 of the album. If you count "Sweet Sunday Kinda Love" and "Wontcha Come Out Tonight", both Brian Wilson compositions, you would have 1/2 of the album. And, "Winter Symphony" and the unfinished "Mike Come Back To L.A." at least show that Brian was doing more than "guest arranging".
Conclusion? Technically, Brian Wilson did not produce the M.I.U. Album, but I still maintain that his influence is all over it.
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Post by Kapitan on May 19, 2023 13:54:24 GMT
Conclusion? Technically, Brian Wilson did not produce the M.I.U. Album, but I still maintain that his influence is all over it.
Even as someone who argues Wilson's direction/leadership or even active input was limited, I'd agree that his influence is all over it--basically for the reasons you stated. It is something like 20/20, but to a lesser degree, where we had "Cabinessence," "Our Prayer," "Time to Get Alone," "Do It Again," etc. How involved was Brian Wilson in putting together 20/20? More or less not at all, from what I understand. But it's almost half Brian Wilson music, and so his fingerprints are all over it. I think MIU is something like that, except he WAS physically at M.I.U., he WAS contributing somewhat in real time, etc. He just wasn't the Brian Wilson of the mid-60s, directing the traffic, writing all the songs, producing the sessions. I think we (humans) tend to look to dichotomies, or extremes. It's an on/off switch. In this case, he did everything or he did nothing. But I think most of reality lives in the 4-to-6 range of a 1-10 scale.
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Post by beachboystalkmatt on May 19, 2023 17:46:26 GMT
Great insights here. It does seem like Brian had an important role in the album. He wrote or co-wrote a lot of the songs, and his voice is all over it. Again, it’s not Pet Sounds, but doesn’t have to be. I enjoy how the album flows and all has a similar feel. Gary had a great time making the album and he is proud of it. He said it’s just a bunch of fun songs. I agree with that.
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Post by B.E. on Jul 15, 2023 18:58:11 GMT
I still haven't had time to watch the whole episode, including the interview with Gary Griffin, but here's a fun bit about how perfectly the lyrics of "Shut Down" fit "Belles of Paris". www.youtube.com/live/wnqdTwEmDdk?feature=share&t=8585I also just want to comment that it's pretty interesting hearing Greg perform the songs solo. Hearing "She's Got Rhythm", for instance, removed from the production of the album, had me thinking that I liked the underlying tune more than I realized. Maybe. Either way, it's fun to hear. Would have been cool if Greg performed "Hey Little Tomboy" (without singing the lyrics), to demonstrate the quality of the music.
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