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Post by lonelysummer on Jul 3, 2023 19:15:00 GMT
Just for the fun of it, I thought I'd highlight these two live performances of "Hushabye":
I have to admit I've been slow to appreciate the talents of Matt Jardine. He entered the picture during a time when I wasn't following the Beach Boys closely. The Beach Boys had become the Summer in Paradise Band, or the Mike Love Band, and that album turned me off so much I stopped going to their concerts. Matt sings great here, though. I sure wish Al Jardine would bring his tour here to the Northwest. I guess it's a hard sell, though, without the Beach Boys brand name.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 3, 2023 21:36:12 GMT
1. I Get Around 2. Don't Worry, Baby 3. Fun, Fun, Fun 4. Little Saint Nick (Single Version) 5. Girls on the Beach 6. We Three Kings of Orient Are 7. Keep an Eye on Summer 8. All Summer Long 9. Hushabye 10. We'll Run Away A lot of other contenders: "The Warmth of the Sun", "Wendy", and "Don't Back Down"; "Santa's Beard", "Blue Christmas", and "Merry Christmas, Baby" from the Christmas album; and perhaps their greatest vocal performance of all-time "The Lord's Prayer". Also, shoutout to "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena". While you have "The Warmth Of The Sun" listed as a (next-in-line?) contender, I'm surprised you have "Girls On The Beach", "Keep An Eye On Summer", and "We'll Run Away" ranked higher.
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Post by B.E. on Jul 3, 2023 22:43:14 GMT
1. I Get Around 2. Don't Worry, Baby 3. Fun, Fun, Fun 4. Little Saint Nick (Single Version) 5. Girls on the Beach 6. We Three Kings of Orient Are 7. Keep an Eye on Summer 8. All Summer Long 9. Hushabye 10. We'll Run Away A lot of other contenders: "The Warmth of the Sun", "Wendy", and "Don't Back Down"; "Santa's Beard", "Blue Christmas", and "Merry Christmas, Baby" from the Christmas album; and perhaps their greatest vocal performance of all-time "The Lord's Prayer". Also, shoutout to "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena". While you have "The Warmth Of The Sun" listed as a (next-in-line?) contender, I'm surprised you have "Girls On The Beach", "Keep An Eye On Summer", and "We'll Run Away" ranked higher. Yeah, I actually have it at #12 after "Wendy". It's clearly a great song and an all-timer, so I don't have much criticism for it. But I will say there's always been something about it - that I never really could put my finger on - that kept it from being a 10 for me (it's still upwards of a 9.5, though). It's interesting comparing it to "Girls on the Beach" and "Keep an Eye on Summer" because they are similar songs. They are all prime Brian ballads and all have similar, falsetto-featuring intros. Right off the bat, each are equally magical, IMO. (In particular, I've never understood any criticism of "Girls on the Beach".) I think, ultimately, the melody of "The Warmth of the Sun" is just slower and the track drags just a little bit in comparison to the others. It's also less of a vocal ensemble with Brian's lead very out in front. His doubletracked vocal is great in spots, but also a little off in others. Overall, I think he sings better on the other tracks and you hear more of the group. I'm thinking these are the reasons I give a slight edge to the other tracks. I mentioned in discussions on At My Piano that that version of "The Warmth of the Sun" was a revelation of sorts. I really appreciate it more, musically, than I had before. It's undoubtedly a beautiful song. Frankly, the lyrics aren't the selling point for me that they are to others. They're fine, they're good, but I don't like them more than "Girls on the Beach" or "Keep an Eye on Summer". It's interesting to see that, voting-wise, "The Warmth of the Sun" isn't being rated as a top tier song alongside "I Get Around", "Don't Worry, Baby", and "Fun, Fun, Fun". It's also trailing "Little Saint Nick", "All Summer Long", and "Hushabye" and is tied with "Wendy". That sounds about right to me (even if there are a few more tracks I prefer to it). As for "We'll Run Away", that's just always been a favorite. It just connects with me more. Sure, it's not as ambitious as many of these other top tracks - and it's less popular - but it's still a damn fine song and recording. I love that style. (And it's another great - and better than "The Warmth of the Sun" - lead vocal from Brian.)
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 520
Likes: 532
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Post by Emdeeh on Jul 3, 2023 23:42:28 GMT
In order of appearance on the poll: Fun, Fun, Fun Don't Worry, Baby The Warmth of the Sun I Get Around All Summer Long Little Honda
Wendy Drive-In Little St. Nick (single version) The Man With All the Toys
And many more...
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Post by jk on Jul 4, 2023 14:51:46 GMT
"Fun, Fun, Fun" (the 45, with the longer tag), "Don't Worry, Baby", "Why Do Fools Fall In Love", "I Get Around", "Hushabye", "We'll Run Away", "Wendy", "Girls On The Beach" (simply stunning), "Don't Back Down" (mono, with the longer tag) and "Little Saint Nick" (the 45).
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Post by carllove on Jul 6, 2023 18:33:03 GMT
In order of preference:
1. "Don't Worry Baby" 2. "All Summer Long" 3. "I Get Around" 4. "The Warmth of The Sun" 5. "Little Honda" 6. "Little Saint Nick" 7. "Wendy" 8. "We Three Kings" 9. "The Man With All The Toys" 10. "Fun, Fun, Fun"
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 7, 2023 14:48:08 GMT
There are a few relative surprises to me in the voting so far. That "The Warmth of the Sun" only has 7 votes while several other songs have 8, 9 or 10, surprises me. I would have thought it would be right up there with the best of them. B.E. has explained his logic, but obviously a few others are of similar mind (at leat with respect to results, if not reasons). On the other hand, "We'll Run Away" and "We Three Kings" having 3 votes apiece are modest surprises. Granted, with such small numbers of voters, it doesn't take much to bump things one way or another. (Would I have been surprised to see 2 for these? Not really. For some reason, 3 seems like "the big leagues" for our purposes here.)
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Post by kds on Jul 7, 2023 14:51:50 GMT
There are a few relative surprises to me in the voting so far. That "The Warmth of the Sun" only has 7 votes while several other songs have 8, 9 or 10, surprises me. I would have thought it would be right up there with the best of them. B.E. has explained his logic, but obviously a few others are of similar mind (at leat with respect to results, if not reasons). On the other hand, "We'll Run Away" and "We Three Kings" having 3 votes apiece are modest surprises. Granted, with such small numbers of voters, it doesn't take much to bump things one way or another. (Would I have been surprised to see 2 for these? Not really. For some reason, 3 seems like "the big leagues" for our purposes here.) I've noticed across various boards, that it seems Warmth of the Sun just sits on the very edge of being an all timer.
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Post by carllove on Jul 7, 2023 16:09:28 GMT
There are a few relative surprises to me in the voting so far. That "The Warmth of the Sun" only has 7 votes while several other songs have 8, 9 or 10, surprises me. I would have thought it would be right up there with the best of them. B.E. has explained his logic, but obviously a few others are of similar mind (at leat with respect to results, if not reasons). On the other hand, "We'll Run Away" and "We Three Kings" having 3 votes apiece are modest surprises. Granted, with such small numbers of voters, it doesn't take much to bump things one way or another. (Would I have been surprised to see 2 for these? Not really. For some reason, 3 seems like "the big leagues" for our purposes here.) I am quite surprised about “The Warmth of The Sun” as well. I thought it would be in the running for the top spot. “We Three Kings” is just ethereal. The vocals and the orchestration put it over the top for me.
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Post by B.E. on Jul 7, 2023 17:58:31 GMT
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 7, 2023 20:19:03 GMT
In order:
8. Frosty The Snowman
- The Christmas songs were important to me early in my BB fandom and now, years later, give me a sentimental feeling during the holiday season. So, is this more of a "favorite" pick than a "best" pick? If so, I have absolutely no objection whatsoever. Most of us are approaching this poll series from a subjective/favorite standpoint, but I have noticed that you've been approaching it more from an objective/best standpoint. So, I'm curious, do you actually consider "Frosty the Snowman" the 8th best track of 1964? If so, how/why? How about 80% objective and 20% subjective? Usually my voting is more of a 90% - 10% split. I'm not a big fan of Dick Reynolds' arrangements on the Christmas album (or Adult Child for that matter), but they work on "Frosty The Snowman". The horns and strings aren't overpowering, and I like that "snow falling" effect that the strings create. The song features a rare Brian Wilson lead on a fast song and I think it's one of his better vocals of that era. I wish Brian would've recorded more faster, traditional Christmas songs like this for the album. The song clocks in at 1:59, slightly short but fine for AM radio back in the day or an oldies station playing Christmas music today.
Now for the personal part. When I first became a BB fan almost 50 years ago, "Frosty The Snowman" was not played at Christmastime on the radio or in the stores. It was "Little Saint Nick" overwhelmingly, and occasionally "The Man With All The Toys". Through the years, for some reason, "Christmas Day" started to get some airplay, too. However, over the last 4-5 years, maybe because of the internet, streaming, satellites, Pandora, Spotify, itunes and all of that, more and more Beach Boys' Christmas songs are popping up over Christmas. I started hearing "Frosty The Snowman" in my car and in the malls - and it made me feel good. Sentimental. I like the song "Frosty The Snowman" anyway. It's Christmasey (pun intended)!
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 520
Likes: 532
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Post by Emdeeh on Jul 7, 2023 20:42:03 GMT
To each their own -- I can't stand the orchestral arrangements on the Christmas album, especially on "Frosty." I do like "Christmas Day" a lot, tho.
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Post by B.E. on Jul 9, 2023 12:50:05 GMT
Thanks for participating. 10 voters cast 100 votes. We had three unanimous vote-getters!
Top 10 Songs of 1964
Fun, Fun, Fun (10 votes) Don't Worry, Baby (10 votes) I Get Around (10 votes) Little Saint Nick (9 votes) All Summer Long (8 votes) The Warmth of the Sun (7 votes) Hushabye (7 votes) Little Honda (7 votes) Wendy (7 votes) Girls on the Beach (5 votes)
A pretty strong consensus this week as there were 9 songs with 7 or more votes, 1 song with 4-6 votes, and the rest 0-3.
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Post by jk on Jul 9, 2023 17:31:06 GMT
Thanks for participating. 10 voters cast 100 votes. We had three unanimous vote-getters! My pleasure, B.E. -- nice work there. Ten voters is pretty good going. Onward and upward to the next poll!
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Post by B.E. on Jul 9, 2023 17:37:36 GMT
Onward and upward to the next poll! Yes, I should get on that. Stay tuned!
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